Leica V-Lux 30

We check out legendary German imaging master Leica's V-Lux 30 travel zoom, and find something just a little too familiar...

Juha Saarinen | Friday, January 13 2012 | 4 Comments

Product type: Digital compact camera
Editors rating:

Leica V-Lux 30

RRP incl GST: $1,099
Contact: lacklands.co.nz

AT A GLANCE

Long 14X zoom and 12.1Megapixel sensor
Good image quality, up to ISO 1,250
Full 1080p/24 HD video

Does everything the Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ20 does but for almost twice the money.

Leica makes the lenses and cameras that many photographers dream of, like the M9. The legendary German imaging master also provides Panasonic in Japan with lenses and expertise, as evident from the latter’s Lumix range of cameras.

However, we’re not sure why Leica would take a Panasonic DMC-TZ20, stick its own logo on it and remove the Lumix branding at the front. That’s all the difference between the two.

Actually, that’s not true: the V-Lux 30 costs almost twice more than the Panasonic TZ20 and comes with the old version 1.0 firmware with no upgrade listed by Leica. We’ll pass on this one.

Leica is a lovely brand, but go for the TZ20 instead of the V-Lux 30 and save some money.

Commentss
Reviews

4 Comments

v lux 30 versus tz20 One would be staggered if the picture quality was worse on the (branded) Lumix as Leica supplies the lens in BOTH. However, the cheaper Lumix could probably perform quite a bit better using updated firmware, which is also upgradable
Posted by GeoMac at 22:40:36 on January 22, 2012

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v lux 30 versus tz20 why does nobody mention the difference in image quality as that is or should be what is important
the sensor set up and firmware make a difference between good image and lousy image in the case of the tz20
Posted by George at 12:27:22 on January 19, 2012

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pop up flash I don't find the pop up flash on my TZ20 annoying...because it doesn't have one
Posted by Roger at 12:20:28 on January 14, 2012

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pop up flash Good catch -- being essentially the same camera, neither does the Leica V-Lux 30. That line appears to have mistakenly found its way in from another review; most likely my fault when putting this online. I've now removed that line.
Posted by Harley Ogier, PCW at 11:14:01 on January 16, 2012

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