FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
NEW: THE LEICA V-LUX 30
The universal compact camera for carefree photography
Solms, Germany (May 26, 2011) – Leica Camera AG presents a new digital compact camera featuring a 15.1 megapixel sensor (14.1 MP effective) – the Leica V-Lux 30. In comparison to its forerunner model, the new camera has a Leica DC Vario-Elmar lens with an extended range of focal lengths and a new LCD touch screen display that guarantees fast and simple handling. Together with its numerous automatic features and manual setting options, this makes the Leica V-Lux 30 a compact and universal camera for the whole family. Additionally, its integrated GPS function and video recording in 1080i-AVCHD Full HD make it the ideal companion for all life’s moments from the family vacation to the backyard barbecue.
The Leica DC Vario-Elmar 4.3 – 68.8 mm f/3.3-5.9 ASPH. 16x zoom lens has an extended range of focal lengths equivalent to 24 to 384 mm in 35-mm format. Thanks to this high performance lens, the Leica V-Lux 30 delivers outstanding image quality and covers a wide range of photographic opportunities, ranging from wide-angle and macro shots to telephoto shots of distant subjects.
The newly developed 1/2.33″ CMOS sensor of the Leica V-Lux 30 guarantees outstanding image quality and allows photographers to capture image sequences with the camera’s fast, continuous shooting mode. The Leica V-Lux 30 enables consecutive burst shooting at a rate of ten frames per second at a full resolution of 14.1 MP, or 60 frames per second with reduced resolution in a choice of individual aspect ratios. This allows users to reliably capture fast moving subjects – for example when shooting sports or wildlife. Its brand new 3D mode lets users take fascinating, creative images. In this mode, the camera combines two suitable shots from a sequence in a “stereo image pair” and saves them as a 3D image in MPO format.
An outstanding feature, the Leica V-Lux 30’s video recording mode offers performance comparable to that of digital camcorders. Particularly, the video mode records in efficient, 1080i-AVCHD-Full-HD format with the entire 16x zoom range available during video recording and an integrated stereo microphone with an electronic wind noise filter guarantees a crystal-clear soundtrack.
As with the complete Leica portfolio, the V-Lux 30 is characterized by timelessly elegant styling and extremely easy handling. With the new 3″ LCD touch screen, many camera features can now be controlled simply by touching the screen with a fingertip. This generously dimensioned screen has a diagonal of approximately three inches and displays images in outstanding brilliance with a resolution of 460,000 pixels. This provides users with an ideal tool for reliable and precise assessment of images both during composition and after capture.
Thanks to the integrated GPS function, the camera records the geographical coordinates of the location and the local time for every shot and saves them in the Exif data of the image files. When travelling, the V-Lux 30 can also display the sightseeing highlights of the immediate neighborhood (1,000,000 so-called “Points of Interest”). Images posted on social networks, image portals and map sites such as Google Maps or Google Earth reveal exactly when and where they were shot.*
The Leica V-Lux 30 will be available from Leica dealers beginning June 2011. The camera is supplied with an extensive software package comprising Adobe® Photoshop® Elements 9 for still image processing and Adobe® Premiere® Elements 9, especially designed for video processing. There is also a choice of two different camera cases: The strong and resilient leather case and the soft leather case.
* It is possible that GPS tagging may not function in the People’s Republic of China and neighboring regions. Satellite signal reception may be impossible, depending on the location. In such cases, the positioning data may be recorded inaccurately or not at all.
Media Contacts:
Evins Communications
212-688-8200
Clara Kroher
212-377-3589 / clara.kroher@evins.com
Julia Covelli
212-377-3593 / julia.covelli@evins.com
Technical data LEICA V-LUX 30
Lens: Leica DC Vario-Elmar 4.3 – 68.8 mm f/3.3-5.9 ASPH. (corresponds to 24 – 384 mm, 35 mm equivalent focal lengths), 12 elements 10 groups); Aspherical Lenses: 6 surfaces in 3 elements
Optical Image Stabilization: Yes
Zoom
optical/digital: 16x/4x
Focusing
Modes: Normal/Macro, continuous focusing (On/Off)
Metering modes: Face Detection, AF Tracking, multi points, 1 point, Spot, Touch Field
Focusing range
P / A / S / M: 50 cm (wide-angle) / 2 m (tele) – ∞
Macro / intelligent /
auto / movie: 3 cm (wide-angle) / 1 m (tele) – ∞
Sensor: 1/2.33″ CMOS with 15.1MP (effective 14.1MP)
Resolution / Recording File Format
Still pictures: 16:9 format: 4320 x 2432 pixels, 3648 x 2056 pixels, 3072 x 1728 pixels, 2560 x 1440 pixels, 1920 x 1080 pixels, 640 x 360
3:2 format: 4320 x 2880 pixels, 3648 x 2432 pixels, 3072 x 2048 pixels, 2560 x 1712 pixels, 2048 x 1360 pixels, 640 x 424
4:3 format: 4320 x 3240 pixels, 3648 x 2736 pixels, 3072 x 2304 pixels, 2560 x 1920 pixels, 2048 x 1536 pixels, 640 x 480
1:1 format: 3232 x 3232 pixels, 2736 x 2736, 2304 x 2304, 1920 x 1920, 1536 x 1536, 480 x 480
Movies: 16:9 format AVCHD: 1080i: 1920 x 1080 pixels (max. 60 min per clip) 720p: 1280 x 720 pixels (max. 60 min per clip)
Motion JPEG: 16:9 format: 1280 x 720 pixels (max. 30 min per clip)
4:3 format: 640 x 480 pixels, 320 x 240 pixels (max. 30 min per clip)
3D: 16:9 format: 1920 x 1080 (MPO format)
Exposure control
Exposure modes: Program mode (P), Aperture priority (A), Shutter Speed priority (S), Manual Setting (M)
Exposure compensation: Increments: 1/3 EV steps, setting range: ±2 EV
Scene modes: Portrait, Soft Skin, Transform, Self Portrait, Scenery, Panorama Assist, Sports, Night Portrait, Night Scenery, Handheld Night Shot, Food, Party, Candle Light, Baby1, Baby2, Pet, Sunset, High Sens., High-Speed-Burst, Flash Burst, Starry Sky, Fireworks, Beach, Snow, Aerial Photo, Pin Hole, Film Grain, Photo Frame, High Speed Movie
Metering modes: Multi-field / Centre weighted / Spot
White balance: Auto / Daylight / Cloudy / Shade / Halogen / Manual setting
Sensitivity: Auto/iISO 100, 200, 400, 800, 1600
Shutter speeds: 60s-1/4000s, (Starry Sky mode: 15s/30s/60s)
Continuous shooting mode: (Burst frequency: max. number of pictures / max. resolution)
2 B/s: max. number 100 / 14 MP max. resolution
5 B/s: max. number 100 / 14 MP max. resolution
10 B/s: max. number 15 / 14 MP max. resolution
40 B/s: max. number 50 / 5 MP max. resolution
60 B/s: max. number 60 / 3.5 MP max. resolution
Flash
Modes: AUTO, AUTO with pre-flash (to reduce red-eye effect), AUTO with slower shutter speeds and pre-flash, On, Off
Range: 60 cm – 5.0 m [W/ISO Auto],
1.0 -2.8 m [Tele/ISO Auto]
Self-Timer: 2/10 s delay
Monitor: 3.0” TFT-LCD, approx. 460,800 pixels, Touch screen functionality
Microphone/Speaker: Stereo/mono
Recording media
Internal memory: approx. 18 MB
Memory cards: SD: 8 MB – 2 GB
SDHC: 4 GB – 32 GB
SDXC: 48 GB – 64 GB
Interfaces
HDMI: Mini-HDMI cable (type C)
AV OUT/DIGITAL: Digital: USB 2.0 (High Speed)
Dedicated jack (8-pin): Analogue Video/Audio: NTSC/PAL Composite (switchable in menu), Audio-line-out (mono)
GPS: Geodetic Data System: WGS84
Database: 1 Mio. Points of Interest
Operating temperature/
Humidity: 0-40°C / 10-80%
Battery (Lithium/Ion): BP-DC7
Voltage/capacity: 3.6 V / 895 mAh (260 pictures according to CIPA standards)
Dimensions (WxHxD): 104.9 x 57.6 x 33.4 mm / 4.13 x 2.27 x 1.31 in
Weight: 219 g / 7.72 oz (with memory card & battery)
PictBridge: Yes
Scope of delivery: Camera, Battery charger (Leica BC-DC7), Lithium-Ion Battery (Leica BP-DC7), Carrying strap, AV cable, USB cable, Software DVDs, CD with long instructions (PDF), Printed short instruction manuals, Touch Pen
Software: Adobe® Photoshop® Elements 9,
Adobe® Premiere® Elements 9
There are camera coming out in the next 2 weeks..V Lux 30 …the Lux 2 revisited..600mm len..which one is the better of the 2..
Samples – http://www.fotopolis.pl/index.php?n=12882&panasonic-lumix-dmc-tz20-i-leica-v-lux-30-zdjecia-przykladowe – no comment.
Steve, What about a shoot-out between the V-Lux 30 and the D-Lux 5? This new release begs the question…
I have no doubt that at equivalent focal lengths, the Dlux5 would trounce the Vlux30. Would however like to see a shootout between the Dlux5 and the XZ1. Hint hint!
I have owned a Leica C-Lux 1 for years now. Till this day, it is one of my favorite cameras. Sure I know it is a Panasonic in Leica wrapping paper but I just love the wrapping so much. It is so simple, plain, and elegant. Furthermore, I have had use the C-Lux 1 in a pinch on several occasions. For instance, just a couple of weeks ago, I had to use the C-Lux 1 to photograph my Leica X1 I just sold on ebay. The photos came out great. http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=270748902734&ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT#ht_1026wt_1141 Now that I sold the Leica X1, I am getting the Fuji X100. Problem is, the Fuji has no zoom and sometimes I’m going to need this. I really loved the C-Lux 1 but maybe it is about time I trade in the wrapping paper for a new present.
I read somewhere that the V-Lux 30 comes with PS Elements 9, not Lightroom 3. The D-lux 5 comes with Lightroom 3 which, I suppose, makes it a good deal. Has anyone used the Leica D-Lux 5? I’ve read some rave reviews of that camera on the BH photo website. Seems expensive, but people are saying it performs well.
Comes with Elements, says so in the press release above direct from Leica. 🙂 No LR 3 for the V-Lux…
It comes with Lightroom right? When you factor in the cost of Lightroom its not such a big markup.
My VLux20 came with PS Elements. I wish it was LR!
But that red dot is just so nice…
It’s aimed at punters that would happily pay twice the price to get a Leica instead of a Panasonic, and it will make Leica money, instead of losing money.
Who could blame Leica for that?
As an owner of the VLux20 (thanks to my lovely significant other), I am the first to admit that the Panasonic TZ5 I had was better than the VLux20. I believe the VLux20’s counterpart is the TZ7 or TZ10. For whatever reasons though, the TZ5’s images were clearly crisper and less noisy than the VLux 20 at equivalent focal lengths, lighting conditions and ISO settings. Even at base ISO, my VLux20’s images are soft and noisy. Needless to say, it rarely leaves the gear locker.
In my opinion Leica need this kind of cameras. The reason for that is that they need a good mix of high end cameras (e.g. M9, etc.) and this kind of cameras where they can sell a lot of units.
Count me in…who really at SOLMS does believe this camera can be a success?!
A 1/2,33 sensor is even small for a compact camera, very slow lens, high price – and the most important thing – there are already lots of comparable products on the market.
It really is a waste of time, resources LEICA does not have to spend as a small company.
Sorry guys – really can’t see the point…
Hopefully the next announcement in June will make as happier.
Honestly, the press release should read something like this:
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
NEW: THE LEICA V-LUX 30
For more information, please refer to the Panasonic press release of LUMIX ZS10 on Jan 25 2011.
I agree, Ben. Prior to buying a Leica X1, I evaluated many point and shoot cameras, including Leica and Lumix. At every camera store, from New York to DC, sales professionals recommended the Lumix as the smarter buy, citing insignificant differences between comparable cameras from Leica and Panasonic.
If Leica wants a niche point and shoot market, why not develop a line of “Made in Germany” cameras, consistent with the company’s history?
I sincerely would like to understand Leica’s point and shoot strategy. The company continually introduces cameras made by Panasonic after Panasonic has introduced Lumix versions with precisely the same look, features and specs for half the price. Take, for example, Leica’s V-LUX 30 due next month. The Panasonic Lumix dmc-zs10 appears to be precisely the same camera at half the price. Look … Leica is a very special brand that has defined the best quality in photography for decades. Why, then, does the company persist in a line of point and shoot cameras made by Panasonic. Can anyone enlighten me?
Hello David, first I can say that my English is very ugly ..
The story is a bit like Sony and Carl Zeiss compact camera .. unfortunately still not decide to make the new digital zeiss ikon full metal, only rumors …
Surely it works very well for Leica and Panasonic are paying very well! it leaves at least the choice to the consumer such as Audi A6 engine Lamborghini, people will like much more the spirit Lambo race.
Post a Leica lens on Pana is the best way to do their commercials, you want more? it loses nothing, DMC-ZS 10 are like scouts, it works OK! you can go higher now with a modified processor which gives perfect color, nice grain iso and dark vador body ^ ^
There is nothing wrong with paying extra for luxury items. However, comparing Leica/Pana versions of low end cameras is like comparing an Audi A6 and the same Audi A6 with a Lamborghini name tag.
Boring…..
There are no boring cameras, only boring photographers.
’6
Who knows if it is boring before trying it? I got a Canon s95 which I was convinced was not very good, but compared to the tiny sensor it is actually very nice and also a joy to use. It is so small that it fits in almost any pocket, so I always bring it along, which is a clear advantage to a larger camera. .