Leica X Vario Pro Reviews

The Leica X Vario proved to be more than just an X2 with a fixed-lens zoom, and certainly adds up to more than the sum of its parts. The camera's body design and controls drip with precision engineering, making it a complete joy to hold and shoot. Though the 28-70mm equivalent Vario-Elmar zoom lens may not be the brightest in the world -- providing maximum apertures of just f/3.5-6.4 -- it's nonetheless incredibly sharp corner-to-corner. Combine the lens with an excellent 16.2 megapixel, APS-C sensor and nimble processor, and the X Vario delivers tremendous image quality with incredibly accurate colors, with its high ISO results featuring a pleasing film-like grain. This model may be one of the least expensive "Made in Germany" Leica cameras, but it's still a pricey proposition at US$2,850, making it a luxury compact for a photographer willing to pay a premium for form, function and fine photos.

The Leica X Vario (Typ 107) camera marries a zoom lens to a big APS-C image sensor, but its slow lens and high price make it a tough sell.