Leica V-Lux 20 gets leaked with (nearly) reasonable price tag

An M9 it ain't, but Leica's latest still might tickle the fancy of those who see value in paying for that cute red logo. If the image above and details linked down there in the source are to be believed, the V-Lux 20 will be launching in five short days, bringing with it a 3-inch rear LCD, 25mm to 300mm zoom range, integrated GPS and price of nearly €549 ($744). The tough news is that this thing is based around Panasonic's ZS-7, which can be had right now for under $400, so it's hard to say how much value you'll get in paying more for Leica's variant. If all goes well, it's rumored to be in stores by May 9th, sitting right alongside the ultra affordable leather case (€99) and extra battery (€69).

Update: Now even Leica is saying some "fresh" camera news is on the way. Boom.

[Casuist Posted Apr 15th 2010 4:09PM]

It doesn't even look that nice.

[xValentine Posted Apr 15th 2010 11:34PM]

@Casuist

beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

[NavyBrush Posted Apr 16th 2010 12:18AM]

@Casuist

Although it's not aestheically pleasing, Leica has excellent optics. I use a very nice Leica fluorescence microscope in my lab and we get excellent pictures.

[Bahumbug Posted Apr 16th 2010 1:32AM]

@Casuist It does. Its retro design btw. Theyve deen selling cameras with that look before you were born.

[milkham Posted Apr 16th 2010 2:45AM]

@NavyBrush the thing is, this is exactly the same camera as the Panasonic version, lens and all.

[SaggyBalls Posted Apr 15th 2010 4:09PM]

This is freaking outstanding, I have been waiting for this camera for so long now...I'm just kidding, first post, BOOYAH!!

[Casuist Posted Apr 15th 2010 4:10PM]

@SaggyBalls well don't you look silly

[SaggyBalls Posted Apr 15th 2010 4:11PM]

@Casuist
Yes, yes I do. Well played sir.

[Palpatine Posted Apr 15th 2010 4:23PM]

@Casuist
No, he looks saggy. Even saggier than me.

[michaelwub Posted Apr 15th 2010 4:25PM]

@Palpatine

Maybe you need some glasses emperor, he looks like a spanner to me.

[SaggyBalls Posted Apr 15th 2010 11:02PM]

@michaelwub

Man, you guys take yourselves way too seriously, I was just having a bit of fun with an otherwise boring engadget post. Lighten up, dickface.

[Bahumbug Posted Apr 16th 2010 1:34AM]

@SaggyBalls Said the dick.

[SaggyBalls Posted Apr 15th 2010 4:09PM]

Oh no you di'int Casuist, dammit.

[Sunweb Posted Apr 15th 2010 4:13PM]

"Based around"? This thing is a rebranded ZS-7 for all we know.

[flanders Posted Apr 15th 2010 4:52PM]

@Sunweb It would be nice if they did a side by side comparison, so we can see if it is indeed worth the extra cash.

[DetlevCM Posted Apr 15th 2010 4:16PM]

If they designed the optics on that then that part will be near unbeatable in the compact design of that range.

However, from what little I can see this doesn't look to great :( - a shame...

[David G Posted Apr 15th 2010 9:54PM]

@DetlevCM
Is that a Meisterstück?!

[DetlevCM Posted Apr 16th 2010 12:28AM]

@David G
Hello David,
well spotted, it actually is.
P146 LeGrand to be exact :)

[hdawggy Posted Apr 15th 2010 4:22PM]

Nope not reasonable at all....

[Patlex Posted Apr 15th 2010 4:23PM]

Does this suppor raw?

[techlord Posted Apr 15th 2010 4:26PM]

For the price tag you could get m4/3 with much bigger lens.

[JRKScope Posted Apr 15th 2010 4:38PM]

@techlord not to mention a bigger sensor. You could get a great E-PL1 or a DMC-G1 for that price. Spend a little more and you'll get an E-P2 or soon a G2.

[DanKennedy Posted Apr 15th 2010 9:51PM]

@techlord if by bigger you mean physically larger then yeah sure you could easily as the built in lens on this camera is smaller than any interchangeable lens system.

However, it has a 12x optical zoom, good luck getting that on an m4/3 camera.

[DrDr Posted Apr 16th 2010 1:00AM]

@DanKennedy

The GH1 has a 10x zoom standard.

In fact, it is probably made by the same people that made this one, since they are all panasonic/LEICA anyway.

[joquarky Posted Apr 19th 2010 4:43PM]

@techlord

Or sacrifice zoom and just get an LX3.

I'm still waiting on news of an LX4 or something like it.

[hajj3 Posted Apr 15th 2010 4:28PM]

i presume it does 720p with AVC-HD lite or something? wonder what the f values for the lens are. Would be nice to see reviews comparing it to the other high end compact point and shoot cameras.

[DanKennedy Posted Apr 15th 2010 9:53PM]

@hajj3 re: f-values I'd imagine are exactly as printed on the lens 1:3.3-4.9
so, f/3.3 at 25mm and f/4.9 at 300mm (equiv FOV).

[Diesel1313 Posted Apr 15th 2010 4:36PM]

Its A Panasonic Lumix, please save your cash and just buy the panasonic version.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Panasonic-Digital-Camera-12-1MP-Optical/dp/B0031MA0ZE/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1271363748&sr=8-6

Or better yet just buy a Canon Digitial Camera like a G9.G10.G11

etc

[gadgetfanboy Posted Apr 15th 2010 6:53PM]

@Diesel1313

or what this is clearly a competitor to, the Canon S90

[Tammacho Posted Apr 15th 2010 4:49PM]

No real news here. It's just a Panasonic re-brand with maybe a few extra perks in the software. They've done this with Panasonic before...no reason to waste your money on the Leica name on this camera.

Now, if they'll see me an M9 for $744, that would be some news.

[redandwhite Posted Apr 15th 2010 5:53PM]

I know it's just another rebadge job from a Panny... but dear god I love the retro styling and that beautifully prestigious red dot.

[Wolfticket Posted Apr 15th 2010 8:06PM]

@redandwhite
It won't be prestigious for much longer if they keep glueing them to Panasonics for $100.

[giedrys Posted Apr 15th 2010 7:18PM]

Yeah, looks like my panasonic zs3. Great compact camera, btw.

[awezman Posted Apr 15th 2010 7:37PM]

This thing looks like exactly like my panasonic dmctz5 from two years ago with a couple minute details changed. I think my panasonic has the same lense from this camera 25mm wide angle 10x zoom.

[peepeeland Posted Apr 15th 2010 9:08PM]

At that price, one could buy a new Jaguar, a mansion in Honolulu, and 50,000 happy endings.

RIPOFF.

[Mike V Posted Apr 15th 2010 10:57PM]

These cameras are exactly the same as the Panasonic ones with a paint job and a logo glued on.

Think very hard how much that red dot is worth to you before buying there.

[TimeForTheFairTax Posted Apr 15th 2010 11:15PM]

I'm sure the Leica glass is magnitudes better but can a compact take advantage of it?

[Wolfticket Posted Apr 16th 2010 7:12AM]

@TimeForTheFairTax
Panasonic have Leica for most of their compact cameras (including the one this is based on), Sony+others have Zeiss. Hell my Nokia 5800 has a Zeiss "lens".

I doubt they bare much resemblance to their real glass and hazard a guess that it is primary a marketing/money making tool.