This camera, the Leica V-LUX 20, is an almost atom-to-atom copy of the $399 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS7, is tough to love off the bat. it costs $699 and has a 12 megapixel sensor with 12x wide angle optical zoom and it takes good pictures in most situations.
The V-LUX 20 also includes a GPS chip that allows you to tag your images on the go. However, all of these are available in the Lumix model and the Lumix supports HD video. Which one should you buy?
If you’re going to go the Leica route, I’d recommend the D-Lux 4 before this one. It will be a bit cheaper and the low-light shooting is amazing. However, this is a stable, small, and usable little camera. Would I recommend it over a Canon G11 or an Olympus E-PL1? Probably not, but if you’re a die-hard Leica head you might as well give this a second look.
Here are some sample shots. Generally, bright light shooting was perfect whereas low-light shooting was abysmal, as can be expected from this type of camera. It’s a trade-off – and a big one – and definitely something to think about if you plan on shooting lots of nightlife.
