What is the pixel pitch of the Leica X Vario?

The Leica X Vario (Typ 107) provides 16.1 megapixels from an APS-C sensor. This pixel density gives rise to a size of the individual pixel of 4.80µm.

The pixel size or pixel pitch can be calculated by dividing the sensor area by the pixel count and then taking the square root. In particular, the sensor in the Leica X Vario measures 23.6mm in width and 15.7mm in height, so that the total imaging area of the sensor amounts to 371 mm². Moreover, the X Vario has 4 928 horizontal pixels and 3 272 vertical pixels, for a total of 16.1 megapixels. Then, the size (height or width) of each individual pixel can be calculated as the square root of the ratio of the sensor area (371 mm²) to the MP count (16 124 416).

Larger pixels provide advantages with respect to gathering light, particularly in low-light situations. Large pixels notably have a better signal to noise ratio, meaning that they can better differentiate between incoming photons and the noisy signals that the internal processes of the camera create. As a result, big pixels are particularly helpful to the photographer when shooting with high ISO settings.

Sensor specs and performance

The table below compares the sensor specs of the Leica X Vario to those of several similar cameras. The reported DXO values are indicators of the sensor's imaging quality (higher is better), covering color depth (DXO Portrait), dynamic range (DXO Landscape), and high-ISO noise (DXO Sports). Larger sensor cameras tend to outperform cameras of the same generation that are equipped with a smaller imager. On the other hand, larger sensors are more expensive and require bigger and heavier lenses than smaller light receptors.

Sensor Characteristics

		Camera Model	Sensor Class	Resolution (MP)	Horiz. Pixels	Vert. Pixels	Video Format	DXO Portrait	DXO Landscape	DXO Sports	DXO Overall
1.		Leica X Vario	APS-C	16.1	4928	3272	1080/30p	23.4	12.7	1320	78
2.		Leica Q Typ 116	Full Frame	24.0	6000	4000	1080/60p	24.3	12.7	2221	85
3.		Leica T	APS-C	16.2	4944	3278	1080/30p	23.0	12.7	1082	75
4.		Leica X2	APS-C	16.1	4928	3264	none	23.2	12.4	1275	74
5.		Leica X Typ 113	APS-C	16.1	4928	3264	1080/30p	23.6	12.8	1491	78
6.		Leica X-U Typ 113	APS-C	16.1	4928	3264	1080/30p	23.8	13.0	1614	80
7.		Nikon Coolpix A	APS-C	16.1	4928	3264	1080/30p	23.4	13.8	1164	80
8.		Nikon Df	Full Frame	16.2	4928	3280	none	24.6	13.1	3279	89
9.		Panasonic FZ1000	1-inch	20.0	5472	3648	4K/30p	22.1	11.7	517	64
10.		Ricoh GR	APS-C	16.1	4928	3264	1080/30p	23.6	13.5	972	78
11.		Sony RX1R	Full Frame	24.0	6000	4000	1080/60p	25.0	13.6	2537	91
Note: DXO values in italics represent estimates based on sensor size and age.

Further information on the sensor in the Leica X Vario and the camera's operation can be found in the camera manual.

In the United States, the X Vario was initially launched in June 2013 at a price of $2,849.

Check X Vario offers at
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Camera to camera comparisons

In case you are interested in seeing how this camera compares to another one, just use the search menu below. There is also a set of direct links to comparison reviews that other users of the CAM-parator app explored.

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