Cameras with a Larger Sensor

1" Sensor: Sony RX100 M1 | APS-C Sensor (Weak AA Filter): Leica X Vario | APS-C Sensor (no AA Filter): Ricoh GR | Full Format (no AA Filter): Leica M (Typ 240)

1" Sensor: Sony RX100 M1

The Sony RX100 M1 was one of the first cameras using the new 1 "sensor (not the background-lit version!). It offers 20 (!) Megapixel and is now a bit outdated (released in 2012). However, it is still being sold (beginning of 2015), and we acquired it in the fall of 2014. Here it is presented in order to show the performance of a sensor (crop factor 2.7) that is larger than the ones used in compact cameras, but smaller than the ones used in advanced cameras.

Even though many tests state that the image quality is good up to ISO 1600, noise is quite strongly "smoothed out" above ISO 800. However, even ISO 6400 photos look better than ISO 800 photos of the CX4 with a 1/2.3 "sensor.

APS-C Sensor (Weak AA Filter): Leica X Vario

The Leica Vario X uses an older, but well-respected 16 Megapixels Sony sensor with a weak AA filter (moire filter). The camera was introduced in 2013. I acquired it a few months after its release.

The difference between the Leica X Vario and the Sony RX100 seems to be lower than one would expect regarding the larger sensor size of the X Vario. However, the X Vario's lens is much better, which also contributes to a better overall impression.

Leica itself describes ISO 12500 as a "stopgap", and definetely you can see why... I usually do not go beyond ISO 1600; I use ISO 3200 (or even ISO 6400) only in exceptional cases.

APS-C Sensor (no AA Filter): Ricoh GR

The Ricoh GR uses an older, but well-respected 16 Megapixels Sony sensor without AA filter (moire filter), which is otherwise largely identical to the Leica X Vario's sensor. The camera was also introduced in 2013, I acquired it at the end of 2013.

I find good image quality up to and including ISO 1600 (ISO 800 is even better) - I would go beyond ISO 6400 only as a last resort. The GR photos appear perhaps a "small bit" sharper than the Leica Vario-X photos (because the GR's sensor lacks an AA filter), but I can not see large differences between both cameras. The difference between the Ricoh GR and the Sony RX100 seems to be lower than one would expect regarding the larger sensor size of the GR. However, the GR's fixed lens is much better, which also contributes to a better overall impression.

The difference to the Sony RX100 is lower than one would expect because of the dual sensor size. However, the appearance of the GR is much better, which also contributes to a better overall impression.

Full Format (no AA Filter): Leica M (Typ 240)

The Leica M (Typ 240) uses a 24 Megapixels CMOSIS full-format sensor without AA filter (moire filter). The camera was introduced in autumn 2012, available around spring 2013, and I acquired it at the end of October 2015.

I find good image quality up to and including ISO 1600 (ISO 800 is even better) - I would go to ISO 6400 only as a last resort (Leica calls it "PUSH 6400" to indicate that there are quality losses involved). ISO 100 is not "native" (Leica calls it "PULL 100") to the sensor.