Leica V-Lux 5

The V-Lux 5 is a 2019 bridge camera, which means the lens is built into the body and cannot be exchanged for another. You buy one camera and it stays one camera.

At 812 g and 137 x 97 x 132 mm, it is a body you carry with intent rather than slip into a pocket. It suits someone who wants one capable camera rather than someone assembling a kit.

That single package covers stills, 4K video and wireless connectivity, with a flip-out touchscreen and an electronic viewfinder for eye-level composing.

The 20 megapixel one-inch sensor provides resolution that is enough for prints and generous crops. That balance of resolution and sensor format suits the camera's fixed-lens bridge design.

Because the lens is fixed to the body, camera and optics work as a matched unit, and in-body stabilisation reduces camera shake so handheld shots at slower shutter speeds come out cleaner. It steadies your hands rather than a moving subject, so panning still needs good technique.

Action is served by a maximum burst rate of 12 fps, enough to catch a stride sequence or an animal turning its head, along with a top shutter speed of 1/4000s for freezing motion in daylight. Autofocus offers a 49-point system for placing focus.

Sensitivity runs from ISO 80 to 12500, leaving room to work in dim interiors while keeping a low base for bright days. The 2.36-million-dot electronic viewfinder gives an eye-level preview of the scene as you shoot.

Video tops out at 4K resolution, and the maximum frame rate the camera offers is 60 fps. The two are separate limits rather than a confirmed 4K 60 fps recording mode. Files are captured in the MPEG-4 format.

Handheld video benefits from the in-body stabilisation, which reduces the camera shake that holding the camera introduces. It steadies the camera rather than the subject, so movement in the scene is unaffected. The screen flips out and accepts touch input, letting you hold the camera low or high and frame yourself when filming toward you.

There is no built-in timelapse mode. If frame-by-frame sequences appeal, you will need another way to trigger the shots and assemble them in editing afterwards.

Shooting is mainly through a 3-inch TFT LCD with 1.24 million dots and touch input. The panel flips out, so you can compose from waist level, above a crowd or turned toward yourself.

Light is covered from both directions. A built-in flash handles occasional indoor fill, and the camera also supports an external flash when you want more power or control over your lighting.

Wireless connectivity comes via both Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, giving the camera two wireless standards for connecting to other devices.

Two things are absent. There is no GPS for automatic location tagging, and the body has no weather sealing, so it pays to keep it out of heavy rain and dust.

Storage goes to SD, SDHC and SDXC cards in a single slot. Plan capacity for the whole shoot and carry a spare card, since one high-capacity SDXC card is what covers both stills and 4K clips on a longer day.

The BP-DC12 battery is rated at 360 shots per charge. Heavy use of the screen and wireless features can bring the real-world count below that figure, so a second battery is a sensible precaution for a long day out.

Charging over USB is a practical convenience. You can top the battery up from the same kind of setup you use for other devices, which is one dedicated charger less to pack.