Leica has released the V-Lux 5, a rebranded Panasonic Lumix DC-FZ1000 II – that was announced back in February – and that’s a successor to its V-Lux Typ 114, which itself was a rebranded Lumix FZ1000.
Aside from a few aesthetic changes, such as a smoothed pop-up flash casing, rounded edges, Leica branding, and the iconic red dot, the V-Lux 5 is identical in specs to the FZ1000 II.

The centerpiece is the combination of a 20-megapixel, 1-inch sensor with a 16X 25-400mm equivalent f/2.8-4.0 lens. You should get good low-light performance and overall high quality, even when you’ve zoomed all the way out. The Panasonic roots also ensure fast autofocus (as little as 0.1 seconds), continuous burst shooting at 12 frames per second and 4K video up to 30FPS. The 2.36M electronic viewfinder and 3-inch swiveling touchscreen remain intact, too.

Leica calls the new V-Lux the “most travel-ready and versatile V-Lux camera to date.”

Featuring a newly developed OLED electronic viewfinder and flip touchscreen panel on the back provide the best view of the subject from every angle. With the touchscreen, helpful automatic modes and smart functions like face recognition or burst shooting, the Leica V-Lux 5 support amateur photographers on their search for the perfect image.

Thanks to its fast autofocus and a high continuous-shooting rate, the camera captures every detail, while innovative exposure modes like ‘Focus Stacking’ and ‘Post-focusing’ enrich its wide range of functions. The V-Lux 5 is the first model in this range that can be used with the Leica FOTOS App. To use the app, the user simply connects the camera to their iOS or Android smartphone via Bluetooth so it can be fully operated remotely. Photos and videos can be quickly and easily transferred for post-processing or sharing on social networks at any time.

The V-Lux 5 also weighs a bit less than its predecessor at 812g (compared to 830g) and battery life is rated for 440 images.

The Leica V-Lux 5 is available to pre-order starting today with a price tag of $1,250.
More info on Leica’s website.