Leica V-LUX 2 vs Nikon D2H

The Leica V-LUX 2 and the Nikon D2H are two digital cameras that were announced, respectively, in September 2010 and July 2003. The V-LUX 2 is a fixed lens compact, while the D2H is a DSLR. The cameras are based on a 1/2.3-inch (V-LUX 2) and an APS-C (D2H) sensor. The Leica has a resolution of 14 megapixels, whereas the Nikon provides 4 MP.

Below is an overview of the main specs of the two cameras as a starting point for the comparison.

Headline Specifications

Leica V-LUX 2		Nikon D2H
Fixed lens compact camera		Digital single lens reflex
25-600mm f/2.8-5.2		Nikon F mount lenses
14 MP, 1/2.3" Sensor		4 MP, APS-C Sensor
1080/60i Video		no Video
ISO 100-1,600 (100 - 6,400)		ISO 200-1,600 (200 - 6,400)
Electronic viewfinder (202k dots)		Optical viewfinder
3.0 LCD, 460k dots		2.5 LCD, 211k dots
Swivel screen (not touch-sensitive)		Fixed screen (not touch-sensitive)
11 shutter flaps per second		8 shutter flaps per second
not weather sealed		Weathersealed body
410 shots per battery charge		2900 shots per battery charge
124 x 80 x 95 mm, 520 g		158 x 150 x 86 mm, 1070 g

Going beyond this snapshot of core features and characteristics, what are the differences between the Leica V-LUX 2 and the Nikon D2H? Which one should you buy? Read on to find out how these two cameras compare with respect to their body size, their imaging sensors, their shooting features, their input-output connections, and their reception by expert reviewers.

Body comparison

The physical size and weight of the Leica V-LUX 2 and the Nikon D2H are illustrated in the side-by-side display below. The two cameras are presented according to their relative size. Three successive views from the front, the top, and the rear are shown. All width, height and depth measures are rounded to the nearest millimeter.

If the front view area (width x height) of the cameras is taken as an aggregate measure of their size, the Nikon D2H is considerably larger (139 percent) than the Leica V-LUX 2. It is noteworthy in this context that the D2H is splash and dust-proof, while the V-LUX 2 does not feature any corresponding weather-sealing.

The above size and weight comparisons are to some extent incomplete and possibly misleading, as the V-LUX 2 has a lens built in, whereas the D2H is an interchangeable lens camera that requires a separate lens. Attaching the latter will add extra weight and bulk to the setup. You can compare the optics available for the D2H and their specifications in the Nikon Lens Catalog.

As can be seen in the images above, the D2H has a battery grip built in. This facilitates image-taking in portrait orientation and gives it additional battery power.

The adjacent table lists the principal physical characteristics of the two cameras alongside a wider set of alternatives. If you would like to visualize and compare a different camera combination, you can navigate to the CAM-parator app and make your selection from a broad list of cameras there.

Body Specifications

		Camera Model	Camera Width	Camera Height	Camera Depth	Camera Weight	Battery Life	Weather Sealing	Camera Launch	Launch Price (USD)	Street Price
1.		Leica V-LUX 2	124 mm	80 mm	95 mm	520 g	410	n	Sep 2010	849
2.		Nikon D2H	158 mm	150 mm	86 mm	1070 g	2900	Y	Jul 2003	3,499
3.		Canon G1 X Mark II	116 mm	74 mm	66 mm	553 g	240	n	Feb 2014	799
4.		Canon G1 X	117 mm	81 mm	65 mm	534 g	250	n	Jan 2012	799
5.		Fujifilm X100	126 mm	75 mm	54 mm	445 g	300	n	Sep 2010	1,199
6.		Leica X Typ 113	133 mm	73 mm	78 mm	486 g	350	n	Sep 2014	2,295
7.		Leica V-LUX 4	125 mm	87 mm	110 mm	588 g	540	n	Sep 2012	949
8.		Leica V-LUX 3	124 mm	81 mm	95 mm	540 g	410	n	Dec 2011	949
9.		Leica V-LUX 1	141 mm	86 mm	142 mm	734 g	360	n	Sep 2006	849
10.		Nikon D850	146 mm	124 mm	79 mm	1005 g	1840	Y	Jul 2017	3,299
11.		Nikon D810	146 mm	123 mm	82 mm	980 g	1200	Y	Jun 2014	3,299
12.		Nikon D5100	128 mm	97 mm	79 mm	560 g	660	n	Apr 2011	749
13.		Nikon D700	147 mm	123 mm	77 mm	1074 g	1000	Y	Jul 2008	2,999
14.		Nikon D2X	158 mm	150 mm	86 mm	1252 g	3800	Y	Sep 2004	4,999
15.		Nikon D1H	157 mm	153 mm	85 mm	1100 g	1200	Y	Feb 2001	4,499
16.		Panasonic FZ150	124 mm	82 mm	92 mm	528 g	410	n	Aug 2011	499
17.		Panasonic FZ100	124 mm	82 mm	92 mm	540 g	410	n	Jul 2010	499
Notes: Measurements and pricing do not include easily detachable parts, such as add-on or interchangeable lenses or optional viewfinders.
Convert to Imperial

The price is, of course, an important factor in any camera decision. The retail prices at the time of the camera’s release place the model in the market relative to other models in the producer’s line-up and the competition. The V-LUX 2 was launched at a lower price than the D2H, despite having a lens built in. Normally, street prices remain initially close to the MSRP, but after a couple of months, the first discounts appear. Later in the product cycle and, in particular, when the replacement model is about to appear, further discounting and stock clearance sales often push the camera price considerably down.

Sensor comparison

The size of the sensor inside a digital camera is one of the key determinants of image quality. A large sensor will generally have larger individual pixels that offer better low-light sensitivity, provide wider dynamic range, and have richer color-depth than smaller pixels in a sensor of the same technological generation. Further, a large sensor camera will give the photographer additional creative options when using shallow depth-of-field to isolate a subject from its background. On the downside, larger sensors are more costly to manufacture and tend to lead to bigger and heavier cameras and lenses.

Of the two cameras under consideration, the Leica V-LUX 2 features a 1/2.3-inch sensor and the Nikon D2H an APS-C sensor. The sensor area in the D2H is 1189 percent bigger. As a result of these sensor size differences, the cameras have a format factor of, respectively, 5.6 and 1.5. The sensor in the V-LUX 2 has a native 4:3 aspect ratio, while the one in the D2H offers a 3:2 aspect.

Despite having a smaller sensor, the Leica V-LUX 2 offers a higher resolution of 14 megapixels, compared with 4 MP of the Nikon D2H. This megapixels advantage comes at the cost of a higher pixel density and a smaller size of the individual pixel (with a pixel pitch of 1.41μm versus 9.50μm for the D2H). However, it should be noted that the V-LUX 2 is much more recent (by 7 years and 2 months) than the D2H, and its sensor will have benefitted from technological advances during this time that make it possible to gather light more efficiently. Coming back to sensor resolution, it should be mentioned that the V-LUX 2 has no anti-alias filter installed, so that it can capture all the detail its sensor resolves.

The resolution advantage of the Leica V-LUX 2 implies greater flexibility for cropping images or the possibility to print larger pictures. The maximum print size of the V-LUX 2 for good quality output (200 dots per inch) amounts to 21.6 x 16.2 inches or 54.9 x 41.1 cm, for very good quality (250 dpi) 17.3 x 13 inches or 43.9 x 32.9 cm, and for excellent quality (300 dpi) 14.4 x 10.8 inches or 36.6 x 27.4 cm. The corresponding values for the Nikon D2H are 12.3 x 8.2 inches or 31.3 x 20.7 cm for good quality, 9.9 x 6.5 inches or 25 x 16.6 cm for very good quality, and 8.2 x 5.4 inches or 20.9 x 13.8 cm for excellent quality prints.

The Leica V-LUX 2 has a native sensitivity range from ISO 100 to ISO 1600, which can be extended to ISO 100-6400. The corresponding ISO settings for the Nikon D2H are ISO 200 to ISO 1600, with the possibility to increase the ISO range to 200-6400.

Consistent information on actual sensor performance is available from DXO Mark for many cameras. This service is based on lab testing and assigns an overall score to each camera sensor, as well as ratings for dynamic range ("DXO Landscape"), color depth ("DXO Portrait"), and low-light sensitivity ("DXO Sports"). The following table provides an overview of the physical sensor characteristics, as well as the sensor quality measurements for a selection of comparators.

Sensor Characteristics

		Camera Model	Sensor Class	Resolution (MP)	Horiz. Pixels	Vert. Pixels	Video Format	DXO Portrait	DXO Landscape	DXO Sports	DXO Overall
1.		Leica V-LUX 2	1/2.3	14.0	4320	3240	1080/60i	..	..	..	..
2.		Nikon D2H	APS-C	4.0	2464	1632	none	18.9	10.0	352	40
3.		Canon G1 X Mark II	1.5-inch	13.0	4160	3120	1080/30p	21.5	10.8	581	58
4.		Canon G1 X	1.5-inch	14.2	4352	3264	1080/24p	21.7	10.8	644	60
5.		Fujifilm X100	APS-C	12.2	4288	2848	720/30p	22.9	12.4	1001	73
6.		Leica X Typ 113	APS-C	16.1	4928	3264	1080/30p	..	..	..	..
7.		Leica V-LUX 4	1/2.3	12.0	4000	3000	1080/60p	..	..	..	..
8.		Leica V-LUX 3	1/2.3	12.0	4000	3000	1080/60p	..	..	..	..
9.		Leica V-LUX 1	1/1.8	10.0	3648	2736	480/30p	..	..	..	..
10.		Nikon D850	Full Frame	45.4	8256	5504	4K/30p	26.4	14.8	2660	100
11.		Nikon D810	Full Frame	36.2	7360	4912	1080/60p	25.7	14.8	2853	97
12.		Nikon D5100	APS-C	16.1	4928	3264	1080/30p	23.5	13.6	1183	80
13.		Nikon D700	Full Frame	12.1	4256	2832	none	23.5	12.2	2303	80
14.		Nikon D2X	APS-C	12.2	4288	2848	none	22.1	10.9	476	59
15.		Nikon D1H	APS-C	2.6	2000	1312	none	..	..	..	..
16.		Panasonic FZ150	1/2.3	12.0	4000	3000	1080/60p	19.4	10.9	132	40
17.		Panasonic FZ100	1/2.3	14.0	4320	3240	1080/60i	..	..	..	..

Many modern cameras are not only capable of taking still images, but also of capturing video footage. The V-LUX 2 indeed provides movie recording capabilities, while the D2H does not. The highest resolution format that the V-LUX 2 can use is 1080/60i.

Feature comparison

Apart from body and sensor, cameras can and do differ across a variety of features. For example, the V-LUX 2 has an electronic viewfinder (202k dots), while the D2H has an optical one. Both systems have their advantages, with the electronic viewfinder making it possible to project supplementary shooting information into the framing view, whereas the optical viewfinder offers lag-free viewing and a very clear framing image. The following table reports on some other key feature differences and similarities of the Leica V-LUX 2, the Nikon D2H, and comparable cameras.

Core Features

		Camera Model	Viewfinder (Type or 000 dots)	Control Panel (yes/no)	LCD Specifications (inch/000 dots)	LCD Attach- ment	Touch Screen (yes/no)	Mech Shutter Speed	Shutter Flaps (1/sec)	Built-in Flash (yes/no)	Built-in Image Stab
1.		Leica V-LUX 2	202	n	3.0 / 460	swivel	n	1/2000s	11.0	Y	Y
2.		Nikon D2H	optical	Y	2.5 / 211	fixed	n	1/8000s	8.0	n	n
3.		Canon G1 X Mark II	optional	n	3.0 / 1040	tilting	Y	1/4000s	5.2	Y	Y
4.		Canon G1 X	optical	n	3.0 / 922	swivel	n	1/4000s	1.9	Y	Y
5.		Fujifilm X100	1440	n	2.8 / 460	fixed	n	1/4000s	5.0	Y	n
6.		Leica X Typ 113	optional	n	3.0 / 920	fixed	n	1/2000s	5.0	Y	n
7.		Leica V-LUX 4	1312	n	3.0 / 460	swivel	n	1/4000s	12.0	Y	Y
8.		Leica V-LUX 3	202	n	3.0 / 460	swivel	n	1/2000s	12.0	Y	Y
9.		Leica V-LUX 1	235	n	2.0 / 207	tilting	n	1/2000s	2.0	Y	Y
10.		Nikon D850	optical	Y	3.2 / 2359	tilting	Y	1/8000s	9.0	n	n
11.		Nikon D810	optical	Y	3.2 / 1229	fixed	n	1/8000s	5.0	Y	n
12.		Nikon D5100	optical	n	3.0 / 921	swivel	n	1/4000s	4.0	Y	n
13.		Nikon D700	optical	Y	3.0 / 922	fixed	n	1/8000s	8.0	Y	n
14.		Nikon D2X	optical	Y	2.5 / 235	fixed	n	1/8000s	5.0	n	n
15.		Nikon D1H	optical	Y	2.0 / 120	fixed	n	1/16000s	5.0	n	n
16.		Panasonic FZ150	202	n	3.0 / 460	swivel	n	1/2000s	12.0	Y	Y
17.		Panasonic FZ100	202	n	3.0 / 460	swivel	n	1/2000s	11.0	Y	Y

One difference between the cameras concerns the presence of an on-board flash. The V-LUX 2 has one, while the D2H does not. While the built-in flash of the V-LUX 2 is not very powerful, it can at times be useful as a fill-in light.

The V-LUX 2 writes its imaging data to SDXC cards, while the D2H uses Compact Flash cards.

Connectivity comparison

For some imaging applications, the extent to which a camera can communicate with its environment can be an important aspect in the camera decision process. The table below provides an overview of the connectivity of the Leica V-LUX 2 and Nikon D2H and, in particular, the interfaces the cameras (and selected comparators) provide for accessory control and data transfer.

Input-Output Connections

		Camera Model	Hotshoe Port	Internal Mic / Speaker	Microphone Port	Headphone Port	HDMI Port	USB Port	WiFi Support	NFC Support	Bluetooth Support
1.		Leica V-LUX 2	Y	stereo / mono	-	-	mini	2.0	-	-	-
2.		Nikon D2H	Y	- / -	-	-	-	2.0	-	-	-
3.		Canon G1 X Mark II	Y	stereo / mono	-	-	mini	2.0	Y	Y	-
4.		Canon G1 X	Y	stereo / mono	-	-	mini	2.0	-	-	-
5.		Fujifilm X100	Y	stereo / -	-	-	mini	2.0	-	-	-
6.		Leica X Typ 113	Y	stereo / mono	-	-	mini	2.0	-	-	-
7.		Leica V-LUX 4	Y	stereo / mono	Y	-	mini	2.0	-	-	-
8.		Leica V-LUX 3	Y	stereo / -	-	-	mini	2.0	-	-	-
9.		Leica V-LUX 1	Y	mono / mono	-	-	-	2.0	-	-	-
10.		Nikon D850	Y	stereo / mono	Y	Y	mini	3.0	Y	Y	Y
11.		Nikon D810	Y	stereo / mono	Y	Y	mini	3.0	Y	-	-
12.		Nikon D5100	Y	mono / mono	Y	-	mini	2.0	-	-	-
13.		Nikon D700	Y	- / -	-	-	mini	2.0	-	-	-
14.		Nikon D2X	Y	- / -	-	-	-	2.0	-	-	-
15.		Nikon D1H	Y	- / -	-	-	-	FW	-	-	-
16.		Panasonic FZ150	Y	stereo / -	-	-	mini	2.0	-	-	-
17.		Panasonic FZ100	Y	stereo / mono	-	-	mini	2.0	-	-	-

Studio photographers will appreciate that the Nikon D2H (unlike the V-LUX 2) features a PC Sync socket, so that professional strobe lights can be controlled by the camera.

Both the V-LUX 2 and the D2H have been discontinued, but can regularly be found used on eBay. The D2H was replaced by the Nikon D2Hs, while the V-LUX 2 was followed by the Leica V-LUX 3. Further information on the two cameras (e.g. user guides, manuals), as well as related accessories, can be found on the official Leica and Nikon websites.

Review summary

So what is the bottom line? Is the Leica V-LUX 2 better than the Nikon D2H or vice versa? Below is a summary of the relative strengths of each of the two contestants.

Arguments in favor of the Leica V-LUX 2:

• More detail: Offers more megapixels (14 vs 4MP) with a 83% higher linear resolution.
• Maximized detail: Lacks an anti-alias filter to exploit the sensor's full resolution potential.
• Broader imaging potential: Can record not only still images but also 1080/60i movies.
• More framing info: Has an electronic viewfinder that displays shooting data.
• Larger screen: Has a bigger rear LCD (3.0" vs 2.5") for image review and settings control.
• More detailed LCD: Has a higher resolution rear screen (460k vs 211k dots).
• More flexible LCD: Has a swivel screen for odd-angle shots in portrait or landscape orientation.
• More selfie-friendly: Has an articulated screen that can be turned to be front-facing.
• Faster burst: Shoots at higher frequency (11 vs 8 flaps/sec) to capture the decisive moment.
• Ready to shoot: Comes with a built-in lens, while the D2H requires a separate lens.
• More compact: Is smaller (124x80mm vs 158x150mm) and thus needs less room in the bag.
• Less heavy: Is lighter even though it comes with a built-in lens (unlike the D2H).
• Sharper images: Has hand-shake reducing image stabilization built-in.
• Easier fill-in: Is equipped with a small onboard flash to brighten deep shadow areas.
• More prestigious: Has the Leica luxury appeal, which ensures a high resale price.
• More affordable: Was introduced at a lower price, despite coming with a built-in lens.
• More modern: Reflects 7 years and 2 months of technical progress since the D2H launch.

Reasons to prefer the Nikon D2H:

• Better moiré control: Has an anti-alias filter to avoid artificial patterns to appear in images.
• Better image quality: Features bigger pixels on a larger sensor for higher quality imaging.
• Richer colors: The pixel size advantage translates into images with better, more accurate colors.
• More dynamic range: Larger pixels capture a wider spectrum of light and dark details.
• Better low-light sensitivity: Larger pixels means good image quality even under poor lighting.
• Brighter framing: Features an optical viewfinder for clear, lag-free composition.
• Easier setting verification: Features a control panel on top to check shooting parameters.
• Faster shutter: Has higher mechanical shutter speed (1/8000s vs 1/2000s) to freeze action.
• More flexible: Makes it possible to change lenses and thus to use specialty optics.
• More portrait friendly: Features an integrated vertical grip for easier portrait shooting.
• Longer lasting: Gets more shots (2900 versus 410) out of a single battery charge.
• Better sealing: Is splash and dust sealed for shooting in inclement weather conditions.
• Better studio light control: Has a PC Sync socket to connect to professional strobe lights.
• More heavily discounted: Has been around for much longer (launched in July 2003).

If the number of relative strengths (bullet points above) is taken as a guide, the V-LUX 2 emerges as the winner of the contest (17 : 14 points). However, the relevance of individual strengths will vary across photographers, so that you might want to apply your own weighing scheme to the summary points when reflecting and deciding on a new camera. A professional wildlife photographer will view the differences between cameras in a way that diverges from the perspective of a family photog, and a person interested in architecture has distinct needs from a sports shooter. Hence, the decision which camera is best and worth buying is often a very personal one.

How about other alternatives? Do the specifications of the Leica V-LUX 2 and the Nikon D2H place the cameras among the top in their class? Find out in the latest Best Superzoom Camera and Best DSLR Camera listings whether the two cameras rank among the cream of the crop.

In any case, while the specs-based evaluation of cameras can be instructive in revealing their potential as photographic tools, it remains incomplete and does no justice, for example, to the way the V-LUX 2 or the D2H perform in practice. User reviews that are available, for instance, at amazon can sometimes shed light on these issues, but such feedback is all too often partial, inconsistent, and inaccurate.

Expert reviews

This is why expert reviews are important. The adjacent summary-table relays the overall verdicts of several of the most popular camera review sites (amateurphotographer [AP], cameralabs [CL], digitalcameraworld [DCW], dpreview [DPR], ephotozine [EPZ], photographyblog [PB]). As can be seen, the professional reviewers agree in many cases on the quality of different cameras, but sometimes their assessments diverge, reinforcing the earlier point that a camera decision is often a very personal choice.

Expert Camera Reviews

		Camera   Model	AP   score	CL   score	DCW   score	DPR   score	EPZ   score	PB   score	Camera Launch	Launch Price (USD)	Street Price
1.		Leica V-LUX 2	..	..	..	..	..	..	Sep 2010	849
2.		Nikon D2H	..	..	..	+ +	..	..	Jul 2003	3,499
3.		Canon G1 X Mark II	3/5	+	..	77/100	4/5	4.5/5	Feb 2014	799
4.		Canon G1 X	5/5	+	..	76/100	4/5	4.5/5	Jan 2012	799
5.		Fujifilm X100	3/5	..	..	75/100	4/5	5/5	Sep 2010	1,199
6.		Leica X Typ 113	3.5/5	..	..	..	3.5/5	4/5	Sep 2014	2,295
7.		Leica V-LUX 4	..	..	..	..	..	..	Sep 2012	949
8.		Leica V-LUX 3	..	..	..	..	..	..	Dec 2011	949
9.		Leica V-LUX 1	..	..	..	..	..	..	Sep 2006	849
10.		Nikon D850	4.5/5	+ +	5/5	89/100	4.5/5	5/5	Jul 2017	3,299
11.		Nikon D810	5/5	..	5/5	86/100	5/5	4.5/5	Jun 2014	3,299
12.		Nikon D5100	5/5	+ +	..	76/100	4.5/5	4.5/5	Apr 2011	749
13.		Nikon D700	..	89/100	..	+ +	4.5/5	4.5/5	Jul 2008	2,999
14.		Nikon D2X	..	..	..	+ +	..	..	Sep 2004	4,999
15.		Nikon D1H	..	..	..	+ +	..	..	Feb 2001	4,499
16.		Panasonic FZ150	3/5	+ +	..	76/100	4/5	4.5/5	Aug 2011	499
17.		Panasonic FZ100	..	+	..	..	4.5/5	4.5/5	Jul 2010	499
Notes: (+ +) highly recommended; (+) recommended; (o) reviewed; (..) not available.

Care should be taken when interpreting the review scores above, though. The ratings were established in reference to similarly priced cameras that were available in the market at the time of the review. A score, therefore, has to be seen in close connection to the price and market introduction time of the camera, and comparing ratings of very distinct cameras or ones that are far apart in terms of their release date have little meaning. Also, please note that some of the review sites have changed their methodology and reporting over time.

Other camera comparisons

Did this review help to inform your camera decision process? If you would like to see a different side-by-side camera review, just make a corresponding selection in the search boxes below. As an alternative, you can also directly jump to any one of the listed comparisons that were previously generated by the CAM-parator tool.

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Specifications: Leica V-LUX 2 vs Nikon D2H

Below is a side-by-side comparison of the specs of the two cameras to facilitate a quick review of their differences and common features.

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