Clicky

Canon SX280 HS vs Panasonic ZS30

Portability
91 Imaging
36 Features
43 Overall
38
Canon PowerShot SX280 HS front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS30 front
Portability
92 Imaging
42 Features
48 Overall
44

Canon SX280 HS vs Panasonic ZS30 Key Specs

Canon SX280 HS
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 25-500mm (F3.5-6.8) lens
  • 233g - 106 x 63 x 33mm
  • Revealed March 2013
  • Succeeded the Canon SX270 HS
Panasonic ZS30
(Full Review)
  • 18MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-480mm (F3.3-6.4) lens
  • 198g - 105 x 59 x 28mm
  • Released January 2013
  • Also referred to as Lumix DMC-TZ40
  • Previous Model is Panasonic ZS25
  • Refreshed by Panasonic ZS35
Photography Glossary

Canon SX280 HS vs Panasonic ZS30 Overview

Lets look a bit more closely at the Canon SX280 HS vs Panasonic ZS30, both Small Sensor Superzoom digital cameras by rivals Canon and Panasonic. There exists a large gap between the resolutions of the SX280 HS (12MP) and ZS30 (18MP) but both cameras have the identical sensor measurements (1/2.3").

Sora from OpenAI releases its first ever music video

The SX280 HS was brought out 3 months after the ZS30 so they are of a similar age. Both of these cameras feature the same body design (Compact).

Before diving right into a step-by-step comparison, here is a quick synopsis of how the SX280 HS matches up versus the ZS30 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

Samsung Releases Faster Versions of EVO MicroSD Cards 

        

          

            
Reasons to pick Canon SX280 HS over the Panasonic ZS30

          

          

            
 SX280 HS ZS30 
Manual focus  Dial precise focusing
          

        


        

          

            
Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS30 over the Canon SX280 HS

          

          

            
 ZS30 SX280 HS 
Screen resolution920k461kClearer screen (+459k dot)
Touch friendly screen  Quickly navigate
          

        


        

          

            
Common features in the Canon SX280 HS and Panasonic ZS30

          

          

            
 SX280 HS ZS30 
ReleasedMarch 2013January 2013Similar age
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen size3"3"Same screen measurements
Selfie screen  Neither features selfie screen
          

        

        

	
	
	
	

        

          

            
Canon SX280 HS vs Panasonic ZS30 Physical Comparison

          

          

            
If you're looking to travel with your camera often, you're going to have to factor in its weight and measurements. The Canon SX280 HS enjoys outer measurements of 106mm x 63mm x 33mm (4.2" x 2.5" x 1.3") accompanied by a weight of 233 grams (0.51 lbs) whilst the Panasonic ZS30 has proportions of 105mm x 59mm x 28mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.1") and a weight of 198 grams (0.44 lbs).
Examine the Canon SX280 HS vs Panasonic ZS30 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses
Take into consideration, the weight of an ILC will change depending on the lens you use at the time. Following is a front view overall size comparison of the SX280 HS compared to the ZS30.
Canon SX280 HS vs Panasonic ZS30 size comparison
Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability score of the SX280 HS and ZS30 is 91 and 92 respectively.
Canon SX280 HS vs Panasonic ZS30 top view buttons comparison          

        


        

          

            
Canon SX280 HS vs Panasonic ZS30 Sensor Comparison

          

          

            
Quite often, it is very tough to visualize the contrast between sensor dimensions simply by looking at a spec sheet. The picture here will give you a far better sense of the sensor sizing in the SX280 HS and ZS30.
Clearly, the two cameras feature the identical sensor size albeit different MP. You can count on the Panasonic ZS30 to give you greater detail having its extra 6 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also help you crop pictures way more aggressively.

            Canon SX280 HS vs Panasonic ZS30 sensor size comparison
          

        


        

          

            
Canon SX280 HS vs Panasonic ZS30 Screen and ViewFinder

          

          

                      

          Canon SX280 HS vs Panasonic ZS30 Screen and Viewfinder comparison        


                Japan-exclusive Leica Leitz Phone 3 features big sensor and new modes        

	
	
	
	

        

          
Photography Type Scores

          

        

        
Portrait Comparison
Portrait photography with Canon SX280 HS
Portrait photography with Panasonic ZS30
34
 focusing manually
 has face detect autofocus
 cannot use external flash
 low megapixels (12MP)
 sensor  is very small (1/2.3")
 no RAW support
33
 MP count decent (18MP)
 manual focus not available
 can't use external flash
 small sensor size (1/2.3")
 lacks RAW files
Meta to Introduce 'AI-Generated' Labels for Media starting next month
Street Comparison
Canon SX280 HS Street photography advice
Panasonic ZS30 Street photography advice
61
 image stabilization (Optical)
 lighter than competitors in class (233g)
 no moving screen
 sensor  is very small (1/2.3")
 no RAW support
66
 built in image stabilization (Optical)
 boasts touch to focus
 lighter than others in class (198g)
 no articulating screen
 small sensor size (1/2.3")
 lacks RAW files
Pentax 17 Pre-Orders Outperform Expectations by a Landslide
Sports Comparison
 Canon SX280 HS as a Sports photography camera
 Panasonic ZS30 as a Sports photography camera
36
 excellent zoom range (25-500mm  20.0 x zoom)
 image stabilization (Optical)
 has tracking focus
 painfully slow continuous shooting (4.0 fps)
 low megapixels (12 megapixels)
 sensor  is very small (1/2.3")
 terrible battery (210 CIPA)
 no phase detect autofocus
46
 amazing zoom range (24-480mm  20.0 x zoom)
 built in image stabilization (Optical)
 MP count decent (18MP)
 offers tracking autofocus
 maximum shutter speed is a little low (1/1,200s)
 small sensor size (1/2.3")
 terrible battery life (260 CIPA)
 lacks phase detect AF
President Biden pushes bill mandating TikTok sale or ban
Travel Comparison
Canon SX280 HS Travel photography advice
Panasonic ZS30 Travel photography advice
61
 lighter than competitors in class (233g)
 built-in flash
 pretty wide (25mm)
 great reach (500mm)
 does not have Timelapse recording
 terrible battery (210 per charge)
 low megapixels (12MP)
 screen is not selfie friendly
 sluggish max aperture (f3.5)
69
 lighter than others in class (198 grams)
 boasts touch to focus
 MP count decent (18 megapixels)
 has built in flash
 pretty wide (24mm)
 long reach (480mm)
 no Timelapse mode
 terrible battery life (260 CIPA)
 does not feature selfie friendly screen
 somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
Apple Innovates by Creating Next-Level Optical Stabilization for iPhone
Landscape Comparison
Canon SX280 HS Landscape photography information
Panasonic ZS30 Landscape photography information
41
 focusing manually
 pretty wide (25mm)
 screen size is decent (3 inches)
 image stabilization (Optical)
 fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
 sluggish max aperture (f3.5)
 low megapixels (12MP)
 sensor  is very small (1/2.3")
 no RAW support
 terrible battery (210 shots)
 does not have Timelapse recording
44
 pretty wide (24mm)
 screen size is decent (3 inches)
 built in image stabilization (Optical)
 MP count decent (18MP)
 manual focus not available
 can't swap lenses (fixed lens mount)
 somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
 small sensor size (1/2.3")
 lacks RAW files
 terrible battery life (260 CIPA)
 no Timelapse mode
Photobucket discusses licensing 13 billion images with AI firms
Vlogging Comparison
Canon SX280 HS Vlogging advice
Panasonic ZS30 Vlogging advice
34
 pretty wide (25mm)
 image stabilization (Optical)
 has face detect autofocus
 good video quality (1920 x 1080 pxls)
 lighter than competitors in class (233g)
 sluggish max aperture (f3.5)
 screen is not selfie friendly
 does not have microphone socket
35
 pretty wide (24mm)
 touchscreen
 built in image stabilization (Optical)
 video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
 lighter than others in class (198g)
 somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
 does not feature selfie friendly screen
 no external microphone port
Snapchat Adds Watermarks to AI-Created Images
        
                
        

          

            
Canon SX280 HS vs Panasonic ZS30 Specifications

          

          

                      


          

            Detailed spec comparison table for Canon SX280 HS and Panasonic ZS30
 Canon PowerShot SX280 HSPanasonic Lumix DMC-ZS30
General Information
Brand Canon Panasonic
Model type Canon PowerShot SX280 HS Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS30
Other name - Lumix DMC-TZ40
Type Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Superzoom
Revealed 2013-03-21 2013-01-07
Body design Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Chip Digic 6 -
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 12MP 18MP
Anti alias filter    
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and  16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and  16:9
Highest Possible resolution 4000 x 3000 4896 x 3672
Maximum native ISO 6400 6400
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW photos    
Autofocusing
Manual focusing    
Touch to focus    
Continuous autofocus    
Autofocus single    
Autofocus tracking    
Autofocus selectice    
Center weighted autofocus    
Autofocus multi area    
Live view autofocus    
Face detection focus    
Contract detection focus    
Phase detection focus    
Total focus points - 23
Cross type focus points - -
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 25-500mm (20.0x) 24-480mm (20.0x)
Maximum aperture f/3.5-6.8 f/3.3-6.4
Macro focusing range 5cm 3cm
Crop factor 5.8 5.8
Screen
Range of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen sizing 3" 3"
Resolution of screen 461k dot 920k dot
Selfie friendly    
Liveview    
Touch functionality    
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 15 secs 15 secs
Fastest shutter speed 1/3200 secs 1/1200 secs
Continuous shutter speed 4.0fps 10.0fps
Shutter priority    
Aperture priority    
Manually set exposure    
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom white balance    
Image stabilization    
Built-in flash    
Flash distance 3.50 m 6.40 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro
External flash    
AEB    
White balance bracketing    
Exposure
Multisegment    
Average    
Spot    
Partial    
AF area    
Center weighted    
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60, 30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps) 640 x 480 (30, 120 fps), 320 x 240 (240 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (220 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4, AVCHD
Microphone jack    
Headphone jack    
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In Built-In
Bluetooth    
NFC    
HDMI    
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS BuiltIn BuiltIn
Physical
Environment seal    
Water proofing    
Dust proofing    
Shock proofing    
Crush proofing    
Freeze proofing    
Weight 233g (0.51 pounds) 198g (0.44 pounds)
Physical dimensions 106 x 63 x 33mm (4.2" x 2.5" x 1.3") 105 x 59 x 28mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.1")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth rating not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested not tested
DXO Low light rating not tested not tested
Other
Battery life 210 images 260 images
Form of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID NB-6L -
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, Custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording    
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage slots 1 1
Launch pricing $325 $250