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Kodak Z980 vs Panasonic ZS20

Portability
68 Imaging
34 Features
40 Overall
36
Kodak EasyShare Z980 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS20 front
Portability
92 Imaging
37 Features
46 Overall
40

Kodak Z980 vs Panasonic ZS20 Key Specs

Kodak Z980
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 64 - 6400
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 26-624mm (F2.8-5.0) lens
  • 445g - 124 x 91 x 105mm
  • Launched January 2009
Panasonic ZS20
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-480mm (F3.3-6.4) lens
  • 206g - 105 x 59 x 28mm
  • Announced April 2012
  • Also referred to as Lumix DMC-TZ30
  • Succeeded the Panasonic ZS15
  • Refreshed by Panasonic ZS25
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Kodak Z980 vs Panasonic ZS20 Overview

Its time to look closer at the Kodak Z980 versus Panasonic ZS20, both Small Sensor Superzoom digital cameras by manufacturers Kodak and Panasonic. The image resolution of the Z980 (12MP) and the ZS20 (14MP) is fairly well matched and both cameras posses the same sensor size (1/2.3").

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The Z980 was unveiled 4 years earlier than the ZS20 which is quite a sizable difference as far as tech is concerned. Both cameras have the same body design (Compact).

Before getting straight to a step-by-step comparison, here is a brief summary of how the Z980 matches up vs the ZS20 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Kodak Z980 over the Panasonic ZS20

          

          

            
 Z980 ZS20 
Manually focus  More precise focus
          

        


        

          

            
Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS20 over the Kodak Z980

          

          

            
 ZS20 Z980 
AnnouncedApril 2012January 2009More modern by 40 months
Display resolution460k201kClearer display (+259k dot)
Touch friendly display  Easily navigate
          

        


        

          

            
Common features in the Kodak Z980 and Panasonic ZS20

          

          

            
 Z980 ZS20 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display dimensions3"3"Equal display size
Selfie screen  Absent selfie screen
          

        

        

	
	
	
	

        

          

            
Kodak Z980 vs Panasonic ZS20 Physical Comparison

          

          

            
For anyone who is looking to carry around your camera frequently, you have to think about its weight and dimensions. The Kodak Z980 provides physical measurements of 124mm x 91mm x 105mm (4.9" x 3.6" x 4.1") accompanied by a weight of 445 grams (0.98 lbs) while the Panasonic ZS20 has dimensions of 105mm x 59mm x 28mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.1") with a weight of 206 grams (0.45 lbs).
Take a look at the Kodak Z980 versus Panasonic ZS20 in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses
Don't forget, the weight of an ILC will vary dependant on the lens you are utilizing during that time. Here is a front view sizing comparison of the Z980 and the ZS20.
Kodak Z980 vs Panasonic ZS20 size comparison
Looking at size and weight, the portability rating of the Z980 and ZS20 is 68 and 92 respectively.
Kodak Z980 vs Panasonic ZS20 top view buttons comparison          

        


        

          

            
Kodak Z980 vs Panasonic ZS20 Sensor Comparison

          

          

            
Oftentimes, its difficult to envision the contrast between sensor sizes simply by looking at a spec sheet. The picture here may provide you a more clear sense of the sensor sizing in the Z980 and ZS20.
As you can see, the two cameras provide the same sensor dimensions but not the same megapixels. You can anticipate the Panasonic ZS20 to resolve greater detail having an extra 2MP. Greater resolution will allow you to crop pics more aggressively. The more aged Z980 is going to be behind in sensor tech.

            Kodak Z980 vs Panasonic ZS20 sensor size comparison
          

        


        

          

            
Kodak Z980 vs Panasonic ZS20 Screen and ViewFinder

          

          

                      

          Kodak Z980 vs Panasonic ZS20 Screen and Viewfinder comparison        


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Photography Type Scores

          

        

        
Portrait Comparison
Kodak Z980 Portrait photography features
Panasonic ZS20 Portrait photography features
40
 has manual focus
 saves RAW formats
 low megapixels (12MP)
 sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
30
 good  resolution (14MP)
 lack of manual focus
 cannot use external flash
 very small sensor size (1/2.3")
 lacks RAW support
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Street Comparison
Kodak Z980 Street photography highlights
Panasonic ZS20 Street photography highlights
54
 image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
 saves RAW formats
 no articulating screen
 sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
65
 built in image stabilization (Optical)
 supports touch to focus
 lighter than others in class (206g)
 fixed screen
 very small sensor size (1/2.3")
 lacks RAW support
Photography Glossary
Sports Comparison
Sports photography with Kodak Z980
Sports photography with Panasonic ZS20
33
 long zoom range (26-624mm  24.0 x zoom)
 image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
 low fps (1.0 fps)
 low megapixels (12 megapixels)
 sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
 no phase detect auto focus
47
 excellent zoom range (24-480mm  20.0 x zoom)
 built in image stabilization (Optical)
 good  resolution (14 megapixels)
 comes with tracking focus
 very small sensor size (1/2.3")
 bad battery power (260 shots)
 lacks phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison
Travel photography with Kodak Z980
Travel photography with Panasonic ZS20
51
 built-in flash
 relatively wide (26mm)
 great reach (624mm)
 doesn't have Timelapse recording
 low megapixels (12 megapixels)
 display is not selfie friendly
 sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
68
 lighter than others in class (206g)
 supports touch to focus
 good  resolution (14MP)
 flash built-in
 relatively wide (24mm)
 long reach (480mm)
 no Timelapse mode
 bad battery power (260 shots)
 doesn't feature selfie friendly display
 slow max aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison
Kodak Z980 Landscape photography highlights
Panasonic ZS20 Landscape photography highlights
45
 has manual focus
 relatively wide (26mm)
 screen is a good size (3 inches)
 image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
 saves RAW formats
 fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
 sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
 low megapixels (12 megapixels)
 sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
 doesn't have Timelapse recording
42
 relatively wide (24mm)
 screen size is good (3")
 built in image stabilization (Optical)
 good  resolution (14 megapixels)
 lack of manual focus
 fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
 slow max aperture (f3.3)
 very small sensor size (1/2.3")
 lacks RAW support
 bad battery power (260 per charge)
 no Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison
 Kodak Z980 as a Vlogging camera
 Panasonic ZS20 as a Vlogging camera
23
 relatively wide (26mm)
 image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
 sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
 display is not selfie friendly
 low video resolution (1280 x 720 resolution)
 doesn't have microphone port
34
 relatively wide (24mm)
 touchscreen functionality
 built in image stabilization (Optical)
 video resolution high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
 lighter than others in class (206g)
 slow max aperture (f3.3)
 doesn't feature selfie friendly display
 no microphone port
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Kodak Z980 vs Panasonic ZS20 Specifications

          

          

                      


          

            Detailed spec comparison table for Kodak Z980 and Panasonic ZS20
 Kodak EasyShare Z980Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS20
General Information
Brand Kodak Panasonic
Model type Kodak EasyShare Z980 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS20
Also referred to as - Lumix DMC-TZ30
Category Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Superzoom
Launched 2009-01-05 2012-04-26
Body design Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 6.08 x 4.56mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor area 27.7mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixels 14 megapixels
Anti alias filter    
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and  16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and  16:9
Full resolution 4000 x 3000 4320 x 3240
Max native ISO 6400 6400
Min native ISO 64 100
RAW pictures    
Autofocusing
Focus manually    
Touch to focus    
Continuous autofocus    
Single autofocus    
Autofocus tracking    
Autofocus selectice    
Autofocus center weighted    
Autofocus multi area    
Live view autofocus    
Face detect autofocus    
Contract detect autofocus    
Phase detect autofocus    
Total focus points 25 23
Lens
Lens support fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 26-624mm (24.0x) 24-480mm (20.0x)
Maximum aperture f/2.8-5.0 f/3.3-6.4
Macro focusing distance 10cm 3cm
Focal length multiplier 5.9 5.9
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3 inch 3 inch
Resolution of display 201 thousand dot 460 thousand dot
Selfie friendly    
Liveview    
Touch friendly    
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic None
Features
Lowest shutter speed 16s 15s
Highest shutter speed 1/2000s 1/2000s
Continuous shooting speed 1.0 frames/s 10.0 frames/s
Shutter priority    
Aperture priority    
Manual exposure    
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set white balance    
Image stabilization    
Integrated flash    
Flash distance 6.30 m 6.40 m
Flash settings Auto, Fill-in, Red-Eye reduction, Off Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro
External flash    
AE bracketing    
WB bracketing    
Exposure
Multisegment metering    
Average metering    
Spot metering    
Partial metering    
AF area metering    
Center weighted metering    
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (220 fps)
Max video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD
Microphone jack    
Headphone jack    
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth    
NFC    
HDMI    
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None BuiltIn
Physical
Environmental seal    
Water proofing    
Dust proofing    
Shock proofing    
Crush proofing    
Freeze proofing    
Weight 445g (0.98 pounds) 206g (0.45 pounds)
Physical dimensions 124 x 91 x 105mm (4.9" x 3.6" x 4.1") 105 x 59 x 28mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.1")
DXO scores
DXO All around 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 - 260 images
Battery form - Battery Pack
Battery ID 4 x AA -
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature    
Type of storage SD/SDHC card, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage slots 1 1
Retail cost $249 $349