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Nikon L840 vs Panasonic ZS30

Portability
67
Imaging
40
Features
48
Overall
43
Nikon Coolpix L840 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS30 front
Portability
92
Imaging
42
Features
48
Overall
44

Nikon L840 vs Panasonic ZS30 Key Specs

Nikon L840
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 23-855mm (F3.0-6.5) lens
  • 538g - 114 x 89 x 96mm
  • Launched February 2015
  • Replaced the Nikon L830
Panasonic ZS30
(Full Review)
  • 18MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-480mm (F3.3-6.4) lens
  • 198g - 105 x 59 x 28mm
  • Announced January 2013
  • Other Name is Lumix DMC-TZ40
  • Succeeded the Panasonic ZS25
  • Renewed by Panasonic ZS35
Photography Glossary

Nikon L840 vs Panasonic ZS30 Overview

Here, we are comparing the Nikon L840 versus Panasonic ZS30, both Small Sensor Superzoom cameras by manufacturers Nikon and Panasonic. The resolution of the L840 (16MP) and the ZS30 (18MP) is very close and both cameras posses the identical sensor size (1/2.3").

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The L840 was launched 2 years later than the ZS30 and that is a fairly big difference as far as camera tech is concerned. Both cameras feature different body design with the Nikon L840 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera and the Panasonic ZS30 being a Compact camera.

Before going right into a more detailed comparison, here is a quick summation of how the L840 scores vs the ZS30 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Nikon L840 over the Panasonic ZS30

 L840 ZS30 
AnnouncedFebruary 2015January 2013More recent by 26 months
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display resolution921k920kClearer display (+1k dot)

Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS30 over the Nikon L840

 ZS30 L840 
Touch display Easily navigate

Common features in the Nikon L840 and Panasonic ZS30

 L840 ZS30 
Manually focus Lack of manual focusing
Display size3"3"Same display size
Selfie screen Absent selfie screen

Nikon L840 vs Panasonic ZS30 Physical Comparison

If you are intending to lug around your camera frequently, you should think about its weight and dimensions. The Nikon L840 enjoys outer measurements of 114mm x 89mm x 96mm (4.5" x 3.5" x 3.8") accompanied by a weight of 538 grams (1.19 lbs) and the Panasonic ZS30 has dimensions of 105mm x 59mm x 28mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.1") having a weight of 198 grams (0.44 lbs).

Check the Nikon L840 versus Panasonic ZS30 in our newest 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 working with at that time. Following is a front view measurements comparison of the L840 against the ZS30.

Nikon L840 vs Panasonic ZS30 size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability score of the L840 and ZS30 is 67 and 92 respectively.

Nikon L840 vs Panasonic ZS30 top view buttons comparison

Nikon L840 vs Panasonic ZS30 Sensor Comparison

Usually, it can be difficult to imagine the gap in sensor measurements simply by researching technical specs. The photograph underneath may offer you a greater sense of the sensor sizing in the L840 and ZS30.

As you can tell, both of those cameras come with the identical sensor size but different megapixels. You can expect to see the Panasonic ZS30 to provide you with more detail utilizing its extra 2 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also enable you to crop images a good deal more aggressively. The younger L840 should have an edge with regard to sensor technology.

Nikon L840 vs Panasonic ZS30 sensor size comparison

Nikon L840 vs Panasonic ZS30 Screen and ViewFinder

Nikon L840 vs Panasonic ZS30 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Nikon L840
Portrait photography with Panasonic ZS30
35
decent MP (16 megapixels)
has face detect focus
focusing manually not possible
manual mode not possible
external flash not possible
very small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
33
MP count decent (18MP)
lack of manual focus
external flash not possible
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Nikon L840
Street photography with Panasonic ZS30
51
tilting screen
image stabilization (Optical)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
more heavy than competition in class (538 grams)
66
has image stabilization (Optical)
supports focus via touch
lighter than competition (198 grams)
no moving screen
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Nikon L840
Sports photography with Panasonic ZS30
51
excellent zoom range (23-855mm 37.2 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
decent MP (16MP)
has tracking focus
great battery life (590 CIPA)
no shutter priority
very small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect auto focus
46
incredible zoom range (24-480mm 20.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
MP count decent (18MP)
offers tracking autofocus
low maximum shutter speed (1/1,200 seconds)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
terrible battery (260 per charge)
does not have phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Nikon L840
Travel photography with Panasonic ZS30
57
great battery life (590 per charge)
decent MP (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
really wide (23mm)
long zoom (855mm)
no Timelapse function
more heavy than competition in class (538 grams)
does not have a selfie friendly screen
sluggish max aperture (f3.0)
69
lighter than competition (198 grams)
supports focus via touch
MP count decent (18 megapixels)
flash built-in
rather wide (24mm)
great zoom (480mm)
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
terrible battery (260 CIPA)
doesn't have selfie friendly screen
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Nikon L840 Landscape photography details
Panasonic ZS30 Landscape photography details
43
really wide (23mm)
pretty good screen size (3 inch)
image stabilization (Optical)
decent MP (16 megapixels)
great battery life (590 per charge)
focusing manually not possible
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.0)
manual mode not possible
very small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
no Timelapse function
44
rather wide (24mm)
screen size is decent (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Optical)
MP count decent (18 megapixels)
lack of manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
terrible battery (260 CIPA)
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Nikon L840 as a Vlogging camera
Panasonic ZS30 as a Vlogging camera
27
really wide (23mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
has face detect focus
high res video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
sluggish max aperture (f3.0)
does not have a selfie friendly screen
no microphone support
more heavy than competition in class (538g)
35
rather wide (24mm)
touchscreen enabled
has image stabilization (Optical)
good video quality (1920 x 1080 resolution)
lighter than competition (198 grams)
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
doesn't have selfie friendly screen
doesn't have external mic port
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Nikon L840 vs Panasonic ZS30 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Nikon L840 and Panasonic ZS30
 Nikon Coolpix L840Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS30
General Information
Make Nikon Panasonic
Model Nikon Coolpix L840 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS30
Alternate name - Lumix DMC-TZ40
Category Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Superzoom
Launched 2015-02-10 2013-01-07
Body design SLR-like (bridge) Compact
Sensor Information
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixel 18 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4608 x 3456 4896 x 3672
Maximum native ISO 6400 6400
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW images
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Number of focus points - 23
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 23-855mm (37.2x) 24-480mm (20.0x)
Largest aperture f/3.0-6.5 f/3.3-6.4
Macro focus range 1cm 3cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.8
Screen
Screen type Tilting Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 3" 3"
Resolution of screen 921 thousand dot 920 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 4s 15s
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000s 1/1200s
Continuous shooting speed 7.4fps 10.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 6.90 m (at Auto ISO) 6.40 m
Flash modes - Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro
Hot shoe
AEB
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60i, 50i, 30p, 25p), 1280 x 720 (30p, 25p), 640 x 480 (30p, 25p) 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 file format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4, AVCHD
Mic 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 None BuiltIn
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 538g (1.19 lb) 198g (0.44 lb)
Physical dimensions 114 x 89 x 96mm (4.5" x 3.5" x 3.8") 105 x 59 x 28mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.1")
DXO scores
DXO All around score not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth score not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range score not tested not tested
DXO Low light score not tested not tested
Other
Battery life 590 photos 260 photos
Type of battery AA Battery Pack
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SC/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage slots Single Single
Launch cost $400 $250