Clicky

Nikon S30 vs Panasonic ZR1

Portability
90
Imaging
32
Features
18
Overall
26
Nikon Coolpix S30 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZR1 front
Portability
94
Imaging
34
Features
17
Overall
27

Nikon S30 vs Panasonic ZR1 Key Specs

Nikon S30
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - 1/3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 1600
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 29-87mm (F3.3-5.9) lens
  • 214g - 102 x 65 x 40mm
  • Introduced February 2012
Panasonic ZR1
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-200mm (F3.3-5.9) lens
  • 158g - 98 x 55 x 26mm
  • Launched July 2009
  • Also Known as Lumix DMC-ZX1
Photography Glossary

Nikon S30 vs Panasonic ZR1 Overview

Lets look much closer at the Nikon S30 and Panasonic ZR1, both Small Sensor Compact digital cameras by companies Nikon and Panasonic. The resolution of the S30 (10MP) and the ZR1 (12MP) is relatively similar but the S30 (1/3") and ZR1 (1/2.3") provide different sensor size.

Pentax 17 Pre-Orders Outperform Expectations by a Landslide

The S30 was released 2 years later than the ZR1 and that is quite a significant difference as far as technology is concerned. Both cameras feature the same body design (Compact).

Before diving into a detailed comparison, here is a short summation of how the S30 grades vs the ZR1 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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

        

Reasons to pick Nikon S30 over the Panasonic ZR1

 S30 ZR1 
LaunchedFebruary 2012July 2009More recent by 31 months

Reasons to pick Panasonic ZR1 over the Nikon S30

 ZR1 S30 

Common features in the Nikon S30 and Panasonic ZR1

 S30 ZR1 
Manually focus No manual focusing
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen size2.7"2.7"Same screen size
Screen resolution230k230kSame screen resolution
Selfie screen Neither has selfie screen
Touch screen Neither has Touch screen

Nikon S30 vs Panasonic ZR1 Physical Comparison

If you're looking to lug around your camera often, you'll have to factor in its weight and measurements. The Nikon S30 has exterior measurements of 102mm x 65mm x 40mm (4.0" x 2.6" x 1.6") with a weight of 214 grams (0.47 lbs) while the Panasonic ZR1 has proportions of 98mm x 55mm x 26mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 1.0") having a weight of 158 grams (0.35 lbs).

Contrast the Nikon S30 and Panasonic ZR1 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an ILC will vary based on the lens you have attached during that time. Following is a front view dimensions comparison of the S30 versus the ZR1.

Nikon S30 vs Panasonic ZR1 size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the S30 and ZR1 is 90 and 94 respectively.

Nikon S30 vs Panasonic ZR1 top view buttons comparison

Nikon S30 vs Panasonic ZR1 Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, it is very difficult to visualize the contrast between sensor measurements just by going over technical specs. The photograph here will give you a more clear sense of the sensor sizing in the S30 and ZR1.

As you can tell, both cameras come with different resolutions and different sensor measurements. The S30 because of its tinier sensor is going to make achieving shallow depth of field tougher and the Panasonic ZR1 will offer you more detail as a result of its extra 2MP. Higher resolution will also make it easier to crop shots a good deal more aggressively. The younger S30 provides an advantage in sensor technology.

Nikon S30 vs Panasonic ZR1 sensor size comparison

Nikon S30 vs Panasonic ZR1 Screen and ViewFinder

Nikon S30 vs Panasonic ZR1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Meta to Introduce 'AI-Generated' Labels for Media starting next month

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Nikon S30 Portrait photography information
Panasonic ZR1 Portrait photography information
24
supports face detection autofocus
lack of manual focus
no manual control
external flash not possible
sensor resolution not great (10MP)
tiny sensor (1/3")
lacks RAW files
20
manual focus not available
manual mode not available
no external flash support
resolution not great (12MP)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
Photobucket discusses licensing 13 billion images with AI firms

Street Comparison

Nikon S30 Street photography factors
Panasonic ZR1 Street photography factors
51
weather proofing
screen does not articulate
no image stabilization
tiny sensor (1/3")
lacks RAW files
heavier than competitors (214g)
56
image stabilization (Optical)
no moving screen
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
Snapchat Adds Watermarks to AI-Created Images

Sports Comparison

Nikon S30 Sports photography highlights
Panasonic ZR1 Sports photography highlights
28
max shutter speed is good (1/8,000 seconds)
weather proofing
slow fps (1.5 fps)
no shutter priority mode
no image stabilization
sensor resolution not great (10MP)
tiny sensor (1/3")
lacks phase detect autofocus
25
image stabilization (Optical)
slow continuous shooting (2.0 fps)
no shutter priority
resolution not great (12 megapixels)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
Sora from OpenAI releases its first ever music video

Travel Comparison

Nikon S30 as a Travel photography camera
Panasonic ZR1 as a Travel photography camera
52
weather proofing
flash built-in
does not have Time Lapse recording
heavier than competitors (214 grams)
sensor resolution not great (10MP)
screen is not selfie friendly
wide angle not fantastic (29mm)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
57
has built in flash
quite wide (25mm)
does not have Timelapse recording
resolution not great (12MP)
does not contain selfie friendly display
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
Apple Innovates by Creating Next-Level Optical Stabilization for iPhone

Landscape Comparison

Nikon S30 Landscape photography info
Panasonic ZR1 Landscape photography info
25
weather proofing
lack of manual focus
can't swap lenses (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not fantastic (29mm)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
screen is small (2.7")
no manual control
no image stabilization
sensor resolution not great (10 megapixels)
tiny sensor (1/3")
lacks RAW files
does not have Time Lapse recording
32
quite wide (25mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
manual focus not available
cannot change lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
small screen (2.7")
manual mode not available
resolution not great (12MP)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
does not have Timelapse recording
Samsung Releases Faster Versions of EVO MicroSD Cards

Vlogging Comparison

Nikon S30 Vlogging highlights
Panasonic ZR1 Vlogging highlights
23
supports face detection autofocus
wide angle not fantastic (29mm)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
screen is not selfie friendly
no image stabilization
low res video (1280 x 720 pxls)
does not have external mic socket
heavier than competitors (214g)
28
quite wide (25mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
does not contain selfie friendly display
video quality not great (1280 x 720 resolution)
does not have microphone jack
President Biden pushes bill mandating TikTok sale or ban

Nikon S30 vs Panasonic ZR1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Nikon S30 and Panasonic ZR1
 Nikon Coolpix S30Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZR1
General Information
Make Nikon Panasonic
Model Nikon Coolpix S30 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZR1
Also referred to as - Lumix DMC-ZX1
Class Small Sensor Compact Small Sensor Compact
Introduced 2012-02-01 2009-07-27
Body design Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Processor - Venus Engine V
Sensor type CCD CCD
Sensor size 1/3" 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 4.8 x 3.6mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor surface area 17.3mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 10 megapixel 12 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 3648 x 2736 4000 x 3000
Maximum native ISO 1600 6400
Lowest native ISO 80 80
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
AF continuous
Single AF
AF tracking
AF selectice
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Number of focus points - 11
Cross focus points - -
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 29-87mm (3.0x) 25-200mm (8.0x)
Max aperture f/3.3-5.9 f/3.3-5.9
Macro focus range 5cm 3cm
Focal length multiplier 7.5 5.9
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display diagonal 2.7 inch 2.7 inch
Resolution of display 230k dot 230k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Display tech TFT-LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Min shutter speed 30 secs 60 secs
Max shutter speed 1/8000 secs 1/2000 secs
Continuous shutter speed 1.5fps 2.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range - 5.10 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow-sync Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1280 x 720p (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30fps) 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1280x720 1280x720
Video data format MPEG-4 Motion JPEG
Microphone input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 214g (0.47 lb) 158g (0.35 lb)
Physical dimensions 102 x 65 x 40mm (4.0" x 2.6" x 1.6") 98 x 55 x 26mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 1.0")
DXO scores
DXO Overall 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 240 shots -
Battery format AA -
Battery model 2 x AA -
Self timer Yes Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC card, Internal
Storage slots Single Single
Pricing at release $119 $280