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Nikon D90 vs Panasonic LZ30

Portability
60
Imaging
52
Features
52
Overall
52
Nikon D90 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-LZ30 front
Portability
66
Imaging
40
Features
32
Overall
36

Nikon D90 vs Panasonic LZ30 Key Specs

Nikon D90
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 200 - 3200 (Raise to 6400)
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • Nikon F Mount
  • 703g - 132 x 103 x 77mm
  • Introduced October 2008
  • Old Model is Nikon D80
  • Later Model is Nikon D7000
Panasonic LZ30
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-875mm (F3.0-5.9) lens
  • 552g - 124 x 84 x 92mm
  • Introduced January 2013
  • Superseded the Panasonic LZ20
  • Updated by Panasonic LZ40
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Nikon D90 vs Panasonic LZ30 Overview

Following is a complete assessment of the Nikon D90 versus Panasonic LZ30, one is a Advanced DSLR and the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom by companies Nikon and Panasonic. There is a significant difference among the resolutions of the D90 (12MP) and LZ30 (16MP) and the D90 (APS-C) and LZ30 (1/2.3") posses different sensor measurements.

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The D90 was introduced 5 years prior to the LZ30 which is a fairly sizable gap as far as camera tech is concerned. Both of the cameras feature different body design with the Nikon D90 being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Panasonic LZ30 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera.

Before delving straight to a complete comparison, here is a quick synopsis of how the D90 grades versus the LZ30 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Nikon D90 over the Panasonic LZ30

 D90 LZ30 
Focus manually Very precise focus
Screen resolution920k460kCrisper screen (+460k dot)

Reasons to pick Panasonic LZ30 over the Nikon D90

 LZ30 D90 
IntroducedJanuary 2013October 2008More modern by 51 months

Common features in the Nikon D90 and Panasonic LZ30

 D90 LZ30 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen size3"3"Same screen measurements
Selfie screen Absent selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Neither has Touch friendly screen

Nikon D90 vs Panasonic LZ30 Physical Comparison

If you are looking to carry around your camera often, you are going to need to take into account its weight and dimensions. The Nikon D90 has external dimensions of 132mm x 103mm x 77mm (5.2" x 4.1" x 3.0") and a weight of 703 grams (1.55 lbs) and the Panasonic LZ30 has dimensions of 124mm x 84mm x 92mm (4.9" x 3.3" x 3.6") with a weight of 552 grams (1.22 lbs).

Take a look at the Nikon D90 versus Panasonic LZ30 in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ based on the lens you have chosen at that time. Below is a front view measurement comparison of the D90 against the LZ30.

Nikon D90 vs Panasonic LZ30 size comparison

Looking at size and weight, the portability score of the D90 and LZ30 is 60 and 66 respectively.

Nikon D90 vs Panasonic LZ30 top view buttons comparison

Nikon D90 vs Panasonic LZ30 Sensor Comparison

Usually, it can be difficult to visualize the difference in sensor sizes only by viewing a spec sheet. The pic underneath should give you a much better sense of the sensor dimensions in the D90 and LZ30.

Clearly, each of these cameras come with different megapixels and different sensor sizes. The D90 having a bigger sensor is going to make shooting shallow depth of field simpler and the Panasonic LZ30 will result in extra detail using its extra 4 Megapixels. Higher resolution will let you crop pictures a good deal more aggressively. The more aged D90 will be behind with regard to sensor tech.

Nikon D90 vs Panasonic LZ30 sensor size comparison

Nikon D90 vs Panasonic LZ30 Screen and ViewFinder

Nikon D90 vs Panasonic LZ30 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Nikon D90 as a Portrait photography camera
Panasonic LZ30 as a Portrait photography camera
63
you can focus manually
decent sensor size (APS-C)
comes with face detection focusing
exports RAW files
low MP (12 megapixels)
32
decent megapixels (16MP)
manual focus not available
cannot use external flash
small sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Nikon D90
Street photography with Panasonic LZ30
54
decent sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW files
no articulating screen
does not have image stabilization
43
has image stabilization (Optical)
screen does not articulate
small sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
more heavy than average in class (552g)
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Nikon D90
Sports photography with Panasonic LZ30
46
decent sensor size (APS-C)
comes with phase detect AF
max fps very slow (4.5 fps)
does not have image stabilization
low MP (12 megapixels)
47
great zoom range (25-875mm 35.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
decent megapixels (16MP)
provides tracking autofocus
good battery life (380 shots)
continuous shooting slow (1.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority
small sensor (1/2.3")
has no phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Nikon D90 Travel photography features
Panasonic LZ30 Travel photography features
44
has built in flash
does not have Time Lapse function
low MP (12 megapixels)
screen isn't selfie friendly
56
good battery life (380 shots)
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
has built in flash
rather wide (25mm)
very long zoom (875mm)
doesn't have Timelapse function
more heavy than average in class (552g)
does not offer selfie friendly screen
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
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Landscape Comparison

Nikon D90 Landscape photography info
Panasonic LZ30 Landscape photography info
58
you can focus manually
change lenses (Nikon F mount)
nice screen size (3 inches)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW files
does not have image stabilization
low MP (12MP)
does not have Time Lapse function
45
rather wide (25mm)
pretty good screen size (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Optical)
decent megapixels (16MP)
good battery life (380 per charge)
manual focus not available
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
small sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
doesn't have Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Nikon D90 as a Vlogging camera
Panasonic LZ30 as a Vlogging camera
21
comes with face detection focusing
screen isn't selfie friendly
does not have image stabilization
low res video (1280 x 720 pxls)
does not have external mic socket
22
rather wide (25mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
does not offer selfie friendly screen
low quality video (1280 x 720 resolution)
doesn't have external microphone support
more heavy than average in class (552 grams)
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Nikon D90 vs Panasonic LZ30 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Nikon D90 and Panasonic LZ30
 Nikon D90Panasonic Lumix DMC-LZ30
General Information
Manufacturer Nikon Panasonic
Model Nikon D90 Panasonic Lumix DMC-LZ30
Type Advanced DSLR Small Sensor Superzoom
Introduced 2008-10-13 2013-01-07
Physical type Mid-size SLR SLR-like (bridge)
Sensor Information
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size APS-C 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 23.6 x 15.8mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 372.9mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 12MP 16MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 -
Highest Possible resolution 4288 x 2848 4608 x 3456
Maximum native ISO 3200 6400
Maximum enhanced ISO 6400 -
Lowest native ISO 200 100
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch to focus
AF continuous
AF single
Tracking AF
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Number of focus points 11 -
Cross focus points - -
Lens
Lens mounting type Nikon F fixed lens
Lens focal range - 25-875mm (35.0x)
Max aperture - f/3.0-5.9
Macro focus distance - 1cm
Number of lenses 309 -
Crop factor 1.5 5.8
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen size 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of screen 920 thousand dots 460 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Screen tech Super Density TFT color LCD with wide-viewing angle TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentaprism) None
Viewfinder coverage 96% -
Viewfinder magnification 0.64x -
Features
Minimum shutter speed 30 secs 15 secs
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/2000 secs
Continuous shutter rate 4.5 frames/s 1.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 17.00 m (at ISO 100) 4.40 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Front curtain, Rear curtain, Red-Eye, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Fastest flash synchronize 1/200 secs -
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1280 x 720 (24 fps), 640 x 424 (24 fps), 320 x 216 (24 fps) 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1280x720 1280x720
Video format Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
Microphone support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless Eye-Fi Connected None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS Optional None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 703 grams (1.55 lbs) 552 grams (1.22 lbs)
Physical dimensions 132 x 103 x 77mm (5.2" x 4.1" x 3.0") 124 x 84 x 92mm (4.9" x 3.3" x 3.6")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score 73 not tested
DXO Color Depth score 22.7 not tested
DXO Dynamic range score 12.5 not tested
DXO Low light score 977 not tested
Other
Battery life 850 images 380 images
Form of battery Battery Pack AA
Battery model EN-EL3e 4 x AA
Self timer Yes (2, 5, 10 or 20 sec) Yes (2 0r 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Storage type SD/SDHC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Card slots 1 1
Pricing at release $1,199 $230