Panasonic F5 vs Panasonic ZS30

Below is a detailed assessment of the Panasonic F5 vs Panasonic ZS30, one being a Small Sensor Compact and the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom and they are both built by Panasonic. There exists a significant gap between the image resolutions of the F5 (14MP) and ZS30 (18MP) but both cameras boast the same sensor sizes (1/2.3").

Photography Glossary

The F5 was revealed at a similar time to the ZS30 which means that they are both of a similar generation. Both of these cameras have the same body design (Compact).

Before we go into a comprehensive comparison, here is a simple synopsis of how the F5 matches up versus the ZS30 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

Below is a sample of the gallery pics for Panasonic Lumix DMC-F5 and Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS30. The full galleries are viewable at Panasonic F5 Gallery and Panasonic ZS30 Gallery.

If you're looking to lug around your camera often, you will need to consider its weight and volume. The Panasonic F5 has got exterior measurements of 97mm x 58mm x 22mm (3.8" x 2.3" x 0.9") along with a weight of 121 grams (0.27 lbs) and the Panasonic ZS30 has sizing of 105mm x 59mm x 28mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.1") accompanied by a weight of 198 grams (0.44 lbs).

Take a look at the Panasonic F5 vs Panasonic ZS30 in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Remember that, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary based on the lens you are using at the time. Below is a front view dimension comparison of the F5 compared to the ZS30.

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability score of the F5 and ZS30 is 96 and 92 respectively.

Typically, it is very tough to picture the difference between sensor measurements only by checking a spec sheet. The photograph underneath will help provide you a clearer sense of the sensor measurements in the F5 and ZS30.

As you can see, each of the cameras have the same sensor dimensions but different MP. You should expect to see the Panasonic ZS30 to give you greater detail because of its extra 4 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also enable you to crop photos a bit more aggressively.