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Panasonic FS12 vs Panasonic ZS30

Portability
95
Imaging
35
Features
14
Overall
26
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS12 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS30 front
Portability
92
Imaging
42
Features
48
Overall
44

Panasonic FS12 vs Panasonic ZS30 Key Specs

Panasonic FS12
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 1600 (Boost to 6400)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 640 x 480 video
  • 31-124mm (F2.8-5.9) lens
  • 129g - 97 x 55 x 22mm
  • Introduced April 2009
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
  • Released January 2013
  • Alternative Name is Lumix DMC-TZ40
  • Succeeded the Panasonic ZS25
  • Replacement is Panasonic ZS35
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Panasonic FS12 vs Panasonic ZS30 Overview

In this article, we are contrasting the Panasonic FS12 and Panasonic ZS30, one being a Ultracompact and the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom and they are both designed by Panasonic. There exists a huge gap among the sensor resolutions of the FS12 (12MP) and ZS30 (18MP) but they possess the same exact sensor measurements (1/2.3").

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The FS12 was announced 4 years prior to the ZS30 and that is a fairly significant gap as far as camera technology is concerned. The two cameras offer different body type with the Panasonic FS12 being a Ultracompact camera and the Panasonic ZS30 being a Compact camera.

Before getting straight into a in depth comparison, below is a simple highlight of how the FS12 scores versus the ZS30 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic FS12 over the Panasonic ZS30

 FS12 ZS30 

Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS30 over the Panasonic FS12

 ZS30 FS12 
ReleasedJanuary 2013April 2009Fresher by 45 months
Display sizing3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution920k230kCrisper display (+690k dot)
Touch display Easily navigate

Common features in the Panasonic FS12 and Panasonic ZS30

 FS12 ZS30 
Manual focus No manual focusing
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Absent selfie screen

Panasonic FS12 vs Panasonic ZS30 Physical Comparison

If you are aiming to carry your camera often, you need to think about its weight and proportions. The Panasonic FS12 comes with outer dimensions of 97mm x 55mm x 22mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 0.9") accompanied by a weight of 129 grams (0.28 lbs) while the Panasonic ZS30 has measurements of 105mm x 59mm x 28mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.1") accompanied by a weight of 198 grams (0.44 lbs).

See the Panasonic FS12 and Panasonic ZS30 in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary based on the lens you have at that moment. Underneath is the front view size comparison of the FS12 and the ZS30.

Panasonic FS12 vs Panasonic ZS30 size comparison

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the FS12 and ZS30 is 95 and 92 respectively.

Panasonic FS12 vs Panasonic ZS30 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic FS12 vs Panasonic ZS30 Sensor Comparison

Quite often, it is very tough to envision the difference in sensor sizing purely by checking out specifications. The graphic here will help offer you a better sense of the sensor dimensions in the FS12 and ZS30.

To sum up, each of these cameras offer the same exact sensor sizing but not the same resolution. You should anticipate the Panasonic ZS30 to provide more detail with its extra 6MP. Greater resolution will also help you crop photos a little more aggressively. The older FS12 will be behind when it comes to sensor innovation.

Panasonic FS12 vs Panasonic ZS30 sensor size comparison

Panasonic FS12 vs Panasonic ZS30 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic FS12 vs Panasonic ZS30 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic FS12 as a Portrait photography camera
Panasonic ZS30 as a Portrait photography camera
21
no manual focus
lack of manual exposure
can't use external flash
low MP (12 megapixels)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
33
megapixel count good (18 megapixels)
manual focus not available
can't use external flash
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
no RAW format
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Street Comparison

Panasonic FS12 Street photography advice
Panasonic ZS30 Street photography advice
57
built in image stabilization (Optical)
fixed screen
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
66
built in image stabilization (Optical)
features focus via touch
lighter than competition (198g)
screen does not articulate
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
no RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic FS12 Sports photography highlights
Panasonic ZS30 Sports photography highlights
25
built in image stabilization (Optical)
painfully slow continuous shooting (2.0 fps)
no shutter priority mode
low MP (12 megapixels)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect AF
46
great zoom range (24-480mm 20.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count good (18 megapixels)
supports tracking autofocus
max shutter speed is low (1/1,200s)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
low battery (260 per charge)
no phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic FS12 Travel photography information
Panasonic ZS30 Travel photography information
51
built-in flash
lack of Timelapse recording
low MP (12MP)
display is not selfie friendly
wide angle not fantastic (31mm)
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
69
lighter than competition (198g)
features focus via touch
megapixel count good (18MP)
has built in flash
fairly wide (24mm)
great reach (480mm)
does not have Timelapse recording
low battery (260 CIPA)
doesn't feature selfie friendly display
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic FS12 Landscape photography highlights
Panasonic ZS30 Landscape photography highlights
28
built in image stabilization (Optical)
no manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not fantastic (31mm)
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
tiny screen (2.7 inch)
lack of manual exposure
low MP (12MP)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
lack of Timelapse recording
44
fairly wide (24mm)
screen size is good (3")
built in image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count good (18 megapixels)
manual focus not available
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
no RAW format
low battery (260 shots)
does not have Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic FS12 Vlogging features
Panasonic ZS30 Vlogging features
25
built in image stabilization (Optical)
wide angle not fantastic (31mm)
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
display is not selfie friendly
video res low (640 x 480 resolution)
lack of microphone port
35
fairly wide (24mm)
touchscreen
built in image stabilization (Optical)
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
lighter than competition (198 grams)
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
doesn't feature selfie friendly display
does not have external microphone jack
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Panasonic FS12 vs Panasonic ZS30 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic FS12 and Panasonic ZS30
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS12Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS30
General Information
Brand Panasonic Panasonic
Model type Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS12 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS30
Other name - Lumix DMC-TZ40
Class Ultracompact Small Sensor Superzoom
Introduced 2009-04-17 2013-01-07
Body design Ultracompact Compact
Sensor Information
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 6.08 x 4.56mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 27.7mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 12MP 18MP
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 4896 x 3672
Max native ISO 1600 6400
Max boosted ISO 6400 -
Lowest native ISO 80 100
RAW files
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch focus
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Total focus points - 23
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 31-124mm (4.0x) 24-480mm (20.0x)
Maximum aperture f/2.8-5.9 f/3.3-6.4
Macro focusing distance 5cm 3cm
Crop factor 5.9 5.8
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display diagonal 2.7 inches 3 inches
Display resolution 230k dot 920k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60s 15s
Maximum shutter speed 1/2000s 1/1200s
Continuous shooting speed 2.0 frames per sec 10.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 6.30 m 6.40 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 848 x 480 (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 640x480 1920x1080
Video file format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD
Microphone input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless None Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None BuiltIn
Physical
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 129g (0.28 pounds) 198g (0.44 pounds)
Dimensions 97 x 55 x 22mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 0.9") 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 shots
Style of battery - Battery Pack
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Storage media SD/SDHC card, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage slots 1 1
Pricing at launch $228 $250