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Panasonic FZ40 vs Panasonic ZS30

Portability
68
Imaging
37
Features
40
Overall
38
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ40 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS30 front
Portability
92
Imaging
42
Features
48
Overall
44

Panasonic FZ40 vs Panasonic ZS30 Key Specs

Panasonic FZ40
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-600mm (F2.8-5.2) lens
  • 494g - 120 x 80 x 92mm
  • Launched July 2010
  • Additionally Known as Lumix DMC-FZ45
Panasonic ZS30
(Full Review)
  • 18MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-480mm (F3.3-6.4) lens
  • 198g - 105 x 59 x 28mm
  • Launched January 2013
  • Also Known as Lumix DMC-TZ40
  • Earlier Model is Panasonic ZS25
  • Later Model is Panasonic ZS35
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Panasonic FZ40 vs Panasonic ZS30 Overview

Lets look more in depth at the Panasonic FZ40 vs Panasonic ZS30, both Small Sensor Superzoom cameras and both are produced by Panasonic. There exists a substantial gap among the sensor resolutions of the FZ40 (14MP) and ZS30 (18MP) but both cameras boast the same sensor sizing (1/2.3").

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The FZ40 was revealed 3 years earlier than the ZS30 and that is a fairly big difference as far as camera technology is concerned. Both the cameras have different body design with the Panasonic FZ40 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera and the Panasonic ZS30 being a Compact camera.

Before diving right into a thorough comparison, here is a quick summary of how the FZ40 grades versus the ZS30 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic FZ40 over the Panasonic ZS30

 FZ40 ZS30 
Manual focus More exact focus

Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS30 over the Panasonic FZ40

 ZS30 FZ40 
LaunchedJanuary 2013July 2010More recent by 30 months
Screen resolution920k230kClearer screen (+690k dot)
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Common features in the Panasonic FZ40 and Panasonic ZS30

 FZ40 ZS30 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen dimensions3"3"Equal screen measurement
Selfie screen Absent selfie screen

Panasonic FZ40 vs Panasonic ZS30 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is intending to lug around your camera often, you'll have to consider its weight and dimensions. The Panasonic FZ40 comes with physical dimensions of 120mm x 80mm x 92mm (4.7" x 3.1" x 3.6") with a weight of 494 grams (1.09 lbs) while the Panasonic ZS30 has dimensions of 105mm x 59mm x 28mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.1") and a weight of 198 grams (0.44 lbs).

Take a look at the Panasonic FZ40 vs Panasonic ZS30 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an ILC will change depending on the lens you have chosen at that time. Below is a front view measurement comparison of the FZ40 compared to the ZS30.

Panasonic FZ40 vs Panasonic ZS30 size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability score of the FZ40 and ZS30 is 68 and 92 respectively.

Panasonic FZ40 vs Panasonic ZS30 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic FZ40 vs Panasonic ZS30 Sensor Comparison

Quite often, it is difficult to see the contrast in sensor measurements only by going through specs. The photograph here should provide you a greater sense of the sensor sizes in the FZ40 and ZS30.

As you can plainly see, both of the cameras have the same sensor dimensions albeit not the same resolution. You can expect the Panasonic ZS30 to produce greater detail because of its extra 4 Megapixels. Higher resolution will make it easier to crop shots a bit more aggressively. The older FZ40 will be behind when it comes to sensor technology.

Panasonic FZ40 vs Panasonic ZS30 sensor size comparison

Panasonic FZ40 vs Panasonic ZS30 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic FZ40 vs Panasonic ZS30 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic FZ40 Portrait photography advice
Panasonic ZS30 Portrait photography advice
46
focusing manually
MP count good (14 megapixels)
saves RAW files
cannot use external flash
small sensor (1/2.3")
33
good MP (18 megapixels)
manual focus not available
no external flash support
small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Panasonic FZ40
Street photography with Panasonic ZS30
51
has image stabilization (Optical)
saves RAW files
fixed screen
small sensor (1/2.3")
heavier than others in class (494g)
66
built in image stabilization (Optical)
comes with focus by touch
lighter than average in class (198g)
fixed screen
small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic FZ40 Sports photography highlights
Panasonic ZS30 Sports photography highlights
43
excellent zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
MP count good (14 megapixels)
continuous shooting slow (2.0 frames per second)
small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
46
great zoom range (24-480mm 20.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
good MP (18 megapixels)
offers tracking autofocus
low max shutter speed (1/1,200s)
small sensor (1/2.3")
not so great battery life (260 CIPA)
lack of phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic FZ40 Travel photography factors
Panasonic ZS30 Travel photography factors
54
MP count good (14MP)
flash built-in
fairly wide (25mm)
great zoom (600mm)
lack of Time Lapse function
heavier than others in class (494g)
display isn't selfie friendly
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
69
lighter than average in class (198g)
comes with focus by touch
good MP (18MP)
has built in flash
fairly wide (24mm)
very long reach (480mm)
does not have Time Lapse recording
not so great battery life (260 CIPA)
display is not selfie friendly
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Panasonic FZ40
Landscape photography with Panasonic ZS30
51
focusing manually
fairly wide (25mm)
screen size is good (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Optical)
MP count good (14MP)
saves RAW files
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of Time Lapse function
44
fairly wide (24mm)
nice screen size (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
good MP (18 megapixels)
manual focus not available
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
not so great battery life (260 CIPA)
does not have Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic FZ40 Vlogging advice
Panasonic ZS30 Vlogging advice
23
fairly wide (25mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
display isn't selfie friendly
low video resolution (1280 x 720 resolution)
lack of external mic socket
heavier than others in class (494 grams)
35
fairly wide (24mm)
screen is touchscreen
built in image stabilization (Optical)
video res high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
lighter than average in class (198 grams)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
display is not selfie friendly
does not have external mic support
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Panasonic FZ40 vs Panasonic ZS30 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic FZ40 and Panasonic ZS30
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ40Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS30
General Information
Company Panasonic Panasonic
Model type Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ40 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS30
Also referred to as Lumix DMC-FZ45 Lumix DMC-TZ40
Category Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Superzoom
Launched 2010-07-21 2013-01-07
Physical type SLR-like (bridge) Compact
Sensor Information
Chip Venus Engine HD II -
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 6.08 x 4.56mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 27.7mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 14 megapixel 18 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 4320 x 3240 4896 x 3672
Max native ISO 6400 6400
Min native ISO 80 100
RAW images
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch to focus
AF continuous
AF single
AF tracking
AF selectice
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Total focus points - 23
Cross type focus points - -
Lens
Lens support fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 25-600mm (24.0x) 24-480mm (20.0x)
Largest aperture f/2.8-5.2 f/3.3-6.4
Macro focusing distance 1cm 3cm
Focal length multiplier 5.9 5.8
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display size 3 inch 3 inch
Resolution of display 230k dots 920k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60s 15s
Fastest shutter speed 1/2000s 1/1200s
Continuous shutter rate 2.0 frames/s 10.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 9.50 m 6.40 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro
External flash
Auto exposure 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 720 (60, 30 fps), 848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30fps), 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 1280x720 1920x1080
Video file format AVCHD Lite MPEG-4, AVCHD
Mic support
Headphone support
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
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 494g (1.09 pounds) 198g (0.44 pounds)
Physical dimensions 120 x 80 x 92mm (4.7" x 3.1" x 3.6") 105 x 59 x 28mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.1")
DXO scores
DXO Overall 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 photographs
Battery style - Battery Pack
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10 sec (3 pictures)) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Card slots One One
Pricing at release $420 $250