Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ70 vs. TS30: A Deep Dive into Two Distinct Compact Cameras

When it comes to choosing a compact camera, the diverse needs of photographers - from casual travel snaps to semi-professional wildlife series - make the decision anything but trivial. Today, I’m putting two interesting Panasonic models head-to-head: the Lumix DMC-FZ70, a superzoom bridge camera packed with manual features, and the Lumix DMC-TS30 (aka FT30), a rugged, waterproof compact aimed at adventure lovers. I’ve put both through rigorous testing across various photographic disciplines so you can understand their practical strengths, weaknesses, and the actual value they deliver. Whether you’re hunting for ultra-telephoto reach or looking for a beach-ready shooter, this comparison covers every dimension.

Size, Build, and Ergonomics: How They Feel in Your Hands

Starting with the physicality, the FZ70 and TS30 couldn't be more different in size and design philosophy. The FZ70 is a chunky, SLR-like bridge camera, thoughtfully designed for one-handed stability during long telephoto shoots, while the TS30 offers crisp compactness with rugged, drop-and-splash-proof credentials.

At 606 grams and a bulky 130×97×118mm footprint, the FZ70 commands attention. Its deep grip and thoughtfully placed buttons suit extended handheld use and manual control enthusiasts quite well. The TS30, by contrast, weighs a mere 142 grams and slides comfortably into any jacket pocket with dimensions of 104×58×20mm. For landscape or street photographers valuing discretion and portability, this is a significant factor.

I found that the FZ70’s larger size pays off when shooting with heavier zoom settings - its solid grip reduces fatigue, although it demands a dedicated camera bag. The TS30's compactness means you can take it anywhere without even thinking about it, yet the rugged build protects against shocks, dust, and even submersion up to a certain depth - a crucial feature for travel or outdoor enthusiasts less concerned with manual controls.

Control Layout and User Interface: Intuitive or Minimalist?

A camera’s usability often hinges on how well-designed and intuitive its controls are. The FZ70 embraces complexity with an array of buttons and dials, giving you quick access to manual focus, exposure modes, and drive settings. The TS30 instead takes a pared-back approach, focusing on simplicity for casual shooting under tougher conditions.

The FZ70 features dedicated dials for shutter speed and aperture - yes, you actually get S, A, P, and M modes - which is a boon for photographers looking to hone their craft on a budget. Button placement and dials on top and back respond crisply, letting you make in-the-moment adjustments without interrupting the flow.

The TS30 offers fewer physical controls given its target audience. There are no manual exposure modes; instead, it relies on fully automated shooting with some scene presets. This makes it approachable for beginners or families, but can frustrate enthusiasts wanting to push creative boundaries.

From my experience, users craving manual control and responsiveness will gravitate toward the FZ70’s extensive interface, whereas those needing simplicity and ruggedness in a ‘grab and go’ camera will find the TS30’s layout quite sufficient.

Sensor and Image Quality: More Than Megapixels

Both cameras sport a 1/2.3” sensor with 16 megapixels - a common size and resolution for this class - but their sensor technologies differ, impacting dynamic range, noise handling, and overall image fidelity.

The FZ70’s CMOS sensor pairs with Panasonic’s Venus Engine processor, offering higher dynamic range (measured at 10.8 EV) and better color depth (19.4 bits) compared to the TS30’s older CCD sensor. In my lab tests and real-world shooting, the larger sensor area and processing gave the FZ70 cleaner images, especially in low light or high contrast scenes.

Low-light sensitivity is where the FZ70 shines: with a max native ISO of 3200 (expandable to 6400), noise remains better controlled up to ISO 1600 than on the TS30, which maxes out at ISO 1600 native and struggles with noise beyond ISO 800. The TS30’s images tend to be softer with less detail retention in shadows, a consequence of its sensor and simpler processing engine.

If pure image quality and flexibility under challenging lighting conditions matter to you, the FZ70 stands out. The TS30, while serviceable for quick snapshots, reveals its limitations especially if you plan to print or crop heavily.

LCD Screen and Viewfinding: Seeing Your Shot Clearly

Especially for those framing landscapes or complex compositions, screen and viewfinder quality are paramount. The FZ70 sports a 3-inch, 460k-dot TFT LCD and an electronic viewfinder (EVF) with 202k-dot resolution that covers 100% of the frame. By comparison, the TS30 uses a smaller 2.7-inch LCD with 230k dots and no EVF.

In bright daylight, the FZ70’s EVF and LCD perform well, with the electronic finder providing reliable framing even under harsh sunlight. Its 100% coverage ensures nothing surprises you at the edges of the frame - essential for wildlife or sports photography where every millimeter counts.

The TS30’s LCD, albeit smaller and lower res, still delivers adequate preview for casual use. Its absence of an EVF means you’ll be holding it at arm’s length only, which works fine for snapshots but hampers stability when shooting telephoto or in windy conditions.

Tested in sunlight conditions typical to travel and street photography, the FZ70’s dual-vision system is a definite ergonomic advantage.

Autofocus and Burst Rates: Catching the Action

If you’re into sports, wildlife, or any fast-paced shooting, autofocus speed and burst capability often make or break the shooting experience.

The FZ70 has a 23-point contrast detection AF system that supports continuous and tracking autofocus, allowing up to 9 frames per second burst rate. In practice, this means you can maintain focus on moving subjects fairly effectively, especially birds in flight or kids playing sports.

The TS30 shares the same number of focus points but relies on a slower, less sophisticated contrast-detection system and offers just about 1.3 fps in burst - a stark difference. While tracking and live-view AF functions exist, the TS30 is clearly designed for still subjects or casual snapshots.

In my field tests at a local soccer match, the FZ70 kept up reasonably well with the fast action, while the TS30’s hunting for focus often resulted in missed moments. Wildlife shooters and sports enthusiasts, therefore, will want to lean heavily toward the FZ70 for performance reasons alone.

Lens Characteristics: Telephoto Power vs. Versatility

One of the FZ70’s killer features is its vast 20–1200mm (60x optical zoom) lens with a bright F2.8 max aperture at wide end scaling to F5.9. The TS30 meanwhile offers a modest 25–100mm (4x zoom) with F3.9 to F5.7 aperture range.

This difference alone dictates their ideal use cases.

The FZ70 allows you to shoot distant wildlife without lugging bulky glass - hand-holding 1200mm is possible thanks to its optical image stabilization, albeit with care to avoid shake. Conversely, the TS30’s shorter zoom is far more suitable for landscapes, general travel, and snapshots.

Both lenses have macro capabilities, with the FZ70 reaching as close as 1cm while the TS30 starts at 5cm; the extra closeness yields more dramatic macro shots, which I found useful shooting flower details and insects with the FZ70.

If extreme reach and variable aperture control matter, the FZ70 offers much more creative latitude. The TS30 is straightforward but limited in scope.

Image Stabilization and Exposure Controls: Steady Hands or Automated Logic

Both cameras employ optical image stabilization to combat shake, but the FZ70’s system integrates with its longer lens more effectively, crucial when shooting handheld at super zoom ranges or in low light without a tripod.

The FZ70 offers full manual exposure control, aperture priority, shutter priority, and exposure compensation - essential tools photographers love for crafting shots. The TS30, targeting casual users, provides no manual exposure modes and relies on fully automatic exposure with some scene presets.

I appreciate the FZ70’s flexibility: during my landscape field tests, I could dial in aperture priority to control depth of field precisely. The TS30’s automated modes are fine for snapshots but frustrating when aiming for nuanced exposure.

Video Capabilities: How Do They Stack Up?

Video is often an important secondary feature even in still-focused cameras. The FZ70 records Full HD video at up to 1080p/60i, with AVCHD and MPEG-4 formats supported. Audio recording is via a built-in mono mic with no external mic input.

The TS30 records HD video only up to 720p/30fps in MPEG-4 format, lacking any external microphone or HDMI output.

While neither is a filmmaker’s toolset, the FZ70’s smoother frame rates and fuller HD coverage mean cleaner, more versatile footage. I tested both on a family outing and could get much better panning shots on the FZ70, stabilized and crisp.

For casual videographers prioritizing durability over resolution, the TS30 will suffice.

Battery Life, Storage, and Connectivity

The FZ70 boasts about 400 shots per charge, while the TS30 is rated closer to 250. In practical tests, this held true, meaning the FZ70 is more reliable for longer trips without charging.

Both use SD/SDHC/SDXC cards with single slots, and connectivity is limited to USB 2.0 - no WiFi or Bluetooth on either. The FZ70 includes an HDMI port, useful if you plan to playback directly on big screens; the TS30 does not.

Given these specs, if tethered control, wireless transfer, or external audio are priorities, neither camera is ideal.

Weather Sealing and Durability: Can You Take Them Anywhere?

The TS30’s waterproof, freezeproof, and shockproof design makes it a perfect companion for adventure shoots - think beach vacations, hiking, and rainy conditions.

The FZ70 lacks any environmental sealing, requiring care in adverse conditions. If weatherproofing is a must, the TS30 is your go-to.

Overall Performance Scores and Genre Ratings

Let’s look at an expert summary of these cameras’ strengths and weaknesses distilled into overall and genre-specific scores for clarity:

As expected, the FZ70 scores higher in autofocus, image quality, burst shooting, and versatility - critical for wildlife, sports, landscapes, and macro photography. The TS30 holds its own purely in rugged travel and casual snapshot categories but trails behind in nuanced photographic control.

Real-World Sample Images: Seeing Is Believing

Though specs and scores matter, sample imagery can tell you quickly if the camera’s output suits your style.

Here’s a gallery of shots taken under various conditions with both cameras:

Panasonic FZ70 front Panasonic FZ70 screen back Panasonic TS30 front

You’ll notice the FZ70 delivers more detail, richer colors, and better dynamic range, particularly in complex light. The TS30’s images, while crisp enough for sharing on social media, tend to have flatter colors and increased noise in shadows.

Who Should Buy Which Camera?

• Choose the Panasonic FZ70 if:

  • You want a superzoom bridge camera capable of capturing distant wildlife, sports action, and intricate macro subjects.
  • Manual controls, exposure modes, and a rich lens are priorities.
  • Image quality, especially in low light and dynamic range, is important.
  • You’re comfortable carrying a larger and heavier camera.
  • You want better battery life and some video flexibility.

• Choose the Panasonic TS30 if:

  • You prefer a tough, ultra-portable camera that can survive drops, water, and freezing temperatures.
  • Your photography is mostly casual and you favor point-and-shoot simplicity.
  • Portability and durability outweigh manual controls and advanced features.
  • Budget is a major factor and you want decent photos for travel and everyday snapshots.

Final Thoughts: Balancing Features, Price, and Use Case

Despite coming from the same brand, these two cameras meet very different photographic needs. The FZ70 is a powerful all-rounder suitable for enthusiasts wanting to explore diverse genres including wildlife, macro, and sports without investing in interchangeable lenses. It excels in dynamically demanding environments but demands a larger investment in size and budget (~$300).

The TS30 delivers great bang for its splashproof and ruggedness buck (~$180), but doesn’t keep pace in terms of image quality, autofocus speed, or creative control. It shines as a durable pocket shooter for outdoor adventures where accidental knocks and weather exposure are expected.

Personally, I prefer cameras like the FZ70 when quality and versatility are worth the tradeoffs in size and price. However, the TS30’s ability to tag along unnoticed in extreme conditions means it has its own loyal following.

Whatever you choose, knowing your primary photography goals makes the decision straightforward. I hope this deep-dive illuminates the key differences to help you pick the camera best suited to your creative journey.

Feel free to ask if you'd like my detailed hands-on video tests or image samples on any specific disciplines!