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Panasonic G5 vs Panasonic ZS30

Portability
74
Imaging
52
Features
66
Overall
57
Panasonic Lumix DMC-G5 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS30 front
Portability
92
Imaging
42
Features
48
Overall
44

Panasonic G5 vs Panasonic ZS30 Key Specs

Panasonic G5
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Display
  • ISO 160 - 12800
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 396g - 120 x 83 x 71mm
  • Introduced July 2012
  • Superseded the Panasonic G3
  • Successor is Panasonic G6
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
  • Announced January 2013
  • Additionally Known as Lumix DMC-TZ40
  • Earlier Model is Panasonic ZS25
  • Renewed by Panasonic ZS35
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Panasonic G5 vs Panasonic ZS30 Overview

In this article, we will be contrasting the Panasonic G5 vs Panasonic ZS30, one being a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom and both of them are produced by Panasonic. The image resolution of the G5 (16MP) and the ZS30 (18MP) is pretty close but the G5 (Four Thirds) and ZS30 (1/2.3") feature totally different sensor sizing.

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The G5 was manufactured 5 months before the ZS30 so they are both of a similar generation. Both cameras offer different body type with the Panasonic G5 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic ZS30 being a Compact camera.

Before diving through a more detailed comparison, below is a concise summation of how the G5 scores vs the ZS30 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic G5 over the Panasonic ZS30

 G5 ZS30 
Focus manually Very accurate focusing
Screen typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating screen
Selfie screen Easy selfies

Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS30 over the Panasonic G5

 ZS30 G5 

Common features in the Panasonic G5 and Panasonic ZS30

 G5 ZS30 
AnnouncedJuly 2012January 2013Same generation
Screen sizing3"3"Equivalent screen measurement
Screen resolution920k920kThe same screen resolution
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Panasonic G5 vs Panasonic ZS30 Physical Comparison

If you're going to lug around your camera regularly, you'll need to factor in its weight and measurements. The Panasonic G5 has outside dimensions of 120mm x 83mm x 71mm (4.7" x 3.3" x 2.8") with a weight of 396 grams (0.87 lbs) whilst the Panasonic ZS30 has proportions of 105mm x 59mm x 28mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.1") and a weight of 198 grams (0.44 lbs).

See the Panasonic G5 vs Panasonic ZS30 in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change dependant on the lens you are using at the time. Here is the front view proportions comparison of the G5 vs the ZS30.

Panasonic G5 vs Panasonic ZS30 size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the G5 and ZS30 is 74 and 92 respectively.

Panasonic G5 vs Panasonic ZS30 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic G5 vs Panasonic ZS30 Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, its hard to see the difference in sensor measurements only by researching specifications. The visual underneath should provide you a better sense of the sensor sizes in the G5 and ZS30.

Plainly, each of these cameras offer different megapixels and different sensor measurements. The G5 featuring a bigger sensor will make achieving shallower depth of field less difficult and the Panasonic ZS30 will render more detail due to its extra 2 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also allow you to crop pictures a little more aggressively.

Panasonic G5 vs Panasonic ZS30 sensor size comparison

Panasonic G5 vs Panasonic ZS30 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic G5 vs Panasonic ZS30 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic G5 as a Portrait photography camera
Panasonic ZS30 as a Portrait photography camera
71
manual focus
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
includes face detection focus
saves RAW formats
33
good megapixels (18MP)
focusing manually not possible
can't use external flash
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
Photography Glossary

Street Comparison

Panasonic G5 as a Street photography camera
Panasonic ZS30 as a Street photography camera
66
screen can move to multiple angles
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
supports touch to focus
no image stabilization
more heavy than competition in class (396 grams)
66
has image stabilization (Optical)
features touch to focus
lighter than competition in class (198 grams)
fixed screen
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Panasonic G5
Sports photography with Panasonic ZS30
51
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
includes tracking autofocus
low frames per second (6.0 fps)
no image stabilization
has no phase detect auto focus
46
excellent zoom range (24-480mm 20.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
good megapixels (18MP)
offers tracking focus
low max shutter speed (1/1,200s)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
low battery power (260 shots)
has no phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic G5 Travel photography info
Panasonic ZS30 Travel photography info
66
supports touch to focus
megapixel count decent (16MP)
has built in flash
display is selfie friendly
does not have Timelapse mode
more heavy than competition in class (396 grams)
69
lighter than competition in class (198 grams)
features touch to focus
good megapixels (18 megapixels)
built-in flash
decently wide (24mm)
very long zoom (480mm)
doesn't have Timelapse function
low battery power (260 CIPA)
doesn't have selfie friendly display
slow max aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic G5 Landscape photography details
Panasonic ZS30 Landscape photography details
65
manual focus
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
decent sized screen (3 inches)
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
no image stabilization
does not have Timelapse mode
44
decently wide (24mm)
screen size is good (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Optical)
good megapixels (18 megapixels)
focusing manually not possible
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.3)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
low battery power (260 per charge)
doesn't have Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic G5 Vlogging features
Panasonic ZS30 Vlogging features
62
display is selfie friendly
touch screen
includes face detection focus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
no image stabilization
does not have external microphone support
more heavy than competition in class (396 grams)
35
decently wide (24mm)
has touchscreen
has image stabilization (Optical)
high video quality (1920 x 1080 pixels)
lighter than competition in class (198g)
slow max aperture (f3.3)
doesn't have selfie friendly display
doesn't have microphone jack
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Panasonic G5 vs Panasonic ZS30 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic G5 and Panasonic ZS30
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-G5Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS30
General Information
Brand Panasonic Panasonic
Model Panasonic Lumix DMC-G5 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS30
Otherwise known as - Lumix DMC-TZ40
Category Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Superzoom
Introduced 2012-07-17 2013-01-07
Body design SLR-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Venus Engine VII FHD -
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 224.9mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixel 18 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 4608 x 3456 4896 x 3672
Max native ISO 12800 6400
Min native ISO 160 100
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch to focus
Continuous AF
Single AF
AF tracking
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Number of focus points 23 23
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 24-480mm (20.0x)
Max aperture - f/3.3-6.4
Macro focus distance - 3cm
Available lenses 107 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.8
Screen
Range of display Fully Articulated Fixed Type
Display size 3" 3"
Display resolution 920k dot 920k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Display tech TFT Color LCD with wide-viewing angle -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic None
Viewfinder resolution 1,440k dot -
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent -
Viewfinder magnification 0.7x -
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60 seconds 15 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/1200 seconds
Continuous shooting speed 6.0fps 10.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 10.50 m 6.40 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Highest flash sync 1/160 seconds -
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60, 50, 30, 25fps) 1280 x 720 (60, 50, 30, 25fps), 640 x 480 (30, 25fps 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (220 fps)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video file format MPEG-4, AVCHD 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
Environmental seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 396g (0.87 lbs) 198g (0.44 lbs)
Dimensions 120 x 83 x 71mm (4.7" x 3.3" x 2.8") 105 x 59 x 28mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.1")
DXO scores
DXO All around score 61 not tested
DXO Color Depth score 21.4 not tested
DXO Dynamic range score 11.6 not tested
DXO Low light score 618 not tested
Other
Battery life 320 images 260 images
Type of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10 sec (3 images)) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage slots Single Single
Retail price $699 $250