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Panasonic GF2 vs Panasonic ZS30

Portability
88
Imaging
48
Features
50
Overall
48
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF2 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS30 front
Portability
92
Imaging
42
Features
48
Overall
44

Panasonic GF2 vs Panasonic ZS30 Key Specs

Panasonic GF2
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 310g - 113 x 68 x 33mm
  • Revealed February 2011
  • Older Model is Panasonic GF1
  • Renewed by Panasonic GF3
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
  • Announced January 2013
  • Alternative Name is Lumix DMC-TZ40
  • Superseded the Panasonic ZS25
  • Renewed by Panasonic ZS35
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Panasonic GF2 vs Panasonic ZS30 Overview

On this page, we are evaluating the Panasonic GF2 and Panasonic ZS30, former being a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom and both of them are offered by Panasonic. There is a noticeable difference between the sensor resolutions of the GF2 (12MP) and ZS30 (18MP) and the GF2 (Four Thirds) and ZS30 (1/2.3") boast different sensor dimensions.

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The GF2 was unveiled 22 months before the ZS30 making them a generation apart from each other. Both the cameras have different body design with the Panasonic GF2 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic ZS30 being a Compact camera.

Before delving into a more detailed comparison, here is a brief summary of how the GF2 scores against the ZS30 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic GF2 over the Panasonic ZS30

 GF2 ZS30 
Manual focus More accurate focus

Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS30 over the Panasonic GF2

 ZS30 GF2 
AnnouncedJanuary 2013February 2011Fresher by 22 months
Display resolution920k460kSharper display (+460k dot)

Common features in the Panasonic GF2 and Panasonic ZS30

 GF2 ZS30 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display dimensions3"3"Equal display sizing
Selfie screen Missing selfie screen
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Panasonic GF2 vs Panasonic ZS30 Physical Comparison

For those who are intending to carry your camera often, you need to take into account its weight and measurements. The Panasonic GF2 has got outer measurements of 113mm x 68mm x 33mm (4.4" x 2.7" x 1.3") and a weight of 310 grams (0.68 lbs) and the Panasonic ZS30 has proportions of 105mm x 59mm x 28mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.1") along with a weight of 198 grams (0.44 lbs).

Check the Panasonic GF2 and Panasonic ZS30 in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an ILC will vary based on the lens you have chosen at that time. Here is a front view dimension comparison of the GF2 against the ZS30.

Panasonic GF2 vs Panasonic ZS30 size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability rating of the GF2 and ZS30 is 88 and 92 respectively.

Panasonic GF2 vs Panasonic ZS30 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic GF2 vs Panasonic ZS30 Sensor Comparison

Usually, it can be difficult to imagine the difference between sensor sizing only by reviewing specs. The graphic underneath might give you a far better sense of the sensor sizing in the GF2 and ZS30.

As you can plainly see, both the cameras provide different resolutions and different sensor sizing. The GF2 using its larger sensor is going to make getting shallower DOF simpler and the Panasonic ZS30 will offer greater detail having an extra 6 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also make it easier to crop images more aggressively. The older GF2 is going to be disadvantaged with regard to sensor technology.

Panasonic GF2 vs Panasonic ZS30 sensor size comparison

Panasonic GF2 vs Panasonic ZS30 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic GF2 vs Panasonic ZS30 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic GF2 as a Portrait photography camera
Panasonic ZS30 as a Portrait photography camera
60
manual focus
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
offers face detection focus
saves RAW formats
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
33
good MP (18MP)
manual focus not available
external flash not possible
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
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Street Comparison

Panasonic GF2 Street photography advice
Panasonic ZS30 Street photography advice
65
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
screen is fixed
does not have image stabilization
66
built in image stabilization (Optical)
offers focus via touch
lighter than competition in class (198g)
screen does not articulate
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic GF2 Sports photography advice
Panasonic ZS30 Sports photography advice
38
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
offers tracking autofocus
slow frames per second (3.0 fps)
does not have image stabilization
megapixel count low (12MP)
not so great battery (300 per charge)
has no phase detect auto focus
46
amazing zoom range (24-480mm 20.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
good MP (18MP)
comes with tracking focus
low maximum shutter speed (1/1,200s)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
low battery pack (260 CIPA)
lack of phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic GF2 Travel photography factors
Panasonic ZS30 Travel photography factors
52
built-in flash
lack of Timelapse function
not so great battery (300 per charge)
megapixel count low (12MP)
display is not selfie friendly
69
lighter than competition in class (198 grams)
offers focus via touch
good MP (18 megapixels)
built-in flash
quite wide (24mm)
long reach (480mm)
no Timelapse function
low battery pack (260 per charge)
display is not selfie friendly
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Panasonic GF2
Landscape photography with Panasonic ZS30
55
manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen is a good size (3 inch)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
does not have image stabilization
megapixel count low (12MP)
not so great battery (300 per charge)
lack of Timelapse function
44
quite wide (24mm)
good sized screen (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
good MP (18 megapixels)
manual focus not available
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
low battery pack (260 shots)
no Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic GF2 Vlogging info
Panasonic ZS30 Vlogging info
32
touchscreen functionality
offers face detection focus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
display is not selfie friendly
does not have image stabilization
lack of external microphone support
35
quite wide (24mm)
screen is touchscreen
built in image stabilization (Optical)
high quality video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
lighter than competition in class (198 grams)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
display is not selfie friendly
no microphone port
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Panasonic GF2 vs Panasonic ZS30 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic GF2 and Panasonic ZS30
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF2Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS30
General Information
Make Panasonic Panasonic
Model type Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF2 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS30
Also Known as - Lumix DMC-TZ40
Category Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Superzoom
Revealed 2011-02-24 2013-01-07
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Venus Engine 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 12 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
Highest Possible resolution 4000 x 3000 4896 x 3672
Maximum native ISO 6400 6400
Lowest native ISO 100 100
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
AF touch
AF continuous
Single AF
AF tracking
Selective AF
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Total focus points 23 23
Lens
Lens support Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 24-480mm (20.0x)
Maximum aperture - f/3.3-6.4
Macro focusing range - 3cm
Available lenses 107 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.8
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display size 3" 3"
Resolution of display 460k dot 920k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Display tech TFT Color LCD with wide-viewing angle -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Min shutter speed 60 secs 15 secs
Max shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/1200 secs
Continuous shutter speed 3.0fps 10.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 6.00 m 6.40 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro
Hot shoe
AEB
WB bracketing
Max flash sync 1/160 secs -
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1280 x 720p (60, 30 fps), 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)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video file format AVCHD, Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
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 proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 310 grams (0.68 lb) 198 grams (0.44 lb)
Physical dimensions 113 x 68 x 33mm (4.4" x 2.7" x 1.3") 105 x 59 x 28mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.1")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 54 not tested
DXO Color Depth rating 21.2 not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating 10.3 not tested
DXO Low light rating 506 not tested
Other
Battery life 300 photos 260 photos
Battery form Battery Pack Battery Pack
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10 sec (3 images)) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage slots 1 1
Retail cost $330 $250