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Panasonic GF8 vs Panasonic ZS30

Portability
90
Imaging
54
Features
62
Overall
57
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF8 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS30 front
Portability
92
Imaging
42
Features
48
Overall
44

Panasonic GF8 vs Panasonic ZS30 Key Specs

Panasonic GF8
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 200 - 25600
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 266g - 107 x 65 x 33mm
  • Launched February 2016
  • Succeeded the Panasonic GF7
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
  • Launched January 2013
  • Other Name is Lumix DMC-TZ40
  • Earlier Model is Panasonic ZS25
  • Successor is Panasonic ZS35
Photography Glossary

Panasonic GF8 vs Panasonic ZS30 Overview

Let's take a deeper look at the Panasonic GF8 versus Panasonic ZS30, former being a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom and both of them are sold by Panasonic. The resolution of the GF8 (16MP) and the ZS30 (18MP) is very comparable but the GF8 (Four Thirds) and ZS30 (1/2.3") possess different sensor size.

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The GF8 was unveiled 3 years later than the ZS30 and that is a fairly sizable difference as far as camera tech is concerned. Each of the cameras come with different body type with the Panasonic GF8 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic ZS30 being a Compact camera.

Before getting straight into a in depth comparison, below is a concise summary of how the GF8 scores against the ZS30 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic GF8 over the Panasonic ZS30

 GF8 ZS30 
LaunchedFebruary 2016January 2013More recent by 38 months
Manual focus More exact focus
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display resolution1040k920kClearer display (+120k dot)

Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS30 over the Panasonic GF8

 ZS30 GF8 

Common features in the Panasonic GF8 and Panasonic ZS30

 GF8 ZS30 
Display dimension3"3"Identical display size
Selfie screen Missing selfie screen
Touch display Easily navigate

Panasonic GF8 vs Panasonic ZS30 Physical Comparison

In case you're intending to lug around your camera, you'll have to factor in its weight and size. The Panasonic GF8 features exterior dimensions of 107mm x 65mm x 33mm (4.2" x 2.6" x 1.3") and a weight of 266 grams (0.59 lbs) and the Panasonic ZS30 has specifications of 105mm x 59mm x 28mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.1") accompanied by a weight of 198 grams (0.44 lbs).

Look at the Panasonic GF8 versus Panasonic ZS30 in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an ILC will change based on the lens you are employing during that time. Following is the front view dimensions comparison of the GF8 versus the ZS30.

Panasonic GF8 vs Panasonic ZS30 size comparison

Looking at size and weight, the portability grade of the GF8 and ZS30 is 90 and 92 respectively.

Panasonic GF8 vs Panasonic ZS30 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic GF8 vs Panasonic ZS30 Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, it is very difficult to imagine the contrast in sensor measurements only by seeing technical specs. The graphic below may provide you a stronger sense of the sensor sizes in the GF8 and ZS30.

As you can tell, each of the cameras have got different resolutions and different sensor measurements. The GF8 using its larger sensor is going to make shooting bokeh easier and the Panasonic ZS30 will produce extra detail having an extra 2 Megapixels. Greater resolution will allow you to crop pics much more aggressively. The newer GF8 provides an edge with regard to sensor technology.

Panasonic GF8 vs Panasonic ZS30 sensor size comparison

Panasonic GF8 vs Panasonic ZS30 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic GF8 vs Panasonic ZS30 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic GF8 Portrait photography details
Panasonic ZS30 Portrait photography details
65
has manual focus
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
supports face detect focus
supports RAW files
external flash not possible
33
good MP (18 megapixels)
no manual focus
external flash not possible
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Panasonic GF8
Street photography with Panasonic ZS30
80
tilting screen
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
provides focus by touch
very good ISO range (25,600)
does not have image stabilization
66
image stabilization (Optical)
comes with focus by touch
lighter than average (198g)
fixed screen
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Panasonic GF8
Sports photography with Panasonic ZS30
49
quiet shooting (1/16,000 seconds)
megapixel count good (16MP)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
supports tracking focus
max shutter speed is low (1/500 seconds)
low fps (5.8 fps)
does not have image stabilization
low battery pack (230 per charge)
doesn't have phase detect auto focus
46
amazing zoom range (24-480mm 20.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
good MP (18MP)
supports tracking focus
low maximum shutter speed (1/1,200s)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
terrible battery (260 CIPA)
does not have phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic GF8 Travel photography highlights
Panasonic ZS30 Travel photography highlights
66
provides focus by touch
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
lack of Time Lapse recording
low battery pack (230 per charge)
display isn't selfie friendly
69
lighter than average (198 grams)
comes with focus by touch
good MP (18MP)
has built in flash
fairly wide (24mm)
great zoom (480mm)
lack of Timelapse recording
terrible battery (260 CIPA)
doesn't feature selfie friendly display
slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic GF8 Landscape photography highlights
Panasonic ZS30 Landscape photography highlights
65
has manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen is a good size (3 inches)
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
very good ISO range (25,600)
supports RAW files
does not have image stabilization
low battery pack (230 shots)
lack of Time Lapse recording
44
fairly wide (24mm)
screen size is good (3 inches)
image stabilization (Optical)
good MP (18 megapixels)
no manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
terrible battery (260 shots)
lack of Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Panasonic GF8
Vlogging with Panasonic ZS30
33
built-in touchscreen
supports face detect focus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
display isn't selfie friendly
does not have image stabilization
lack of mic port
35
fairly wide (24mm)
built-in touchscreen
image stabilization (Optical)
video res high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
lighter than average (198g)
slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
doesn't feature selfie friendly display
lack of microphone port
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Panasonic GF8 vs Panasonic ZS30 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic GF8 and Panasonic ZS30
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF8Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS30
General Information
Company Panasonic Panasonic
Model Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF8 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS30
Also called - Lumix DMC-TZ40
Category Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Superzoom
Launched 2016-02-15 2013-01-07
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip Venus Engine -
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixels 18 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 4592 x 3448 4896 x 3672
Highest native ISO 25600 6400
Lowest native ISO 200 100
RAW data
Lowest boosted ISO 100 -
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Number of focus points 23 23
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 24-480mm (20.0x)
Maximal aperture - f/3.3-6.4
Macro focus distance - 3cm
Total lenses 107 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.8
Screen
Display type Tilting Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of display 1,040 thousand dot 920 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60 secs 15 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/500 secs 1/1200 secs
Maximum quiet shutter speed 1/16000 secs -
Continuous shooting speed 5.8fps 10.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 5.60 m (at ISO 200) 6.40 m
Flash options Auto, auto w/redeye reduction, flash on, flash on w/redeye reduction, slow sync, slow sync w/redeye reduction, flash off Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro
External flash
AEB
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60p, 60i, 50p, 50i, 30p, 25p, 24p), 1280 x 720 (30p, 25p), 640 x 480 (30p, 25p) 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (220 fps)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video format MPEG-4, AVCHD, H.264 MPEG-4, AVCHD
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In 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 266 gr (0.59 pounds) 198 gr (0.44 pounds)
Dimensions 107 x 65 x 33mm (4.2" x 2.6" x 1.3") 105 x 59 x 28mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.1")
DXO scores
DXO All around score not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth score not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range score not tested not tested
DXO Low light score not tested not tested
Other
Battery life 230 images 260 images
Style of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 secs, 3-shot/10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC card SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage slots 1 1
Retail cost $549 $250