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Panasonic GH2 vs Panasonic ZS30

Portability
70
Imaging
51
Features
65
Overall
56
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH2 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS30 front
Portability
92
Imaging
42
Features
48
Overall
44

Panasonic GH2 vs Panasonic ZS30 Key Specs

Panasonic GH2
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Display
  • ISO 160 - 12800
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 442g - 124 x 90 x 76mm
  • Announced March 2011
  • Old Model is Panasonic GH1
  • Newer Model is Panasonic GH3
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
  • Introduced January 2013
  • Alternate Name is Lumix DMC-TZ40
  • Replaced the Panasonic ZS25
  • Updated by Panasonic ZS35
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Panasonic GH2 vs Panasonic ZS30 Overview

Here, we are analyzing the Panasonic GH2 vs Panasonic ZS30, one being a Advanced Mirrorless and the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom and they are both sold by Panasonic. The sensor resolution of the GH2 (16MP) and the ZS30 (18MP) is very comparable but the GH2 (Four Thirds) and ZS30 (1/2.3") boast totally different sensor size.

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The GH2 was revealed 21 months earlier than the ZS30 making them a generation apart from one another. Both of the cameras feature different body design with the Panasonic GH2 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic ZS30 being a Compact camera.

Before getting into a step-by-step comparison, here is a brief view of how the GH2 scores against the ZS30 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic GH2 over the Panasonic ZS30

 GH2 ZS30 
Manual focus Very accurate focus
Display typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating display
Selfie screen Take selfies

Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS30 over the Panasonic GH2

 ZS30 GH2 
IntroducedJanuary 2013March 2011Fresher by 21 months
Display resolution920k460kCrisper display (+460k dot)

Common features in the Panasonic GH2 and Panasonic ZS30

 GH2 ZS30 
Display size3"3"Same display size
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Panasonic GH2 vs Panasonic ZS30 Physical Comparison

If you are going to carry your camera regularly, you'll have to think about its weight and measurements. The Panasonic GH2 enjoys physical measurements of 124mm x 90mm x 76mm (4.9" x 3.5" x 3.0") accompanied by a weight of 442 grams (0.97 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).

Analyze the Panasonic GH2 vs Panasonic ZS30 in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ based on the lens you have during that time. Here is a front view scale comparison of the GH2 and the ZS30.

Panasonic GH2 vs Panasonic ZS30 size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability score of the GH2 and ZS30 is 70 and 92 respectively.

Panasonic GH2 vs Panasonic ZS30 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic GH2 vs Panasonic ZS30 Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, it is tough to envision the difference in sensor sizing merely by checking out specs. The visual underneath will help offer you a much better sense of the sensor measurements in the GH2 and ZS30.

As you can plainly see, each of these cameras feature different megapixels and different sensor sizing. The GH2 using its larger sensor will make getting bokeh easier and the Panasonic ZS30 will show extra detail because of its extra 2 Megapixels. Greater resolution will allow you to crop images way more aggressively. The older GH2 will be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor tech.

Panasonic GH2 vs Panasonic ZS30 sensor size comparison

Panasonic GH2 vs Panasonic ZS30 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic GH2 vs Panasonic ZS30 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic GH2 Portrait photography highlights
Panasonic ZS30 Portrait photography highlights
70
focusing manually
MP count good (16 megapixels)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
offers face detection focusing
exports RAW formats
33
good megapixels (18MP)
focusing manually not possible
can't use external flash
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
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Street Comparison

Panasonic GH2 as a Street photography camera
Panasonic ZS30 as a Street photography camera
68
screen can move to multiple angles
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
no image stabilization
66
image stabilization (Optical)
includes focus via touch
lighter than others in class (198 grams)
no moving screen
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic GH2 Sports photography advice
Panasonic ZS30 Sports photography advice
46
MP count good (16 megapixels)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
offers tracking autofocus
painfully slow continuous shooting (3.0 frames/s)
no image stabilization
bad battery power (330 CIPA)
lacks phase detect AF
46
great zoom range (24-480mm 20.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
good megapixels (18MP)
has tracking autofocus
low maximum shutter speed (1/1,200 seconds)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
bad battery (260 CIPA)
doesn't have phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic GH2 Travel photography factors
Panasonic ZS30 Travel photography factors
62
MP count good (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
display is selfie friendly
lack of Time Lapse recording
bad battery power (330 shots)
69
lighter than others in class (198 grams)
includes focus via touch
good megapixels (18MP)
has built in flash
quite wide (24mm)
long zoom (480mm)
no Time Lapse mode
bad battery (260 CIPA)
display isn't selfie friendly
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic GH2 Landscape photography advice
Panasonic ZS30 Landscape photography advice
60
focusing manually
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
good sized screen (3 inches)
MP count good (16MP)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
no image stabilization
bad battery power (330 shots)
lack of Time Lapse recording
44
quite wide (24mm)
screen size is good (3")
image stabilization (Optical)
good megapixels (18 megapixels)
focusing manually not possible
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
bad battery (260 shots)
no Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic GH2 Vlogging information
Panasonic ZS30 Vlogging information
71
display is selfie friendly
built-in touchscreen
offers face detection focusing
good video quality (1920 x 1080 resolution)
has external mic jack
no image stabilization
35
quite wide (24mm)
has touchscreen
image stabilization (Optical)
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
lighter than others in class (198g)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
display isn't selfie friendly
no external mic socket
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Panasonic GH2 vs Panasonic ZS30 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic GH2 and Panasonic ZS30
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH2Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS30
General Information
Manufacturer Panasonic Panasonic
Model Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH2 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS30
Also Known as - Lumix DMC-TZ40
Class Advanced Mirrorless Small Sensor Superzoom
Announced 2011-03-23 2013-01-07
Physical type SLR-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Chip Venus Engine FHD -
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 17.3 x 13mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor 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
Maximum resolution 4608 x 3456 4896 x 3672
Maximum native ISO 12800 6400
Min native ISO 160 100
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Manual focus
AF touch
AF continuous
AF single
Tracking AF
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Number of focus points 23 23
Lens
Lens mounting type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 24-480mm (20.0x)
Max aperture - f/3.3-6.4
Macro focus distance - 3cm
Amount of lenses 107 -
Crop factor 2.1 5.8
Screen
Display type Fully Articulated Fixed Type
Display sizing 3 inches 3 inches
Display resolution 460k dots 920k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Display technology TFT Color LCD with wide-viewing angle -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic None
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent -
Viewfinder magnification 0.71x -
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60s 15s
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000s 1/1200s
Continuous shooting rate 3.0 frames/s 10.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 15.60 m 6.40 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Maximum flash synchronize 1/160s -
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (24, 30, 60fps) 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30fps), 320 x 240 (30fps) 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 format AVCHD, Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD
Mic port
Headphone port
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
Environment sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 442g (0.97 lbs) 198g (0.44 lbs)
Physical dimensions 124 x 90 x 76mm (4.9" x 3.5" x 3.0") 105 x 59 x 28mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.1")
DXO scores
DXO All around score 60 not tested
DXO Color Depth score 21.2 not tested
DXO Dynamic range score 11.3 not tested
DXO Low light score 655 not tested
Other
Battery life 330 shots 260 shots
Battery type Battery Pack Battery Pack
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Card slots Single Single
Price at launch $1,000 $250