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Panasonic L1 vs Panasonic ZS30

Portability
65
Imaging
41
Features
38
Overall
39
Panasonic Lumix DMC-L1 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS30 front
Portability
92
Imaging
42
Features
48
Overall
44

Panasonic L1 vs Panasonic ZS30 Key Specs

Panasonic L1
(Full Review)
  • 7MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 2.5" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 1600
  • No Video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 606g - 146 x 87 x 77mm
  • Released April 2007
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
  • Introduced January 2013
  • Other Name is Lumix DMC-TZ40
  • Superseded the Panasonic ZS25
  • Later Model is Panasonic ZS35
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Panasonic L1 vs Panasonic ZS30 Overview

Here, we will be analyzing the Panasonic L1 versus Panasonic ZS30, former being a Advanced DSLR while the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom and they are both created by Panasonic. There is a substantial difference among the resolutions of the L1 (7MP) and ZS30 (18MP) and the L1 (Four Thirds) and ZS30 (1/2.3") boast different sensor size.

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The L1 was manufactured 6 years prior to the ZS30 and that is a fairly big difference as far as camera tech is concerned. Each of these cameras feature different body design with the Panasonic L1 being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Panasonic ZS30 being a Compact camera.

Before we go straight to a step-by-step comparison, here is a simple overview of how the L1 grades versus the ZS30 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic L1 over the Panasonic ZS30

 L1 ZS30 
Focus manually More exact focusing

Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS30 over the Panasonic L1

 ZS30 L1 
IntroducedJanuary 2013April 2007More recent by 69 months
Screen size3"2.5"Bigger screen (+0.5")
Screen resolution920k207kClearer screen (+713k dot)
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Common features in the Panasonic L1 and Panasonic ZS30

 L1 ZS30 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Neither contains selfie screen

Panasonic L1 vs Panasonic ZS30 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is planning to lug around your camera, you'll have to think about its weight and proportions. The Panasonic L1 has got external measurements of 146mm x 87mm x 77mm (5.7" x 3.4" x 3.0") accompanied by a weight of 606 grams (1.34 lbs) and the Panasonic ZS30 has measurements of 105mm x 59mm x 28mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.1") with a weight of 198 grams (0.44 lbs).

Check the Panasonic L1 versus Panasonic ZS30 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an ILC will change dependant on the lens you are utilizing at the time. Following is a front view sizing comparison of the L1 and the ZS30.

Panasonic L1 vs Panasonic ZS30 size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability score of the L1 and ZS30 is 65 and 92 respectively.

Panasonic L1 vs Panasonic ZS30 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic L1 vs Panasonic ZS30 Sensor Comparison

Generally, it is hard to visualize the gap in sensor measurements simply by viewing specs. The visual below will offer you a better sense of the sensor measurements in the L1 and ZS30.

All in all, both of the cameras feature different resolutions and different sensor measurements. The L1 due to its bigger sensor is going to make getting shallower DOF easier and the Panasonic ZS30 will render greater detail due to its extra 11MP. Higher resolution will enable you to crop pictures way more aggressively. The older L1 will be behind with regard to sensor tech.

Panasonic L1 vs Panasonic ZS30 sensor size comparison

Panasonic L1 vs Panasonic ZS30 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic L1 vs Panasonic ZS30 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Panasonic L1
Portrait photography with Panasonic ZS30
54
manual focus
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
low resolution sensor (7 megapixels)
33
decent megapixels (18 megapixels)
no manual focus
cannot use external flash
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
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Street Comparison

Panasonic L1 Street photography highlights
Panasonic ZS30 Street photography highlights
58
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
lighter than competition in class (606 grams)
no articulating screen
lack of image stabilization
66
built in image stabilization (Optical)
boasts focus by touch
lighter than average (198g)
no articulating screen
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Panasonic L1
Sports photography with Panasonic ZS30
40
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
sensor has phase detect AF
max frames per second low (3.0 frames/s)
lack of image stabilization
low resolution sensor (7 megapixels)
46
excellent zoom range (24-480mm 20.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
decent megapixels (18 megapixels)
provides tracking focus
maximum shutter speed is a little low (1/1,200 seconds)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
bad battery (260 per charge)
lacks phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Panasonic L1
Travel photography with Panasonic ZS30
50
lighter than competition in class (606 grams)
flash built-in
no Timelapse recording
low resolution sensor (7 megapixels)
does not feature selfie friendly screen
69
lighter than average (198 grams)
boasts focus by touch
decent megapixels (18 megapixels)
built-in flash
pretty wide (24mm)
long zoom (480mm)
does not have Timelapse function
bad battery (260 CIPA)
doesn't have a selfie friendly screen
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic L1 Landscape photography info
Panasonic ZS30 Landscape photography info
47
manual focus
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
screen is small (2.5 inches)
lack of image stabilization
low resolution sensor (7MP)
no Timelapse recording
44
pretty wide (24mm)
pretty good screen size (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
decent megapixels (18MP)
no manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
bad battery (260 shots)
does not have Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic L1 Vlogging factors
Panasonic ZS30 Vlogging factors
9
no video
35
pretty wide (24mm)
touch screen
built in image stabilization (Optical)
high res video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
lighter than average (198g)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
doesn't have a selfie friendly screen
does not have microphone support
Photography Glossary

Panasonic L1 vs Panasonic ZS30 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic L1 and Panasonic ZS30
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-L1Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS30
General Information
Make Panasonic Panasonic
Model Panasonic Lumix DMC-L1 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS30
Also called as - Lumix DMC-TZ40
Class Advanced DSLR Small Sensor Superzoom
Released 2007-04-11 2013-01-07
Physical type Mid-size SLR Compact
Sensor Information
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 7 megapixel 18 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 3136 x 2352 4896 x 3672
Maximum native ISO 1600 6400
Lowest native ISO 100 100
RAW data
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Number of focus points 3 23
Lens
Lens mounting type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 24-480mm (20.0x)
Maximal aperture - f/3.3-6.4
Macro focus distance - 3cm
Available lenses 45 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.8
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen size 2.5 inch 3 inch
Screen resolution 207k dots 920k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentamirror) None
Viewfinder coverage 95 percent -
Viewfinder magnification 0.46x -
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60s 15s
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000s 1/1200s
Continuous shooting rate 3.0 frames per sec 10.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 13.00 m 6.40 m
Flash options Auto, Red-Eye Auto, On, Red-Eye On, Red-Eye Slow Sync, Off, Slow Sync (1&2) Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro
External flash
AEB
WB bracketing
Maximum flash synchronize 1/160s -
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions - 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (220 fps)
Maximum video resolution None 1920x1080
Video format - MPEG-4, AVCHD
Microphone support
Headphone support
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 sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 606 gr (1.34 lbs) 198 gr (0.44 lbs)
Physical dimensions 146 x 87 x 77mm (5.7" x 3.4" x 3.0") 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 - 260 shots
Battery style - Battery Pack
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Storage type SD/MMC card SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Card slots One One
Launch price $1,500 $250