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Panasonic LZ30 vs Panasonic ZS45

Portability
66
Imaging
40
Features
32
Overall
36
Panasonic Lumix DMC-LZ30 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS45 front
Portability
91
Imaging
41
Features
55
Overall
46

Panasonic LZ30 vs Panasonic ZS45 Key Specs

Panasonic LZ30
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-875mm (F3.0-5.9) lens
  • 552g - 124 x 84 x 92mm
  • Revealed January 2013
  • Earlier Model is Panasonic LZ20
  • Newer Model is Panasonic LZ40
Panasonic ZS45
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-480mm (F3.3-6.4) lens
  • 249g - 108 x 60 x 32mm
  • Introduced January 2015
  • Alternative Name is Lumix DMC-TZ57
  • Replaced the Panasonic ZS40
  • Replacement is Panasonic ZS50
Photography Glossary

Panasonic LZ30 vs Panasonic ZS45 Overview

In this write-up, we are evaluating the Panasonic LZ30 vs Panasonic ZS45, both Small Sensor Superzoom digital cameras and both of them are designed by Panasonic. The sensor resolution of the LZ30 (16MP) and the ZS45 (16MP) is very similar and they feature the same exact sensor dimensions (1/2.3").

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The LZ30 was revealed 24 months prior to the ZS45 making the cameras a generation apart from one another. Both of these cameras offer different body type with the Panasonic LZ30 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera and the Panasonic ZS45 being a Compact camera.

Before delving straight into a detailed comparison, below is a brief overview of how the LZ30 scores against the ZS45 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic LZ30 over the Panasonic ZS45

 LZ30 ZS45 

Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS45 over the Panasonic LZ30

 ZS45 LZ30 
IntroducedJanuary 2015January 2013More recent by 24 months
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display resolution1040k460kClearer display (+580k dot)

Common features in the Panasonic LZ30 and Panasonic ZS45

 LZ30 ZS45 
Focus manually No manual focusing
Display sizing3"3"Equivalent display sizing
Selfie screen Neither comes with selfie screen
Touch friendly display Absent Touch friendly display

Panasonic LZ30 vs Panasonic ZS45 Physical Comparison

In case you're planning to lug around your camera, you need to take into account its weight and volume. The Panasonic LZ30 comes with outer measurements of 124mm x 84mm x 92mm (4.9" x 3.3" x 3.6") with a weight of 552 grams (1.22 lbs) whilst the Panasonic ZS45 has sizing of 108mm x 60mm x 32mm (4.3" x 2.4" x 1.3") accompanied by a weight of 249 grams (0.55 lbs).

See the Panasonic LZ30 vs Panasonic ZS45 in the 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 attached at that moment. Underneath is the front view scale comparison of the LZ30 vs the ZS45.

Panasonic LZ30 vs Panasonic ZS45 size comparison

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the LZ30 and ZS45 is 66 and 91 respectively.

Panasonic LZ30 vs Panasonic ZS45 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic LZ30 vs Panasonic ZS45 Sensor Comparison

Quite often, it's tough to see the difference between sensor measurements only by going over a spec sheet. The visual here will offer you a better sense of the sensor sizing in the LZ30 and ZS45.

Clearly, each of the cameras offer the same exact sensor sizing and the identical resolution and you should expect similar quality of images although you will want to take the release date of the products into consideration. The older LZ30 is going to be behind when it comes to sensor innovation.

Panasonic LZ30 vs Panasonic ZS45 sensor size comparison

Panasonic LZ30 vs Panasonic ZS45 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic LZ30 vs Panasonic ZS45 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Panasonic LZ30
Portrait photography with Panasonic ZS45
32
megapixel count good (16MP)
lack of manual focus
can't use external flash
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
37
megapixel count decent (16MP)
provides face detect focus
no manual focus
can't use external flash
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
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Street Comparison

Panasonic LZ30 Street photography highlights
Panasonic ZS45 Street photography highlights
43
built in image stabilization (Optical)
no articulating screen
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
heavier than competitors (552g)
69
tilting screen
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competitors (249g)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Panasonic LZ30
Sports photography with Panasonic ZS45
47
amazing zoom range (25-875mm 35.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
has tracking autofocus
good battery life (380 per charge)
max frames per second low (1.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority mode
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect autofocus
56
amazing zoom range (24-480mm 20.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count decent (16MP)
provides tracking focus
great battery life (350 CIPA)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic LZ30 Travel photography information
Panasonic ZS45 Travel photography information
56
good battery life (380 shots)
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
built-in flash
decently wide (25mm)
long reach (875mm)
missing Time Lapse mode
heavier than competitors (552 grams)
display is not selfie friendly
sluggish max aperture (f3.0)
71
great battery life (350 per charge)
lighter than competitors (249 grams)
megapixel count decent (16MP)
has built in flash
pretty wide (24mm)
very long reach (480mm)
missing Timelapse function
does not contain selfie friendly screen
slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic LZ30 as a Landscape photography camera
Panasonic ZS45 as a Landscape photography camera
45
decently wide (25mm)
screen is a good size (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
good battery life (380 per charge)
lack of manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.0)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
missing Time Lapse mode
48
pretty wide (24mm)
decent sized screen (3 inch)
image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
great battery life (350 CIPA)
no manual focus
can't swap lenses (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
missing Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic LZ30 Vlogging advice
Panasonic ZS45 Vlogging advice
22
decently wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
sluggish max aperture (f3.0)
display is not selfie friendly
low res video (1280 x 720 resolution)
missing external mic jack
heavier than competitors (552g)
34
pretty wide (24mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
provides face detect focus
high res video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
lighter than competitors (249g)
slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
does not contain selfie friendly screen
missing microphone jack
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Panasonic LZ30 vs Panasonic ZS45 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic LZ30 and Panasonic ZS45
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-LZ30Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS45
General Information
Make Panasonic Panasonic
Model type Panasonic Lumix DMC-LZ30 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS45
Also referred to as - Lumix DMC-TZ57
Category Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Superzoom
Revealed 2013-01-07 2015-01-06
Body design SLR-like (bridge) Compact
Sensor Information
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 16MP 16MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio - 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 4608 x 3456 4608 x 3456
Maximum native ISO 6400 6400
Lowest native ISO 100 100
RAW support
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
AF touch
AF continuous
Single AF
AF tracking
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Total focus points - 21
Cross type focus points - -
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 25-875mm (35.0x) 24-480mm (20.0x)
Largest aperture f/3.0-5.9 f/3.3-6.4
Macro focusing range 1cm 3cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.9
Screen
Range of screen Fixed Type Tilting
Screen size 3 inches 3 inches
Screen resolution 460k dot 1,040k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Screen tech TFT LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 15 secs 4 secs
Fastest shutter speed 1/2000 secs 1/2000 secs
Continuous shutter speed 1.0 frames/s 10.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 4.40 m 6.00 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro Auto, Auto/Red-eye Reduction, Forced On, Slow Sync./Red-eye Reduction, Forced Off
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (30p), 1280 x 720 (30p), 640 x 480 (30p)
Maximum video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video format Motion JPEG MPEG-4
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 None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 552 gr (1.22 lb) 249 gr (0.55 lb)
Dimensions 124 x 84 x 92mm (4.9" x 3.3" x 3.6") 108 x 60 x 32mm (4.3" x 2.4" x 1.3")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth rating not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested not tested
DXO Low light rating not tested not tested
Other
Battery life 380 shots 350 shots
Form of battery AA Battery Pack
Battery ID 4 x AA -
Self timer Yes (2 0r 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage slots One One
Launch pricing $230 $300