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Panasonic LZ30 vs Pentax KP

Portability
66
Imaging
40
Features
32
Overall
36
Panasonic Lumix DMC-LZ30 front
 
Pentax KP front
Portability
61
Imaging
68
Features
76
Overall
71

Panasonic LZ30 vs Pentax KP 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
  • Announced January 2013
  • Replaced the Panasonic LZ20
  • Replacement is Panasonic LZ40
Pentax KP
(Full Review)
  • 24MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 100 - 819200
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • 1/6000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 703g - 132 x 101 x 76mm
  • Launched January 2017
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Panasonic LZ30 vs Pentax KP Overview

Below, we will be comparing the Panasonic LZ30 and Pentax KP, former being a Small Sensor Superzoom while the latter is a Advanced DSLR by competitors Panasonic and Pentax. There is a large difference between the resolutions of the LZ30 (16MP) and KP (24MP) and the LZ30 (1/2.3") and KP (APS-C) feature totally different sensor size.

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The LZ30 was manufactured 5 years before the KP and that is quite a serious difference as far as tech is concerned. The two cameras come with different body type with the Panasonic LZ30 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera and the Pentax KP being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before getting in to a in-depth comparison, below is a brief introduction of how the LZ30 grades against the KP when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic LZ30 over the Pentax KP

 LZ30 KP 

Reasons to pick Pentax KP over the Panasonic LZ30

 KP LZ30 
LaunchedJanuary 2017January 2013More recent by 49 months
Manually focus More precise focusing
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen resolution921k460kSharper screen (+461k dot)

Common features in the Panasonic LZ30 and Pentax KP

 LZ30 KP 
Screen dimension3"3"Identical screen size
Selfie screen Neither contains selfie screen
Touch screen No Touch screen

Panasonic LZ30 vs Pentax KP Physical Comparison

If you're aiming to lug around your camera, you have to consider its weight and volume. The Panasonic LZ30 has got exterior dimensions of 124mm x 84mm x 92mm (4.9" x 3.3" x 3.6") accompanied by a weight of 552 grams (1.22 lbs) and the Pentax KP has sizing of 132mm x 101mm x 76mm (5.2" x 4.0" x 3.0") along with a weight of 703 grams (1.55 lbs).

See the Panasonic LZ30 and Pentax KP in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an ILC will vary dependant on the lens you have at that moment. Below is the front view over all size comparison of the LZ30 compared to the KP.

Panasonic LZ30 vs Pentax KP size comparison

Taking into account size and weight, the portability score of the LZ30 and KP is 66 and 61 respectively.

Panasonic LZ30 vs Pentax KP top view buttons comparison

Panasonic LZ30 vs Pentax KP Sensor Comparison

Usually, it's hard to see the contrast between sensor measurements merely by reviewing technical specs. The graphic below may offer you a far better sense of the sensor dimensions in the LZ30 and KP.

As you have seen, both of these cameras have got different megapixel count and different sensor measurements. The LZ30 featuring a tinier sensor will make getting shallow DOF more difficult and the Pentax KP will deliver more detail due to its extra 8MP. Higher resolution can also enable you to crop pictures much more aggressively. The older LZ30 is going to be behind when it comes to sensor innovation.

Panasonic LZ30 vs Pentax KP sensor size comparison

Panasonic LZ30 vs Pentax KP Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic LZ30 vs Pentax KP Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Panasonic LZ30
Portrait photography with Pentax KP
32
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
focusing manually not possible
external flash not possible
sensor is small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
80
you can focus manually
decent MP (24MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
comes with face detection focus
delivers RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Panasonic LZ30 Street photography features
Pentax KP Street photography features
43
image stabilization (Optical)
no moving screen
sensor is small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
heavier than others in class (552g)
76
has a tilting screen
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
weather proof
very good ISO range (819,200)
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic LZ30 as a Sports photography camera
Pentax KP as a Sports photography camera
47
long zoom range (25-875mm 35.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
provides tracking autofocus
good battery power (380 per charge)
max frames per second low (1.0 frames/s)
lack of shutter priority mode
sensor is small (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect AF
72
max shutter speed is good (1/6,000s)
silent mode (1/24,000s)
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
decent MP (24 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
comes with tracking autofocus
weather proof
terrible battery life (390 CIPA)
has no phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Panasonic LZ30
Travel photography with Pentax KP
56
good battery power (380 shots)
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
has built in flash
rather wide (25mm)
very long reach (875mm)
lack of Time Lapse recording
heavier than others in class (552 grams)
screen is not selfie friendly
slow max aperture (f3.0)
62
weather proof
decent MP (24 megapixels)
flash built-in
terrible battery life (390 CIPA)
screen is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic LZ30 Landscape photography advice
Pentax KP Landscape photography advice
45
rather wide (25mm)
screen size is decent (3 inches)
image stabilization (Optical)
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
good battery power (380 CIPA)
focusing manually not possible
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.0)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
lack of Time Lapse recording
78
you can focus manually
swap lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
screen size is good (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
decent MP (24MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
very good ISO range (819,200)
delivers RAW formats
weather proof
terrible battery life (390 CIPA)
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Panasonic LZ30
Vlogging with Pentax KP
22
rather wide (25mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
slow max aperture (f3.0)
screen is not selfie friendly
low video resolution (1280 x 720 pixels)
lack of external mic socket
heavier than others in class (552 grams)
35
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
comes with face detection focus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
does have external microphone port
screen is not selfie friendly
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Panasonic LZ30 vs Pentax KP Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic LZ30 and Pentax KP
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-LZ30Pentax KP
General Information
Brand Name Panasonic Pentax
Model type Panasonic Lumix DMC-LZ30 Pentax KP
Type Small Sensor Superzoom Advanced DSLR
Announced 2013-01-07 2017-01-26
Body design SLR-like (bridge) Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Powered by - PRIME IV
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 16MP 24MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio - 3:2
Max resolution 4608 x 3456 6016 x 4000
Max native ISO 6400 819200
Lowest native ISO 100 100
RAW data
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
AF touch
AF continuous
AF single
Tracking AF
AF selectice
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Total focus points - 27
Cross type focus points - 25
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens Pentax KAF2
Lens zoom range 25-875mm (35.0x) -
Maximal aperture f/3.0-5.9 -
Macro focusing range 1cm -
Number of lenses - 151
Crop factor 5.8 1.5
Screen
Range of screen Fixed Type Tilting
Screen sizing 3 inches 3 inches
Screen resolution 460 thousand dot 921 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Screen tech TFT LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage - 100%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.63x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 15 seconds 30 seconds
Fastest shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/6000 seconds
Fastest silent shutter speed - 1/24000 seconds
Continuous shutter speed 1.0 frames/s 7.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 4.40 m 6.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro Auto, auto w/redeye reduction, flash on w/redeye reduction, slow sync, trailing curtain sync, manual, wireless
Hot shoe
AE 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 (60i, 30p)
Max video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video file format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, H.264
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 Optional
Physical
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 552 grams (1.22 lbs) 703 grams (1.55 lbs)
Dimensions 124 x 84 x 92mm (4.9" x 3.3" x 3.6") 132 x 101 x 76mm (5.2" x 4.0" x 3.0")
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 pictures 390 pictures
Battery form AA Battery Pack
Battery ID 4 x AA D-LI109
Self timer Yes (2 0r 10 sec) Yes (2 or 12 secs)
Time lapse feature
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC (UHS-I supported)
Storage slots Single Single
Pricing at release $230 $747