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Panasonic LZ30 vs Pentax MX-1

Portability
66
Imaging
40
Features
32
Overall
36
Panasonic Lumix DMC-LZ30 front
 
Pentax MX-1 front
Portability
84
Imaging
37
Features
60
Overall
46

Panasonic LZ30 vs Pentax MX-1 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
  • Launched January 2013
  • Earlier Model is Panasonic LZ20
  • Replacement is Panasonic LZ40
Pentax MX-1
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/1.7" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 12800
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 28-112mm (F1.8-2.5) lens
  • 391g - 122 x 61 x 51mm
  • Revealed July 2013
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Panasonic LZ30 vs Pentax MX-1 Overview

Following is a in depth review of the Panasonic LZ30 versus Pentax MX-1, one is a Small Sensor Superzoom and the other is a Small Sensor Compact by companies Panasonic and Pentax. There exists a significant gap between the resolutions of the LZ30 (16MP) and MX-1 (12MP) and the LZ30 (1/2.3") and MX-1 (1/1.7") offer totally different sensor sizes.

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The LZ30 was announced 5 months before the MX-1 and they are of a similar generation. Both the cameras feature different body design with the Panasonic LZ30 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera and the Pentax MX-1 being a Compact camera.

Before delving into a in-depth comparison, here is a simple view of how the LZ30 scores versus the MX-1 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic LZ30 over the Pentax MX-1

 LZ30 MX-1 

Reasons to pick Pentax MX-1 over the Panasonic LZ30

 MX-1 LZ30 
Manual focus Very precise focus
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display resolution920k460kSharper display (+460k dot)

Common features in the Panasonic LZ30 and Pentax MX-1

 LZ30 MX-1 
RevealedJanuary 2013July 2013Similar generation
Display size3"3"Same display dimensions
Selfie screen Absent selfie screen
Touch friendly display Absent Touch friendly display

Panasonic LZ30 vs Pentax MX-1 Physical Comparison

If you are intending to carry around your camera regularly, you have to take into account its weight and dimensions. The Panasonic LZ30 features outer dimensions of 124mm x 84mm x 92mm (4.9" x 3.3" x 3.6") with a weight of 552 grams (1.22 lbs) while the Pentax MX-1 has dimensions of 122mm x 61mm x 51mm (4.8" x 2.4" x 2.0") with a weight of 391 grams (0.86 lbs).

Analyze the Panasonic LZ30 versus Pentax MX-1 in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary depending on the lens you are employing at the time. Underneath is a front view size comparison of the LZ30 and the MX-1.

Panasonic LZ30 vs Pentax MX-1 size comparison

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability score of the LZ30 and MX-1 is 66 and 84 respectively.

Panasonic LZ30 vs Pentax MX-1 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic LZ30 vs Pentax MX-1 Sensor Comparison

Quite often, it is very hard to envision the difference between sensor sizes just by reviewing a spec sheet. The pic below may provide you a more clear sense of the sensor dimensions in the LZ30 and MX-1.

As you can see, the two cameras come with different megapixel count and different sensor sizes. The LZ30 having a tinier sensor will make achieving shallow DOF more challenging and the Panasonic LZ30 will deliver extra detail with its extra 4MP. Greater resolution can also let you crop pics a good deal more aggressively.

Panasonic LZ30 vs Pentax MX-1 sensor size comparison

Panasonic LZ30 vs Pentax MX-1 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic LZ30 vs Pentax MX-1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic LZ30 Portrait photography features
Pentax MX-1 Portrait photography features
32
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
focusing manually not possible
can't use external flash
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
42
has manual focus
comes with face detection focusing
delivers RAW formats
can't use external flash
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
very small sensor size (1/1.7")
Photography Glossary

Street Comparison

Panasonic LZ30 as a Street photography camera
Pentax MX-1 as a Street photography camera
43
has image stabilization (Optical)
no moving screen
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
heavier than competitors in class (552 grams)
65
has a tilting screen
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
delivers RAW formats
very small sensor size (1/1.7")
more heavy than competition in class (391g)
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic LZ30 as a Sports photography camera
Pentax MX-1 as a Sports photography camera
47
excellent zoom range (25-875mm 35.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
includes tracking autofocus
better than average battery (380 per charge)
low frames per second (1.0 frames/s)
lack of shutter priority mode
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect auto focus
43
great max shutter speed (1/8,000 seconds)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
comes with tracking autofocus
good battery life (290 shots)
max fps very slow (1.0 frames per second)
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
very small sensor size (1/1.7")
doesn't have phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic LZ30 Travel photography features
Pentax MX-1 Travel photography features
56
better than average battery (380 shots)
MP count decent (16MP)
flash built-in
pretty wide (25mm)
long reach (875mm)
doesn't have Time Lapse function
heavier than competitors in class (552g)
screen is not selfie friendly
sluggish max aperture (f3.0)
61
good battery life (290 shots)
built-in flash
really wide (28mm)
very good maximum aperture (f1.8)
missing Timelapse recording
more heavy than competition in class (391 grams)
megapixel count low (12MP)
does not have selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic LZ30 Landscape photography factors
Pentax MX-1 Landscape photography factors
45
pretty wide (25mm)
screen size is decent (3")
has image stabilization (Optical)
MP count decent (16MP)
better than average battery (380 per charge)
focusing manually not possible
can't switch lenses (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.0)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
doesn't have Time Lapse function
55
has manual focus
really wide (28mm)
very good maximum aperture (f1.8)
screen size is decent (3")
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
delivers RAW formats
good battery life (290 CIPA)
can't swap lenses (fixed lens mount)
megapixel count low (12MP)
very small sensor size (1/1.7")
missing Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic LZ30 Vlogging factors
Pentax MX-1 Vlogging factors
22
pretty wide (25mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
sluggish max aperture (f3.0)
screen is not selfie friendly
low quality video (1280 x 720 pxls)
doesn't have external mic socket
heavier than competitors in class (552g)
33
really wide (28mm)
very good maximum aperture (f1.8)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
comes with face detection focusing
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
does not have selfie friendly screen
missing external microphone port
more heavy than competition in class (391g)
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Panasonic LZ30 vs Pentax MX-1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic LZ30 and Pentax MX-1
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-LZ30Pentax MX-1
General Information
Make Panasonic Pentax
Model type Panasonic Lumix DMC-LZ30 Pentax MX-1
Category Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Compact
Launched 2013-01-07 2013-07-01
Body design SLR-like (bridge) Compact
Sensor Information
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/1.7"
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 7.44 x 5.58mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 41.5mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixels 12 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio - 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 4608 x 3456 4000 x 3000
Max native ISO 6400 12800
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW files
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
AF continuous
AF single
AF tracking
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Total focus points - 25
Cross type focus points - -
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 25-875mm (35.0x) 28-112mm (4.0x)
Maximum aperture f/3.0-5.9 f/1.8-2.5
Macro focusing range 1cm 1cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 4.8
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Tilting
Screen diagonal 3 inches 3 inches
Screen resolution 460 thousand dot 920 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Screen tech TFT LCD TFT LCD with AR coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 15 seconds 30 seconds
Fastest shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/8000 seconds
Continuous shutter speed 1.0 frames per second 1.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 4.40 m 12.00 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Speed sync, Trailing Curtain sync
Hot shoe
AEB
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video data format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless None Eye-Fi Connected
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 552g (1.22 lb) 391g (0.86 lb)
Physical dimensions 124 x 84 x 92mm (4.9" x 3.3" x 3.6") 122 x 61 x 51mm (4.8" x 2.4" x 2.0")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating not tested 49
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 20.4
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 11.3
DXO Low light rating not tested 208
Other
Battery life 380 photos 290 photos
Type of battery AA Battery Pack
Battery ID 4 x AA D-Li-106
Self timer Yes (2 0r 10 sec) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots 1 1
Cost at release $230 $400