Panasonic LZ30 vs Pentax MX-1

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.

The following is a sample of the gallery pics for Panasonic Lumix DMC-LZ30 and Pentax MX-1. The whole galleries are provided at Panasonic LZ30 Gallery and Pentax MX-1 Gallery.

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.

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.

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

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.