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Panasonic LZ30 vs Pentax RS1500

Portability
66
Imaging
40
Features
32
Overall
36
Panasonic Lumix DMC-LZ30 front
 
Pentax Optio RS1500 front
Portability
93
Imaging
37
Features
30
Overall
34

Panasonic LZ30 vs Pentax RS1500 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
  • Superseded the Panasonic LZ20
  • Replacement is Panasonic LZ40
Pentax RS1500
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-110mm (F3.5-5.5) lens
  • 157g - 114 x 58 x 28mm
  • Released March 2011
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Panasonic LZ30 vs Pentax RS1500 Overview

The following is a detailed overview of the Panasonic LZ30 vs Pentax RS1500, one is a Small Sensor Superzoom and the other is a Small Sensor Compact by brands Panasonic and Pentax. The resolution of the LZ30 (16MP) and the RS1500 (14MP) is very comparable and they feature the same exact sensor measurements (1/2.3").

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The LZ30 was launched 23 months after the RS1500 making the cameras a generation away from each other. The two cameras offer different body type with the Panasonic LZ30 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera and the Pentax RS1500 being a Compact camera.

Before we go through a complete comparison, below is a concise summation of how the LZ30 matches up against the RS1500 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic LZ30 over the Pentax RS1500

 LZ30 RS1500 
ReleasedJanuary 2013March 2011Newer by 23 months
Display sizing3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution460k230kSharper display (+230k dot)

Reasons to pick Pentax RS1500 over the Panasonic LZ30

 RS1500 LZ30 
Manually focus Very exact focusing

Common features in the Panasonic LZ30 and Pentax RS1500

 LZ30 RS1500 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Neither offers selfie screen
Touch friendly display Neither offers Touch friendly display

Panasonic LZ30 vs Pentax RS1500 Physical Comparison

In case you're intending to travel with your camera regularly, you are going to need to consider its weight and size. The Panasonic LZ30 offers outer 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 RS1500 has specifications of 114mm x 58mm x 28mm (4.5" x 2.3" x 1.1") with a weight of 157 grams (0.35 lbs).

Examine the Panasonic LZ30 vs Pentax RS1500 in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change dependant on the lens you select at that moment. Here is the front view sizing comparison of the LZ30 and the RS1500.

Panasonic LZ30 vs Pentax RS1500 size comparison

Looking at size and weight, the portability rating of the LZ30 and RS1500 is 66 and 93 respectively.

Panasonic LZ30 vs Pentax RS1500 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic LZ30 vs Pentax RS1500 Sensor Comparison

In many cases, it is difficult to imagine the gap in sensor dimensions simply by checking out a spec sheet. The picture underneath should give you a clearer sense of the sensor sizes in the LZ30 and RS1500.

Clearly, each of the cameras enjoy the same exact sensor sizing but different MP. You should expect to see the Panasonic LZ30 to provide more detail utilizing its extra 2MP. Greater resolution can also make it easier to crop images far more aggressively. The more recent LZ30 provides a benefit in sensor innovation.

Panasonic LZ30 vs Pentax RS1500 sensor size comparison

Panasonic LZ30 vs Pentax RS1500 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic LZ30 vs Pentax RS1500 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic LZ30 Portrait photography factors
Pentax RS1500 Portrait photography factors
32
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
focusing manually not possible
can't use external flash
very small sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
35
manual focus
decent megapixels (14 megapixels)
no manual mode
external flash not possible
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Panasonic LZ30
Street photography with Pentax RS1500
43
has image stabilization (Optical)
screen does not articulate
very small sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
more heavy than competitors (552g)
54
environment proof
fixed screen
lack of image stabilization
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic LZ30 as a Sports photography camera
Pentax RS1500 as a Sports photography camera
47
long zoom range (25-875mm 35.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
includes tracking autofocus
great battery (380 CIPA)
low frames per second (1.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority
very small sensor (1/2.3")
has no phase detect AF
37
decent megapixels (14 megapixels)
includes tracking autofocus
environment proof
slow frames per second (1.0 fps)
no shutter priority mode
lack of image stabilization
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic LZ30 Travel photography info
Pentax RS1500 Travel photography info
56
great battery (380 per charge)
good megapixels (16MP)
flash built-in
relatively wide (25mm)
long zoom (875mm)
doesn't have Timelapse recording
more heavy than competitors (552g)
display isn't selfie friendly
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.0)
67
environment proof
decent megapixels (14 megapixels)
flash built-in
really wide (28mm)
does not have Time Lapse recording
does not feature selfie friendly screen
sluggish max aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic LZ30 as a Landscape photography camera
Pentax RS1500 as a Landscape photography camera
45
relatively wide (25mm)
screen size is good (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Optical)
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
great battery (380 per charge)
focusing manually not possible
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.0)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
doesn't have Timelapse recording
40
manual focus
really wide (28mm)
decent megapixels (14 megapixels)
environment proof
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.5)
screen is small (2.7")
no manual mode
lack of image stabilization
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
does not have Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic LZ30 Vlogging information
Pentax RS1500 Vlogging information
22
relatively wide (25mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.0)
display isn't selfie friendly
video res low (1280 x 720 pixels)
doesn't have external microphone socket
more heavy than competitors (552 grams)
25
really wide (28mm)
sluggish max aperture (f3.5)
does not feature selfie friendly screen
lack of image stabilization
low res video (1280 x 720 resolution)
does not have external mic port
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Panasonic LZ30 vs Pentax RS1500 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic LZ30 and Pentax RS1500
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-LZ30Pentax Optio RS1500
General Information
Make Panasonic Pentax
Model type Panasonic Lumix DMC-LZ30 Pentax Optio RS1500
Class Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Compact
Announced 2013-01-07 2011-03-16
Body design SLR-like (bridge) Compact
Sensor Information
Sensor type CCD CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 16MP 14MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio - 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4608 x 3456 4288 x 3216
Highest native ISO 6400 6400
Lowest native ISO 100 80
RAW files
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Continuous AF
AF single
AF tracking
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Total focus points - 9
Cross type focus points - -
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 25-875mm (35.0x) 28-110mm (3.9x)
Maximum aperture f/3.0-5.9 f/3.5-5.5
Macro focusing range 1cm 1cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.8
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen size 3 inches 2.7 inches
Screen resolution 460k dot 230k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Screen technology TFT LCD TFT color LCD with Anti-reflective coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 15 seconds 4 seconds
Fastest shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/1500 seconds
Continuous shutter speed 1.0fps 1.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 4.40 m 3.90 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Soft
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance 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) 1280 x 720 (30, 15 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15 fps)
Highest video resolution 1280x720 1280x720
Video file format Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
Mic jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless None None
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 pounds) 157g (0.35 pounds)
Dimensions 124 x 84 x 92mm (4.9" x 3.3" x 3.6") 114 x 58 x 28mm (4.5" x 2.3" x 1.1")
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 images 260 images
Battery form AA Battery Pack
Battery ID 4 x AA D-LI92
Self timer Yes (2 0r 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage slots Single Single
Launch price $230 $150