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Panasonic LZ30 vs Pentax VS20

Portability
66
Imaging
40
Features
32
Overall
36
Panasonic Lumix DMC-LZ30 front
 
Pentax Optio VS20 front
Portability
90
Imaging
39
Features
35
Overall
37

Panasonic LZ30 vs Pentax VS20 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
  • Replaced the Panasonic LZ20
  • Updated by Panasonic LZ40
Pentax VS20
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-560mm (F3.1-4.8) lens
  • 235g - 111 x 61 x 38mm
  • Revealed January 2012
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Panasonic LZ30 vs Pentax VS20 Overview

Its time to look a bit more in depth at the Panasonic LZ30 vs Pentax VS20, both Small Sensor Superzoom cameras by companies Panasonic and Pentax. The image resolution of the LZ30 (16MP) and the VS20 (16MP) is relatively comparable and they use the same exact sensor measurements (1/2.3").

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The LZ30 was released 12 months later than the VS20 and they are both of a similar generation. Both the cameras offer different body type with the Panasonic LZ30 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera and the Pentax VS20 being a Compact camera.

Before diving straight into a in-depth comparison, below is a simple highlight of how the LZ30 matches up versus the VS20 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic LZ30 over the Pentax VS20

 LZ30 VS20 
RevealedJanuary 2013January 2012More recent by 12 months

Reasons to pick Pentax VS20 over the Panasonic LZ30

 VS20 LZ30 
Focus manually More exact focusing

Common features in the Panasonic LZ30 and Pentax VS20

 LZ30 VS20 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen sizing3"3"Equivalent screen measurements
Screen resolution460k460kSame screen resolution
Selfie screen Lack of selfie screen
Touch screen Lack of Touch screen

Panasonic LZ30 vs Pentax VS20 Physical Comparison

When you are looking to lug around your camera regularly, you're going to have to consider its weight and proportions. The Panasonic LZ30 comes with physical dimensions of 124mm x 84mm x 92mm (4.9" x 3.3" x 3.6") having a weight of 552 grams (1.22 lbs) whilst the Pentax VS20 has measurements of 111mm x 61mm x 38mm (4.4" x 2.4" x 1.5") accompanied by a weight of 235 grams (0.52 lbs).

Compare the Panasonic LZ30 vs Pentax VS20 in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change depending on the lens you are utilising at that time. The following is the front view dimension comparison of the LZ30 and the VS20.

Panasonic LZ30 vs Pentax VS20 size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability rating of the LZ30 and VS20 is 66 and 90 respectively.

Panasonic LZ30 vs Pentax VS20 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic LZ30 vs Pentax VS20 Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, its hard to imagine the gap in sensor measurements merely by going through specifications. The photograph below will help provide you a much better sense of the sensor dimensions in the LZ30 and VS20.

Plainly, the two cameras offer the same exact sensor sizing and the exact same resolution and you should expect comparable quality of files though you should really take the release date of the cameras into account. The more recent LZ30 provides a benefit with regard to sensor technology.

Panasonic LZ30 vs Pentax VS20 sensor size comparison

Panasonic LZ30 vs Pentax VS20 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic LZ30 vs Pentax VS20 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic LZ30 as a Portrait photography camera
Pentax VS20 as a Portrait photography camera
32
good MP (16 megapixels)
lack of manual focus
can't use external flash
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
36
you can focus manually
decent megapixels (16MP)
no manual control
external flash not possible
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Panasonic LZ30
Street photography with Pentax VS20
43
image stabilization (Optical)
no articulating screen
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
heavier than competition (552 grams)
61
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than competitors in class (235 grams)
screen is fixed
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic LZ30 as a Sports photography camera
Pentax VS20 as a Sports photography camera
47
long zoom range (25-875mm 35.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
good MP (16MP)
supports tracking autofocus
great battery power (380 shots)
low frames per second (1.0 frames/s)
lack of shutter priority mode
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect autofocus
44
amazing zoom range (28-560mm 20.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
comes with tracking focus
slow continuous shooting (1.0 fps)
lack of shutter priority mode
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic LZ30 Travel photography highlights
Pentax VS20 Travel photography highlights
56
great battery power (380 per charge)
good MP (16 megapixels)
built-in flash
relatively wide (25mm)
very long zoom (875mm)
lack of Time Lapse mode
heavier than competition (552g)
display isn't selfie friendly
slow max aperture (f3.0)
68
lighter than competitors in class (235g)
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
built-in flash
really wide (28mm)
great zoom (560mm)
lack of Timelapse mode
screen isn't selfie friendly
slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic LZ30 Landscape photography info
Pentax VS20 Landscape photography info
45
relatively wide (25mm)
screen is a good size (3")
image stabilization (Optical)
good MP (16 megapixels)
great battery power (380 shots)
lack of manual focus
cannot swap lens (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.0)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
lack of Time Lapse mode
47
you can focus manually
really wide (28mm)
screen size is good (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
cannot change lenses (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
no manual control
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
lack of Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic LZ30 Vlogging factors
Pentax VS20 Vlogging factors
22
relatively wide (25mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
slow max aperture (f3.0)
display isn't selfie friendly
low res video (1280 x 720 pxls)
lack of external mic jack
heavier than competition (552g)
30
really wide (28mm)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than competitors in class (235 grams)
slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
screen isn't selfie friendly
video quality not great (1280 x 720 pixels)
lack of microphone jack
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Panasonic LZ30 vs Pentax VS20 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic LZ30 and Pentax VS20
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-LZ30Pentax Optio VS20
General Information
Company Panasonic Pentax
Model Panasonic Lumix DMC-LZ30 Pentax Optio VS20
Class Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Superzoom
Launched 2013-01-07 2012-01-25
Body design SLR-like (bridge) Compact
Sensor Information
Sensor type CCD CCD
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 16 megapixel 16 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio - 1:1, 4:3 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 4608 x 3456 4608 x 3456
Maximum native ISO 6400 6400
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW files
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
AF continuous
Single AF
Tracking AF
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Number of focus points - 3
Cross focus points - -
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 25-875mm (35.0x) 28-560mm (20.0x)
Largest aperture f/3.0-5.9 f/3.1-4.8
Macro focus range 1cm 3cm
Crop factor 5.8 5.9
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 3 inches 3 inches
Screen resolution 460k dot 460k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Screen tech TFT LCD TFT color LCD with Anti-reflective coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Min shutter speed 15 secs 4 secs
Max shutter speed 1/2000 secs 1/2500 secs
Continuous shutter speed 1.0 frames per second 1.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes -
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 4.40 m 2.80 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Soft
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) 1280 x 720 (30, 15 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1280x720 1280x720
Video data format Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
Microphone input
Headphone input
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
Environment seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 552 grams (1.22 pounds) 235 grams (0.52 pounds)
Dimensions 124 x 84 x 92mm (4.9" x 3.3" x 3.6") 111 x 61 x 38mm (4.4" x 2.4" x 1.5")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth score not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range score not tested not tested
DXO Low light score not tested not tested
Other
Battery life 380 shots -
Type of battery AA -
Battery model 4 x AA D-LI122
Self timer Yes (2 0r 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage slots One One
Cost at release $230 $106