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Panasonic S3 vs Panasonic ZS30

Portability
96
Imaging
37
Features
24
Overall
31
Panasonic Lumix DMC-S3 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS30 front
Portability
92
Imaging
42
Features
48
Overall
44

Panasonic S3 vs Panasonic ZS30 Key Specs

Panasonic S3
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-112mm (F3.1-5.6) lens
  • 117g - 99 x 59 x 21mm
  • Introduced January 2011
Panasonic ZS30
(Full Review)
  • 18MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-480mm (F3.3-6.4) lens
  • 198g - 105 x 59 x 28mm
  • Launched January 2013
  • Other Name is Lumix DMC-TZ40
  • Succeeded the Panasonic ZS25
  • Replacement is Panasonic ZS35
Photography Glossary

Panasonic S3 vs Panasonic ZS30 Overview

Here, we are looking at the Panasonic S3 vs Panasonic ZS30, former is a Small Sensor Compact while the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom and both of them are created by Panasonic. There is a noticeable difference between the image resolutions of the S3 (14MP) and ZS30 (18MP) but both cameras posses the identical sensor dimensions (1/2.3").

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The S3 was released 24 months earlier than the ZS30 making them a generation away from each other. Each of these cameras feature the same body design (Compact).

Before diving straight to a more detailed comparison, here is a simple summation of how the S3 scores against the ZS30 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic S3 over the Panasonic ZS30

 S3 ZS30 

Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS30 over the Panasonic S3

 ZS30 S3 
LaunchedJanuary 2013January 2011More modern by 24 months
Display size3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution920k230kClearer display (+690k dot)
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Common features in the Panasonic S3 and Panasonic ZS30

 S3 ZS30 
Manual focus No manual focus
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Missing selfie screen

Panasonic S3 vs Panasonic ZS30 Physical Comparison

When you are looking to carry around your camera often, you'll need to take into account its weight and proportions. The Panasonic S3 offers exterior measurements of 99mm x 59mm x 21mm (3.9" x 2.3" x 0.8") and a weight of 117 grams (0.26 lbs) and the Panasonic ZS30 has measurements of 105mm x 59mm x 28mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.1") with a weight of 198 grams (0.44 lbs).

Check out the Panasonic S3 vs Panasonic ZS30 in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an ILC will differ dependant on the lens you choose at the time. Here is a front view dimensions comparison of the S3 vs the ZS30.

Panasonic S3 vs Panasonic ZS30 size comparison

Taking into account size and weight, the portability grade of the S3 and ZS30 is 96 and 92 respectively.

Panasonic S3 vs Panasonic ZS30 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic S3 vs Panasonic ZS30 Sensor Comparison

Usually, its tough to visualise the difference between sensor sizes purely by reading specs. The pic underneath will help offer you a much better sense of the sensor sizing in the S3 and ZS30.

As you can plainly see, each of the cameras come with the identical sensor size but not the same resolution. You can expect to see the Panasonic ZS30 to offer greater detail as a result of its extra 4MP. Greater resolution will let you crop photos a good deal more aggressively. The more aged S3 is going to be behind in sensor innovation.

Panasonic S3 vs Panasonic ZS30 sensor size comparison

Panasonic S3 vs Panasonic ZS30 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic S3 vs Panasonic ZS30 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic S3 Portrait photography highlights
Panasonic ZS30 Portrait photography highlights
28
decent megapixels (14MP)
lack of manual focus
no manual exposure
external flash not possible
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
33
sensor resolution is decent (18 megapixels)
manual focus not available
cannot use external flash
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
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Street Comparison

Panasonic S3 Street photography details
Panasonic ZS30 Street photography details
63
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competitors (117g)
no articulating screen
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
66
has image stabilization (Optical)
offers touch focus
lighter than competitors in class (198 grams)
screen is fixed
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic S3 as a Sports photography camera
Panasonic ZS30 as a Sports photography camera
35
built in image stabilization (Optical)
decent megapixels (14MP)
max fps low (2.0 frames/s)
lack of shutter priority mode
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect AF
46
great zoom range (24-480mm 20.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
sensor resolution is decent (18MP)
provides tracking autofocus
low maximum shutter speed (1/1,200 seconds)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
bad battery power (260 CIPA)
does not have phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic S3 Travel photography advice
Panasonic ZS30 Travel photography advice
68
lighter than competitors (117 grams)
decent megapixels (14MP)
has built in flash
reasonably wide (28mm)
does not have Timelapse recording
doesn't contain selfie friendly screen
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.1)
69
lighter than competitors in class (198 grams)
offers touch focus
sensor resolution is decent (18 megapixels)
has built in flash
pretty wide (24mm)
long zoom (480mm)
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
bad battery power (260 shots)
doesn't contain selfie friendly screen
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic S3 as a Landscape photography camera
Panasonic ZS30 as a Landscape photography camera
38
reasonably wide (28mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
decent megapixels (14 megapixels)
lack of manual focus
cannot change lenses (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.1)
screen is somewhat small (2.7")
no manual exposure
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
does not have Timelapse recording
44
pretty wide (24mm)
screen is a decent size (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Optical)
sensor resolution is decent (18 megapixels)
manual focus not available
cannot change lenses (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
bad battery power (260 per charge)
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic S3 Vlogging info
Panasonic ZS30 Vlogging info
31
reasonably wide (28mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competitors (117 grams)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.1)
doesn't contain selfie friendly screen
video resolution low (1280 x 720 pixels)
does not have microphone jack
35
pretty wide (24mm)
touchscreen
has image stabilization (Optical)
great video quality (1920 x 1080 resolution)
lighter than competitors in class (198g)
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
doesn't contain selfie friendly screen
doesn't have external mic port
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Panasonic S3 vs Panasonic ZS30 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic S3 and Panasonic ZS30
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-S3Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS30
General Information
Brand Panasonic Panasonic
Model Panasonic Lumix DMC-S3 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS30
Other name - Lumix DMC-TZ40
Type Small Sensor Compact Small Sensor Superzoom
Introduced 2011-01-05 2013-01-07
Body design Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by Venus Engine IV -
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 6.08 x 4.56mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 27.7mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 14 megapixels 18 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 4320 x 3240 4896 x 3672
Highest native ISO 6400 6400
Lowest native ISO 100 100
RAW support
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Number of focus points 11 23
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 28-112mm (4.0x) 24-480mm (20.0x)
Maximal aperture f/3.1-5.6 f/3.3-6.4
Macro focus range 5cm 3cm
Crop factor 5.9 5.8
Screen
Range of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 2.7" 3"
Screen resolution 230k dot 920k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Screen technology TFT LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Lowest shutter speed 8 seconds 15 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/1600 seconds 1/1200 seconds
Continuous shooting speed 2.0 frames/s 10.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 3.30 m 6.40 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (220 fps)
Highest video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video format MPEG-4 MPEG-4, AVCHD
Mic 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 BuiltIn
Physical
Environment seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 117 grams (0.26 pounds) 198 grams (0.44 pounds)
Physical dimensions 99 x 59 x 21mm (3.9" x 2.3" x 0.8") 105 x 59 x 28mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.1")
DXO scores
DXO All around 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 250 photographs 260 photographs
Form of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage slots 1 1
Price at launch $110 $250