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Panasonic ZR1 vs Pentax K-30

Portability
94
Imaging
35
Features
17
Overall
27
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZR1 front
 
Pentax K-30 front
Portability
63
Imaging
57
Features
66
Overall
60

Panasonic ZR1 vs Pentax K-30 Key Specs

Panasonic ZR1
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-200mm (F3.3-5.9) lens
  • 158g - 98 x 55 x 26mm
  • Announced July 2009
  • Alternative Name is Lumix DMC-ZX1
Pentax K-30
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 12800 (Raise to 25600)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/6000s Max Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 650g - 130 x 97 x 71mm
  • Announced October 2012
  • Renewed by Pentax K-50
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Panasonic ZR1 vs Pentax K-30 Overview

Below, we are looking at the Panasonic ZR1 versus Pentax K-30, one is a Small Sensor Compact and the other is a Advanced DSLR by competitors Panasonic and Pentax. There exists a significant gap between the sensor resolutions of the ZR1 (12MP) and K-30 (16MP) and the ZR1 (1/2.3") and K-30 (APS-C) use totally different sensor measurements.

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The ZR1 was manufactured 4 years before the K-30 which is quite a sizable gap as far as technology is concerned. Both of the cameras come with different body type with the Panasonic ZR1 being a Compact camera and the Pentax K-30 being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before going straight into a thorough comparison, below is a simple highlight of how the ZR1 matches up versus the K-30 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic ZR1 over the Pentax K-30

 ZR1 K-30 

Reasons to pick Pentax K-30 over the Panasonic ZR1

 K-30 ZR1 
AnnouncedOctober 2012July 2009Newer by 39 months
Manually focus More exact focusing
Display dimension3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution921k230kClearer display (+691k dot)

Common features in the Panasonic ZR1 and Pentax K-30

 ZR1 K-30 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen No selfie screen
Touch display No Touch display

Panasonic ZR1 vs Pentax K-30 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is planning to travel with your camera frequently, you need to think about its weight and measurements. The Panasonic ZR1 provides physical measurements of 98mm x 55mm x 26mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 1.0") having a weight of 158 grams (0.35 lbs) whilst the Pentax K-30 has proportions of 130mm x 97mm x 71mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 2.8") accompanied by a weight of 650 grams (1.43 lbs).

See the Panasonic ZR1 versus Pentax K-30 in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change depending on the lens you select at that moment. The following is the front view measurements comparison of the ZR1 versus the K-30.

Panasonic ZR1 vs Pentax K-30 size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability score of the ZR1 and K-30 is 94 and 63 respectively.

Panasonic ZR1 vs Pentax K-30 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic ZR1 vs Pentax K-30 Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, it is very tough to visualise the difference between sensor dimensions purely by going over specifications. The picture below might offer you a much better sense of the sensor sizing in the ZR1 and K-30.

To sum up, both cameras have got different resolutions and different sensor dimensions. The ZR1 due to its tinier sensor will make getting bokeh harder and the Pentax K-30 will offer greater detail due to its extra 4 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also enable you to crop photos much more aggressively. The more aged ZR1 is going to be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor innovation.

Panasonic ZR1 vs Pentax K-30 sensor size comparison

Panasonic ZR1 vs Pentax K-30 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic ZR1 vs Pentax K-30 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic ZR1 as a Portrait photography camera
Pentax K-30 as a Portrait photography camera
21
focusing manually not possible
no manual control
no external flash support
resolution not great (12MP)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
74
you can focus manually
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
includes face detection focus
supports RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Panasonic ZR1 Street photography features
Pentax K-30 Street photography features
56
has image stabilization (Optical)
no articulating screen
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
68
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
environment sealing
screen does not articulate
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Panasonic ZR1
Sports photography with Pentax K-30
25
has image stabilization (Optical)
max fps very slow (2.0 frames per second)
lack of shutter priority mode
resolution not great (12 megapixels)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect auto focus
67
high shutter speed (1/6,000s)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
includes tracking autofocus
environment sealing
comes with phase detect auto focus
max fps very slow (6.0 frames per second)
not so great battery pack (410 shots)
Photography Glossary

Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Panasonic ZR1
Travel photography with Pentax K-30
57
built-in flash
decently wide (25mm)
doesn't have Time Lapse function
resolution not great (12 megapixels)
does not have selfie friendly display
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
60
environment sealing
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
built-in flash
not so great battery pack (410 CIPA)
screen is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic ZR1 as a Landscape photography camera
Pentax K-30 as a Landscape photography camera
32
decently wide (25mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
focusing manually not possible
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
small screen (2.7")
no manual control
resolution not great (12 megapixels)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
doesn't have Time Lapse function
73
you can focus manually
change lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
nice screen size (3")
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
environment sealing
not so great battery pack (410 per charge)
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic ZR1 Vlogging highlights
Pentax K-30 Vlogging highlights
28
decently wide (25mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
does not have selfie friendly display
low video resolution (1280 x 720 pxls)
doesn't have external mic jack
30
image stabilization (Sensor based)
includes face detection focus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
screen is not selfie friendly
does not have external mic port
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Panasonic ZR1 vs Pentax K-30 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic ZR1 and Pentax K-30
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZR1Pentax K-30
General Information
Brand Panasonic Pentax
Model type Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZR1 Pentax K-30
Also called as Lumix DMC-ZX1 -
Type Small Sensor Compact Advanced DSLR
Announced 2009-07-27 2012-10-29
Body design Compact Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Powered by Venus Engine V Prime M
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor dimensions 6.08 x 4.56mm 23.7 x 15.7mm
Sensor surface area 27.7mm² 372.1mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixel 16 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2
Highest Possible resolution 4000 x 3000 4928 x 3264
Maximum native ISO 6400 12800
Maximum enhanced ISO - 25600
Min native ISO 80 100
RAW images
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
AF continuous
AF single
AF tracking
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Total focus points 11 11
Cross type focus points - 9
Lens
Lens support fixed lens Pentax KAF2
Lens zoom range 25-200mm (8.0x) -
Max aperture f/3.3-5.9 -
Macro focusing range 3cm -
Number of lenses - 151
Focal length multiplier 5.9 1.5
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen sizing 2.7" 3"
Resolution of screen 230 thousand dot 921 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Screen technology - TFT LCD monitor with brightness/color adjustment and AR coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage - 100%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.61x
Features
Min shutter speed 60 secs 30 secs
Max shutter speed 1/2000 secs 1/6000 secs
Continuous shutter speed 2.0fps 6.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 5.10 m 12.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-eye,Slow Sync, Slow Sync+ Redeye, Trailing Curtain Sync, Wireless
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Max flash sync - 1/180 secs
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (30,25,24 fps), 1280 x 720 (60,50,30,25,24 fps), 640 x 424 (30,25,24 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video data format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, H.264
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 Optional
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 158g (0.35 lbs) 650g (1.43 lbs)
Dimensions 98 x 55 x 26mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 1.0") 130 x 97 x 71mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 2.8")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating not tested 79
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 23.7
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 13.0
DXO Low light rating not tested 1129
Other
Battery life - 410 shots
Type of battery - Battery Pack
Battery ID - D-LI109,4 x AA
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes ( 2 or 12 seconds)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC card, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots 1 1
Launch cost $280 $525