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Panasonic ZS100 vs Pentax K-30

Portability
87
Imaging
52
Features
65
Overall
57
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS100 front
 
Pentax K-30 front
Portability
63
Imaging
57
Features
66
Overall
60

Panasonic ZS100 vs Pentax K-30 Key Specs

Panasonic ZS100
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - 1" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 125 - 12800 (Raise to 25600)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • 25-250mm (F2.8-5.9) lens
  • 312g - 111 x 65 x 44mm
  • Announced January 2016
  • Also referred to as Lumix DMC-TZ100
  • Later Model is Panasonic ZS200
Pentax K-30
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 12800 (Raise to 25600)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/6000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 650g - 130 x 97 x 71mm
  • Revealed October 2012
  • Later Model is Pentax K-50
Photography Glossary

Panasonic ZS100 vs Pentax K-30 Overview

Its time to look more closely at the Panasonic ZS100 vs Pentax K-30, former is a Large Sensor Compact while the latter is a Advanced DSLR by companies Panasonic and Pentax. There is a noticeable difference among the resolutions of the ZS100 (20MP) and K-30 (16MP) and the ZS100 (1") and K-30 (APS-C) posses different sensor measurements.

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The ZS100 was introduced 3 years after the K-30 which is a fairly sizable difference as far as camera tech is concerned. Both the cameras feature different body design with the Panasonic ZS100 being a Large Sensor Compact camera and the Pentax K-30 being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before getting into a in depth comparison, here is a quick highlight of how the ZS100 scores vs the K-30 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS100 over the Pentax K-30

 ZS100 K-30 
RevealedJanuary 2016October 2012Newer by 39 months
Screen resolution1040k921kCrisper screen (+119k dot)
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Pentax K-30 over the Panasonic ZS100

 K-30 ZS100 

Common features in the Panasonic ZS100 and Pentax K-30

 ZS100 K-30 
Manually focus Very exact focus
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen size3"3"Same screen measurements
Selfie screen Absent selfie screen

Panasonic ZS100 vs Pentax K-30 Physical Comparison

In case you're intending to travel with your camera, you'll have to factor in its weight and proportions. The Panasonic ZS100 comes with external measurements of 111mm x 65mm x 44mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.7") and a weight of 312 grams (0.69 lbs) while the Pentax K-30 has measurements of 130mm x 97mm x 71mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 2.8") accompanied by a weight of 650 grams (1.43 lbs).

Look at the Panasonic ZS100 vs Pentax K-30 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an ILC will differ dependant on the lens you select at that moment. Following is a front view over all size comparison of the ZS100 vs the K-30.

Panasonic ZS100 vs Pentax K-30 size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability rating of the ZS100 and K-30 is 87 and 63 respectively.

Panasonic ZS100 vs Pentax K-30 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic ZS100 vs Pentax K-30 Sensor Comparison

Often, it is difficult to imagine the gap in sensor dimensions purely by researching a spec sheet. The picture below should offer you a far better sense of the sensor sizing in the ZS100 and K-30.

Clearly, both of these cameras feature different megapixels and different sensor dimensions. The ZS100 with its smaller sensor is going to make shooting shallow DOF tougher and the Panasonic ZS100 will render greater detail using its extra 4 Megapixels. Higher resolution will help you crop pictures way more aggressively. The newer ZS100 provides a benefit with regard to sensor technology.

Panasonic ZS100 vs Pentax K-30 sensor size comparison

Panasonic ZS100 vs Pentax K-30 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic ZS100 vs Pentax K-30 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic ZS100 as a Portrait photography camera
Pentax K-30 as a Portrait photography camera
64
you can focus manually
good resolution (20MP)
good sensor size (1")
supports face detect autofocus
exports RAW formats
cannot use external flash
74
has manual focus
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
has face detection autofocus
saves RAW files
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Street Comparison

Panasonic ZS100 as a Street photography camera
Pentax K-30 as a Street photography camera
78
image stabilization (Optical)
good sensor size (1")
exports RAW formats
comes with focus by touch
lighter than competition (312 grams)
no articulating screen
68
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
saves RAW files
environment proof
no moving screen
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic ZS100 Sports photography factors
Pentax K-30 Sports photography factors
67
quiet shutter (1/16,000s)
image stabilization (Optical)
good resolution (20 megapixels)
good sensor size (1")
supports tracking focus
has no phase detect autofocus
67
maximum shutter speed is high (1/6,000 seconds)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count decent (16MP)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
has tracking autofocus
environment proof
comes with phase detect autofocus
continuous shooting slow (6.0 frames per second)
bad battery (410 CIPA)
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic ZS100 Travel photography information
Pentax K-30 Travel photography information
75
lighter than competition (312g)
comes with focus by touch
good resolution (20MP)
built-in flash
fairly wide (25mm)
very long reach (250mm)
display is not selfie friendly
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
60
environment proof
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
built-in flash
bad battery (410 per charge)
screen isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic ZS100 Landscape photography details
Pentax K-30 Landscape photography details
68
you can focus manually
fairly wide (25mm)
screen is a good size (3 inches)
image stabilization (Optical)
good resolution (20MP)
good sensor size (1")
exports RAW formats
can't swap lens (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
73
has manual focus
swap lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
pretty good screen size (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count decent (16MP)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
saves RAW files
environment proof
bad battery (410 shots)
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic ZS100 Vlogging advice
Pentax K-30 Vlogging advice
35
fairly wide (25mm)
touchscreen
image stabilization (Optical)
supports face detect autofocus
high res video (3840 x 2160 pxls)
lighter than competition (312g)
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
display is not selfie friendly
missing mic port
30
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
has face detection autofocus
high res video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
screen isn't selfie friendly
no external microphone jack
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Panasonic ZS100 vs Pentax K-30 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic ZS100 and Pentax K-30
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS100Pentax K-30
General Information
Manufacturer Panasonic Pentax
Model Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS100 Pentax K-30
Also Known as Lumix DMC-TZ100 -
Category Large Sensor Compact Advanced DSLR
Announced 2016-01-05 2012-10-29
Body design Large Sensor Compact Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Powered by Venus Engine Prime M
Sensor type MOS CMOS
Sensor size 1" APS-C
Sensor measurements 13.2 x 8.8mm 23.7 x 15.7mm
Sensor area 116.2mm² 372.1mm²
Sensor resolution 20MP 16MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2
Maximum resolution 5472 x 3648 4928 x 3264
Maximum native ISO 12800 12800
Maximum boosted ISO 25600 25600
Lowest native ISO 125 100
RAW support
Lowest boosted ISO 80 -
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch to focus
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
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 49 11
Cross focus points - 9
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens Pentax KAF2
Lens focal range 25-250mm (10.0x) -
Highest aperture f/2.8-5.9 -
Macro focus distance 5cm -
Number of lenses - 151
Focal length multiplier 2.7 1.5
Screen
Range of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen size 3" 3"
Resolution of screen 1,040 thousand dot 921 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Screen tech - TFT LCD monitor with brightness/color adjustment and AR coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder resolution 1,166 thousand dot -
Viewfinder coverage 100% 100%
Viewfinder magnification 0.46x 0.61x
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60 seconds 30 seconds
Maximum shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/6000 seconds
Maximum silent shutter speed 1/16000 seconds -
Continuous shooting speed 9.9 frames per second 6.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 8.00 m (at Auto ISO) 12.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash options Auto, Auto/Red-eye Reduction, Forced On, Forced On/Red-eye Reduction, Slow Sync., Slow Sync./Red-eye Reduction, Forced Off Auto, On, Off, Red-eye,Slow Sync, Slow Sync+ Redeye, Trailing Curtain Sync, Wireless
External flash
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Maximum flash sync - 1/180 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions 4K/UHD (3840 x 2160 @ 30p/24p), 1920 x 1080 @ 60p/60i/30p/24p, 640 x 480 (30p) 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 3840x2160 1920x1080
Video file format MPEG-4, AVCHD MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None Optional
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 312 gr (0.69 lb) 650 gr (1.43 lb)
Physical dimensions 111 x 65 x 44mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.7") 130 x 97 x 71mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 2.8")
DXO scores
DXO All around score 70 79
DXO Color Depth score 22.8 23.7
DXO Dynamic range score 12.5 13.0
DXO Low light score 559 1129
Other
Battery life 300 images 410 images
Battery format Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model - D-LI109,4 x AA
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 secs, 3 shots @ 10 sec) Yes ( 2 or 12 seconds)
Time lapse shooting
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC card SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots One One
Launch price $700 $525