Clicky

Panasonic ZS15 vs Sony QX30

Portability
92
Imaging
35
Features
37
Overall
35
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS15 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-QX30 front
Portability
91
Imaging
44
Features
37
Overall
41

Panasonic ZS15 vs Sony QX30 Key Specs

Panasonic ZS15
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-384mm (F3.3-5.9) lens
  • 208g - 105 x 58 x 33mm
  • Released June 2012
  • Additionally Known as Lumix DMC-TZ25
  • Updated by Panasonic ZS20
Sony QX30
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • " Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-720mm (F3.5-6.3) lens
  • 193g - 68 x 65 x 58mm
  • Revealed September 2014
Samsung Releases Faster Versions of EVO MicroSD Cards

Panasonic ZS15 vs Sony QX30 Overview

Below is a detailed analysis of the Panasonic ZS15 versus Sony QX30, former being a Small Sensor Superzoom while the latter is a Lens-style by companies Panasonic and Sony. There exists a substantial gap among the image resolutions of the ZS15 (12MP) and QX30 (20MP) but they use the same exact sensor sizes (1/2.3").

Photography Glossary

The ZS15 was revealed 3 years before the QX30 and that is a fairly big difference as far as camera technology is concerned. Both of the cameras offer different body type with the Panasonic ZS15 being a Compact camera and the Sony QX30 being a Lens-style camera.

Before getting in to a detailed comparison, below is a concise overview of how the ZS15 grades vs the QX30 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

Apple Innovates by Creating Next-Level Optical Stabilization for iPhone

        

Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS15 over the Sony QX30

 ZS15 QX30 
Screen sizing3""Bigger screen (+3")
Screen resolution460k0kClearer screen (+460k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony QX30 over the Panasonic ZS15

 QX30 ZS15 
RevealedSeptember 2014June 2012More recent by 26 months
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Common features in the Panasonic ZS15 and Sony QX30

 ZS15 QX30 
Focus manually Lack of manual focusing
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Lack of selfie screen

Panasonic ZS15 vs Sony QX30 Physical Comparison

When you are going to lug around your camera regularly, you'll have to think about its weight and volume. The Panasonic ZS15 enjoys external dimensions of 105mm x 58mm x 33mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.3") and a weight of 208 grams (0.46 lbs) whilst the Sony QX30 has sizing of 68mm x 65mm x 58mm (2.7" x 2.6" x 2.3") and a weight of 193 grams (0.43 lbs).

Check out the Panasonic ZS15 versus Sony QX30 in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an ILC will differ dependant on the lens you are utilizing at the time. Here is the front view dimensions comparison of the ZS15 against the QX30.

Panasonic ZS15 vs Sony QX30 size comparison

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability score of the ZS15 and QX30 is 92 and 91 respectively.

Panasonic ZS15 vs Sony QX30 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic ZS15 vs Sony QX30 Sensor Comparison

Typically, it can be difficult to imagine the difference in sensor measurements purely by seeing specifications. The visual here will help give you a more clear sense of the sensor dimensions in the ZS15 and QX30.

Plainly, both of those cameras offer the same exact sensor sizing albeit different resolution. You can count on the Sony QX30 to show more detail because of its extra 8 Megapixels. Higher resolution will help you crop shots a little more aggressively. The older ZS15 will be behind in sensor innovation.

Panasonic ZS15 vs Sony QX30 sensor size comparison

Panasonic ZS15 vs Sony QX30 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic ZS15 vs Sony QX30 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Pentax 17 Pre-Orders Outperform Expectations by a Landslide

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic ZS15 Portrait photography information
Sony QX30 Portrait photography information
21
manual focus not available
external flash not possible
MP count low (12 megapixels)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
37
MP count decent (20MP)
includes face detection autofocus
focusing manually not possible
no manual exposure
can't use external flash
small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
President Biden pushes bill mandating TikTok sale or ban

Street Comparison

Panasonic ZS15 as a Street photography camera
Sony QX30 as a Street photography camera
61
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than average (208 grams)
no articulating screen
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
62
has image stabilization (Optical)
offers focus by touch
no moving screen
small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
Photobucket discusses licensing 13 billion images with AI firms

Sports Comparison

Panasonic ZS15 Sports photography features
Sony QX30 Sports photography features
36
great zoom range (24-384mm 16.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
offers tracking autofocus
slow fps (2.0 frames/s)
MP count low (12MP)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
not so great battery pack (260 shots)
lack of phase detect auto focus
47
excellent zoom range (24-720mm 30.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
MP count decent (20MP)
small sensor (1/2.3")
not so great battery (200 shots)
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
Sora from OpenAI releases its first ever music video

Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Panasonic ZS15
Travel photography with Sony QX30
61
lighter than average (208g)
built-in flash
relatively wide (24mm)
great zoom (384mm)
lack of Timelapse mode
not so great battery pack (260 CIPA)
MP count low (12MP)
display isn't selfie friendly
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
65
offers focus by touch
MP count decent (20MP)
reasonably wide (24mm)
long reach (720mm)
lack of Time Lapse mode
not so great battery (200 shots)
screen is not selfie friendly
slow max aperture (f3.5)
Japan-exclusive Leica Leitz Phone 3 features big sensor and new modes

Landscape Comparison

Panasonic ZS15 Landscape photography features
Sony QX30 Landscape photography features
36
relatively wide (24mm)
screen size is good (3")
has image stabilization (Optical)
manual focus not available
cannot swap lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
MP count low (12MP)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
not so great battery pack (260 shots)
lack of Timelapse mode
39
reasonably wide (24mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
MP count decent (20 megapixels)
focusing manually not possible
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.5)
small screen (")
no manual exposure
small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
not so great battery (200 per charge)
lack of Time Lapse mode
Meta to Introduce 'AI-Generated' Labels for Media starting next month

Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic ZS15 Vlogging features
Sony QX30 Vlogging features
33
relatively wide (24mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
video res high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
lighter than average (208g)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
display isn't selfie friendly
lack of external microphone port
35
reasonably wide (24mm)
touchscreen capability
has image stabilization (Optical)
includes face detection autofocus
high res video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
slow max aperture (f3.5)
screen is not selfie friendly
lack of external mic support
Snapchat Adds Watermarks to AI-Created Images

Panasonic ZS15 vs Sony QX30 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic ZS15 and Sony QX30
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS15Sony Cyber-shot DSC-QX30
General Information
Company Panasonic Sony
Model type Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS15 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-QX30
Also Known as Lumix DMC-TZ25 -
Type Small Sensor Superzoom Lens-style
Released 2012-06-29 2014-09-03
Physical type Compact Lens-style
Sensor Information
Chip - Bionz X
Sensor type CMOS BSI-CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 12MP 20MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4000 x 3000 5184 x 3888
Maximum native ISO 6400 3200
Min native ISO 100 80
RAW files
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
AF continuous
AF single
Tracking AF
AF selectice
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Total focus points 23 -
Lens
Lens support fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 24-384mm (16.0x) 24-720mm (30.0x)
Max aperture f/3.3-5.9 f/3.5-6.3
Macro focusing distance 3cm -
Crop factor 5.8 5.8
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen sizing 3 inches -
Resolution of screen 460k dots 0k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 15 secs 4 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/1600 secs
Continuous shooting rate 2.0 frames/s 10.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Set WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 6.40 m no built-in flash
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro None
External flash
AEB
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60p, 30p)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video format MPEG-4, AVCHD MPEG-4
Mic support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless None Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 208 grams (0.46 lbs) 193 grams (0.43 lbs)
Dimensions 105 x 58 x 33mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.3") 68 x 65 x 58mm (2.7" x 2.6" x 2.3")
DXO scores
DXO All around 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 260 images 200 images
Type of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID - NP-BN,
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2, 10 secs)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal microSD, microSDHC, microSDXC, Memory Stick Micro
Card slots 1 1
Price at launch $279 $348