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Panasonic ZS20 vs Samsung HZ30W

Portability
92
Imaging
38
Features
46
Overall
41
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS20 front
 
Samsung HZ30W front
Portability
91
Imaging
35
Features
40
Overall
37

Panasonic ZS20 vs Samsung HZ30W Key Specs

Panasonic ZS20
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-480mm (F3.3-6.4) lens
  • 206g - 105 x 59 x 28mm
  • Revealed April 2012
  • Additionally Known as Lumix DMC-TZ30
  • Older Model is Panasonic ZS15
  • Later Model is Panasonic ZS25
Samsung HZ30W
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 24-360mm (F3.2-5.8) lens
  • 245g - 107 x 61 x 28mm
  • Announced January 2010
  • Also referred to as WB600
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Panasonic ZS20 vs Samsung HZ30W Overview

Lets look closer at the Panasonic ZS20 versus Samsung HZ30W, both Small Sensor Superzoom digital cameras by rivals Panasonic and Samsung. The resolution of the ZS20 (14MP) and the HZ30W (12MP) is very well matched and both cameras boast the same sensor size (1/2.3").

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The ZS20 was announced 2 years after the HZ30W which is quite a big gap as far as technology is concerned. Each of these cameras have the same body design (Compact).

Before diving right into a comprehensive comparison, here is a concise overview of how the ZS20 scores versus the HZ30W with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS20 over the Samsung HZ30W

 ZS20 HZ30W 
AnnouncedApril 2012January 2010More modern by 28 months
Display resolution460k230kSharper display (+230k dot)
Touch display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Samsung HZ30W over the Panasonic ZS20

 HZ30W ZS20 
Focus manually More precise focus

Common features in the Panasonic ZS20 and Samsung HZ30W

 ZS20 HZ30W 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display dimensions3"3"Equal display size
Selfie screen Absent selfie screen

Panasonic ZS20 vs Samsung HZ30W Physical Comparison

For anybody who is aiming to carry around your camera frequently, you'll have to think about its weight and measurements. The Panasonic ZS20 offers physical dimensions of 105mm x 59mm x 28mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.1") with a weight of 206 grams (0.45 lbs) and the Samsung HZ30W has proportions of 107mm x 61mm x 28mm (4.2" x 2.4" x 1.1") with a weight of 245 grams (0.54 lbs).

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Take into consideration, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change dependant on the lens you are utilising at that time. The following is a front view measurements comparison of the ZS20 against the HZ30W.

Panasonic ZS20 vs Samsung HZ30W size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability score of the ZS20 and HZ30W is 92 and 91 respectively.

Panasonic ZS20 vs Samsung HZ30W top view buttons comparison

Panasonic ZS20 vs Samsung HZ30W Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, its tough to see the difference between sensor sizes purely by reading through technical specs. The picture underneath will help provide you a greater sense of the sensor sizes in the ZS20 and HZ30W.

As you can tell, each of the cameras provide the same sensor dimensions but not the same megapixels. You should expect to see the Panasonic ZS20 to resolve extra detail with its extra 2MP. Greater resolution will enable you to crop photos more aggressively. The younger ZS20 will have a benefit when it comes to sensor technology.

Panasonic ZS20 vs Samsung HZ30W sensor size comparison

Panasonic ZS20 vs Samsung HZ30W Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic ZS20 vs Samsung HZ30W Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Panasonic ZS20
Portrait photography with Samsung HZ30W
30
decent megapixels (14MP)
manual focus not available
can't use external flash
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
29
you can focus manually
can't use external flash
resolution not great (12MP)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
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Street Comparison

Panasonic ZS20 Street photography details
Samsung HZ30W Street photography details
65
has image stabilization (Optical)
comes with focus via touch
lighter than competition in class (206g)
screen does not articulate
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
60
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition (245g)
screen is fixed
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Panasonic ZS20
Sports photography with Samsung HZ30W
47
excellent zoom range (24-480mm 20.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
decent megapixels (14 megapixels)
supports tracking autofocus
small sensor size (1/2.3")
not so great battery life (260 per charge)
lack of phase detect AF
42
long zoom range (24-360mm 15.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
comes with tracking autofocus
resolution not great (12MP)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
has no phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic ZS20 Travel photography information
Samsung HZ30W Travel photography information
68
lighter than competition in class (206 grams)
comes with focus via touch
decent megapixels (14 megapixels)
flash built-in
pretty wide (24mm)
very long reach (480mm)
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
not so great battery life (260 shots)
screen is not selfie friendly
slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
63
lighter than competition (245g)
has built in flash
relatively wide (24mm)
great reach (360mm)
missing Time Lapse function
resolution not great (12MP)
does not have a selfie friendly display
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.2)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Panasonic ZS20
Landscape photography with Samsung HZ30W
42
pretty wide (24mm)
nice screen size (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Optical)
decent megapixels (14 megapixels)
manual focus not available
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
not so great battery life (260 shots)
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
43
you can focus manually
relatively wide (24mm)
pretty good screen size (3 inch)
image stabilization (Optical)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.2)
resolution not great (12MP)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
missing Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Panasonic ZS20
Vlogging with Samsung HZ30W
34
pretty wide (24mm)
screen is touchscreen
has image stabilization (Optical)
good video quality (1920 x 1080 pixels)
lighter than competition in class (206g)
slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
screen is not selfie friendly
doesn't have external mic port
30
relatively wide (24mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition (245 grams)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.2)
does not have a selfie friendly display
low video resolution (1280 x 720 pxls)
missing external mic socket
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Panasonic ZS20 vs Samsung HZ30W Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic ZS20 and Samsung HZ30W
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS20Samsung HZ30W
General Information
Brand Name Panasonic Samsung
Model type Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS20 Samsung HZ30W
Also referred to as Lumix DMC-TZ30 WB600
Type Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Superzoom
Revealed 2012-04-26 2010-01-19
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Sensor type CMOS CCD
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 14MP 12MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4320 x 3240 4000 x 3000
Highest native ISO 6400 3200
Min native ISO 100 80
RAW data
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
AF continuous
AF single
AF tracking
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Total focus points 23 -
Lens
Lens support fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 24-480mm (20.0x) 24-360mm (15.0x)
Max aperture f/3.3-6.4 f/3.2-5.8
Macro focusing distance 3cm 3cm
Focal length multiplier 5.9 5.8
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display size 3 inches 3 inches
Display resolution 460 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Min shutter speed 15 secs 16 secs
Max shutter speed 1/2000 secs 1/2000 secs
Continuous shutter rate 10.0 frames per second -
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 6.40 m 5.00 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (220 fps) 1280 x 720 (30, 15 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (60, 30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video file format MPEG-4, AVCHD H.264
Mic port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS BuiltIn None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 206 grams (0.45 lb) 245 grams (0.54 lb)
Physical dimensions 105 x 59 x 28mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.1") 107 x 61 x 28mm (4.2" x 2.4" x 1.1")
DXO scores
DXO Overall 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 -
Type of battery Battery Pack -
Battery ID - SLB-11A
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec, Double, Motion)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal SC/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Card slots One One
Retail pricing $349 $280