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Panasonic ZS3 vs Pentax K-30

Portability
91
Imaging
33
Features
30
Overall
31
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3 front
 
Pentax K-30 front
Portability
63
Imaging
57
Features
66
Overall
60

Panasonic ZS3 vs Pentax K-30 Key Specs

Panasonic ZS3
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-300mm (F3.3-4.9) lens
  • 229g - 103 x 60 x 33mm
  • Revealed May 2009
  • Additionally Known as Lumix DMC-TZ7
Pentax K-30
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 12800 (Push 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
  • Replacement is Pentax K-50
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Panasonic ZS3 vs Pentax K-30 Overview

Lets look more closely at the Panasonic ZS3 vs Pentax K-30, former is a Small Sensor Superzoom while the other is a Advanced DSLR by manufacturers Panasonic and Pentax. There is a substantial difference between the sensor resolutions of the ZS3 (10MP) and K-30 (16MP) and the ZS3 (1/2.3") and K-30 (APS-C) come with totally different sensor sizing.

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The ZS3 was unveiled 4 years earlier than the K-30 which is quite a big difference as far as tech is concerned. Each of the cameras offer different body type with the Panasonic ZS3 being a Compact camera and the Pentax K-30 being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before we go in to a comprehensive comparison, below is a quick synopsis of how the ZS3 scores vs the K-30 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS3 over the Pentax K-30

 ZS3 K-30 

Reasons to pick Pentax K-30 over the Panasonic ZS3

 K-30 ZS3 
RevealedOctober 2012May 2009Newer by 42 months
Manual focus Very exact focus
Display resolution921k460kCrisper display (+461k dot)

Common features in the Panasonic ZS3 and Pentax K-30

 ZS3 K-30 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display sizing3"3"Equivalent display measurement
Selfie screen Lack of selfie screen
Touch friendly display Neither offers Touch friendly display

Panasonic ZS3 vs Pentax K-30 Physical Comparison

If you're planning to travel with your camera frequently, you're going to have to factor in its weight and volume. The Panasonic ZS3 offers outside measurements of 103mm x 60mm x 33mm (4.1" x 2.4" x 1.3") having a weight of 229 grams (0.50 lbs) while the Pentax K-30 has sizing of 130mm x 97mm x 71mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 2.8") with a weight of 650 grams (1.43 lbs).

Contrast the Panasonic ZS3 vs Pentax K-30 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an ILC will change depending on the lens you have chosen at the time. Underneath is the front view size comparison of the ZS3 vs the K-30.

Panasonic ZS3 vs Pentax K-30 size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability grade of the ZS3 and K-30 is 91 and 63 respectively.

Panasonic ZS3 vs Pentax K-30 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic ZS3 vs Pentax K-30 Sensor Comparison

Usually, it is very difficult to visualise the contrast between sensor dimensions purely by checking a spec sheet. The pic below might offer you a greater sense of the sensor sizing in the ZS3 and K-30.

As you can see, both of the cameras enjoy different resolutions and different sensor dimensions. The ZS3 using its tinier sensor will make shooting bokeh trickier and the Pentax K-30 will give more detail having an extra 6 Megapixels. Greater resolution will allow you to crop photos far more aggressively. The more aged ZS3 is going to be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor tech.

Panasonic ZS3 vs Pentax K-30 sensor size comparison

Panasonic ZS3 vs Pentax K-30 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic ZS3 vs Pentax K-30 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic ZS3 Portrait photography details
Pentax K-30 Portrait photography details
19
focusing manually not possible
no manual control
cannot use external flash
low resolution (10MP)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
74
has manual focus
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
comes with face detection focusing
saves RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Panasonic ZS3 Street photography factors
Pentax K-30 Street photography factors
60
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition (229 grams)
no moving screen
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
68
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
environment proof
fixed screen
Photography Glossary

Sports Comparison

Panasonic ZS3 Sports photography info
Pentax K-30 Sports photography info
24
image stabilization (Optical)
max frames per second very slow (2.0 fps)
lack of shutter priority mode
low resolution (10MP)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect AF
67
maximum shutter speed is high (1/6,000 seconds)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
comes with tracking autofocus
environment proof
has phase detect AF
max fps very slow (6.0 fps)
not so great battery (410 CIPA)
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic ZS3 Travel photography advice
Pentax K-30 Travel photography advice
63
lighter than competition (229g)
has built in flash
fairly wide (25mm)
long reach (300mm)
lack of Time Lapse function
low resolution (10 megapixels)
display is not selfie friendly
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
60
environment proof
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
not so great battery (410 shots)
doesn't offer selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic ZS3 Landscape photography features
Pentax K-30 Landscape photography features
35
fairly wide (25mm)
screen size is good (3 inch)
image stabilization (Optical)
focusing manually not possible
can't change lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
no manual control
low resolution (10MP)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
lack of Time Lapse function
73
has manual focus
change lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
nice screen size (3 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
environment proof
not so great battery (410 CIPA)
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic ZS3 as a Vlogging camera
Pentax K-30 as a Vlogging camera
30
fairly wide (25mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition (229 grams)
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
display is not selfie friendly
low video resolution (1280 x 720 resolution)
lack of external mic port
30
image stabilization (Sensor based)
comes with face detection focusing
good video quality (1920 x 1080 pxls)
doesn't offer selfie friendly screen
doesn't have external mic support
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Panasonic ZS3 vs Pentax K-30 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic ZS3 and Pentax K-30
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3Pentax K-30
General Information
Company Panasonic Pentax
Model type Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3 Pentax K-30
Also called as Lumix DMC-TZ7 -
Class Small Sensor Superzoom Advanced DSLR
Revealed 2009-05-14 2012-10-29
Physical type Compact Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Chip - 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 10MP 16MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2
Highest resolution 3648 x 2736 4928 x 3264
Highest native ISO 6400 12800
Highest boosted ISO - 25600
Minimum native ISO 80 100
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
AF continuous
AF single
AF tracking
AF selectice
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Total focus points 11 11
Cross type focus points - 9
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens Pentax KAF2
Lens zoom range 25-300mm (12.0x) -
Largest aperture f/3.3-4.9 -
Macro focusing range 3cm -
Amount of lenses - 151
Focal length multiplier 5.9 1.5
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen size 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of screen 460k dots 921k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Screen technology - TFT LCD monitor with brightness/color adjustment and AR coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage - 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.61x
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60 seconds 30 seconds
Maximum shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/6000 seconds
Continuous shooting rate 2.0 frames per second 6.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation - Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 5.30 m (Auto ISO) 12.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-eye,Slow Sync, Slow Sync+ Redeye, Trailing Curtain Sync, Wireless
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Maximum flash synchronize - 1/180 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
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)
Highest video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video file format AVCHD Lite MPEG-4, H.264
Mic support
Headphone support
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 sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 229g (0.50 lb) 650g (1.43 lb)
Dimensions 103 x 60 x 33mm (4.1" x 2.4" x 1.3") 130 x 97 x 71mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 2.8")
DXO scores
DXO All around 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 pictures
Style 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 shooting
Type of storage SD/MMC/SDHC card, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots Single Single
Price at launch $200 $525