Panasonic ZS30 vs Pentax 645D

Here, we will be evaluating the Panasonic ZS30 vs Pentax 645D, one is a Small Sensor Superzoom and the latter is a Pro DSLR by brands Panasonic and Pentax. There exists a significant gap among the resolutions of the ZS30 (18MP) and 645D (40MP) and the ZS30 (1/2.3") and 645D (Medium format) have different sensor size.

Photography Glossary

The ZS30 was released 2 years after the 645D which is a fairly sizable gap as far as camera technology is concerned. Each of the cameras feature different body design with the Panasonic ZS30 being a Compact camera and the Pentax 645D being a Large SLR camera.

Before delving right into a in-depth comparison, here is a brief summary of how the ZS30 grades against the 645D in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

This is a preview of the gallery images for Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS30 and Pentax 645D. The complete galleries are provided at Panasonic ZS30 Gallery and Pentax 645D Gallery.

If you are intending to travel with your camera frequently, you should factor its weight and measurements. The Panasonic ZS30 comes with outer dimensions of 105mm x 59mm x 28mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.1") with a weight of 198 grams (0.44 lbs) while the Pentax 645D has proportions of 156mm x 117mm x 119mm (6.1" x 4.6" x 4.7") along with a weight of 1480 grams (3.26 lbs).

See the Panasonic ZS30 vs Pentax 645D in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Don't forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change dependant on the lens you have chosen during that time. Following is a front view measurements comparison of the ZS30 compared to the 645D.

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the ZS30 and 645D is 92 and 50 respectively.

Quite often, it can be difficult to imagine the difference in sensor dimensions purely by viewing a spec sheet. The pic below may provide you a more clear sense of the sensor sizes in the ZS30 and 645D.

As you can see, both cameras come with different megapixels and different sensor dimensions. The ZS30 because of its smaller sensor is going to make getting bokeh more difficult and the Pentax 645D will provide you with extra detail as a result of its extra 22 Megapixels. Higher resolution will allow you to crop shots a good deal more aggressively. The more modern ZS30 provides an edge in sensor technology.