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Panasonic ZS30 vs Pentax K-30

Portability
92
Imaging
42
Features
48
Overall
44
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS30 front
 
Pentax K-30 front
Portability
63
Imaging
58
Features
66
Overall
61

Panasonic ZS30 vs Pentax K-30 Key Specs

Panasonic ZS30
(Full Review)
  • 18MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-480mm (F3.3-6.4) lens
  • 198g - 105 x 59 x 28mm
  • Released January 2013
  • Other Name is Lumix DMC-TZ40
  • Previous Model is Panasonic ZS25
  • Renewed by Panasonic ZS35
Pentax K-30
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 12800 (Push to 25600)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/6000s Max Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 650g - 130 x 97 x 71mm
  • Launched October 2012
  • Refreshed by Pentax K-50
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Panasonic ZS30 vs Pentax K-30 Overview

Its time to look more closely at the Panasonic ZS30 vs Pentax K-30, one is a Small Sensor Superzoom and the latter is a Advanced DSLR by rivals Panasonic and Pentax. The sensor resolution of the ZS30 (18MP) and the K-30 (16MP) is relatively well matched but the ZS30 (1/2.3") and K-30 (APS-C) have different sensor sizing.

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The ZS30 was brought out 3 months after the K-30 and they are of a similar generation. The two cameras feature different body design with the Panasonic ZS30 being a Compact camera and the Pentax K-30 being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before going into a in depth comparison, here is a brief summation of how the ZS30 scores versus the K-30 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS30 over the Pentax K-30

 ZS30 K-30 
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Pentax K-30 over the Panasonic ZS30

 K-30 ZS30 
Focus manually More accurate focusing
Screen resolution921k920kClearer screen (+1k dot)

Common features in the Panasonic ZS30 and Pentax K-30

 ZS30 K-30 
LaunchedJanuary 2013October 2012Similar generation
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen size3"3"Same screen measurement
Selfie screen Neither offers selfie screen

Panasonic ZS30 vs Pentax K-30 Physical Comparison

In case you're going to travel with your camera often, you should consider its weight and dimensions. The Panasonic ZS30 offers exterior dimensions of 105mm x 59mm x 28mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.1") having a weight of 198 grams (0.44 lbs) whilst the Pentax K-30 has dimensions of 130mm x 97mm x 71mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 2.8") with a weight of 650 grams (1.43 lbs).

Look at the Panasonic ZS30 vs Pentax K-30 in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary based on the lens you use at that moment. Underneath is a front view measurement comparison of the ZS30 and the K-30.

Panasonic ZS30 vs Pentax K-30 size comparison

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability score of the ZS30 and K-30 is 92 and 63 respectively.

Panasonic ZS30 vs Pentax K-30 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic ZS30 vs Pentax K-30 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it is tough to imagine the gap between sensor dimensions only by checking technical specs. The image underneath may provide you a better sense of the sensor sizes in the ZS30 and K-30.

As you can tell, the two cameras feature different megapixels and different sensor dimensions. The ZS30 featuring a tinier sensor is going to make achieving shallower depth of field more challenging and the Panasonic ZS30 will resolve greater detail having its extra 2 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also help you crop pictures way more aggressively.

Panasonic ZS30 vs Pentax K-30 sensor size comparison

Panasonic ZS30 vs Pentax K-30 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic ZS30 vs Pentax K-30 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic ZS30 Portrait photography info
Pentax K-30 Portrait photography info
33
good megapixels (18 megapixels)
no manual focus
can't use external flash
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
74
you can focus manually
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
provides face detection focus
exports RAW files
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Street Comparison

Panasonic ZS30 Street photography highlights
Pentax K-30 Street photography highlights
66
has image stabilization (Optical)
includes touch to focus
lighter than average in class (198g)
no moving screen
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
68
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW files
environment sealing
fixed screen
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic ZS30 as a Sports photography camera
Pentax K-30 as a Sports photography camera
46
amazing zoom range (24-480mm 20.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
good megapixels (18 megapixels)
provides tracking focus
maximum shutter speed is a little low (1/1,200s)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
low battery power (260 shots)
lacks phase detect auto focus
67
great max shutter speed (1/6,000 seconds)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent megapixels (16MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
provides tracking autofocus
environment sealing
has phase detect auto focus
painfully slow continuous shooting (6.0 fps)
low battery power (410 shots)
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Panasonic ZS30
Travel photography with Pentax K-30
69
lighter than average in class (198 grams)
includes touch to focus
good megapixels (18MP)
built-in flash
fairly wide (24mm)
great zoom (480mm)
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
low battery power (260 shots)
doesn't posses selfie friendly display
slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
60
environment sealing
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
has built in flash
low battery power (410 shots)
doesn't offer selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic ZS30 Landscape photography advice
Pentax K-30 Landscape photography advice
44
fairly wide (24mm)
nice screen size (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Optical)
good megapixels (18 megapixels)
no manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
low battery power (260 shots)
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
73
you can focus manually
swap lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
screen is a decent size (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW files
environment sealing
low battery power (410 shots)
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic ZS30 Vlogging highlights
Pentax K-30 Vlogging highlights
35
fairly wide (24mm)
built-in touchscreen
has image stabilization (Optical)
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
lighter than average in class (198g)
slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
doesn't posses selfie friendly display
doesn't have mic support
30
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
provides face detection focus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
doesn't offer selfie friendly screen
lack of external mic support
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Panasonic ZS30 vs Pentax K-30 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic ZS30 and Pentax K-30
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS30Pentax K-30
General Information
Manufacturer Panasonic Pentax
Model Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS30 Pentax K-30
Otherwise known as Lumix DMC-TZ40 -
Class Small Sensor Superzoom Advanced DSLR
Released 2013-01-07 2012-10-29
Physical type Compact Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Chip - Prime M
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 23.7 x 15.7mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 372.1mm²
Sensor resolution 18MP 16MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2
Highest resolution 4896 x 3672 4928 x 3264
Highest native ISO 6400 12800
Highest boosted ISO - 25600
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Number of focus points 23 11
Cross focus points - 9
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens Pentax KAF2
Lens focal range 24-480mm (20.0x) -
Max aperture f/3.3-6.4 -
Macro focus distance 3cm -
Amount of lenses - 151
Focal length multiplier 5.8 1.5
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 3" 3"
Resolution of screen 920 thousand dots 921 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Screen technology - TFT LCD monitor with brightness/color adjustment and AR coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage - 100%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.61x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 15 seconds 30 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/1200 seconds 1/6000 seconds
Continuous shooting rate 10.0 frames per second 6.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 6.40 m 12.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro Auto, On, Off, Red-eye,Slow Sync, Slow Sync+ Redeye, Trailing Curtain Sync, Wireless
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Highest flash synchronize - 1/180 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (220 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 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video file format MPEG-4, AVCHD MPEG-4, H.264
Mic support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS BuiltIn Optional
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 198 grams (0.44 lbs) 650 grams (1.43 lbs)
Physical dimensions 105 x 59 x 28mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.1") 130 x 97 x 71mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 2.8")
DXO scores
DXO All around score not tested 79
DXO Color Depth score not tested 23.7
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 13.0
DXO Low light score not tested 1129
Other
Battery life 260 photos 410 photos
Form of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model - D-LI109,4 x AA
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes ( 2 or 12 seconds)
Time lapse feature
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots One One
Pricing at launch $250 $525