Clicky

Panasonic ZS30 vs Pentax K-5

Portability
92
Imaging
42
Features
48
Overall
44
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS30 front
 
Pentax K-5 front
Portability
60
Imaging
56
Features
82
Overall
66

Panasonic ZS30 vs Pentax K-5 Key Specs

Panasonic ZS30
(Full Review)
  • 18MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-480mm (F3.3-6.4) lens
  • 198g - 105 x 59 x 28mm
  • Announced January 2013
  • Alternate Name is Lumix DMC-TZ40
  • Superseded the Panasonic ZS25
  • Newer Model is Panasonic ZS35
Pentax K-5
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 12800 (Bump to 51200)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 740g - 131 x 97 x 73mm
  • Launched December 2010
  • Previous Model is Pentax K-7
  • Successor is Pentax K-5 IIs
Meta to Introduce 'AI-Generated' Labels for Media starting next month

Panasonic ZS30 vs Pentax K-5 Overview

Its time to look more closely at the Panasonic ZS30 and Pentax K-5, one is a Small Sensor Superzoom and the other is a Advanced DSLR by brands Panasonic and Pentax. The resolution of the ZS30 (18MP) and the K-5 (16MP) is very well matched but the ZS30 (1/2.3") and K-5 (APS-C) come with different sensor sizes.

Snapchat Adds Watermarks to AI-Created Images

The ZS30 was unveiled 2 years after the K-5 which is quite a sizable gap as far as technology is concerned. Both of these cameras offer different body type with the Panasonic ZS30 being a Compact camera and the Pentax K-5 being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before delving through a comprehensive comparison, below is a quick introduction of how the ZS30 scores vs the K-5 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

Apple Innovates by Creating Next-Level Optical Stabilization for iPhone
	
	

Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS30 over the Pentax K-5

 ZS30 K-5 
LaunchedJanuary 2013December 2010Newer by 26 months
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Pentax K-5 over the Panasonic ZS30

 K-5 ZS30 
Manually focus Very accurate focus
Display resolution921k920kClearer display (+1k dot)

Common features in the Panasonic ZS30 and Pentax K-5

 ZS30 K-5 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display sizing3"3"Equivalent display dimensions
Selfie screen Absent selfie screen

Panasonic ZS30 vs Pentax K-5 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is going to travel with your camera frequently, you'll have to think about its weight and size. The Panasonic ZS30 comes with outside dimensions of 105mm x 59mm x 28mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.1") with a weight of 198 grams (0.44 lbs) whilst the Pentax K-5 has specifications of 131mm x 97mm x 73mm (5.2" x 3.8" x 2.9") with a weight of 740 grams (1.63 lbs).

Analyze the Panasonic ZS30 and Pentax K-5 in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary depending on the lens you are working with during that time. Below is the front view proportions comparison of the ZS30 versus the K-5.

Panasonic ZS30 vs Pentax K-5 size comparison

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability score of the ZS30 and K-5 is 92 and 60 respectively.

Panasonic ZS30 vs Pentax K-5 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic ZS30 vs Pentax K-5 Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, it can be difficult to picture the contrast between sensor dimensions only by reading through specs. The pic here will help give you a much better sense of the sensor sizes in the ZS30 and K-5.

All in all, both of these cameras enjoy different megapixel count and different sensor dimensions. The ZS30 with its tinier sensor is going to make getting shallower DOF more difficult and the Panasonic ZS30 will resolve greater detail having an extra 2MP. Greater resolution will enable you to crop images far more aggressively. The fresher ZS30 should have an edge with regard to sensor technology.

Panasonic ZS30 vs Pentax K-5 sensor size comparison

Panasonic ZS30 vs Pentax K-5 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic ZS30 vs Pentax K-5 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Pentax 17 Pre-Orders Outperform Expectations by a Landslide

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic ZS30 as a Portrait photography camera
Pentax K-5 as a Portrait photography camera
33
decent megapixels (18MP)
focusing manually not possible
can't use external flash
small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
73
you can focus manually
MP count good (16MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
comes with face detection focus
exports RAW files
Samsung Releases Faster Versions of EVO MicroSD Cards

Street Comparison

Panasonic ZS30 Street photography advice
Pentax K-5 Street photography advice
66
has image stabilization (Optical)
comes with touch to focus
lighter than others (198 grams)
screen does not articulate
small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
66
image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW files
weather sealing
no articulating screen
Photobucket discusses licensing 13 billion images with AI firms

Sports Comparison

Panasonic ZS30 as a Sports photography camera
Pentax K-5 as a Sports photography camera
46
amazing zoom range (24-480mm 20.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
decent megapixels (18 megapixels)
has tracking autofocus
max shutter speed is low (1/1,200s)
small sensor (1/2.3")
bad battery life (260 shots)
does not have phase detect AF
78
great max shutter speed (1/8,000s)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count good (16 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
comes with tracking autofocus
weather sealing
sensor has phase detect auto focus
Japan-exclusive Leica Leitz Phone 3 features big sensor and new modes

Travel Comparison

Panasonic ZS30 Travel photography details
Pentax K-5 Travel photography details
69
lighter than others (198g)
comes with touch to focus
decent megapixels (18MP)
built-in flash
really wide (24mm)
long zoom (480mm)
no Timelapse mode
bad battery life (260 CIPA)
does not posses selfie friendly screen
slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
65
weather sealing
MP count good (16 megapixels)
built-in flash
display isn't selfie friendly
Photography Glossary

Landscape Comparison

Panasonic ZS30 Landscape photography factors
Pentax K-5 Landscape photography factors
44
really wide (24mm)
pretty good screen size (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Optical)
decent megapixels (18MP)
focusing manually not possible
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
bad battery life (260 per charge)
no Timelapse mode
78
you can focus manually
interchangeable lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
pretty good screen size (3")
image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count good (16MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW files
weather sealing
Sora from OpenAI releases its first ever music video

Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic ZS30 Vlogging information
Pentax K-5 Vlogging information
35
really wide (24mm)
touchscreen capability
has image stabilization (Optical)
high res video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
lighter than others (198g)
slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
does not posses selfie friendly screen
no external microphone socket
33
image stabilization (Sensor based)
comes with face detection focus
video res high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
includes external mic jack
display isn't selfie friendly
President Biden pushes bill mandating TikTok sale or ban

Panasonic ZS30 vs Pentax K-5 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic ZS30 and Pentax K-5
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS30Pentax K-5
General Information
Manufacturer Panasonic Pentax
Model Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS30 Pentax K-5
Also Known as Lumix DMC-TZ40 -
Class Small Sensor Superzoom Advanced DSLR
Announced 2013-01-07 2010-12-18
Body design Compact Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Chip - Prime II
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 23.7 x 15.7mm
Sensor surface 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
Full resolution 4896 x 3672 4928 x 3264
Max native ISO 6400 12800
Max boosted ISO - 51200
Min native ISO 100 80
RAW support
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
AF continuous
AF single
Tracking AF
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Number of focus points 23 11
Cross focus points - 9
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens Pentax KAF2
Lens focal range 24-480mm (20.0x) -
Largest aperture f/3.3-6.4 -
Macro focus range 3cm -
Amount of lenses - 151
Crop factor 5.8 1.5
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3 inch 3 inch
Display resolution 920 thousand dot 921 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Display technology - TFT LCD monitor
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage - 100%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.61x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 15 secs 30 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/1200 secs 1/8000 secs
Continuous shooting speed 10.0 frames per sec 7.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 6.40 m 13.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow sync, High speed, Rear curtain and Wireless
External flash
AEB
WB bracketing
Highest flash sync - 1/180 secs
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) 1920 x 1080 (25 fps), 1280 x 720 (25, 30 fps), 640 x 424 (25, 30 fps)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video format MPEG-4, AVCHD Motion JPEG
Mic input
Headphone input
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
Environment seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 198 gr (0.44 lb) 740 gr (1.63 lb)
Dimensions 105 x 59 x 28mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.1") 131 x 97 x 73mm (5.2" x 3.8" x 2.9")
DXO scores
DXO All around score not tested 82
DXO Color Depth score not tested 23.7
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 14.1
DXO Low light score not tested 1162
Other
Battery life 260 images 980 images
Battery format Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model - D-LI90
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes ( 2 or 12 seconds)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots Single Single
Cost at launch $250 $800