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Panasonic ZS30 vs Pentax K-S2

Portability
92
Imaging
42
Features
48
Overall
44
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS30 front
 
Pentax K-S2 front
Portability
64
Imaging
64
Features
82
Overall
71

Panasonic ZS30 vs Pentax K-S2 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
  • Revealed January 2013
  • Also referred to as Lumix DMC-TZ40
  • Old Model is Panasonic ZS25
  • Refreshed by Panasonic ZS35
Pentax K-S2
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Display
  • ISO 100 - 51200
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • 1/6000s Max Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 678g - 123 x 91 x 73mm
  • Announced February 2015
  • Superseded the Pentax K-S1
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Panasonic ZS30 vs Pentax K-S2 Overview

Lets look more in depth at the Panasonic ZS30 vs Pentax K-S2, one is a Small Sensor Superzoom and the other is a Entry-Level DSLR by manufacturers Panasonic and Pentax. The resolution of the ZS30 (18MP) and the K-S2 (20MP) is very comparable but the ZS30 (1/2.3") and K-S2 (APS-C) provide different sensor sizing.

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The ZS30 was manufactured 3 years earlier than the K-S2 which is a fairly sizable gap as far as camera technology is concerned. Each of these cameras have different body design with the Panasonic ZS30 being a Compact camera and the Pentax K-S2 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before diving right into a detailed comparison, here is a concise summary of how the ZS30 matches up against the K-S2 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS30 over the Pentax K-S2

 ZS30 K-S2 
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Pentax K-S2 over the Panasonic ZS30

 K-S2 ZS30 
AnnouncedFebruary 2015January 2013More modern by 25 months
Manually focus More accurate focusing
Display typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating display
Display resolution921k920kSharper display (+1k dot)
Selfie screen Take selfies

Common features in the Panasonic ZS30 and Pentax K-S2

 ZS30 K-S2 
Display dimensions3"3"Equal display measurement

Panasonic ZS30 vs Pentax K-S2 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is looking to carry around your camera, you will have to consider its weight and measurements. The Panasonic ZS30 provides outside dimensions of 105mm x 59mm x 28mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.1") having a weight of 198 grams (0.44 lbs) while the Pentax K-S2 has proportions of 123mm x 91mm x 73mm (4.8" x 3.6" x 2.9") accompanied by a weight of 678 grams (1.49 lbs).

Look at the Panasonic ZS30 vs Pentax K-S2 in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ based on the lens you are using at that time. Underneath is a front view measurements comparison of the ZS30 against the K-S2.

Panasonic ZS30 vs Pentax K-S2 size comparison

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the ZS30 and K-S2 is 92 and 64 respectively.

Panasonic ZS30 vs Pentax K-S2 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic ZS30 vs Pentax K-S2 Sensor Comparison

Normally, it can be tough to imagine the difference in sensor sizes purely by seeing specs. The picture below may offer you a more clear sense of the sensor dimensions in the ZS30 and K-S2.

As you can plainly see, both of the cameras provide different megapixels and different sensor sizes. The ZS30 due to its smaller sensor is going to make getting shallower DOF harder and the Pentax K-S2 will show extra detail due to its extra 2MP. Greater resolution will also enable you to crop images more aggressively. The more aged ZS30 will be behind in sensor tech.

Panasonic ZS30 vs Pentax K-S2 sensor size comparison

Panasonic ZS30 vs Pentax K-S2 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic ZS30 vs Pentax K-S2 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic ZS30 Portrait photography highlights
Pentax K-S2 Portrait photography highlights
33
megapixel count good (18MP)
lack of manual focus
can't use external flash
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
78
focusing manually
decent megapixels (20 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
includes face detect focus
saves RAW files
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Street Comparison

Panasonic ZS30 Street photography highlights
Pentax K-S2 Street photography highlights
66
image stabilization (Optical)
comes with focus by touch
lighter than competition (198 grams)
fixed screen
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
72
screen articulates
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW files
environment sealing
good ISO range (51,200)
more heavy than competitors (678 grams)
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Panasonic ZS30
Sports photography with Pentax K-S2
46
long zoom range (24-480mm 20.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count good (18MP)
provides tracking autofocus
maximum shutter speed is a little low (1/1,200s)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
bad battery life (260 shots)
lack of phase detect AF
70
great max shutter speed (1/6,000 seconds)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent megapixels (20 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
includes tracking focus
environment sealing
supports phase detect auto focus
painfully slow continuous shooting (5.4 frames per second)
terrible battery (410 per charge)
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Panasonic ZS30
Travel photography with Pentax K-S2
69
lighter than competition (198g)
comes with focus by touch
megapixel count good (18MP)
built-in flash
quite wide (24mm)
long zoom (480mm)
does not have Timelapse function
bad battery life (260 CIPA)
display isn't selfie friendly
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
65
environment sealing
decent megapixels (20MP)
flash built-in
screen is selfie friendly
terrible battery (410 CIPA)
more heavy than competitors (678g)
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic ZS30 Landscape photography advice
Pentax K-S2 Landscape photography advice
44
quite wide (24mm)
screen size is good (3")
image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count good (18 megapixels)
lack of manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
bad battery life (260 per charge)
does not have Timelapse function
77
focusing manually
change lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
screen size is decent (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent megapixels (20 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
does not have anti-alias filter
good ISO range (51,200)
saves RAW files
environment sealing
terrible battery (410 per charge)
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic ZS30 Vlogging features
Pentax K-S2 Vlogging features
35
quite wide (24mm)
touchscreen functionality
image stabilization (Optical)
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
lighter than competition (198 grams)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
display isn't selfie friendly
does not have external microphone socket
71
screen is selfie friendly
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
includes face detect focus
high video quality (1920 x 1080 pixels)
comes with microphone jack
more heavy than competitors (678g)
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Panasonic ZS30 vs Pentax K-S2 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic ZS30 and Pentax K-S2
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS30Pentax K-S2
General Information
Manufacturer Panasonic Pentax
Model Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS30 Pentax K-S2
Also referred to as Lumix DMC-TZ40 -
Type Small Sensor Superzoom Entry-Level DSLR
Revealed 2013-01-07 2015-02-10
Body design Compact Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Processor Chip - PRIME MII
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 18 megapixel 20 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2
Full resolution 4896 x 3672 5472 x 3648
Max native ISO 6400 51200
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
AF continuous
Single AF
AF tracking
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Number of focus points 23 11
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 -
Total lenses - 151
Focal length multiplier 5.8 1.5
Screen
Range of screen Fixed Type Fully Articulated
Screen sizing 3 inches 3 inches
Screen resolution 920 thousand dot 921 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage - 100%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.64x
Features
Slowest shutter speed 15 seconds 30 seconds
Maximum shutter speed 1/1200 seconds 1/6000 seconds
Continuous shooting speed 10.0fps 5.4fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 6.40 m 12.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro Auto, auto w/redeye reduction, flash on, flash on + redeye reduction, slow sync, trailing curtain sync, manual flash
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
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 (30p, 25p, 24p), 1280 x 720 (60p, 50p)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video format MPEG-4, AVCHD MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS BuiltIn Optional
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 198g (0.44 lb) 678g (1.49 lb)
Physical dimensions 105 x 59 x 28mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.1") 123 x 91 x 73mm (4.8" x 3.6" x 2.9")
DXO scores
DXO All around score not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth score not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range score not tested not tested
DXO Low light score not tested not tested
Other
Battery life 260 photos 410 photos
Battery format Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model - D-LI109
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 12 secs)
Time lapse feature
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots Single Single
Launch cost $250 $581