Panasonic ZS30 vs Pentax K-r

Lets look more in depth at the Panasonic ZS30 vs Pentax K-r, former being a Small Sensor Superzoom while the other is a Entry-Level DSLR by rivals Panasonic and Pentax. There is a substantial difference among the resolutions of the ZS30 (18MP) and K-r (12MP) and the ZS30 (1/2.3") and K-r (APS-C) have totally different sensor sizing.

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The ZS30 was launched 23 months later than the K-r making them a generation apart from each other. The two cameras have different body design with the Panasonic ZS30 being a Compact camera and the Pentax K-r being a Compact SLR camera.

Before going straight to a detailed comparison, here is a simple overview of how the ZS30 scores vs the K-r in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

The following is a sample of the gallery pictures for Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS30 & Pentax K-r. The complete galleries are available at Panasonic ZS30 Gallery & Pentax K-r Gallery.

When you are looking to carry your camera regularly, you will want to factor in its weight and size. The Panasonic ZS30 comes with exterior dimensions of 105mm x 59mm x 28mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.1") accompanied by a weight of 198 grams (0.44 lbs) whilst the Pentax K-r has specifications of 125mm x 97mm x 68mm (4.9" x 3.8" x 2.7") with a weight of 598 grams (1.32 lbs).

Check the Panasonic ZS30 vs Pentax K-r in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Always remember, the weight of an ILC will differ based on the lens you have at that time. Below is a front view proportions comparison of the ZS30 against the K-r.

Factoring in size and weight, the portability rating of the ZS30 and K-r is 92 and 67 respectively.

In many cases, it's difficult to see the difference in sensor sizing simply by viewing a spec sheet. The graphic below may provide you a better sense of the sensor dimensions in the ZS30 and K-r.

Clearly, both of these cameras have different megapixel count and different sensor sizing. The ZS30 featuring a smaller sensor will make getting shallower DOF more difficult and the Panasonic ZS30 will provide you with greater detail utilizing its extra 6 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also let you crop images a bit more aggressively. The newer ZS30 will have an edge when it comes to sensor innovation.