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Panasonic ZS30 vs Pentax K-x

Portability
92
Imaging
42
Features
48
Overall
44
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS30 front
 
Pentax K-x front
Portability
69
Imaging
52
Features
47
Overall
50

Panasonic ZS30 vs Pentax K-x 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
  • Also Known as Lumix DMC-TZ40
  • Older Model is Panasonic ZS25
  • New Model is Panasonic ZS35
Pentax K-x
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400 (Increase to 12800)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/6000s Max Shutter
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 580g - 123 x 92 x 68mm
  • Launched December 2009
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Panasonic ZS30 vs Pentax K-x Overview

Let's look a little more closely at the Panasonic ZS30 versus Pentax K-x, one being a Small Sensor Superzoom and the other is a Entry-Level DSLR by manufacturers Panasonic and Pentax. There exists a significant gap between the sensor resolutions of the ZS30 (18MP) and K-x (12MP) and the ZS30 (1/2.3") and K-x (APS-C) posses different sensor dimensions.

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The ZS30 was brought out 3 years later than the K-x and that is quite a sizable gap as far as technology is concerned. Both of these cameras have different body design with the Panasonic ZS30 being a Compact camera and the Pentax K-x being a Compact SLR camera.

Before going into a in-depth comparison, here is a concise introduction of how the ZS30 grades versus the K-x when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS30 over the Pentax K-x

 ZS30 K-x 
LaunchedJanuary 2013December 2009More recent by 38 months
Display dimensions3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution920k230kClearer display (+690k dot)
Touch display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Pentax K-x over the Panasonic ZS30

 K-x ZS30 
Focus manually Very precise focusing

Common features in the Panasonic ZS30 and Pentax K-x

 ZS30 K-x 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Lacking selfie screen

Panasonic ZS30 vs Pentax K-x Physical Comparison

For anybody who is intending to lug around your camera, you're going to have to think about its weight and proportions. The Panasonic ZS30 has got physical 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-x has measurements of 123mm x 92mm x 68mm (4.8" x 3.6" x 2.7") with a weight of 580 grams (1.28 lbs).

Check the Panasonic ZS30 versus Pentax K-x in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ dependant on the lens you have chosen at the time. Below is a front view measurement comparison of the ZS30 vs the K-x.

Panasonic ZS30 vs Pentax K-x size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability score of the ZS30 and K-x is 92 and 69 respectively.

Panasonic ZS30 vs Pentax K-x top view buttons comparison

Panasonic ZS30 vs Pentax K-x Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, it's difficult to visualize the contrast between sensor measurements simply by checking technical specs. The photograph here might offer you a much better sense of the sensor dimensions in the ZS30 and K-x.

As you have seen, both of the cameras have different megapixels and different sensor measurements. The ZS30 featuring a tinier sensor is going to make achieving shallower depth of field trickier and the Panasonic ZS30 will resolve greater detail having its extra 6 Megapixels. Greater resolution will help you crop pics a bit more aggressively. The younger ZS30 should have an advantage when it comes to sensor innovation.

Panasonic ZS30 vs Pentax K-x sensor size comparison

Panasonic ZS30 vs Pentax K-x Screen and ViewFinder

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

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic ZS30 as a Portrait photography camera
Pentax K-x as a Portrait photography camera
33
MP count good (18MP)
no manual focus
no external flash support
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
63
manual focus
sensor size is good (APS-C)
supports face detection autofocus
delivers RAW formats
low resolution (12MP)
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Street Comparison

Panasonic ZS30 Street photography highlights
Pentax K-x Street photography highlights
66
image stabilization (Optical)
comes with touch focus
lighter than competition in class (198 grams)
screen is fixed
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
67
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
no moving screen
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic ZS30 Sports photography advice
Pentax K-x Sports photography advice
46
excellent zoom range (24-480mm 20.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
MP count good (18MP)
includes tracking autofocus
maximum shutter speed is a little low (1/1,200s)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
not so great battery life (260 CIPA)
has no phase detect auto focus
61
high shutter speed (1/6,000s)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
better than average battery life (1,900 per charge)
sensor has phase detect autofocus
max frames per second very slow (5.0 frames per second)
low resolution (12 megapixels)
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic ZS30 Travel photography details
Pentax K-x Travel photography details
69
lighter than competition in class (198 grams)
comes with touch focus
MP count good (18 megapixels)
built-in flash
relatively wide (24mm)
long zoom (480mm)
missing Timelapse function
not so great battery life (260 shots)
does not have a selfie friendly display
slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
54
better than average battery life (1,900 CIPA)
flash built-in
doesn't have Timelapse mode
low resolution (12MP)
display is not selfie friendly
Photography Glossary

Landscape Comparison

Panasonic ZS30 as a Landscape photography camera
Pentax K-x as a Landscape photography camera
44
relatively wide (24mm)
pretty good screen size (3")
image stabilization (Optical)
MP count good (18MP)
no manual focus
cannot change lens (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
not so great battery life (260 CIPA)
missing Timelapse function
61
manual focus
switch lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
better than average battery life (1,900 per charge)
screen is somewhat small (2.7 inch)
low resolution (12 megapixels)
doesn't have Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic ZS30 Vlogging info
Pentax K-x Vlogging info
35
relatively wide (24mm)
built-in touchscreen
image stabilization (Optical)
high quality video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
lighter than competition in class (198 grams)
slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
does not have a selfie friendly display
missing external microphone socket
27
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
supports face detection autofocus
display is not selfie friendly
video quality not great (1280 x 720 resolution)
doesn't have external microphone port
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Panasonic ZS30 vs Pentax K-x Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic ZS30 and Pentax K-x
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS30Pentax K-x
General Information
Brand Name Panasonic Pentax
Model type Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS30 Pentax K-x
Also Known as Lumix DMC-TZ40 -
Class Small Sensor Superzoom Entry-Level DSLR
Announced 2013-01-07 2009-12-23
Body design Compact Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Powered by - Prime
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 23.6 x 15.8mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 372.9mm²
Sensor resolution 18 megapixels 12 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2
Highest Possible resolution 4896 x 3672 4288 x 2848
Maximum native ISO 6400 6400
Maximum enhanced ISO - 12800
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW support
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
AF touch
AF continuous
AF single
AF tracking
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Total focus points 23 11
Lens
Lens support fixed lens Pentax KAF2
Lens zoom range 24-480mm (20.0x) -
Highest aperture f/3.3-6.4 -
Macro focusing distance 3cm -
Number of lenses - 151
Focal length multiplier 5.8 1.5
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display sizing 3 inches 2.7 inches
Display resolution 920 thousand dot 230 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Display tech - TFT LCD monitor
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Optical (pentamirror)
Viewfinder coverage - 96%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.57x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 15s 30s
Fastest shutter speed 1/1200s 1/6000s
Continuous shutter speed 10.0fps 5.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 6.40 m 16.00 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear curtain, Wireless
Hot shoe
AEB
WB bracketing
Fastest flash sync - 1/180s
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
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) 1280 x 720 (24 fps), 640 x 416 (24 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video data format MPEG-4, AVCHD Motion JPEG
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS BuiltIn None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 198 gr (0.44 lb) 580 gr (1.28 lb)
Physical dimensions 105 x 59 x 28mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.1") 123 x 92 x 68mm (4.8" x 3.6" x 2.7")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating not tested 72
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 22.8
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 12.5
DXO Low light rating not tested 811
Other
Battery life 260 photographs 1900 photographs
Style of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID - 4 x AA
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse feature
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal SD/SDHC card
Storage slots One One
Retail cost $250 $600