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Panasonic ZS30 vs Pentax K100D

Portability
92
Imaging
42
Features
48
Overall
44
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS30 front
 
Pentax K100D front
Portability
64
Imaging
45
Features
36
Overall
41

Panasonic ZS30 vs Pentax K100D 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
  • Announced January 2013
  • Other Name is Lumix DMC-TZ40
  • Old Model is Panasonic ZS25
  • Refreshed by Panasonic ZS35
Pentax K100D
(Full Review)
  • 6MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 2.5" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 200 - 3200
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Video
  • Pentax KAF Mount
  • 660g - 129 x 93 x 70mm
  • Introduced December 2006
  • Replacement is Pentax K100D S
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Panasonic ZS30 vs Pentax K100D Overview

Lets look much closer at the Panasonic ZS30 vs Pentax K100D, former is a Small Sensor Superzoom while the latter is a Entry-Level DSLR by brands Panasonic and Pentax. There exists a considerable gap between the resolutions of the ZS30 (18MP) and K100D (6MP) and the ZS30 (1/2.3") and K100D (APS-C) boast totally different sensor measurements.

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The ZS30 was introduced 6 years after the K100D which is quite a large difference as far as technology is concerned. The two cameras have different body design with the Panasonic ZS30 being a Compact camera and the Pentax K100D being a Compact SLR camera.

Before diving into a in-depth comparison, here is a short highlight of how the ZS30 matches up against the K100D for portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS30 over the Pentax K100D

 ZS30 K100D 
IntroducedJanuary 2013December 2006Newer by 75 months
Screen dimensions3"2.5"Bigger screen (+0.5")
Screen resolution920k210kSharper screen (+710k dot)
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Pentax K100D over the Panasonic ZS30

 K100D ZS30 
Focus manually Dial accurate focus

Common features in the Panasonic ZS30 and Pentax K100D

 ZS30 K100D 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Neither offers selfie screen

Panasonic ZS30 vs Pentax K100D Physical Comparison

If you are intending to travel with your camera, you'll need to factor in its weight and proportions. The Panasonic ZS30 offers external measurements of 105mm x 59mm x 28mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.1") accompanied by a weight of 198 grams (0.44 lbs) while the Pentax K100D has measurements of 129mm x 93mm x 70mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 2.8") with a weight of 660 grams (1.46 lbs).

Examine the Panasonic ZS30 vs Pentax K100D in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an ILC will differ depending on the lens you are employing at that moment. Following is a front view dimension comparison of the ZS30 versus the K100D.

Panasonic ZS30 vs Pentax K100D size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the ZS30 and K100D is 92 and 64 respectively.

Panasonic ZS30 vs Pentax K100D top view buttons comparison

Panasonic ZS30 vs Pentax K100D Sensor Comparison

Normally, it is tough to visualise the contrast between sensor dimensions just by reading specifications. The pic underneath will help provide you a greater sense of the sensor sizing in the ZS30 and K100D.

To sum up, each of the cameras provide different resolutions and different sensor dimensions. The ZS30 having a tinier sensor will make getting bokeh more difficult and the Panasonic ZS30 will deliver more detail using its extra 12 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also enable you to crop shots more aggressively. The newer ZS30 is going to have a benefit in sensor tech.

Panasonic ZS30 vs Pentax K100D sensor size comparison

Panasonic ZS30 vs Pentax K100D Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic ZS30 vs Pentax K100D Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic ZS30 Portrait photography features
Pentax K100D Portrait photography features
33
sensor resolution is decent (18 megapixels)
lack of manual focus
cannot use external flash
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
51
focusing manually
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
saves RAW files
no liveview feature
low megapixels (6MP)
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Street Comparison

Panasonic ZS30 as a Street photography camera
Pentax K100D as a Street photography camera
66
built in image stabilization (Optical)
features focus by touch
lighter than competition (198g)
no articulating screen
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
58
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
saves RAW files
no moving screen
more heavy than competitors (660 grams)
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic ZS30 Sports photography features
Pentax K100D Sports photography features
46
great zoom range (24-480mm 20.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
sensor resolution is decent (18 megapixels)
offers tracking autofocus
low max shutter speed (1/1,200 seconds)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
bad battery pack (260 per charge)
does not have phase detect autofocus
47
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
sensor has phase detect autofocus
no liveview feature
slow continuous shooting (3.0 frames per second)
low megapixels (6MP)
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic ZS30 Travel photography advice
Pentax K100D Travel photography advice
69
lighter than competition (198g)
features focus by touch
sensor resolution is decent (18 megapixels)
flash built-in
pretty wide (24mm)
very long zoom (480mm)
doesn't have Timelapse function
bad battery pack (260 shots)
screen isn't selfie friendly
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
42
flash built-in
missing Timelapse function
more heavy than competitors (660g)
low megapixels (6MP)
doesn't offer selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic ZS30 Landscape photography details
Pentax K100D Landscape photography details
44
pretty wide (24mm)
screen size is decent (3")
built in image stabilization (Optical)
sensor resolution is decent (18MP)
lack of manual focus
cannot switch lenses (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
bad battery pack (260 shots)
doesn't have Timelapse function
52
focusing manually
change lenses (Pentax KAF mount)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
saves RAW files
small screen (2.5")
no liveview feature
low megapixels (6 megapixels)
missing Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic ZS30 as a Vlogging camera
Pentax K100D as a Vlogging camera
35
pretty wide (24mm)
touchscreen enabled
built in image stabilization (Optical)
high video quality (1920 x 1080 resolution)
lighter than competition (198 grams)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
screen isn't selfie friendly
doesn't have external microphone jack
9
no video shooting
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Panasonic ZS30 vs Pentax K100D Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic ZS30 and Pentax K100D
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS30Pentax K100D
General Information
Brand Name Panasonic Pentax
Model Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS30 Pentax K100D
Other name Lumix DMC-TZ40 -
Type Small Sensor Superzoom Entry-Level DSLR
Announced 2013-01-07 2006-12-03
Physical type Compact Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 23.5 x 15.7mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 369.0mm²
Sensor resolution 18MP 6MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2
Maximum resolution 4896 x 3672 3008 x 2008
Maximum native ISO 6400 3200
Lowest native ISO 100 200
RAW data
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
Continuous AF
AF single
AF tracking
AF selectice
AF center weighted
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Number of focus points 23 11
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens Pentax KAF
Lens focal range 24-480mm (20.0x) -
Highest aperture f/3.3-6.4 -
Macro focus range 3cm -
Number of lenses - 151
Focal length multiplier 5.8 1.5
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen size 3 inches 2.5 inches
Resolution of screen 920k dots 210k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Optical (pentamirror)
Viewfinder coverage - 96 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.57x
Features
Slowest shutter speed 15s 30s
Maximum shutter speed 1/1200s 1/4000s
Continuous shooting rate 10.0fps 3.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 6.40 m -
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro Auto, On, Off, Red-eye reduction
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash synchronize - 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) -
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 None
Video data format MPEG-4, AVCHD -
Microphone 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 None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 198 grams (0.44 pounds) 660 grams (1.46 pounds)
Physical dimensions 105 x 59 x 28mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.1") 129 x 93 x 70mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 2.8")
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 -
Form of battery Battery Pack -
Battery model - 4 x AA
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal SD/MMC card
Card slots 1 1
Pricing at launch $250 $0