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Panasonic ZS30 vs Pentax MX-1

Portability
92
Imaging
42
Features
48
Overall
44
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS30 front
 
Pentax MX-1 front
Portability
84
Imaging
37
Features
60
Overall
46

Panasonic ZS30 vs Pentax MX-1 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
  • Alternative Name is Lumix DMC-TZ40
  • Old Model is Panasonic ZS25
  • Successor is Panasonic ZS35
Pentax MX-1
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/1.7" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 100 - 12800
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 28-112mm (F1.8-2.5) lens
  • 391g - 122 x 61 x 51mm
  • Released July 2013
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Panasonic ZS30 vs Pentax MX-1 Overview

Below, we will be evaluating the Panasonic ZS30 versus Pentax MX-1, former is a Small Sensor Superzoom while the latter is a Small Sensor Compact by companies Panasonic and Pentax. There is a sizable difference among the sensor resolutions of the ZS30 (18MP) and MX-1 (12MP) and the ZS30 (1/2.3") and MX-1 (1/1.7") come with totally different sensor size.

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The ZS30 was announced 5 months earlier than the MX-1 and they are of a similar age. Both the cameras come with the identical body type (Compact).

Before getting in to a step-by-step comparison, below is a brief overview of how the ZS30 scores against the MX-1 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS30 over the Pentax MX-1

 ZS30 MX-1 
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Pentax MX-1 over the Panasonic ZS30

 MX-1 ZS30 
Focus manually Very precise focus
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen

Common features in the Panasonic ZS30 and Pentax MX-1

 ZS30 MX-1 
ReleasedJanuary 2013July 2013Same age
Screen dimension3"3"Identical screen size
Screen resolution920k920kExact same screen resolution
Selfie screen Neither offers selfie screen

Panasonic ZS30 vs Pentax MX-1 Physical Comparison

When you are planning to carry around your camera often, you will want to consider its weight and proportions. The Panasonic ZS30 offers exterior 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 MX-1 has measurements of 122mm x 61mm x 51mm (4.8" x 2.4" x 2.0") with a weight of 391 grams (0.86 lbs).

Check the Panasonic ZS30 versus Pentax MX-1 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an ILC will differ depending on the lens you select at the time. Below is the front view measurement comparison of the ZS30 against the MX-1.

Panasonic ZS30 vs Pentax MX-1 size comparison

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability grade of the ZS30 and MX-1 is 92 and 84 respectively.

Panasonic ZS30 vs Pentax MX-1 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic ZS30 vs Pentax MX-1 Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, it can be difficult to envision the contrast in sensor sizes merely by checking out technical specs. The picture underneath will offer you a stronger sense of the sensor dimensions in the ZS30 and MX-1.

As you have seen, both the cameras have got different megapixel count and different sensor sizes. The ZS30 using its smaller sensor will make getting shallower depth of field more difficult and the Panasonic ZS30 will produce greater detail with its extra 6MP. Higher resolution will help you crop photographs much more aggressively.

Panasonic ZS30 vs Pentax MX-1 sensor size comparison

Panasonic ZS30 vs Pentax MX-1 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic ZS30 vs Pentax MX-1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic ZS30 Portrait photography features
Pentax MX-1 Portrait photography features
33
resolution is good (18 megapixels)
manual focus not available
cannot use external flash
small sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
42
you can focus manually
provides face detect autofocus
supports RAW files
external flash not possible
resolution not great (12MP)
tiny sensor size (1/1.7")
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Street Comparison

Panasonic ZS30 Street photography info
Pentax MX-1 Street photography info
66
built in image stabilization (Optical)
comes with focus via touch
lighter than others in class (198g)
fixed screen
small sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
65
has a tilting screen
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
supports RAW files
tiny sensor size (1/1.7")
heavier than others in class (391 grams)
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Panasonic ZS30
Sports photography with Pentax MX-1
46
incredible zoom range (24-480mm 20.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
resolution is good (18 megapixels)
features tracking focus
maximum shutter speed is a little low (1/1,200s)
small sensor (1/2.3")
bad battery (260 shots)
has no phase detect autofocus
43
maximum shutter speed is high (1/8,000 seconds)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
provides tracking focus
great battery pack (290 CIPA)
painfully slow continuous shooting (1.0 frames per second)
resolution not great (12 megapixels)
tiny sensor size (1/1.7")
lacks phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic ZS30 Travel photography advice
Pentax MX-1 Travel photography advice
69
lighter than others in class (198 grams)
comes with focus via touch
resolution is good (18MP)
flash built-in
fairly wide (24mm)
long zoom (480mm)
doesn't have Timelapse function
bad battery (260 per charge)
display isn't selfie friendly
slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
61
great battery pack (290 shots)
built-in flash
fairly wide (28mm)
very good max aperture (f1.8)
lack of Time Lapse recording
heavier than others in class (391g)
resolution not great (12 megapixels)
does not have selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic ZS30 Landscape photography advice
Pentax MX-1 Landscape photography advice
44
fairly wide (24mm)
good sized screen (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
resolution is good (18 megapixels)
manual focus not available
cannot switch lens (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
small sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
bad battery (260 shots)
doesn't have Timelapse function
55
you can focus manually
fairly wide (28mm)
very good max aperture (f1.8)
screen is a good size (3")
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
supports RAW files
great battery pack (290 shots)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
resolution not great (12MP)
tiny sensor size (1/1.7")
lack of Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic ZS30 Vlogging factors
Pentax MX-1 Vlogging factors
35
fairly wide (24mm)
touchscreen
built in image stabilization (Optical)
video res high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
lighter than others in class (198g)
slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
display isn't selfie friendly
doesn't have microphone support
33
fairly wide (28mm)
very good max aperture (f1.8)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
provides face detect autofocus
high video quality (1920 x 1080 pixels)
does not have selfie friendly display
lack of mic port
heavier than others in class (391 grams)
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Panasonic ZS30 vs Pentax MX-1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic ZS30 and Pentax MX-1
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS30Pentax MX-1
General Information
Manufacturer Panasonic Pentax
Model Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS30 Pentax MX-1
Otherwise known as Lumix DMC-TZ40 -
Type Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Compact
Announced 2013-01-07 2013-07-01
Body design Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/1.7"
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 7.44 x 5.58mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 41.5mm²
Sensor resolution 18MP 12MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 4896 x 3672 4000 x 3000
Max native ISO 6400 12800
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Number of focus points 23 25
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 24-480mm (20.0x) 28-112mm (4.0x)
Highest aperture f/3.3-6.4 f/1.8-2.5
Macro focus distance 3cm 1cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 4.8
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Tilting
Display size 3 inch 3 inch
Resolution of display 920k dot 920k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Display technology - TFT LCD with AR coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Min shutter speed 15 secs 30 secs
Max shutter speed 1/1200 secs 1/8000 secs
Continuous shutter speed 10.0 frames per sec 1.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 6.40 m 12.00 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Speed sync, Trailing Curtain sync
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
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) 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video format MPEG-4, AVCHD MPEG-4, H.264
Mic jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS BuiltIn None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 198 gr (0.44 pounds) 391 gr (0.86 pounds)
Dimensions 105 x 59 x 28mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.1") 122 x 61 x 51mm (4.8" x 2.4" x 2.0")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score not tested 49
DXO Color Depth score not tested 20.4
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 11.3
DXO Low light score not tested 208
Other
Battery life 260 photographs 290 photographs
Form of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model - D-Li-106
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse feature
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots 1 1
Pricing at release $250 $400