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Panasonic ZS30 vs Pentax H90

Portability
92
Imaging
42
Features
48
Overall
44
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS30 front
 
Pentax Optio H90 front
Portability
93
Imaging
35
Features
24
Overall
30

Panasonic ZS30 vs Pentax H90 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
  • Launched January 2013
  • Also referred to as Lumix DMC-TZ40
  • Superseded the Panasonic ZS25
  • Successor is Panasonic ZS35
Pentax H90
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-140mm (F3.5-5.9) lens
  • 153g - 101 x 65 x 28mm
  • Released January 2010
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Panasonic ZS30 vs Pentax H90 Overview

Its time to look closer at the Panasonic ZS30 versus Pentax H90, one being a Small Sensor Superzoom and the other is a Small Sensor Compact by competitors Panasonic and Pentax. There exists a huge gap among the sensor resolutions of the ZS30 (18MP) and H90 (12MP) but both cameras provide the identical sensor sizes (1/2.3").

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The ZS30 was announced 2 years later than the H90 and that is a fairly significant gap as far as camera technology is concerned. Both of the cameras feature the same body design (Compact).

Before getting straight to a comprehensive comparison, here is a brief synopsis of how the ZS30 scores vs the H90 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS30 over the Pentax H90

 ZS30 H90 
ReleasedJanuary 2013January 2010More recent by 36 months
Display size3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution920k230kClearer display (+690k dot)
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Pentax H90 over the Panasonic ZS30

 H90 ZS30 
Focus manually Very exact focus

Common features in the Panasonic ZS30 and Pentax H90

 ZS30 H90 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Neither contains selfie screen

Panasonic ZS30 vs Pentax H90 Physical Comparison

If you are intending to lug around your camera regularly, you are going to need to think about its weight and measurements. The Panasonic ZS30 has got external measurements of 105mm x 59mm x 28mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.1") having a weight of 198 grams (0.44 lbs) and the Pentax H90 has proportions of 101mm x 65mm x 28mm (4.0" x 2.6" x 1.1") and a weight of 153 grams (0.34 lbs).

Look at the Panasonic ZS30 versus Pentax H90 in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change depending on the lens you have chosen during that time. Underneath is a front view measurements comparison of the ZS30 versus the H90.

Panasonic ZS30 vs Pentax H90 size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability score of the ZS30 and H90 is 92 and 93 respectively.

Panasonic ZS30 vs Pentax H90 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic ZS30 vs Pentax H90 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it can be hard to visualise the difference in sensor measurements purely by checking out a spec sheet. The graphic below should give you a stronger sense of the sensor measurements in the ZS30 and H90.

As you can see, each of the cameras feature the identical sensor size but not the same MP. You should anticipate the Panasonic ZS30 to produce extra detail with its extra 6 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also let you crop pics way more aggressively. The more modern ZS30 is going to have an edge with regard to sensor innovation.

Panasonic ZS30 vs Pentax H90 sensor size comparison

Panasonic ZS30 vs Pentax H90 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic ZS30 vs Pentax H90 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Panasonic ZS30
Portrait photography with Pentax H90
33
good MP (18MP)
no manual focus
no external flash support
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
no RAW format
27
manual focus
manual exposure not available
no external flash support
megapixel count low (12MP)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
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Street Comparison

Panasonic ZS30 Street photography highlights
Pentax H90 Street photography highlights
66
built in image stabilization (Optical)
supports touch focus
lighter than competitors (198 grams)
screen is fixed
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
no RAW format
56
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
no moving screen
small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Panasonic ZS30
Sports photography with Pentax H90
46
incredible zoom range (24-480mm 20.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
good MP (18MP)
offers tracking focus
low maximum shutter speed (1/1,200 seconds)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
low battery pack (260 CIPA)
no phase detect AF
31
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
comes with tracking focus
painfully slow continuous shooting (1.0 frames per second)
lack of shutter priority mode
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic ZS30 Travel photography factors
Pentax H90 Travel photography factors
69
lighter than competitors (198g)
supports touch focus
good MP (18 megapixels)
flash built-in
relatively wide (24mm)
long zoom (480mm)
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
low battery pack (260 CIPA)
display isn't selfie friendly
slow max aperture (f3.3)
57
flash built-in
reasonably wide (28mm)
lack of Time Lapse recording
megapixel count low (12MP)
screen isn't selfie friendly
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic ZS30 as a Landscape photography camera
Pentax H90 as a Landscape photography camera
44
relatively wide (24mm)
good sized screen (3")
built in image stabilization (Optical)
good MP (18MP)
no manual focus
cannot swap lens (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.3)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
no RAW format
low battery pack (260 per charge)
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
36
manual focus
reasonably wide (28mm)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
screen is somewhat small (2.7 inches)
manual exposure not available
megapixel count low (12MP)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
lack of Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic ZS30 Vlogging info
Pentax H90 Vlogging info
35
relatively wide (24mm)
built-in touchscreen
built in image stabilization (Optical)
video res high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
lighter than competitors (198g)
slow max aperture (f3.3)
display isn't selfie friendly
doesn't have mic jack
28
reasonably wide (28mm)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
screen isn't selfie friendly
video quality not great (1280 x 720 pixels)
lack of mic port
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Panasonic ZS30 vs Pentax H90 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic ZS30 and Pentax H90
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS30Pentax Optio H90
General Information
Make Panasonic Pentax
Model Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS30 Pentax Optio H90
Other name Lumix DMC-TZ40 -
Category Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Compact
Launched 2013-01-07 2010-01-25
Body design Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Processor - Prime
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 18 megapixel 12 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 4896 x 3672 4000 x 3000
Maximum native ISO 6400 6400
Min native ISO 100 80
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Number of focus points 23 9
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 24-480mm (20.0x) 28-140mm (5.0x)
Largest aperture f/3.3-6.4 f/3.5-5.9
Macro focus distance 3cm 10cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.8
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen size 3" 2.7"
Resolution of screen 920k dot 230k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 15 secs 4 secs
Fastest shutter speed 1/1200 secs 1/2000 secs
Continuous shutter speed 10.0fps 1.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 6.40 m 4.00 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Soft
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
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 (30, 15 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video format MPEG-4, AVCHD Motion JPEG
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 lbs) 153 gr (0.34 lbs)
Physical dimensions 105 x 59 x 28mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.1") 101 x 65 x 28mm (4.0" x 2.6" x 1.1")
DXO scores
DXO Overall 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 shots -
Style of battery Battery Pack -
Battery model - D-LI68
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal SD/SDHC, Internal
Storage slots 1 1
Launch price $250 $150