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Panasonic ZS30 vs Pentax P70

Portability
92
Imaging
42
Features
48
Overall
44
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS30 front
 
Pentax Optio P70 front
Portability
95
Imaging
34
Features
20
Overall
28

Panasonic ZS30 vs Pentax P70 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
  • Also referred to as Lumix DMC-TZ40
  • Replaced the Panasonic ZS25
  • Later Model is Panasonic ZS35
Pentax P70
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 64 - 6400
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-110mm (F2.8-5.0) lens
  • 155g - 97 x 54 x 22mm
  • Introduced March 2009
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Panasonic ZS30 vs Pentax P70 Overview

Let's look more closely at the Panasonic ZS30 vs Pentax P70, former being a Small Sensor Superzoom while the latter is a Ultracompact by manufacturers Panasonic and Pentax. There is a large difference between the resolutions of the ZS30 (18MP) and P70 (12MP) but they use the same exact sensor measurements (1/2.3").

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The ZS30 was announced 3 years later than the P70 and that is quite a serious difference as far as tech is concerned. Both of the cameras offer different body type with the Panasonic ZS30 being a Compact camera and the Pentax P70 being a Ultracompact camera.

Before delving through a step-by-step comparison, below is a simple summary of how the ZS30 scores vs the P70 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS30 over the Pentax P70

 ZS30 P70 
IntroducedJanuary 2013March 2009More recent by 47 months
Screen sizing3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution920k230kSharper screen (+690k dot)
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Pentax P70 over the Panasonic ZS30

 P70 ZS30 
Manually focus Dial precise focus

Common features in the Panasonic ZS30 and Pentax P70

 ZS30 P70 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Absent selfie screen

Panasonic ZS30 vs Pentax P70 Physical Comparison

For those who are intending to lug around your camera, you will have to take into account its weight and size. The Panasonic ZS30 has got outer 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) while the Pentax P70 has specifications of 97mm x 54mm x 22mm (3.8" x 2.1" x 0.9") and a weight of 155 grams (0.34 lbs).

Look at the Panasonic ZS30 vs Pentax P70 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an ILC will differ dependant on the lens you have attached during that time. The following is the front view scale comparison of the ZS30 vs the P70.

Panasonic ZS30 vs Pentax P70 size comparison

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability rating of the ZS30 and P70 is 92 and 95 respectively.

Panasonic ZS30 vs Pentax P70 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic ZS30 vs Pentax P70 Sensor Comparison

Generally, it is tough to visualize the contrast between sensor measurements just by checking technical specs. The graphic underneath might offer you a far better sense of the sensor sizes in the ZS30 and P70.

As you have seen, each of the cameras offer the same exact sensor sizing albeit different resolution. You can expect the Panasonic ZS30 to give more detail with its extra 6 Megapixels. Higher resolution can also enable you to crop shots a little more aggressively. The younger ZS30 provides an advantage with regard to sensor tech.

Panasonic ZS30 vs Pentax P70 sensor size comparison

Panasonic ZS30 vs Pentax P70 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic ZS30 vs Pentax P70 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic ZS30 Portrait photography factors
Pentax P70 Portrait photography factors
33
sensor resolution is decent (18MP)
manual focus not available
cannot use external flash
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
no RAW files
27
focusing manually
no manual exposure
external flash not possible
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
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Street Comparison

Panasonic ZS30 as a Street photography camera
Pentax P70 as a Street photography camera
66
has image stabilization (Optical)
provides touch focus
lighter than average (198 grams)
no articulating screen
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
no RAW files
47
no articulating screen
does not have image stabilization
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
more heavy than average (155 grams)
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic ZS30 Sports photography advice
Pentax P70 Sports photography advice
46
great zoom range (24-480mm 20.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
sensor resolution is decent (18 megapixels)
supports tracking focus
low max shutter speed (1/1,200 seconds)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
low battery life (260 CIPA)
no phase detect autofocus
17
low max shutter speed (1/1,000 seconds)
lack of shutter priority mode
does not have image stabilization
sensor resolution low (12MP)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic ZS30 Travel photography details
Pentax P70 Travel photography details
69
lighter than average (198g)
provides touch focus
sensor resolution is decent (18 megapixels)
has built in flash
rather wide (24mm)
very long reach (480mm)
no Timelapse recording
low battery life (260 shots)
screen is not selfie friendly
slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
56
flash built-in
really wide (28mm)
does not have Timelapse mode
more heavy than average (155 grams)
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
does not contain selfie friendly screen
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic ZS30 Landscape photography info
Pentax P70 Landscape photography info
44
rather wide (24mm)
screen is a decent size (3")
has image stabilization (Optical)
sensor resolution is decent (18MP)
manual focus not available
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
no RAW files
low battery life (260 shots)
no Timelapse recording
32
focusing manually
really wide (28mm)
cannot change lenses (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
tiny screen (2.7")
no manual exposure
does not have image stabilization
sensor resolution low (12MP)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
does not have Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Panasonic ZS30
Vlogging with Pentax P70
35
rather wide (24mm)
screen is touchscreen
has image stabilization (Optical)
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
lighter than average (198 grams)
slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
screen is not selfie friendly
no microphone support
25
really wide (28mm)
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
does not contain selfie friendly screen
does not have image stabilization
video res low (1280 x 720 resolution)
does not have microphone jack
more heavy than average (155g)
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Panasonic ZS30 vs Pentax P70 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic ZS30 and Pentax P70
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS30Pentax Optio P70
General Information
Make Panasonic Pentax
Model Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS30 Pentax Optio P70
Also called Lumix DMC-TZ40 -
Category Small Sensor Superzoom Ultracompact
Announced 2013-01-07 2009-03-02
Body design Compact Ultracompact
Sensor Information
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface 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 -
Max resolution 4896 x 3672 4000 x 3000
Max native ISO 6400 6400
Min native ISO 100 64
RAW files
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
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) 28-110mm (3.9x)
Max aperture f/3.3-6.4 f/2.8-5.0
Macro focus distance 3cm 10cm
Crop factor 5.8 5.8
Screen
Range of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen size 3" 2.7"
Resolution of screen 920 thousand dot 230 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 15 secs 4 secs
Fastest shutter speed 1/1200 secs 1/1000 secs
Continuous shutter speed 10.0 frames/s -
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 6.40 m 4.60 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro -
Hot shoe
AEB
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
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 (15 fps), 848 x 480 (15 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video data format MPEG-4, AVCHD Motion JPEG
Microphone input
Headphone input
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
Environment seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 198g (0.44 lbs) 155g (0.34 lbs)
Dimensions 105 x 59 x 28mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.1") 97 x 54 x 22mm (3.8" x 2.1" x 0.9")
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 photographs -
Form of battery Battery Pack -
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal SD/SDHC, Internal
Storage slots One One
Price at release $250 $200