Panasonic ZS30 vs Pentax RZ18

Its time to look a little more closely at the Panasonic ZS30 and Pentax RZ18, both Small Sensor Superzoom digital cameras by competitors Panasonic and Pentax. The image resolution of the ZS30 (18MP) and the RZ18 (16MP) is very well matched and they feature the exact same sensor sizes (1/2.3").

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The ZS30 was released 17 months after the RZ18 making the cameras a generation away from one another. The two cameras come with the identical body type (Compact).

Before diving in to a in-depth comparison, below is a concise summation of how the ZS30 scores against the RZ18 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

This is a sample of the gallery pics for Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS30 & Pentax Optio RZ18. The complete galleries are available at Panasonic ZS30 Gallery & Pentax RZ18 Gallery.

For those who are intending to travel with your camera frequently, you will need to take into account its weight and size. The Panasonic ZS30 features physical measurements of 105mm x 59mm x 28mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.1") having a weight of 198 grams (0.44 lbs) whilst the Pentax RZ18 has specifications of 97mm x 61mm x 33mm (3.8" x 2.4" x 1.3") along with a weight of 178 grams (0.39 lbs).

Contrast the Panasonic ZS30 and Pentax RZ18 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Don't forget, the weight of an ILC will vary depending on the lens you have at the time. Here is the front view measurement comparison of the ZS30 vs the RZ18.

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability score of the ZS30 and RZ18 is 92 and 92 respectively.

Typically, it is tough to imagine the gap between sensor dimensions purely by checking specs. The picture underneath will offer you a more clear sense of the sensor measurements in the ZS30 and RZ18.

All in all, both of the cameras posses the exact same sensor measurements but different resolution. You can expect to see the Panasonic ZS30 to give extra detail as a result of its extra 2MP. Greater resolution can also enable you to crop images somewhat more aggressively. The more recent ZS30 should have an edge in sensor tech.