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Panasonic ZS30 vs Pentax X70

Portability
92
Imaging
41
Features
48
Overall
43
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS30 front
 
Pentax X70 front
Portability
71
Imaging
34
Features
34
Overall
34

Panasonic ZS30 vs Pentax X70 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
  • Revealed January 2013
  • Other Name is Lumix DMC-TZ40
  • Succeeded the Panasonic ZS25
  • Updated by Panasonic ZS35
Pentax X70
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 50 - 6400
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 26-624mm (F2.8-5.0) lens
  • 410g - 110 x 83 x 90mm
  • Introduced March 2009
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Panasonic ZS30 vs Pentax X70 Overview

Let's look more closely at the Panasonic ZS30 versus Pentax X70, both Small Sensor Superzoom digital cameras by manufacturers Panasonic and Pentax. There is a sizable difference between the resolutions of the ZS30 (18MP) and X70 (12MP) but both cameras boast the same sensor sizes (1/2.3").

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The ZS30 was announced 3 years after the X70 which is quite a significant difference as far as tech is concerned. Both cameras have different body design with the Panasonic ZS30 being a Compact camera and the Pentax X70 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera.

Before we go straight to a detailed comparison, here is a short synopsis of how the ZS30 matches up versus the X70 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS30 over the Pentax X70

 ZS30 X70 
IntroducedJanuary 2013March 2009Newer by 47 months
Screen dimensions3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution920k230kClearer screen (+690k dot)
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Pentax X70 over the Panasonic ZS30

 X70 ZS30 
Focus manually Very precise focus

Common features in the Panasonic ZS30 and Pentax X70

 ZS30 X70 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Neither contains selfie screen

Panasonic ZS30 vs Pentax X70 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is aiming to travel with your camera regularly, you have to take into account its weight and measurements. The Panasonic ZS30 has got outside 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) and the Pentax X70 has proportions of 110mm x 83mm x 90mm (4.3" x 3.3" x 3.5") having a weight of 410 grams (0.90 lbs).

Check out the Panasonic ZS30 versus Pentax X70 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an ILC will change dependant on the lens you select at the time. Here is a front view dimension comparison of the ZS30 compared to the X70.

Panasonic ZS30 vs Pentax X70 size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability score of the ZS30 and X70 is 92 and 71 respectively.

Panasonic ZS30 vs Pentax X70 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic ZS30 vs Pentax X70 Sensor Comparison

In many cases, it can be hard to imagine the contrast between sensor dimensions simply by reading through technical specs. The picture here might give you a greater sense of the sensor dimensions in the ZS30 and X70.

As you have seen, both of those cameras provide the same sensor dimensions albeit different MP. You can count on the Panasonic ZS30 to give greater detail with its extra 6MP. Higher resolution can also let you crop pictures more aggressively. The newer ZS30 should have an advantage with regard to sensor tech.

Panasonic ZS30 vs Pentax X70 sensor size comparison

Panasonic ZS30 vs Pentax X70 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic ZS30 vs Pentax X70 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic ZS30 Portrait photography info
Pentax X70 Portrait photography info
32
decent sensor resolution (18MP)
focusing manually not possible
cannot use external flash
small sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW support
28
you can focus manually
external flash not possible
low resolution (12 megapixels)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW support
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Street Comparison

Panasonic ZS30 as a Street photography camera
Pentax X70 as a Street photography camera
66
has image stabilization (Optical)
provides touch to focus
lighter than competition in class (198g)
no articulating screen
small sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW support
46
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
fixed screen
very small sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic ZS30 as a Sports photography camera
Pentax X70 as a Sports photography camera
45
long zoom range (24-480mm 20.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
decent sensor resolution (18MP)
has tracking focus
low maximum shutter speed (1/1,200s)
small sensor (1/2.3")
low battery life (260 shots)
no phase detect auto focus
50
excellent zoom range (26-624mm 24.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
features tracking autofocus
has phase detect AF
low resolution (12MP)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic ZS30 Travel photography advice
Pentax X70 Travel photography advice
69
lighter than competition in class (198g)
provides touch to focus
decent sensor resolution (18 megapixels)
flash built-in
really wide (24mm)
very long reach (480mm)
no Time Lapse function
low battery life (260 shots)
screen is not selfie friendly
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
52
has built in flash
relatively wide (26mm)
long zoom (624mm)
does not have Time Lapse function
low resolution (12 megapixels)
doesn't posses selfie friendly display
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Panasonic ZS30
Landscape photography with Pentax X70
43
really wide (24mm)
nice screen size (3")
has image stabilization (Optical)
decent sensor resolution (18 megapixels)
focusing manually not possible
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
small sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW support
low battery life (260 CIPA)
no Time Lapse function
35
you can focus manually
relatively wide (26mm)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
screen is small (2.7 inches)
low resolution (12MP)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW support
does not have Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic ZS30 as a Vlogging camera
Pentax X70 as a Vlogging camera
35
really wide (24mm)
touchscreen capability
has image stabilization (Optical)
video res high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
lighter than competition in class (198g)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
screen is not selfie friendly
no mic support
24
relatively wide (26mm)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
doesn't posses selfie friendly display
low res video (1280 x 720 pxls)
does not have external mic socket
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Panasonic ZS30 vs Pentax X70 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic ZS30 and Pentax X70
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS30Pentax X70
General Information
Brand Panasonic Pentax
Model Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS30 Pentax X70
Otherwise known as Lumix DMC-TZ40 -
Type Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Superzoom
Revealed 2013-01-07 2009-03-02
Physical type Compact SLR-like (bridge)
Sensor Information
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 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 4896 x 3672 4000 x 3000
Max native ISO 6400 6400
Min native ISO 100 50
RAW files
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch focus
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Number of focus points 23 9
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 24-480mm (20.0x) 26-624mm (24.0x)
Largest aperture f/3.3-6.4 f/2.8-5.0
Macro focus range 3cm 10cm
Crop factor 5.8 5.8
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display sizing 3" 2.7"
Resolution of display 920 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Electronic
Features
Lowest shutter speed 15 seconds 4 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/1200 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shooting rate 10.0 frames/s -
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 6.40 m 9.10 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro -
External flash
AEB
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
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 fps), 848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video data format MPEG-4, AVCHD Motion JPEG
Mic port
Headphone port
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 sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 198 gr (0.44 lb) 410 gr (0.90 lb)
Physical dimensions 105 x 59 x 28mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.1") 110 x 83 x 90mm (4.3" x 3.3" x 3.5")
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 pictures -
Type of battery Battery Pack -
Battery model - D-LI92
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal SD/SDHC, Internal
Card slots 1 1
Retail price $250 $200