Panasonic ZS30 vs Sony A580

Following is a comprehensive assessment of the Panasonic ZS30 vs Sony A580, one is a Small Sensor Superzoom and the latter is a Entry-Level DSLR by manufacturers Panasonic and Sony. The image resolution of the ZS30 (18MP) and the A580 (16MP) is relatively similar but the ZS30 (1/2.3") and A580 (APS-C) boast different sensor sizes.

Photography Glossary

The ZS30 was released 20 months after the A580 which makes them a generation away from one another. Each of the cameras feature different body design with the Panasonic ZS30 being a Compact camera and the Sony A580 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before delving right into a complete comparison, here is a brief highlight of how the ZS30 scores versus the A580 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

Following is a preview of the gallery photos for Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS30 and Sony Alpha DSLR-A580. The complete galleries are provided at Panasonic ZS30 Gallery and Sony A580 Gallery.

If you're intending to carry around your camera frequently, you will have to think about its weight and dimensions. The Panasonic ZS30 provides exterior dimensions of 105mm x 59mm x 28mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.1") having a weight of 198 grams (0.44 lbs) while the Sony A580 has dimensions of 137mm x 104mm x 84mm (5.4" x 4.1" x 3.3") along with a weight of 599 grams (1.32 lbs).

Take a look at the Panasonic ZS30 vs Sony A580 in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Bear in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ dependant on the lens you use at the time. Below is a front view measurements comparison of the ZS30 vs the A580.

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the ZS30 and A580 is 92 and 64 respectively.

More often than not, its tough to picture the contrast between sensor sizes only by reviewing specs. The picture below will help give you a far better sense of the sensor dimensions in the ZS30 and A580.

As you can plainly see, the two cameras feature different resolutions and different sensor sizes. The ZS30 due to its tinier sensor is going to make shooting bokeh more difficult and the Panasonic ZS30 will offer you extra detail as a result of its extra 2 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also allow you to crop pictures way more aggressively. The more recent ZS30 provides an edge when it comes to sensor innovation.