Panasonic ZS30 vs Sony NEX-5

Its time to take a more detailed look at the Panasonic ZS30 vs Sony NEX-5, former is a Small Sensor Superzoom while the latter is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by manufacturers Panasonic and Sony. There exists a substantial gap among the resolutions of the ZS30 (18MP) and NEX-5 (14MP) and the ZS30 (1/2.3") and NEX-5 (APS-C) feature different sensor sizing.

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The ZS30 was launched 2 years after the NEX-5 which is a fairly big difference as far as camera technology is concerned. Both of the cameras come with different body type with the Panasonic ZS30 being a Compact camera and the Sony NEX-5 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before going straight into a in-depth comparison, below is a simple summary of how the ZS30 scores versus the NEX-5 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

Here is a preview of the gallery images for Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS30 & Sony Alpha NEX-5. The complete galleries are viewable at Panasonic ZS30 Gallery & Sony NEX-5 Gallery.

In case you're looking to travel with your camera regularly, you need to factor in its weight and size. The Panasonic ZS30 features outer measurements of 105mm x 59mm x 28mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.1") and a weight of 198 grams (0.44 lbs) and the Sony NEX-5 has specifications of 111mm x 59mm x 38mm (4.4" x 2.3" x 1.5") and a weight of 287 grams (0.63 lbs).

Check the Panasonic ZS30 vs Sony NEX-5 in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Remember, the weight of an ILC will change depending on the lens you are utilizing at the time. The following is the front view overall size comparison of the ZS30 vs the NEX-5.

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the ZS30 and NEX-5 is 92 and 89 respectively.

Normally, its difficult to picture the contrast in sensor dimensions only by looking through a spec sheet. The pic underneath will provide you a clearer sense of the sensor measurements in the ZS30 and NEX-5.

Clearly, both of the cameras have got different resolutions and different sensor dimensions. The ZS30 due to its smaller sensor is going to make achieving shallower DOF more difficult and the Panasonic ZS30 will provide you with greater detail utilizing its extra 4MP. Higher resolution can also let you crop pictures much more aggressively. The fresher ZS30 provides an advantage with regard to sensor technology.