Panasonic ZS30 vs Sony NEX-6
92 Imaging
42 Features
48 Overall
44


85 Imaging
57 Features
76 Overall
64
Panasonic ZS30 vs Sony NEX-6 Key Specs
(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
- Announced January 2013
- Other Name is Lumix DMC-TZ40
- Superseded the Panasonic ZS25
- Updated by Panasonic ZS35
(Full Review)
- 16MP - APS-C Sensor
- 3" Tilting Screen
- ISO 100 - 25600
- 1920 x 1080 video
- Sony E Mount
- 345g - 120 x 67 x 43mm
- Launched March 2013
- Refreshed by Sony A6000

Panasonic ZS30 vs Sony NEX-6 Overview
Here, we will be analyzing the Panasonic ZS30 vs Sony NEX-6, former being a Small Sensor Superzoom while the latter is a Advanced Mirrorless by companies Panasonic and Sony. The resolution of the ZS30 (18MP) and the NEX-6 (16MP) is pretty close but the ZS30 (1/2.3") and NEX-6 (APS-C) boast totally different sensor sizes.

The ZS30 was introduced 2 months earlier than the NEX-6 and they are both of a similar age. Both of the cameras feature different body design with the Panasonic ZS30 being a Compact camera and the Sony NEX-6 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.
Before diving into a comprehensive comparison, here is a brief introduction of how the ZS30 scores vs the NEX-6 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

Panasonic ZS30 vs Sony NEX-6 Gallery
Following is a preview of the gallery images for Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS30 & Sony Alpha NEX-6. The whole galleries are provided at Panasonic ZS30 Gallery & Sony NEX-6 Gallery.
Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS30 over the Sony NEX-6
ZS30 | NEX-6 | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Touch friendly screen | ![]() | Quickly navigate |
Reasons to pick Sony NEX-6 over the Panasonic ZS30
NEX-6 | ZS30 | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Manually focus | ![]() | Very accurate focus | ||
Screen type | Tilting | ![]() | Fixed | Tilting screen |
Screen resolution | 921k | ![]() | 920k | Sharper screen (+1k dot) |
Common features in the Panasonic ZS30 and Sony NEX-6
ZS30 | NEX-6 | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Launched | January 2013 | ![]() | March 2013 | Same age |
Screen size | 3" | ![]() | 3" | Same screen dimensions |
Selfie screen | ![]() | Neither contains selfie screen |
Panasonic ZS30 vs Sony NEX-6 Physical Comparison
If you are planning to carry your camera often, you'll have to take into account its weight and dimensions. 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 Sony NEX-6 has dimensions of 120mm x 67mm x 43mm (4.7" x 2.6" x 1.7") along with a weight of 345 grams (0.76 lbs).
Compare the Panasonic ZS30 vs Sony NEX-6 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool.
Always remember, the weight of an ILC will vary depending on the lens you are utilising at that moment. Following is a front view size comparison of the ZS30 versus the NEX-6.

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability rating of the ZS30 and NEX-6 is 92 and 85 respectively.

Panasonic ZS30 vs Sony NEX-6 Sensor Comparison
In many cases, it can be hard to envision the contrast in sensor sizing just by researching a spec sheet. The visual below should offer you a much better sense of the sensor sizes in the ZS30 and NEX-6.
Clearly, the 2 cameras feature different resolutions and different sensor sizing. The ZS30 having a smaller sensor will make getting bokeh trickier and the Panasonic ZS30 will result in extra detail using its extra 2 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also help you crop photographs way more aggressively.

Panasonic ZS30 vs Sony NEX-6 Screen and ViewFinder


Photography Type Scores
Portrait Comparison

Street Comparison

Sports Comparison

Travel Comparison

Landscape Comparison

Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic ZS30 vs Sony NEX-6 Specifications
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS30 | Sony Alpha NEX-6 | |
---|---|---|
General Information | ||
Make | Panasonic | Sony |
Model type | Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS30 | Sony Alpha NEX-6 |
Otherwise known as | Lumix DMC-TZ40 | - |
Type | Small Sensor Superzoom | Advanced Mirrorless |
Announced | 2013-01-07 | 2013-03-25 |
Body design | Compact | Rangefinder-style mirrorless |
Sensor Information | ||
Chip | - | Bionz |
Sensor type | CMOS | CMOS |
Sensor size | 1/2.3" | APS-C |
Sensor dimensions | 6.17 x 4.55mm | 23.5 x 15.6mm |
Sensor surface area | 28.1mm² | 366.6mm² |
Sensor resolution | 18 megapixels | 16 megapixels |
Anti alias filter | ||
Aspect ratio | 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 | 3:2 and 16:9 |
Full resolution | 4896 x 3672 | 4912 x 3264 |
Max native ISO | 6400 | 25600 |
Min native ISO | 100 | 100 |
RAW format | ||
Autofocusing | ||
Manual focusing | ||
Autofocus touch | ||
Autofocus continuous | ||
Autofocus single | ||
Autofocus tracking | ||
Autofocus selectice | ||
Autofocus center weighted | ||
Multi area autofocus | ||
Live view autofocus | ||
Face detect focus | ||
Contract detect focus | ||
Phase detect focus | ||
Total focus points | 23 | 99 |
Lens | ||
Lens support | fixed lens | Sony E |
Lens zoom range | 24-480mm (20.0x) | - |
Largest aperture | f/3.3-6.4 | - |
Macro focusing range | 3cm | - |
Amount of lenses | - | 121 |
Focal length multiplier | 5.8 | 1.5 |
Screen | ||
Display type | Fixed Type | Tilting |
Display sizing | 3" | 3" |
Resolution of display | 920 thousand dot | 921 thousand dot |
Selfie friendly | ||
Liveview | ||
Touch friendly | ||
Display technology | - | Xtra Fine LCD with Tilt Up 90� and Down 45� |
Viewfinder Information | ||
Viewfinder | None | Electronic |
Viewfinder resolution | - | 2,359 thousand dot |
Viewfinder coverage | - | 100% |
Viewfinder magnification | - | 0.73x |
Features | ||
Lowest shutter speed | 15s | 30s |
Highest shutter speed | 1/1200s | 1/4000s |
Continuous shooting speed | 10.0 frames per sec | 10.0 frames per sec |
Shutter priority | ||
Aperture priority | ||
Manually set exposure | ||
Exposure compensation | Yes | Yes |
Custom white balance | ||
Image stabilization | ||
Built-in flash | ||
Flash distance | 6.40 m | 6.00 m |
Flash settings | Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro | Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in |
External flash | ||
Auto exposure bracketing | ||
White balance bracketing | ||
Highest flash sync | - | 1/160s |
Exposure | ||
Multisegment exposure | ||
Average exposure | ||
Spot exposure | ||
Partial exposure | ||
AF area exposure | ||
Center weighted exposure | ||
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) | 1920 x 1080 (60, 24 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) |
Max video resolution | 1920x1080 | 1920x1080 |
Video format | MPEG-4, AVCHD | MPEG-4, AVCHD |
Mic input | ||
Headphone input | ||
Connectivity | ||
Wireless | Built-In | Built-In |
Bluetooth | ||
NFC | ||
HDMI | ||
USB | USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) | USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) |
GPS | BuiltIn | None |
Physical | ||
Environmental seal | ||
Water proofing | ||
Dust proofing | ||
Shock proofing | ||
Crush proofing | ||
Freeze proofing | ||
Weight | 198 grams (0.44 lbs) | 345 grams (0.76 lbs) |
Physical dimensions | 105 x 59 x 28mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.1") | 120 x 67 x 43mm (4.7" x 2.6" x 1.7") |
DXO scores | ||
DXO All around rating | not tested | 78 |
DXO Color Depth rating | not tested | 23.7 |
DXO Dynamic range rating | not tested | 13.1 |
DXO Low light rating | not tested | 1018 |
Other | ||
Battery life | 260 photos | 360 photos |
Battery format | Battery Pack | Battery Pack |
Battery ID | - | NPFW50 |
Self timer | Yes (2 or 10 sec) | Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10sec (3 images)) |
Time lapse recording | With downloadable app | |
Storage media | SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal | SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo |
Storage slots | 1 | 1 |
Retail pricing | $250 | $365 |