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Panasonic ZS30 vs Sony NEX-6

Portability
92
Imaging
42
Features
48
Overall
44
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS30 front
 
Sony Alpha NEX-6 front
Portability
85
Imaging
57
Features
76
Overall
64

Panasonic ZS30 vs Sony NEX-6 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
  • Announced January 2013
  • Other Name is Lumix DMC-TZ40
  • Superseded the Panasonic ZS25
  • Updated by Panasonic ZS35
Sony NEX-6
(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
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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.

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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.

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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 typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen resolution921k920kSharper screen (+1k dot)

Common features in the Panasonic ZS30 and Sony NEX-6

 ZS30 NEX-6 
LaunchedJanuary 2013March 2013Same age
Screen size3"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. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

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.

Panasonic ZS30 vs Sony NEX-6 size comparison

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 top view buttons comparison

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 sensor size comparison

Panasonic ZS30 vs Sony NEX-6 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic ZS30 vs Sony NEX-6 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic ZS30 Portrait photography factors
Sony NEX-6 Portrait photography factors
33
MP count good (18MP)
lack of manual focus
external flash not possible
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
74
has manual focus
good MP (16 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
comes with face detection autofocus
exports RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Panasonic ZS30 Street photography details
Sony NEX-6 Street photography details
66
built in image stabilization (Optical)
provides touch to focus
lighter than average (198g)
no articulating screen
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
78
screen tilts up and down
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
lighter than others (345g)
good high ISO (25,600)
no image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic ZS30 Sports photography features
Sony NEX-6 Sports photography features
46
incredible zoom range (24-480mm 20.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
MP count good (18 megapixels)
includes tracking focus
low maximum shutter speed (1/1,200 seconds)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
not so great battery pack (260 per charge)
lack of phase detect AF
66
good MP (16MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
sensor has phase detect autofocus
no image stabilization
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic ZS30 Travel photography information
Sony NEX-6 Travel photography information
69
lighter than average (198 grams)
provides touch to focus
MP count good (18 megapixels)
built-in flash
fairly wide (24mm)
long zoom (480mm)
missing Timelapse function
not so great battery pack (260 shots)
display isn't selfie friendly
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
75
lighter than others (345g)
good MP (16MP)
built-in flash
display is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic ZS30 Landscape photography info
Sony NEX-6 Landscape photography info
44
fairly wide (24mm)
screen size is good (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
MP count good (18 megapixels)
lack of manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
not so great battery pack (260 shots)
missing Timelapse function
75
has manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Sony E mount)
good sized screen (3")
good MP (16 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
good high ISO (25,600)
exports RAW formats
no image stabilization
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic ZS30 Vlogging info
Sony NEX-6 Vlogging info
35
fairly wide (24mm)
touchscreen enabled
built in image stabilization (Optical)
high res video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
lighter than average (198g)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
display isn't selfie friendly
missing microphone support
32
comes with face detection autofocus
video res high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
lighter than others (345 grams)
display is not selfie friendly
no image stabilization
no external mic jack
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Panasonic ZS30 vs Sony NEX-6 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic ZS30 and Sony NEX-6
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS30Sony 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