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Panasonic ZS30 vs Sony HX400V

Portability
92
Imaging
42
Features
48
Overall
44
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS30 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX400V front
Portability
62
Imaging
45
Features
60
Overall
51

Panasonic ZS30 vs Sony HX400V 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
  • Released January 2013
  • Also referred to as Lumix DMC-TZ40
  • Old Model is Panasonic ZS25
  • Renewed by Panasonic ZS35
Sony HX400V
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 80 - 12800
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-1200mm (F2.8-6.3) lens
  • 660g - 130 x 93 x 103mm
  • Revealed February 2014
  • Replaced the Sony HX300
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Panasonic ZS30 vs Sony HX400V Overview

Its time to take a closer look at the Panasonic ZS30 versus Sony HX400V, both Small Sensor Superzoom cameras by manufacturers Panasonic and Sony. The image resolution of the ZS30 (18MP) and the HX400V (20MP) is very close and they come with the exact same sensor sizing (1/2.3").

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The ZS30 was released 13 months prior to the HX400V making the cameras a generation away from each other. The two cameras come with different body type with the Panasonic ZS30 being a Compact camera and the Sony HX400V being a SLR-like (bridge) camera.

Before getting in to a detailed comparison, below is a brief overview of how the ZS30 grades vs the HX400V with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS30 over the Sony HX400V

 ZS30 HX400V 
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Sony HX400V over the Panasonic ZS30

 HX400V ZS30 
RevealedFebruary 2014January 2013More modern by 13 months
Manual focus More precise focusing
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display resolution921k920kClearer display (+1k dot)

Common features in the Panasonic ZS30 and Sony HX400V

 ZS30 HX400V 
Display dimension3"3"Identical display measurement
Selfie screen Neither features selfie screen

Panasonic ZS30 vs Sony HX400V Physical Comparison

In case you're looking to carry around your camera often, you will need to take into account its weight and dimensions. The Panasonic ZS30 enjoys external measurements 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 HX400V has dimensions of 130mm x 93mm x 103mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 4.1") with a weight of 660 grams (1.46 lbs).

Examine the Panasonic ZS30 versus Sony HX400V in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an ILC will vary dependant on the lens you use at that moment. Here is the front view measurements comparison of the ZS30 vs the HX400V.

Panasonic ZS30 vs Sony HX400V size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability grade of the ZS30 and HX400V is 92 and 62 respectively.

Panasonic ZS30 vs Sony HX400V top view buttons comparison

Panasonic ZS30 vs Sony HX400V Sensor Comparison

Usually, its hard to imagine the contrast in sensor sizes just by looking through a spec sheet. The image below will give you a stronger sense of the sensor measurements in the ZS30 and HX400V.

As you can see, the 2 cameras posses the exact same sensor measurements but different megapixels. You can expect to see the Sony HX400V to provide you with more detail as a result of its extra 2MP. Greater resolution can also allow you to crop images somewhat more aggressively. The more aged ZS30 will be behind in sensor tech.

Panasonic ZS30 vs Sony HX400V sensor size comparison

Panasonic ZS30 vs Sony HX400V Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic ZS30 vs Sony HX400V Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic ZS30 Portrait photography advice
Sony HX400V Portrait photography advice
33
decent sensor resolution (18 megapixels)
lack of manual focus
external flash not possible
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
no RAW format
51
has manual focus
good MP (20 megapixels)
has face detection focusing
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
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Street Comparison

Panasonic ZS30 Street photography details
Sony HX400V Street photography details
66
image stabilization (Optical)
offers focus by touch
lighter than competition in class (198 grams)
no articulating screen
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
no RAW format
50
has a tilting screen
has image stabilization (Optical)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
more heavy than competition (660g)
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic ZS30 Sports photography info
Sony HX400V Sports photography info
46
great zoom range (24-480mm 20.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
decent sensor resolution (18 megapixels)
comes with tracking autofocus
maximum shutter speed is a little low (1/1,200s)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
bad battery pack (260 shots)
no phase detect AF
55
long zoom range (24-1200mm 50.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
good MP (20MP)
has tracking autofocus
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
has no phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic ZS30 Travel photography features
Sony HX400V Travel photography features
69
lighter than competition in class (198 grams)
offers focus by touch
decent sensor resolution (18MP)
flash built-in
pretty wide (24mm)
great reach (480mm)
doesn't have Time Lapse function
bad battery pack (260 CIPA)
does not have selfie friendly screen
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
53
good MP (20 megapixels)
flash built-in
fairly wide (24mm)
long zoom (1200mm)
doesn't have Timelapse mode
more heavy than competition (660 grams)
display isn't selfie friendly
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic ZS30 as a Landscape photography camera
Sony HX400V as a Landscape photography camera
44
pretty wide (24mm)
pretty good screen size (3 inch)
image stabilization (Optical)
decent sensor resolution (18MP)
lack of manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
no RAW format
bad battery pack (260 CIPA)
doesn't have Time Lapse function
49
has manual focus
fairly wide (24mm)
pretty good screen size (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Optical)
good MP (20MP)
cannot change lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
doesn't have Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic ZS30 as a Vlogging camera
Sony HX400V as a Vlogging camera
35
pretty wide (24mm)
touchscreen enabled
image stabilization (Optical)
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
lighter than competition in class (198g)
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
does not have selfie friendly screen
doesn't have external mic port
29
fairly wide (24mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
has face detection focusing
high quality video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
has external microphone jack
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
display isn't selfie friendly
more heavy than competition (660g)
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Panasonic ZS30 vs Sony HX400V Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic ZS30 and Sony HX400V
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS30Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX400V
General Information
Brand Name Panasonic Sony
Model Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS30 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX400V
Also referred to as Lumix DMC-TZ40 -
Category Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Superzoom
Released 2013-01-07 2014-02-12
Body design Compact SLR-like (bridge)
Sensor Information
Powered by - Bionz X
Sensor type CMOS BSI-CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 18 megapixels 20 megapixels
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 5184 x 3888
Max native ISO 6400 12800
Minimum native ISO 100 80
RAW support
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
AF continuous
AF single
AF tracking
AF selectice
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Number of focus points 23 9
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 24-480mm (20.0x) 24-1200mm (50.0x)
Largest aperture f/3.3-6.4 f/2.8-6.3
Macro focus range 3cm 1cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.8
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Tilting
Display diagonal 3" 3"
Resolution of display 920k dot 921k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Electronic
Viewfinder coverage - 100 percent
Features
Slowest shutter speed 15 secs 30 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/1200 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shooting speed 10.0fps 10.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 6.40 m 8.50 m (ISO Auto)
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro Flash Off / Autoflash / Fill-flash / Slow Sync. / Advanced Flash / Rear Sync. / Wireless (with optional compliant flash)
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
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 (60p, 60i, 24p), 1440 x 1080 (30p), 640 x 480 (30p)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video data format MPEG-4, AVCHD MPEG-4, AVCHD
Microphone 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 BuiltIn
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 198 grams (0.44 pounds) 660 grams (1.46 pounds)
Dimensions 105 x 59 x 28mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.1") 130 x 93 x 103mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 4.1")
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 photographs 300 photographs
Style of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model - NP-BX1
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec, portrait)
Time lapse shooting
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick Duo/Memory Stick Pro Duo, Memory Stick Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots One One
Retail cost $250 $448