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Panasonic ZS30 vs Sony QX30

Portability
92
Imaging
42
Features
48
Overall
44
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS30 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-QX30 front
Portability
91
Imaging
45
Features
37
Overall
41

Panasonic ZS30 vs Sony QX30 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
  • Alternative Name is Lumix DMC-TZ40
  • Earlier Model is Panasonic ZS25
  • Successor is Panasonic ZS35
Sony QX30
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • " Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-720mm (F3.5-6.3) lens
  • 193g - 68 x 65 x 58mm
  • Launched September 2014
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Panasonic ZS30 vs Sony QX30 Overview

Following is a extended review of the Panasonic ZS30 vs Sony QX30, former is a Small Sensor Superzoom while the latter is a Lens-style by manufacturers Panasonic and Sony. The resolution of the ZS30 (18MP) and the QX30 (20MP) is pretty comparable and they possess the exact same sensor size (1/2.3").

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The ZS30 was brought out 20 months earlier than the QX30 which makes the cameras a generation away from each other. Each of these cameras come with different body type with the Panasonic ZS30 being a Compact camera and the Sony QX30 being a Lens-style camera.

Before we go in to a comprehensive comparison, below is a simple introduction of how the ZS30 matches up vs the QX30 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS30 over the Sony QX30

 ZS30 QX30 
Screen dimension3""Bigger screen (+3")
Screen resolution920k0kClearer screen (+920k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony QX30 over the Panasonic ZS30

 QX30 ZS30 
LaunchedSeptember 2014January 2013More modern by 20 months

Common features in the Panasonic ZS30 and Sony QX30

 ZS30 QX30 
Manual focus Lack of manual focus
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Lack of selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Panasonic ZS30 vs Sony QX30 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is going to carry around your camera, you'll need to factor its weight and proportions. The Panasonic ZS30 enjoys external 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) while the Sony QX30 has measurements of 68mm x 65mm x 58mm (2.7" x 2.6" x 2.3") accompanied by a weight of 193 grams (0.43 lbs).

Check the Panasonic ZS30 vs Sony QX30 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an ILC will vary depending on the lens you have during that time. Below is the front view measurement comparison of the ZS30 against the QX30.

Panasonic ZS30 vs Sony QX30 size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability grade of the ZS30 and QX30 is 92 and 91 respectively.

Panasonic ZS30 vs Sony QX30 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic ZS30 vs Sony QX30 Sensor Comparison

In many cases, it is very hard to envision the contrast in sensor sizes purely by seeing a spec sheet. The picture below may provide you a greater sense of the sensor sizes in the ZS30 and QX30.

Clearly, both of those cameras posses the exact same sensor measurements albeit not the same resolution. You can expect the Sony QX30 to provide greater detail having its extra 2 Megapixels. Higher resolution will help you crop photographs somewhat more aggressively. The more aged ZS30 will be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor innovation.

Panasonic ZS30 vs Sony QX30 sensor size comparison

Panasonic ZS30 vs Sony QX30 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic ZS30 vs Sony QX30 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic ZS30 Portrait photography factors
Sony QX30 Portrait photography factors
33
sensor resolution is decent (18 megapixels)
lack of manual focus
cannot use external flash
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
38
good MP (20MP)
has face detect focusing
no manual focus
no manual control
cannot use external flash
small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
Photography Glossary

Street Comparison

Street photography with Panasonic ZS30
Street photography with Sony QX30
66
built in image stabilization (Optical)
has touch to focus
lighter than others in class (198g)
no articulating screen
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
62
has image stabilization (Optical)
has focus via touch
no moving screen
small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic ZS30 as a Sports photography camera
Sony QX30 as a Sports photography camera
46
great zoom range (24-480mm 20.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
sensor resolution is decent (18MP)
offers tracking focus
low max shutter speed (1/1,200 seconds)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
terrible battery (260 per charge)
has no phase detect AF
47
amazing zoom range (24-720mm 30.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
good MP (20MP)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
low battery power (200 CIPA)
does not have phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic ZS30 as a Travel photography camera
Sony QX30 as a Travel photography camera
69
lighter than others in class (198 grams)
has touch to focus
sensor resolution is decent (18 megapixels)
has built in flash
really wide (24mm)
long reach (480mm)
missing Time Lapse recording
terrible battery (260 shots)
doesn't have a selfie friendly screen
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
65
has focus via touch
good MP (20 megapixels)
fairly wide (24mm)
great reach (720mm)
no Time Lapse function
low battery power (200 per charge)
doesn't feature selfie friendly display
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic ZS30 as a Landscape photography camera
Sony QX30 as a Landscape photography camera
44
really wide (24mm)
screen size is good (3")
built in image stabilization (Optical)
sensor resolution is decent (18MP)
lack of manual focus
can't change lenses (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
terrible battery (260 per charge)
missing Time Lapse recording
39
fairly wide (24mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
good MP (20MP)
no manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
screen is somewhat small (")
no manual control
small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
low battery power (200 per charge)
no Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Panasonic ZS30
Vlogging with Sony QX30
35
really wide (24mm)
touchscreen enabled
built in image stabilization (Optical)
video res high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
lighter than others in class (198g)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
doesn't have a selfie friendly screen
missing mic support
35
fairly wide (24mm)
touch screen
has image stabilization (Optical)
has face detect focusing
video res high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
doesn't feature selfie friendly display
no mic port
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Panasonic ZS30 vs Sony QX30 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic ZS30 and Sony QX30
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS30Sony Cyber-shot DSC-QX30
General Information
Brand Name Panasonic Sony
Model type Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS30 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-QX30
Otherwise known as Lumix DMC-TZ40 -
Class Small Sensor Superzoom Lens-style
Released 2013-01-07 2014-09-03
Body design Compact Lens-style
Sensor Information
Processor - Bionz X
Sensor type CMOS BSI-CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 18MP 20MP
Anti alias 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 3200
Min native ISO 100 80
RAW data
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Total focus points 23 -
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 24-480mm (20.0x) 24-720mm (30.0x)
Max aperture f/3.3-6.4 f/3.5-6.3
Macro focusing range 3cm -
Crop factor 5.8 5.8
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3 inch -
Resolution of display 920 thousand dot 0 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Lowest shutter speed 15 seconds 4 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/1200 seconds 1/1600 seconds
Continuous shooting speed 10.0fps 10.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 6.40 m no built-in flash
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro None
Hot shoe
AEB
White balance bracketing
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 (60p, 30p)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video file format MPEG-4, AVCHD MPEG-4
Mic jack
Headphone jack
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
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 198 grams (0.44 pounds) 193 grams (0.43 pounds)
Dimensions 105 x 59 x 28mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.1") 68 x 65 x 58mm (2.7" x 2.6" x 2.3")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth rating not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested not tested
DXO Low light rating not tested not tested
Other
Battery life 260 photographs 200 photographs
Form of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID - NP-BN,
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2, 10 secs)
Time lapse shooting
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal microSD, microSDHC, microSDXC, Memory Stick Micro
Storage slots 1 1
Price at launch $250 $348