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Panasonic ZS30 vs Sony W290

Portability
92
Imaging
42
Features
48
Overall
44
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS30 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W290 front
Portability
94
Imaging
35
Features
28
Overall
32

Panasonic ZS30 vs Sony W290 Key Specs

Panasonic ZS30
(Full Review)
  • 18MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-480mm (F3.3-6.4) lens
  • 198g - 105 x 59 x 28mm
  • Launched January 2013
  • Alternative Name is Lumix DMC-TZ40
  • Replaced the Panasonic ZS25
  • Successor is Panasonic ZS35
Sony W290
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-140mm (F3.3-5.2) lens
  • 167g - 98 x 57 x 23mm
  • Released February 2009
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Panasonic ZS30 vs Sony W290 Overview

Following is a comprehensive overview of the Panasonic ZS30 vs Sony W290, one is a Small Sensor Superzoom and the other is a Small Sensor Compact by brands Panasonic and Sony. There is a crucial difference between the sensor resolutions of the ZS30 (18MP) and W290 (12MP) but they enjoy the exact same sensor dimensions (1/2.3").

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The ZS30 was announced 3 years after the W290 which is quite a serious gap as far as tech is concerned. Each of the cameras come with the identical body type (Compact).

Before diving through a complete comparison, below is a brief summary of how the ZS30 matches up against the W290 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS30 over the Sony W290

 ZS30 W290 
ReleasedJanuary 2013February 2009More modern by 48 months
Display resolution920k230kCrisper display (+690k dot)
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Sony W290 over the Panasonic ZS30

 W290 ZS30 
Focus manually More exact focus

Common features in the Panasonic ZS30 and Sony W290

 ZS30 W290 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display dimension3"3"Identical display sizing
Selfie screen Neither offers selfie screen

Panasonic ZS30 vs Sony W290 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is looking to carry around your camera regularly, you'll need to take into account its weight and proportions. The Panasonic ZS30 offers 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) whilst the Sony W290 has measurements of 98mm x 57mm x 23mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 0.9") having a weight of 167 grams (0.37 lbs).

Check the Panasonic ZS30 vs Sony W290 in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change dependant on the lens you are employing at that time. Here is the front view overall size comparison of the ZS30 vs the W290.

Panasonic ZS30 vs Sony W290 size comparison

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability grade of the ZS30 and W290 is 92 and 94 respectively.

Panasonic ZS30 vs Sony W290 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic ZS30 vs Sony W290 Sensor Comparison

Generally, it is very hard to imagine the gap between sensor sizes just by reading through specs. The image underneath will provide you a stronger sense of the sensor measurements in the ZS30 and W290.

As you can plainly see, the 2 cameras have got the exact same sensor measurements but different MP. You should expect to see the Panasonic ZS30 to give greater detail with its extra 6 Megapixels. Greater resolution will help you crop images much more aggressively. The more modern ZS30 provides a benefit with regard to sensor innovation.

Panasonic ZS30 vs Sony W290 sensor size comparison

Panasonic ZS30 vs Sony W290 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic ZS30 vs Sony W290 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic ZS30 Portrait photography features
Sony W290 Portrait photography features
33
good MP (18MP)
no manual focus
can't use external flash
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
27
manual focus
manual exposure not possible
external flash not possible
low resolution sensor (12 megapixels)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Panasonic ZS30
Street photography with Sony W290
66
built in image stabilization (Optical)
boasts focus by touch
lighter than competitors in class (198g)
screen does not articulate
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
56
has image stabilization (Optical)
no articulating screen
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic ZS30 Sports photography factors
Sony W290 Sports photography factors
46
great zoom range (24-480mm 20.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
good MP (18MP)
provides tracking focus
low maximum shutter speed (1/1,200 seconds)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
not so great battery (260 shots)
does not have phase detect autofocus
25
has image stabilization (Optical)
max frames per second very slow (2.0 fps)
no shutter priority mode
low resolution sensor (12 megapixels)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic ZS30 Travel photography advice
Sony W290 Travel photography advice
69
lighter than competitors in class (198g)
boasts focus by touch
good MP (18MP)
built-in flash
quite wide (24mm)
long zoom (480mm)
no Timelapse recording
not so great battery (260 per charge)
doesn't posses selfie friendly display
slow max aperture (f3.3)
57
flash built-in
rather wide (28mm)
missing Timelapse recording
low resolution sensor (12 megapixels)
doesn't feature selfie friendly screen
slow max aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic ZS30 Landscape photography factors
Sony W290 Landscape photography factors
44
quite wide (24mm)
screen size is good (3")
built in image stabilization (Optical)
good MP (18 megapixels)
no manual focus
cannot change lens (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.3)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
not so great battery (260 CIPA)
no Timelapse recording
41
manual focus
rather wide (28mm)
decent sized screen (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Optical)
can't swap lenses (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.3)
manual exposure not possible
low resolution sensor (12MP)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
missing Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic ZS30 Vlogging info
Sony W290 Vlogging info
35
quite wide (24mm)
touch screen
built in image stabilization (Optical)
high video quality (1920 x 1080 resolution)
lighter than competitors in class (198g)
slow max aperture (f3.3)
doesn't posses selfie friendly display
no microphone socket
28
rather wide (28mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
slow max aperture (f3.3)
doesn't feature selfie friendly screen
low res video (1280 x 720 pxls)
missing microphone jack
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Panasonic ZS30 vs Sony W290 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic ZS30 and Sony W290
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS30Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W290
General Information
Make Panasonic Sony
Model type Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS30 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W290
Also referred to as Lumix DMC-TZ40 -
Type Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Compact
Launched 2013-01-07 2009-02-17
Body design Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Sensor type CMOS CCD
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 18MP 12MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 4896 x 3672 4000 x 3000
Highest native ISO 6400 3200
Min native ISO 100 80
RAW format
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Total focus points 23 9
Lens
Lens support fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 24-480mm (20.0x) 28-140mm (5.0x)
Maximum aperture f/3.3-6.4 f/3.3-5.2
Macro focusing distance 3cm 10cm
Crop factor 5.8 5.8
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 3" 3"
Resolution of screen 920k dot 230k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 15 secs 2 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/1200 secs 1/1600 secs
Continuous shooting speed 10.0 frames per sec 2.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes -
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 6.40 m 3.90 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync
External flash
AEB
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (220 fps) 1280 x 720 (30 fps) 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video data format MPEG-4, AVCHD MPEG-4
Microphone input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In None
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 lb) 167 grams (0.37 lb)
Dimensions 105 x 59 x 28mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.1") 98 x 57 x 23mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 0.9")
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 -
Battery format Battery Pack -
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal Memory Stick Duo / Pro Duo, Internal
Storage slots Single Single
Cost at launch $250 $230