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Panasonic ZS35 vs Pentax K-30

Portability
89
Imaging
40
Features
50
Overall
44
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS35 front
 
Pentax K-30 front
Portability
63
Imaging
57
Features
66
Overall
60

Panasonic ZS35 vs Pentax K-30 Key Specs

Panasonic ZS35
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 3200 (Expand to 6400)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-480mm (F3.3-6.4) lens
  • 305g - 107 x 62 x 32mm
  • Released January 2014
  • Other Name is Lumix DMC-TZ55
  • Succeeded the Panasonic ZS30
  • Later Model is Panasonic ZS40
Pentax K-30
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 12800 (Push to 25600)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/6000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 650g - 130 x 97 x 71mm
  • Released October 2012
  • Newer Model is Pentax K-50
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Panasonic ZS35 vs Pentax K-30 Overview

Lets look a bit more in depth at the Panasonic ZS35 and Pentax K-30, former is a Small Sensor Superzoom while the latter is a Advanced DSLR by brands Panasonic and Pentax. The sensor resolution of the ZS35 (16MP) and the K-30 (16MP) is pretty comparable but the ZS35 (1/2.3") and K-30 (APS-C) feature different sensor dimensions.

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The ZS35 was released 15 months after the K-30 which makes the cameras a generation away from one another. Both cameras offer different body type with the Panasonic ZS35 being a Compact camera and the Pentax K-30 being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before delving through a comprehensive comparison, below is a brief introduction of how the ZS35 scores versus the K-30 for portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS35 over the Pentax K-30

 ZS35 K-30 
ReleasedJanuary 2014October 2012More modern by 15 months
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen

Reasons to pick Pentax K-30 over the Panasonic ZS35

 K-30 ZS35 
Manually focus More precise focusing
Screen resolution921k460kSharper screen (+461k dot)

Common features in the Panasonic ZS35 and Pentax K-30

 ZS35 K-30 
Screen sizing3"3"Equivalent screen sizing
Selfie screen Neither provides selfie screen
Touch screen No Touch screen

Panasonic ZS35 vs Pentax K-30 Physical Comparison

In case you're planning to carry around your camera regularly, you have to take into account its weight and volume. The Panasonic ZS35 provides outer dimensions of 107mm x 62mm x 32mm (4.2" x 2.4" x 1.3") accompanied by a weight of 305 grams (0.67 lbs) whilst the Pentax K-30 has sizing of 130mm x 97mm x 71mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 2.8") with a weight of 650 grams (1.43 lbs).

Contrast the Panasonic ZS35 and Pentax K-30 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an ILC will vary dependant on the lens you are using at that moment. Underneath is the front view size comparison of the ZS35 against the K-30.

Panasonic ZS35 vs Pentax K-30 size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the ZS35 and K-30 is 89 and 63 respectively.

Panasonic ZS35 vs Pentax K-30 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic ZS35 vs Pentax K-30 Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, its difficult to visualize the difference in sensor sizes simply by seeing technical specs. The pic here may provide you a stronger sense of the sensor dimensions in the ZS35 and K-30.

As you can tell, both of these cameras enjoy the same exact megapixel count albeit different sensor sizes. The ZS35 comes with the smaller sensor which should make obtaining shallower DOF more difficult. The newer ZS35 provides an advantage in sensor technology.

Panasonic ZS35 vs Pentax K-30 sensor size comparison

Panasonic ZS35 vs Pentax K-30 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic ZS35 vs Pentax K-30 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Panasonic ZS35
Portrait photography with Pentax K-30
37
good resolution (16MP)
comes with face detection focus
lack of manual focus
cannot use external flash
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
74
you can focus manually
MP count good (16MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
supports face detection focusing
exports RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Panasonic ZS35 as a Street photography camera
Pentax K-30 as a Street photography camera
68
screen tilts up and down
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than average in class (305 grams)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
68
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
environment proof
screen does not articulate
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic ZS35 Sports photography information
Pentax K-30 Sports photography information
53
great zoom range (24-480mm 20.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
good resolution (16 megapixels)
comes with tracking autofocus
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect auto focus
67
maximum shutter speed is high (1/6,000 seconds)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count good (16MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
supports tracking autofocus
environment proof
supports phase detect AF
slow frames per second (6.0 fps)
bad battery power (410 CIPA)
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic ZS35 Travel photography details
Pentax K-30 Travel photography details
68
lighter than average in class (305 grams)
good resolution (16MP)
has built in flash
fairly wide (24mm)
very long reach (480mm)
missing Timelapse function
does not contain selfie friendly display
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
60
environment proof
MP count good (16MP)
built-in flash
bad battery power (410 per charge)
display is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Panasonic ZS35
Landscape photography with Pentax K-30
44
fairly wide (24mm)
screen size is good (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Optical)
good resolution (16MP)
lack of manual focus
can't switch lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
missing Timelapse function
73
you can focus manually
interchangeable lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
screen size is good (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count good (16MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
environment proof
bad battery power (410 CIPA)
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic ZS35 as a Vlogging camera
Pentax K-30 as a Vlogging camera
34
fairly wide (24mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
comes with face detection focus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
lighter than average in class (305g)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
does not contain selfie friendly display
missing external microphone port
30
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
supports face detection focusing
great video quality (1920 x 1080 resolution)
display is not selfie friendly
lack of external microphone support
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Panasonic ZS35 vs Pentax K-30 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic ZS35 and Pentax K-30
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS35Pentax K-30
General Information
Manufacturer Panasonic Pentax
Model type Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS35 Pentax K-30
Also called Lumix DMC-TZ55 -
Type Small Sensor Superzoom Advanced DSLR
Released 2014-01-06 2012-10-29
Physical type Compact Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Chip - Prime M
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor measurements 6.08 x 4.56mm 23.7 x 15.7mm
Sensor area 27.7mm² 372.1mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixel 16 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2
Full resolution 4608 x 3456 4928 x 3264
Max native ISO 3200 12800
Max boosted ISO 6400 25600
Lowest native ISO 100 100
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
Continuous AF
AF single
AF tracking
Selective AF
AF center weighted
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Total focus points 21 11
Cross type focus points - 9
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens Pentax KAF2
Lens zoom range 24-480mm (20.0x) -
Highest aperture f/3.3-6.4 -
Macro focusing range 3cm -
Amount of lenses - 151
Focal length multiplier 5.9 1.5
Screen
Display type Tilting Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3" 3"
Resolution of display 460 thousand dots 921 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Display tech TFT LCD (180 degree tilt) with AR coating TFT LCD monitor with brightness/color adjustment and AR coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage - 100%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.61x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 4s 30s
Highest shutter speed 1/2000s 1/6000s
Continuous shooting rate 10.0fps 6.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 6.00 m 12.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash modes Auto, Auto/Red-eye Reduction, Forced On, Slow Sync./Red-eye Reduction, Forced Off Auto, On, Off, Red-eye,Slow Sync, Slow Sync+ Redeye, Trailing Curtain Sync, Wireless
Hot shoe
AEB
White balance bracketing
Highest flash synchronize - 1/180s
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30p), 1280 x 720 (30p), 640 x 480 (30p) 1920 x 1080 (30,25,24 fps), 1280 x 720 (60,50,30,25,24 fps), 640 x 424 (30,25,24 fps)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video format MPEG-4 MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None Optional
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 305 grams (0.67 pounds) 650 grams (1.43 pounds)
Dimensions 107 x 62 x 32mm (4.2" x 2.4" x 1.3") 130 x 97 x 71mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 2.8")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating not tested 79
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 23.7
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 13.0
DXO Low light rating not tested 1129
Other
Battery life - 410 photographs
Battery style - Battery Pack
Battery ID - D-LI109,4 x AA
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes ( 2 or 12 seconds)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots 1 1
Retail cost $300 $525