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Panasonic ZS45 vs Pentax K-30

Portability
91
Imaging
40
Features
55
Overall
46
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS45 front
 
Pentax K-30 front
Portability
63
Imaging
57
Features
66
Overall
60

Panasonic ZS45 vs Pentax K-30 Key Specs

Panasonic ZS45
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-480mm (F3.3-6.4) lens
  • 249g - 108 x 60 x 32mm
  • Launched January 2015
  • Also referred to as Lumix DMC-TZ57
  • Previous Model is Panasonic ZS40
  • Refreshed by Panasonic ZS50
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
  • Updated by Pentax K-50
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Panasonic ZS45 vs Pentax K-30 Overview

In this article, we will be analyzing the Panasonic ZS45 versus Pentax K-30, former is a Small Sensor Superzoom while the latter is a Advanced DSLR by rivals Panasonic and Pentax. The sensor resolution of the ZS45 (16MP) and the K-30 (16MP) is relatively comparable but the ZS45 (1/2.3") and K-30 (APS-C) come with different sensor measurements.

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The ZS45 was manufactured 2 years after the K-30 which is a fairly serious difference as far as camera tech is concerned. The two cameras offer different body type with the Panasonic ZS45 being a Compact camera and the Pentax K-30 being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before delving straight into a comprehensive comparison, below is a brief synopsis of how the ZS45 scores versus the K-30 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS45 over the Pentax K-30

 ZS45 K-30 
ReleasedJanuary 2015October 2012Newer by 27 months
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen resolution1040k921kCrisper screen (+119k dot)

Reasons to pick Pentax K-30 over the Panasonic ZS45

 K-30 ZS45 
Focus manually Dial precise focusing

Common features in the Panasonic ZS45 and Pentax K-30

 ZS45 K-30 
Screen sizing3"3"Equivalent screen measurements
Selfie screen Neither includes selfie screen
Touch screen Lacking Touch screen

Panasonic ZS45 vs Pentax K-30 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is aiming to travel with your camera frequently, you are going to need to think about its weight and size. The Panasonic ZS45 features external dimensions of 108mm x 60mm x 32mm (4.3" x 2.4" x 1.3") along with a weight of 249 grams (0.55 lbs) whilst the Pentax K-30 has specifications of 130mm x 97mm x 71mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 2.8") with a weight of 650 grams (1.43 lbs).

Check the Panasonic ZS45 versus Pentax K-30 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an ILC will differ depending on the lens you choose during that time. Following is the front view measurements comparison of the ZS45 and the K-30.

Panasonic ZS45 vs Pentax K-30 size comparison

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability score of the ZS45 and K-30 is 91 and 63 respectively.

Panasonic ZS45 vs Pentax K-30 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic ZS45 vs Pentax K-30 Sensor Comparison

In many cases, it can be difficult to picture the difference in sensor dimensions simply by going through specifications. The picture below will help give you a stronger sense of the sensor sizes in the ZS45 and K-30.

Plainly, each of the cameras enjoy the same exact resolution albeit different sensor dimensions. The ZS45 uses the smaller sensor which should make obtaining shallower depth of field trickier. The fresher ZS45 provides an edge in sensor technology.

Panasonic ZS45 vs Pentax K-30 sensor size comparison

Panasonic ZS45 vs Pentax K-30 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic ZS45 vs Pentax K-30 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic ZS45 Portrait photography highlights
Pentax K-30 Portrait photography highlights
37
megapixel count good (16MP)
provides face detection autofocus
no manual focus
cannot use external flash
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
74
manual focus
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
has face detect autofocus
supports RAW files
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Street Comparison

Panasonic ZS45 Street photography features
Pentax K-30 Street photography features
69
screen tilts
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competitors (249 grams)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
68
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
supports RAW files
weather proofing
no moving screen
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic ZS45 as a Sports photography camera
Pentax K-30 as a Sports photography camera
55
long zoom range (24-480mm 20.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count good (16MP)
provides tracking autofocus
good battery power (350 per charge)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect autofocus
67
maximum shutter speed is high (1/6,000 seconds)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
has tracking focus
weather proofing
sensor has phase detect autofocus
slow frames per second (6.0 frames per second)
not so great battery pack (410 per charge)
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic ZS45 Travel photography advice
Pentax K-30 Travel photography advice
71
good battery power (350 shots)
lighter than competitors (249g)
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
relatively wide (24mm)
long reach (480mm)
no Timelapse function
doesn't have selfie friendly display
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
60
weather proofing
megapixel count good (16MP)
has built in flash
not so great battery pack (410 shots)
does not contain selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic ZS45 as a Landscape photography camera
Pentax K-30 as a Landscape photography camera
47
relatively wide (24mm)
pretty good screen size (3")
image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
good battery power (350 per charge)
no manual focus
can't change lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
no Timelapse function
73
manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
good sized screen (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
supports RAW files
weather proofing
not so great battery pack (410 shots)
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic ZS45 Vlogging details
Pentax K-30 Vlogging details
34
relatively wide (24mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
provides face detection autofocus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
lighter than competitors (249g)
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
doesn't have selfie friendly display
no external microphone port
30
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
has face detect autofocus
high res video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
does not contain selfie friendly display
missing microphone port
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Panasonic ZS45 vs Pentax K-30 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic ZS45 and Pentax K-30
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS45Pentax K-30
General Information
Make Panasonic Pentax
Model Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS45 Pentax K-30
Also called as Lumix DMC-TZ57 -
Class Small Sensor Superzoom Advanced DSLR
Launched 2015-01-06 2012-10-29
Body design Compact Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Processor - 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 surface area 27.7mm² 372.1mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2
Highest Possible resolution 4608 x 3456 4928 x 3264
Maximum native ISO 6400 12800
Maximum enhanced ISO - 25600
Lowest native ISO 100 100
RAW images
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
AF continuous
Single AF
Tracking AF
AF selectice
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Number of focus points 21 11
Cross focus points - 9
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens Pentax KAF2
Lens focal range 24-480mm (20.0x) -
Maximum aperture f/3.3-6.4 -
Macro focus distance 3cm -
Available lenses - 151
Crop factor 5.9 1.5
Screen
Display type Tilting Fixed Type
Display sizing 3" 3"
Resolution of display 1,040 thousand dot 921 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Display tech - TFT LCD monitor with brightness/color adjustment and AR coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage - 100%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.61x
Features
Min shutter speed 4s 30s
Max shutter speed 1/2000s 1/6000s
Continuous shutter speed 10.0fps 6.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 6.00 m 12.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash settings 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
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Max flash sync - 1/180s
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
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)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video format MPEG-4 MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
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
Environment seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 249 grams (0.55 pounds) 650 grams (1.43 pounds)
Dimensions 108 x 60 x 32mm (4.3" x 2.4" x 1.3") 130 x 97 x 71mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 2.8")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score not tested 79
DXO Color Depth score not tested 23.7
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 13.0
DXO Low light score not tested 1129
Other
Battery life 350 photos 410 photos
Style of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model - 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
Storage slots 1 1
Price at release $300 $525