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Panasonic ZS50 vs Pentax K-30

Portability
90
Imaging
37
Features
57
Overall
45
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS50 front
 
Pentax K-30 front
Portability
63
Imaging
57
Features
66
Overall
60

Panasonic ZS50 vs Pentax K-30 Key Specs

Panasonic ZS50
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-720mm (F3.3-6.4) lens
  • 243g - 111 x 65 x 34mm
  • Revealed January 2015
  • Other Name is Lumix DMC-TZ70
  • Earlier Model is Panasonic ZS45
  • Replacement is Panasonic ZS60
Pentax K-30
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 12800 (Bump to 25600)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/6000s Max Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 650g - 130 x 97 x 71mm
  • Announced October 2012
  • Later Model is Pentax K-50
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Panasonic ZS50 vs Pentax K-30 Overview

Let's examine more in depth at the Panasonic ZS50 versus Pentax K-30, one is a Small Sensor Superzoom and the latter is a Advanced DSLR by manufacturers Panasonic and Pentax. There exists a huge gap among the image resolutions of the ZS50 (12MP) and K-30 (16MP) and the ZS50 (1/2.3") and K-30 (APS-C) come with different sensor sizes.

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The ZS50 was unveiled 2 years after the K-30 which is a fairly significant gap as far as camera technology is concerned. Both the cameras come with different body type with the Panasonic ZS50 being a Compact camera and the Pentax K-30 being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before diving in to a complete comparison, below is a short summation of how the ZS50 grades versus the K-30 for portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS50 over the Pentax K-30

 ZS50 K-30 
AnnouncedJanuary 2015October 2012Newer by 27 months
Screen resolution1040k921kCrisper screen (+119k dot)

Reasons to pick Pentax K-30 over the Panasonic ZS50

 K-30 ZS50 

Common features in the Panasonic ZS50 and Pentax K-30

 ZS50 K-30 
Manual focus More accurate focus
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen dimension3"3"Identical screen dimensions
Selfie screen Lacking selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Neither comes with Touch friendly screen

Panasonic ZS50 vs Pentax K-30 Physical Comparison

If you're planning to travel with your camera frequently, you should think about its weight and volume. The Panasonic ZS50 comes with outside measurements of 111mm x 65mm x 34mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.3") along with a weight of 243 grams (0.54 lbs) while the Pentax K-30 has sizing of 130mm x 97mm x 71mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 2.8") along with a weight of 650 grams (1.43 lbs).

Check the Panasonic ZS50 versus Pentax K-30 in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ based on the lens you are using at that moment. Here is the front view size comparison of the ZS50 vs the K-30.

Panasonic ZS50 vs Pentax K-30 size comparison

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the ZS50 and K-30 is 90 and 63 respectively.

Panasonic ZS50 vs Pentax K-30 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic ZS50 vs Pentax K-30 Sensor Comparison

Typically, it is very difficult to picture the contrast in sensor dimensions just by checking out specs. The picture below might offer you a much better sense of the sensor measurements in the ZS50 and K-30.

All in all, both of these cameras have got different resolutions and different sensor dimensions. The ZS50 having a smaller sensor is going to make achieving shallower depth of field harder and the Pentax K-30 will provide extra detail having an extra 4MP. Higher resolution will also help you crop photographs much more aggressively. The fresher ZS50 provides an advantage with regard to sensor innovation.

Panasonic ZS50 vs Pentax K-30 sensor size comparison

Panasonic ZS50 vs Pentax K-30 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic ZS50 vs Pentax K-30 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic ZS50 Portrait photography information
Pentax K-30 Portrait photography information
42
you can focus manually
has face detection focus
exports RAW files
no external flash support
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
74
you can focus manually
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
offers face detection focusing
saves RAW formats
Photography Glossary

Street Comparison

Panasonic ZS50 Street photography advice
Pentax K-30 Street photography advice
68
built in image stabilization (Optical)
exports RAW files
lighter than competition in class (243 grams)
screen does not articulate
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
68
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
weather proofing
fixed screen
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic ZS50 Sports photography factors
Pentax K-30 Sports photography factors
43
great zoom range (24-720mm 30.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
has tracking autofocus
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
has no phase detect auto focus
67
high shutter speed (1/6,000s)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count decent (16MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
offers tracking autofocus
weather proofing
sensor has phase detect AF
painfully slow continuous shooting (6.0 frames/s)
low battery (410 per charge)
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic ZS50 Travel photography details
Pentax K-30 Travel photography details
66
lighter than competition in class (243g)
has built in flash
quite wide (24mm)
great zoom (720mm)
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
display isn't selfie friendly
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
60
weather proofing
MP count decent (16MP)
has built in flash
low battery (410 per charge)
doesn't posses selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic ZS50 Landscape photography advice
Pentax K-30 Landscape photography advice
51
you can focus manually
quite wide (24mm)
good sized screen (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
exports RAW files
cannot swap lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
73
you can focus manually
swap lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
decent sized screen (3 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
weather proofing
low battery (410 per charge)
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic ZS50 Vlogging details
Pentax K-30 Vlogging details
34
quite wide (24mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
has face detection focus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
lighter than competition in class (243g)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
display isn't selfie friendly
doesn't have external microphone socket
30
image stabilization (Sensor based)
offers face detection focusing
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
doesn't posses selfie friendly screen
no external mic socket
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Panasonic ZS50 vs Pentax K-30 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic ZS50 and Pentax K-30
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS50Pentax K-30
General Information
Brand Panasonic Pentax
Model type Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS50 Pentax K-30
Otherwise known as Lumix DMC-TZ70 -
Type Small Sensor Superzoom Advanced DSLR
Revealed 2015-01-06 2012-10-29
Physical type Compact Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Powered by - Prime M
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 23.7 x 15.7mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 372.1mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixel 16 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2
Maximum resolution 4000 x 3000 4928 x 3264
Maximum native ISO 6400 12800
Maximum boosted ISO - 25600
Lowest native ISO 80 100
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
Continuous AF
AF single
Tracking AF
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Total focus points 23 11
Cross type focus points - 9
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens Pentax KAF2
Lens zoom range 24-720mm (30.0x) -
Largest aperture f/3.3-6.4 -
Macro focusing range 3cm -
Number of lenses - 151
Crop factor 5.8 1.5
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen sizing 3 inch 3 inch
Screen resolution 1,040 thousand dots 921 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Screen technology - TFT LCD monitor with brightness/color adjustment and AR coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder resolution 1,166 thousand dots -
Viewfinder coverage 100% 100%
Viewfinder magnification 0.46x 0.61x
Features
Slowest shutter speed 4s 30s
Maximum shutter speed 1/2000s 1/6000s
Continuous shooting rate 10.0 frames per sec 6.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 6.40 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
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash synchronize - 1/180s
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60p/60i/30p), 1280 x 720 (60p/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, AVCHD MPEG-4, H.264
Mic port
Headphone port
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 sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 243g (0.54 lb) 650g (1.43 lb)
Dimensions 111 x 65 x 34mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.3") 130 x 97 x 71mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 2.8")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 44 79
DXO Color Depth rating 20.0 23.7
DXO Dynamic range rating 11.2 13.0
DXO Low light rating 138 1129
Other
Battery life 300 shots 410 shots
Type of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID - D-LI109,4 x AA
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes ( 2 or 12 seconds)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots Single Single
Cost at launch $350 $525