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Panasonic ZS7 vs Pentax K-30

Portability
91
Imaging
35
Features
33
Overall
34
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS7 front
 
Pentax K-30 front
Portability
63
Imaging
57
Features
66
Overall
60

Panasonic ZS7 vs Pentax K-30 Key Specs

Panasonic ZS7
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-300mm (F3.3-4.9) lens
  • 218g - 103 x 60 x 33mm
  • Launched July 2011
  • Alternate Name is Lumix DMC-TZ10
  • Updated by Panasonic ZS8
Pentax K-30
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 12800 (Boost to 25600)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/6000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 650g - 130 x 97 x 71mm
  • Introduced October 2012
  • Later Model is Pentax K-50
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Panasonic ZS7 vs Pentax K-30 Overview

Let's look closer at the Panasonic ZS7 versus Pentax K-30, former being a Small Sensor Superzoom while the other is a Advanced DSLR by companies Panasonic and Pentax. There is a noticeable difference among the sensor resolutions of the ZS7 (12MP) and K-30 (16MP) and the ZS7 (1/2.3") and K-30 (APS-C) posses different sensor size.

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The ZS7 was launched 15 months prior to the K-30 making them a generation apart from each other. Both of these cameras have different body design with the Panasonic ZS7 being a Compact camera and the Pentax K-30 being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before getting right into a step-by-step comparison, here is a short synopsis of how the ZS7 grades versus the K-30 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS7 over the Pentax K-30

 ZS7 K-30 

Reasons to pick Pentax K-30 over the Panasonic ZS7

 K-30 ZS7 
IntroducedOctober 2012July 2011More recent by 15 months
Manual focus Very accurate focusing
Display resolution921k460kSharper display (+461k dot)

Common features in the Panasonic ZS7 and Pentax K-30

 ZS7 K-30 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display dimensions3"3"Equal display size
Selfie screen Neither provides selfie screen
Touch display Neither provides Touch display

Panasonic ZS7 vs Pentax K-30 Physical Comparison

In case you're aiming to lug around your camera often, you will have to think about its weight and measurements. The Panasonic ZS7 provides outside dimensions of 103mm x 60mm x 33mm (4.1" x 2.4" x 1.3") and a weight of 218 grams (0.48 lbs) while the Pentax K-30 has proportions of 130mm x 97mm x 71mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 2.8") accompanied by a weight of 650 grams (1.43 lbs).

See the Panasonic ZS7 versus Pentax K-30 in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an ILC will vary dependant on the lens you are utilizing during that time. Below is a front view sizing comparison of the ZS7 against the K-30.

Panasonic ZS7 vs Pentax K-30 size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability rating of the ZS7 and K-30 is 91 and 63 respectively.

Panasonic ZS7 vs Pentax K-30 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic ZS7 vs Pentax K-30 Sensor Comparison

In many cases, it is very difficult to imagine the gap in sensor measurements just by going through technical specs. The graphic underneath may offer you a greater sense of the sensor sizes in the ZS7 and K-30.

As you have seen, both of those cameras have different megapixel count and different sensor measurements. The ZS7 due to its smaller sensor is going to make achieving shallow depth of field trickier and the Pentax K-30 will show extra detail utilizing its extra 4MP. Greater resolution will make it easier to crop pics a bit more aggressively. The older ZS7 will be disadvantaged in sensor innovation.

Panasonic ZS7 vs Pentax K-30 sensor size comparison

Panasonic ZS7 vs Pentax K-30 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic ZS7 vs Pentax K-30 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic ZS7 as a Portrait photography camera
Pentax K-30 as a Portrait photography camera
21
focusing manually not possible
external flash not possible
low MP (12MP)
small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
74
you can focus manually
MP count good (16 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
has face detection focusing
saves RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Panasonic ZS7 as a Street photography camera
Pentax K-30 as a Street photography camera
60
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition in class (218 grams)
no articulating screen
small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
68
image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
environment sealing
no moving screen
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Panasonic ZS7
Sports photography with Pentax K-30
27
image stabilization (Optical)
painfully slow continuous shooting (2.0 frames per second)
low MP (12 megapixels)
small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect autofocus
67
max shutter speed is good (1/6,000s)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count good (16 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
has tracking autofocus
environment sealing
comes with phase detect AF
very slow continuous shooting (6.0 frames per second)
terrible battery (410 CIPA)
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic ZS7 Travel photography features
Pentax K-30 Travel photography features
63
lighter than competition in class (218 grams)
flash built-in
fairly wide (25mm)
very long zoom (300mm)
does not have Time Lapse mode
low MP (12MP)
display isn't selfie friendly
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
60
environment sealing
MP count good (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
terrible battery (410 CIPA)
display is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic ZS7 as a Landscape photography camera
Pentax K-30 as a Landscape photography camera
38
fairly wide (25mm)
nice screen size (3 inches)
image stabilization (Optical)
focusing manually not possible
cannot change lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
low MP (12MP)
small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
does not have Time Lapse mode
73
you can focus manually
switch lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
screen size is good (3 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count good (16MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
environment sealing
terrible battery (410 shots)
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic ZS7 Vlogging details
Pentax K-30 Vlogging details
30
fairly wide (25mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition in class (218 grams)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
display isn't selfie friendly
video quality not great (1280 x 720 pixels)
does not have mic socket
30
image stabilization (Sensor based)
has face detection focusing
great video quality (1920 x 1080 pxls)
display is not selfie friendly
no external mic jack
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Panasonic ZS7 vs Pentax K-30 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic ZS7 and Pentax K-30
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS7Pentax K-30
General Information
Make Panasonic Pentax
Model type Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS7 Pentax K-30
Also called Lumix DMC-TZ10 -
Category Small Sensor Superzoom Advanced DSLR
Launched 2011-07-19 2012-10-29
Body design Compact Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Powered by Venus Engine HD II Prime M
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor dimensions 6.08 x 4.56mm 23.7 x 15.7mm
Sensor surface area 27.7mm² 372.1mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixel 16 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2
Highest resolution 4000 x 3000 4928 x 3264
Highest native ISO 6400 12800
Highest boosted ISO - 25600
Min native ISO 80 100
RAW images
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch to focus
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Total focus points 11 11
Cross type focus points - 9
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens Pentax KAF2
Lens zoom range 25-300mm (12.0x) -
Largest aperture f/3.3-4.9 -
Macro focusing range 3cm -
Number of lenses - 151
Focal length multiplier 5.9 1.5
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display size 3 inch 3 inch
Resolution of display 460 thousand dot 921 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Display technology - 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
Slowest shutter speed 60 seconds 30 seconds
Maximum shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/6000 seconds
Continuous shooting speed 2.0 frames/s 6.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 5.30 m 12.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro Auto, On, Off, Red-eye,Slow Sync, Slow Sync+ Redeye, Trailing Curtain Sync, Wireless
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash sync - 1/180 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (30,25,24 fps), 1280 x 720 (60,50,30,25,24 fps), 640 x 424 (30,25,24 fps)
Highest video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video data format AVCHD Lite MPEG-4, H.264
Mic input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS BuiltIn Optional
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 218 grams (0.48 lb) 650 grams (1.43 lb)
Physical dimensions 103 x 60 x 33mm (4.1" 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 photos
Battery format - Battery Pack
Battery ID - D-LI109,4 x AA
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes ( 2 or 12 seconds)
Time lapse shooting
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots Single Single
Retail cost $350 $525