CameraDecision
  • CAMERAS
  • LENSES
  • TOOLS
    • Smart Find
    • 1-on-1 Comparison
    • Size Comparison
  • BRANDS
    • Sony Cameras
    • Canon Cameras
    • Nikon Cameras
    • Pentax Cameras
    • Fujifilm Cameras
    • Olympus Cameras
    • Panasonic Cameras
    • Leica Cameras
    • Samsung Cameras
  • BODY TYPE
    • Mirrorless Cameras
    • DSLR Cameras
    • Compact Cameras
    • Bridge Cameras
    • Waterproof Cameras

Canon SX30 IS vs Panasonic LZ30 Comparison

x
Camera to replace
Change

Canon SX30 IS

14 MP | 1/2.3" (6.17 x 4.55 mm) CCD Sensor

Canon SX30 IS
CHECK PRICE
CHECK PRICE
Change

Panasonic LZ30

16 MP | 1/2.3" (6.17 x 4.55 mm) CCD Sensor

Panasonic LZ30
CHECK PRICE
CHECK PRICE
Canon SX30 IS vs Panasonic LZ30 Comparison Overview

In this review, we will be comparing SX30 IS and LZ30, two Small Sensor Superzoom cameras from Canon and Panasonic. Both cameras have 1/2.3-inch sensors but Canon SX30 IS has a 14.0 MP and Panasonic LZ30 has a 16.0 MP resolution. Canon SX30 IS was introduced to market in September 2010 and Panasonic LZ30 was launched in January 2013. As you can see, SX30 IS is 3 years older than LZ30. Let's see if this age difference between two cameras makes a big difference.

Here is a brief look at the main features of Canon SX30 IS and Panasonic LZ30 before getting into our more detailed comparison.

Canon SX30 IS Key Specs

  • Announcement Date: 2010-09-14
  • 14MP - 1/2.3-inch CCD Sensor
  • ISO 80 - 1600
  • 24-840 mm F2.7-5.8 Zoom Lens
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 2.7" Fully Articulated Screen
  • Electronic viewfinder
  • 1 fps continuous shooting
  • HD - 1280 x 720 video resolution
  • 601g. 123 x 92 x 108 mm
  • Replaced Canon PowerShot SX20 IS Compare

Panasonic LZ30 Key Specs

  • Announcement Date: 2013-01-07
  • 16MP - 1/2.3-inch CCD Sensor
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • 25-875 mm F3.0-5.9 Zoom Lens
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 3" Fixed Type Screen
  • 1 fps continuous shooting
  • HD - 1280 x 720 video resolution
  • 552g. 124 x 84 x 92 mm
  • Replaced Panasonic Lumix DMC-LZ20 Compare

Canon SX30 IS was replaced by Canon PowerShot SX40 HS. You may also be interested in these comparisons:
Canon PowerShot SX40 HS vs Canon PowerShot SX30 IS
Canon PowerShot SX40 HS vs Panasonic Lumix DMC-LZ30

Panasonic LZ30 was replaced by Panasonic Lumix DMC-LZ40. You may also be interested in these comparisons:
Panasonic Lumix DMC-LZ40 vs Panasonic Lumix DMC-LZ30
Panasonic Lumix DMC-LZ40 vs Canon PowerShot SX30 IS

Let's read on the following sections in order to better understand in detail how Canon SX30 IS and Panasonic LZ30 compares and hopefully end up with enough arguments to decide which one is better for you.

Reasons to choose Canon PowerShot SX30 IS over Panasonic Lumix DMC-LZ30
LCD Screen
Fully Articulated vs Fixed Type Flexible shooting positions
External Flash Shoe
Yes vs No Better for flash photography
Viewfinder
Electronic vs None Better framing and control
Max Mech. Shutter
1/3200s vs 1/2000s faster mechanical shutter
Focal Length - Wide
24mm vs 25mm 1 mm wider coverage
Max Aperture - Wide
2.70 vs 3.00 faster lens at wide
Max Aperture - Tele
5.80 vs 5.90 faster lens at tele
Flash Coverage
6.8m vs 4.4m 2.4m longer range
Sensor Pixel Area
2.01µm2 vs 1.76µm2 14% larger pixel area
Selfie & Vlogger Friendly LCD
Yes vs No Rotate LCD for taking Selfies


Reasons to choose Panasonic Lumix DMC-LZ30 over Canon PowerShot SX30 IS
Max Sensor Resolution
16 MP vs 14 MP 14% more pixels
Max ISO
6.400 vs 1.600 300% higher Max ISO
LCD Screen Size
3" vs 2.7" 0.3 inches larger display
LCD Screen Resolution
460k dots vs 230k dots 100% higher resolution screen
Weight
552 g vs 601 g 49 g lighter
Focal Length - Tele
875mm vs 840mm 35 mm longer tele reach

Common Strengths of Canon PowerShot SX30 IS and Panasonic Lumix DMC-LZ30
Image Stabilization
Optical vs Optical Sharper images at longer focal lengths and long exposures
Built-in Flash
Yes vs Yes Useful in low-light
Manual Exposure
Yes vs Yes better exposure control
Focal Length - Tele
840mm vs 875mm Very good Telezoom
Common Weaknesses of Canon PowerShot SX30 IS and Panasonic Lumix DMC-LZ30
RAW Support
No vs No Lower image quality
LCD Screen Resolution
230k dots vs 460k dots Low resolution screens
Continuous Shooting
1.0fps vs 1.0fps Slow shooting speeds
Environmental Sealing
No vs No not suitable for tough conditions
Max Aperture - Tele
5.80 vs 5.90 Slow lenses at tele
Canon SX30 IS vs Panasonic LZ30: Physical Specs and Body features Comparison

Size and weight is a big decision factor when you are trying to find the ideal camera for your needs. In this section, We are going to illustrate Canon SX30 IS and Panasonic LZ30 side-by-side from the front, back and top in their relative dimensions. Canon SX30 IS has external dimensions of 123 x 92 x 108 mm (4.84 x 3.62 x 4.25″) and weighs 601 g (1.32 lb / 21.20 oz) (including batteries). Panasonic LZ30 has external dimensions of 124 x 84 x 92 mm (4.88 x 3.31 x 3.62″) and weighs 552 g (1.22 lb / 19.47 oz) (including batteries).

Below you can see the front view size comparison of Canon SX30 IS and Panasonic LZ30. Panasonic LZ30 is 8mm shorter and 16mm thinner than Canon SX30 IS but it is also 1mm wider.

Canon SX30 IS vs Panasonic LZ30 Camera Size Comparison - Front View
Comparison image of Canon SX30 IS and Panasonic LZ30 Size, Weight and External Dimensions - Front View

Weight is another important factor especially when deciding on a camera that you want to carry with you all day. Panasonic LZ30 is 49g lighter than the Canon SX30 IS but we don't think this will make a significant difference.

Weight Comparison

Bridge Cameras

SX30 IS
LZ30
Min
Average
Max
Thickness Comparison

Bridge Cameras

SX30 IS
LZ30
Min
Average
Max

Weather Sealing

Unfortunately neither Canon PowerShot SX30 IS nor Panasonic Lumix DMC-LZ30 provides any type of weather sealing in their body, so you have to give extra care especially when you are shooting outdoors. If weather sealing is a must-have feature for you, check these sections:
Top Bridge Cameras with Weather Sealing

LCD Screen Size and Features

Panasonic LZ30's 3" LCD screen is slightly larger than Canon SX30 IS's 2.7" screen.

On the other hand, Canon SX30 IS sports a Fully Articulated screen which you can change the angle and position of the screen almost freely, making it possible to shoot from waist or over the head levels, and especially very useful for shooting selfies and video. On the other hand, Panasonic LZ30 has a fixed type screen which provides almost no flexibility in shooting positions compared to SX30 IS.
Canon SX30 IS vs Panasonic LZ30: Sensor Comparison

Canon SX30 IS has a 14.0MP 1/2.3-inch (6.17 x 4.55 mm ) sized CCD sensor and features Digic 4 processor. On the other hand, Panasonic LZ30 has a 16.0MP 1/2.3-inch (6.17 x 4.55 mm ) sized CCD sensor .

Below you can see the SX30 IS and LZ30 sensor size comparison.

Canon SX30 IS vs Panasonic LZ30 Sensor Size Comparison
Sensor Size and Resolution Comparison image of Canon SX30 IS and Panasonic LZ30 Cameras


Canon SX30 IS and Panasonic LZ30 have sensor sizes so they will provide same level of control over the depth of field when used with same focal length and aperture. On the other hand, since Canon SX30 IS has 14% larger pixel area compared to Panasonic LZ30, it has potential to collect more light on pixel level hence have less noise in low light / High ISO images.

Canon SX30 IS vs Panasonic LZ30 Lens Specs Comparison

Canon SX30 IS features a 24-840 mm F2.7-5.8 35× zoom lens whereas Panasonic LZ30 features a 25-875 mm F3.0-5.9 35× zoom lens.

Canon SX30 IS has 1mm wider coverage than the Panasonic LZ30. At f2.70, it is also faster at widest end. On the tele end, Panasonic LZ30 has 35mm longer telezoom reach than the Canon SX30 IS. However, with a max aperture of f5.80, Canon SX30 IS is faster at widest end.

Wide Coverage

DSLR-Like Cameras

SX30 IS
LZ30
Widest - Samsung WB2200F
Average
Telezoom

DSLR-Like Cameras

SX30 IS
LZ30
Longest - Nikon P1000
Average
Max Aperture at Tele

DSLR-Like Cameras

SX30 IS
LZ30
Fastest - Olympus 1
Average
Max Aperture at Wide

DSLR-Like Cameras

SX30 IS
LZ30
Fastest - Sony RX10 III
Average
What types of Photography are Canon SX30 IS and Panasonic LZ30 Good for?
In this section, we rank and compare Canon SX30 IS and Panasonic LZ30 for five different photography types in order to make your decision process easier in case you are specifically interested in one or more of these areas.

Canon SX30 IS for Portrait Photography

AVERAGE

Panasonic LZ30 for Portrait Photography

POOR
Image Stabilization
External Flash Shoe
Electronic Built-in Viewfinder
Manual Focus Mode
Manual Exposure Mode
Average Resolution Sensor: 14.0MP
Average Ergonomics&Handling
Small 1/2.3" (6.17 x 4.55 mm) sensor
No RAW shooting capability
Read the details
Image Stabilization
Manual Exposure Mode
Average Resolution Sensor: 16.0MP
Average Ergonomics&Handling
Small 1/2.3" (6.17 x 4.55 mm) sensor
No RAW shooting capability
No External Flash Shoe
No Built-in Viewfinder
No Manual Focus Mode
Read the details

Canon SX30 IS for Street Photography

GOOD

Panasonic LZ30 for Street Photography

AVERAGE
Image Stabilization
Electronic Built-in Viewfinder
Manual Focus Mode
Live-view
Fully Articulated LCD Screen
Fast Lens at Wide: f2.70
24 mm - Good Wide Angle Coverage
Medium sized Body
Small 1/2.3" (6.17 x 4.55 mm) sensor
No RAW shooting capability
Read the details
Image Stabilization
Live-view
25 mm - Good Wide Angle Coverage
Medium sized Body
Small 1/2.3" (6.17 x 4.55 mm) sensor
No RAW shooting capability
No Built-in Viewfinder
No Manual Focus Mode
Read the details

Canon SX30 IS for Sports Photography

AVERAGE

Panasonic LZ30 for Sports Photography

POOR
Image Stabilization
External Flash Shoe
Electronic Built-in Viewfinder
Manual Focus Mode
Manual Exposure Mode
840 mm Tele Lens
Average Ergonomics&Handling
Average Max shutter speed: 1/3200s
No RAW shooting capability
Slow Continuous Shooting: 1.0fps
Environmental Sealings
9 Focus Points
Slow Lens at Tele: f5.80
Read the details
Image Stabilization
Manual Exposure Mode
875 mm Tele Lens
Average Ergonomics&Handling
Average Max shutter speed: 1/2000s
No RAW shooting capability
No External Flash Shoe
No Built-in Viewfinder
No Manual Focus Mode
Slow Continuous Shooting: 1.0fps
Environmental Sealings
Unknown Focus Points
Slow Lens at Tele: f5.90
Read the details

Canon SX30 IS for Daily Photography

AVERAGE

Panasonic LZ30 for Daily Photography

AVERAGE
35.0X Optical Zoom
Medium size Body
Small 1/2.3" (6.17 x 4.55 mm) sensor
No RAW shooting capability
601g
Body Thickness 108mm
Read the details
35.0X Optical Zoom
Medium size Body
Small 1/2.3" (6.17 x 4.55 mm) sensor
No RAW shooting capability
552g
Body Thickness 92mm
Read the details

Canon SX30 IS for Landscape Photography

POOR

Panasonic LZ30 for Landscape Photography

POOR
Manual Focus Mode
Manual Exposure Mode
24 mm - Good Wide Angle Coverage
Average Resolution Sensor: 14.0MP
Small 1/2.3" (6.17 x 4.55 mm) sensor
No RAW shooting capability
No Environmental Sealings
Read the details
Manual Exposure Mode
25 mm - Good Wide Angle Coverage
Average Resolution Sensor: 16.0MP
Small 1/2.3" (6.17 x 4.55 mm) sensor
No RAW shooting capability
No Manual Focus Mode
No Environmental Sealings
Read the details

Canon SX30 IS vs Panasonic LZ30: OUR DECISION

You may have already made your decision about which camera suits better for your needs and your budget so far but in case you wonder how we rated Canon SX30 IS and Panasonic LZ30, below you can find their scores in five different aspects. Our Decision Algorithm dynamically scores cameras using 63 different specs, current price and DxO Mark scores (where possible) in order to make a more objective and consistent comparison.

Here is a summary of how Canon SX30 IS and Panasonic LZ30 scores compare:

Canon SX30 IS
Imaging
Features
Value
Portability
Overall
Ranked #69 out of 113 in SLR-like (bridge) cameras
Ranked #629 out of 1223 in all Cameras
Panasonic LZ30
Imaging
Features
Value
Portability
Overall
Ranked #110 out of 113 in SLR-like (bridge) cameras
Ranked #1013 out of 1223 in all Cameras

Canon SX30 IS has a higher Overall Score than the Panasonic LZ30 and would be our choice if we have to decide between these two cameras.

Canon SX30 IS
Canon SX30 IS
CHECK PRICE

CHECK PRICE

Panasonic LZ30
Panasonic LZ30
CHECK PRICE

CHECK PRICE

Panasonic LZ30 vs Canon SX30 IS Specs Table
Detailed comparison of specifications
General Canon PowerShot SX30 IS Panasonic Lumix DMC-LZ30
Brand Canon Panasonic
Announced 2010-09-14 2013-01-07
Body Type SLR-like (bridge) SLR-like (bridge)
Sensor
Type CCD CCD
Size 1/2.3-inch 1/2.3-inch
Dimensions 6.17 x 4.55 mm 6.17 x 4.55 mm
Area 28.07mm2 28.07mm2
Megapixels 14 megapixels 16 megapixels
Max Resolution 4320 x 3240 4608 x 3456
Max Native Light sensitivity 1,600 ISO 6,400 ISO
Min Native Light sensitivity 80 ISO 100 ISO
RAW Support
Autofocus
AF Touch
AF Continuous
AF Single
AF Tracking
AF Selective
AF Center
AF Multi Area
AF Live View
AF Face Detection
AF Contrast Detection
AF Phase Detection
Number of Focus Points 9 n/a
Lens
Manual Focus
Lens Mount fixed lens fixed lens
Lens Focal Range 24-840 mm (35×) 25-875 mm (35×)
Max Aperture F2.7-5.8 F3.0-5.9
Macro Focus Range 0cm 1cm
Screen
Type Fully Articulated Fixed type
Size 2.7" 3"
Resolution 230k dots 460k dots
Touch Screen
Viewfinder
Viewfinder Electronic None
Photography Features
Max Mechanical Shutter 1/3200s 1/2000s
Shutter Priority
Aperture Priority
Manual Exposure Mode
Custom White Balance
Image Stabilization Optical Optical
Built-in Flash
Flash Range 6.80 m 4.40 m
External Flash
Continuous Shooting 1.0 fps 1.0 fps
Multi-Segment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF-Area
Center Weighted
AE Bracketing
WB Bracketing
Video Features
Max Video Resolution 1280 x 720 1280 x 720
Video Formats Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
Microphone Port
Headphone Port
Connectivity
Wireless Connectivity Eye-Fi Connected None
HDMI
Physical
Environmental Sealing
Weight 601g 552g
Dimensions 123 x 92 x 108mm 124 x 84 x 92mm
Battery Life n/a 380 shots
Other Features
Timelapse Recording
GPS None None
DxO Sensor Scores
Report a correction Report a correction


FOLLOW US


Most Popular Cameras
Nikon Z7
46 MP | Full frame Sensor | Nikon Z Mount
Sony A6000
24 MP | APS-C Sensor | Sony E Mount
Sony A7 III
24 MP | Full frame Sensor | Sony E Mount
Fujifilm X-T3
26 MP | APS-C Sensor | Fujifilm X Mount
Canon R
30 MP | Full frame Sensor | Canon RF Mount
Sony A6400
24 MP | APS-C Sensor | Sony E Mount
Nikon D5600
24 MP | APS-C Sensor | Nikon F Mount
Nikon D850
46 MP | Full frame Sensor | Nikon F Mount
Top Rated Bridge Cameras
Top Cameras Under $200
Top Bridge Cameras Under $500
Top Bridge Cameras Under $750
Top Bridge Cameras Under $1000
Latest Cameras
Fujifilm GFX 100S
102 MP | Medium format Sensor | Fujifilm G Mount
Fujifilm X-E4
26 MP | APS-C Sensor | Fujifilm X Mount
Sony a1
50 MP | Full frame Sensor | Sony E Mount
Leica SL2-S
24 MP | Full frame Sensor | Leica L Mount
Leica Q2 Monochrom
47 MP | Full frame Sensor | 28 mm
Fujifilm X-S10
26 MP | APS-C Sensor | Fujifilm X Mount
Nikon Z7 II
46 MP | Full frame Sensor | Nikon Z Mount
Nikon Z6 II
25 MP | Full frame Sensor | Nikon Z Mount
Copyright © 2021 by CameraDecision
About Feedback Privacy Cameras

Report a Correction