Panasonic Lumix DMC-TS30 Review

Main Features

16MP - 1/2.33 CCD Sensor

ISO 100 - 1600( expands to 6400)

25-100 mm F3.9-5.7 Zoom Lens

Optical Image Stabilization

2.7″ Fixed Type Screen

1.3 fps continuous shooting

1280 x 720 video resolution

142g. 104 x 58 x 20 mm

Weather Sealed Body

Also known as Lumix DMC-FT30

$137.99
23%
off

BUY from B&H PHOTO

Select a Camera to Compare

Add a Camera for comparison

Panasonic TS30 Overview

First introduced in January 2015 , Panasonic Lumix DMC-TS30 is a 16.0MP Waterproof camera with a 1/2.33 (6.08 x 4.56 mm ) sized CCD sensor. TS30 is also sold as Lumix DMC-FT30 in some of the countries.

Panasonic TS30 has an Overall Score of 42/100 and ranked #242 out of 621 in Compact cameras (Top 10 Compact), and ranked #741 out of 1150 in all Cameras (Top 10 Overall).

Panasonic TS30 Type Scores

Imaging

Features

Value for Money

Portability

Overall Score

Check our Smart Finder Tool to filter, sort and compare all digital cameras

Panasonic TS30 Compared to other Compact Cameras

Now let's get in to more details of Panasonic TS30's specs and feature, and list out its pros and cons compared to average cameras in its class.

PROs

Water Proof down to 8m

Shock Proof up to 1.5m

Freeze Proof down to -10C

Image Stabilization

Face Detection Focusing

23 Focus Points

142g Light Body

Environmental Sealing

Timelapse Recording

25mm Wide Angle Lens

Buy Panasonic TS30 from or B&H PHOTO

CONs

No Wireless Connection

No Articulating Screen

No External Flash Shoe

No Full HD Video

No Touch Screen

No Built-in Viewfinder

No RAW Shooting

Max Sensitivity only ISO 1.600

Small LCD Screen ( 2.7″)

Low Screen Resolution ( 230kdots )

1/1300s Low Max Shutter Speed

Slow Continuous Shooting: 1.3fps

Low Battery Life: 250 shots

No Manual Focusing

No Manual Exposure

Slow Lens at Wide: f3.90

Slow Lens at Tele: f5.70

Panasonic TS30 Sensor and Photography Features

Panasonic TS30 has a 16.0MP 1/2.33 (6.08 x 4.56 mm ) sized CCD sensor . You can shoot at maximum resolution of 4608 x 3456 pixels with aspect ratios of 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9. TS30 has a native ISO range of 100 - 1600 which can be boosted to 6400 but unfortunately, Panasonic TS30 doesn't have RAW file support. If you need a Compact camera with a RAW support, consider or in the same price range.

Panasonic TS30 is not the highest resolution Small Sensor camera. Kodak Astro Zoom AZ651 with its 21.0MP sensor is leading in this class. Check the comparison of Panasonic TS30 vs Kodak Astro Zoom AZ651 or take a look at Highest resolution Compact cameras list.

Let's look at how the size of the Panasonic TS30's 1/2.33 sensor compares with other standard sensor sizes.

Panasonic TS30 Physical Specs

Panasonic TS30 weighs 142 g (0.31 lb / 5.01 oz) and has external dimensions of 104 x 58 x 20 mm (4.09 x 2.28 x 0.79″). Considering that the average weight of Compact type cameras is 187g, Panasonic TS30 is a remarkably light camera for its class. Even better, with a thickness of only 20mm, it is also quite small, 8mm thinner than the average of its class.

Weight Comparison

Compact Cameras

Panasonic TS30

Min

Average

Max

Thickness Comparison

Compact Cameras

Panasonic TS30

Min

Average

Max

Here is the front and top view image of Panasonic TS30 with the dimensions:

In order to give you a better idea about the real life size of Panasonic TS30, we have added an image of how it looks next to a credit card and an AA type battery.

Now lets compare the weight and thickness of Panasonic TS30 with its main competitors:

Panasonic TS30 Size Compared to Main Competitors

Model	Sensor	Weight	vs TS30	Thickness	vs TS30
Panasonic TS5	16.0MP - 1/2.33"	214g	72g heavier	29mm	9mm thicker
Panasonic TS6	16.0MP - 1/2.33"	214g	72g heavier	29mm	9mm thicker
Panasonic TS25	16.0MP - 1/2.33"	144g	2g heavier	20mm	equal thickness
Fujifilm XP120	16.0MP - 1/2.3	203g	61g heavier	28mm	8mm thicker
Fujifilm XP90	16.0MP - 1/2.3"	203g	61g heavier	28mm	8mm thicker
Nikon S33	13.0MP - 1/3.1"	221g	79g heavier	27mm	7mm thicker
Fujifilm XP80	16.0MP - 1/2.3"	179g	37g heavier	26mm	6mm thicker
Fujifilm XP70	16.0MP - 1/2.3"	179g	37g heavier	26mm	6mm thicker

Panasonic TS30 has environmental sealings (waterproof, shockproof, freezeproof)

Panasonic TS30 Lens

Panasonic TS30 features a 25-100 mm F3.9-5.7 4� zoom lens. Lens has a good wide angle capability starting at 25mm, and 100mm on the tele end means that the medium telephoto angle is also well covered, only lacking the reach for wildlife and sports.

Wide Coverage

Compact Cameras

TS30

Widest - Ricoh WG-M1

Average

Telezoom

Compact Cameras

TS30

Longest - Canon SX520 HS

Average

With a max aperture of f3.90 at 25mm, we can not consider this lens fast on wide end, and it is slow at the tele end with its max aperture of f5.70.

Max Aperture at Wide

Compact Cameras

TS30

Fastest - Leica D-Lux 6

Average

Max Aperture at Tele

Compact Cameras

TS30

Fastest - Ricoh GR Digital IV

Average

TS30 is also equipped with Optical image stabilization system which is very handy especially at lower shutter speeds.

Panasonic TS30 Other Features

LCD and Viewfinder

Panasonic TS30 has a Fixed Type 2.7″ LCD screen with a resolution of 230k dots. At only 2.7″, the screen is on the smaller side and 230kdot resolution is lower than most of the recent models in this class.

TS30 doesn't have a viewfinder and no option for external viewfinder. Lack of a viewfinder can be problematic especially under strong light where visibility of LCD screens goes down dramatically. If you need a Compact camera with a built-in viewfinder in a similar price range, consider Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H50 (Compare) or Canon PowerShot SD780 IS (Digital IXUS 100 IS) (Compare).
If the price is not an issue, take a look at our Top Rated Cameras with Viewfinders.

Max Shutter speed
Panasonic TS30 can shoot continuously at max speed of 1.3 fps and has max shutter speed of 1/1300 sec.

Flash
Unfortunately TS30 doesn't have an external flash shoe so you are limited with the built-in flash.

Focusing
Panasonic TS30 features a Contrast Detection autofocusing system. The AF system has 23 points to choose from.

Panasonic TS30 also features Face detection AF where it intelligently detects the faces in the frame and locks the focus automatically.

Video Features
With Panasonic TS30, you can record your videos at a highest resolution of 1280 x 720 at 30 fps and save in and MPEG-4 formats. 1280 x 720 is a low video resolution by todays standards. If video quality is important for you, we recommend you to look at cameras with Full HD, even better 4K / Ultra-HD resolution .

TS30 has a built-in Mono microphone and a Mono speaker.
Panasonic TS30 doesn't have any connections for external microphones and headphones. If you need a Compact camera with external microphone connectivity, consider Samsung PL120 or Samsung SH100 in a similar price range.

Connectivity and Storage

Panasonic TS30 has a USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) port to connect your camera to other devices.

Battery Panasonic TS30 is powered by a proprietary battery which provides a shooting life of 250 according to CIPA standards. Considering that the average battery life of Compact type cameras is 254 shots, its battery life is about average in its class but it would still be wise to invest in some spare batteries for long photo trips.

Battery Life Comparison in Waterproof Cameras

Panasonic TS30

Min

Average

Max

Olympus TG-4 with its 380shots is the model with longest battery life among Waterproof cameras. Check the comparison of Panasonic TS30 vs Olympus TG-4 or take a look at Longest Battery Life Compact cameras list.

Panasonic TS30 Features Compared to Main Competitors

Model	Max Video	Battery Life	Wi-fi	Bluetooth	NFC
Panasonic TS5 >>Compare to TS30	1920 x 1080	370shots	Yes	No	Yes
Panasonic TS6 >>Compare to TS30	1920 x 1080	370shots	Yes	No	Yes
Panasonic TS25 >>Compare to TS30	1280 x 720	250shots	No	No	No
Fujifilm XP120 >>Compare to TS30	1920 x 1080	210shots	Yes	No	No
Fujifilm XP90 >>Compare to TS30	1920 x 1080	210shots	Yes	No	No
Nikon S33 >>Compare to TS30	1920 x 1080	220shots	No	No	No
Fujifilm XP80 >>Compare to TS30	1920 x 1080	210shots	Yes	No	No
Fujifilm XP70 >>Compare to TS30	1920 x 1080	210shots	Yes	No	No

Lowest Price
Current Lowest price for Panasonic TS30 is $137.99

$137.99
23%
off

What type of Photography is Panasonic TS30 Good for?

In this section, we review and score Panasonic TS30 in 5 different photography areas. This first spider web graph shows how the TS30 compares with the average Compact camera.
Hover your mouse over the points to see the score details for each photography type.

Panasonic TS30 for Portrait Photography

Panasonic TS30 has a score of 27 for Portrait Photography which makes it a POOR candidate for this type of photography. If Portrait We strongly recommend you to check our Top Compact Cameras for Portrait Photography list and consider these alternatives over theTS30.

Image Stabilization
Average Resolution Sensor: 16.0MP
Small 1/2.33" (6.08 x 4.56 mm) sensor
No RAW shooting capability
No External Flash Shoe

No Built-in Viewfinder
No Manual Focus Mode
No Manual Exposure Mode
Not so good Ergonomics&Handling

Read the details of how we scored Panasonic TS30 for Portrait Photography

Panasonic TS30 for Street Photography

Panasonic TS30 has a score of 56 for Street Photography which makes it an AVERAGE candidate for this type of photography. If Street is important for you, we recommend you to check our Top Compact Cameras for Street Photography list.

Live-view
Face-Detection Focusing
Image Stabilization
25 mm - Good Wide Angle Coverage
Small Body

No Built-in Viewfinder
No Manual Focus Mode
Slow Lens at Wide: f3.90
No RAW shooting capability
Small 1/2.33" (6.08 x 4.56 mm) sensor

Read the details of how we scored Panasonic TS30 for Street Photography

Panasonic TS30 for Sports Photography

Panasonic TS30 has a score of 18 for Sports Photography which makes it a POOR candidate for this type of photography. If Sports We strongly recommend you to check our Top Compact Cameras for Sports Photography list and consider these alternatives over theTS30.

Environmental Sealings
23 Focus Points
Image Stabilization
Slow Continuous Shooting: 1.3fps
Slow Max shutter speed: 1/1300s
Poor Battery Life: 250 shots
Not so good Ergonomics&Handling

No Manual Exposure Mode
No Manual Focus Mode
No Built-in Viewfinder
No External Flash Shoe
100 mm Tele Lens
Slow Lens at Tele: f5.70
No RAW shooting capability

Read the details of how we scored Panasonic TS30 for Sports Photography

Panasonic TS30 for Daily Photography

Panasonic TS30 has a score of 66 for Daily Photography which makes it a GOOD candidate for this type of photography. If you are looking for a camera that is better suited to Daily Photography, we recommend you to check our Top 10 Compact Cameras for Daily Photography list.

Compact Body
142g
Body Thickness 20mm
Environmental Sealings

4X Optical Zoom
Small 1/2.33" (6.08 x 4.56 mm) sensor
No RAW shooting capability

Read the details of how we scored Panasonic TS30 for Daily Photography

Panasonic TS30 for Landscape Photography

Panasonic TS30 has a score of 31 for Landscape Photography which makes it a POOR candidate for this type of photography. If Landscape We strongly recommend you to check our Top Compact Cameras for Landscape Photography list and consider these alternatives over theTS30.

25 mm - Good Wide Angle Coverage
Environmental Sealings
Average Resolution Sensor: 16.0MP
No Manual Exposure Mode

No Manual Focus Mode
No RAW shooting capability
Small 1/2.33" (6.08 x 4.56 mm) sensor

Read the details of how we scored Panasonic TS30 for Landscape Photography

Panasonic TS30 Alternatives

In this section, we analyse how Panasonic TS30 compares with other Compact cameras within a similar price range. In the Bubble chart below, you can see Overall Score vs Price comparison of TS30 and the top 10 contenders in the same range. Hover your mouse on the bubbles to see the details of the cameras.

Read a more detailed analysis of Panasonic TS30 alternatives.

Popular Comparisons of Panasonic TS30

Here is the eight most popular comparisons of Panasonic TS30 amongst Camera Decision readers.

Panasonic TS5

Compare

Panasonic TS6

Compare

Panasonic TS25

Compare

Fujifilm XP120

Compare

Fujifilm XP90

Compare

Nikon S33

Compare

Fujifilm XP80

Compare

Fujifilm XP70

Compare

Panasonic TS30 Alternatives in Mirrorless Cameras

It would also be interesting to compare Panasonic TS30 with Mirrorless Cameras. Below we have listed 4 highest ranked Mirrorless cameras in Panasonic TS30's price range.

Olympus E-P3

Compare

Olympus E-PL2

Compare

Nikon 1 J3

Compare

Sony NEX-3

Compare

Panasonic G1

Compare

Leica M-E Typ 220

Compare

Frequently Asked Questions about Panasonic TS30

Does the Panasonic TS30 have Image Stabilization?
Does the Panasonic TS30 have RAW support?
Does the Panasonic TS30 have Weather Sealing?
Does the Panasonic TS30 have built-in GPS?
What is the Max ISO of Panasonic TS30?
What is the Sensor Size of Panasonic TS30?
is the Panasonic TS30 a Full Frame (FF) camera?
Does the Panasonic TS30 have Touch Screen?
Does the Panasonic TS30 have built-in Wireless?
What is the Max Continuous Shooting Speed (fps) of Panasonic TS30?

Panasonic Lumix DMC-TS30 Detailed Specifications

General
Brand	Panasonic
Model	Panasonic Lumix DMC-TS30
Also known as	Lumix DMC-FT30
Announced	2015-01-06
Body Type	Compact
Price	$137.99
Lens
Manual Focus
Lens Mount	fixed lens
Lens Focal Range	25-100 mm (4�)
Max Aperture	F3.9-5.7
Macro Focus Range	5cm
Screen
Screen Type	Fixed Type
Screen Size	2.7″
Screen Resolution	230k dots
Live View
Touch Screen
Viewfinder
Viewfinder	None
Viewfinder Resolution	no electronic viewfinder
Viewfinder Coverage	n/a
Viewfinder Magnification	n/a
Photography Features
Min Shutter Speed	8s
Max Shutter Speed	1/1300s
Continuous Shooting	1.3 fps
Shutter Priority
Aperture Priority
Manual Exposure Mode
Exposure Compensation	n/a
Custom White Balance
Image Stabilization
Built-in Flash
Flash Range	4.40 m
Flash Modes	Auto, auto w/redeye reduction, on, slow sync w/redeye reduction, off
External Flash
AE Bracketing
WB Bracketing
Exposure Modes
Multi-Segment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF-Area
Center Weighted
DxO Sensor Scores
DxO Overall Score	not tested
DxO Color Depth	not tested
DxO Dynamic Range	not tested
DxO Low Light ISO	not tested
	Report a correction

Sensor
Sensor Type	CCD
Sensor Size	1/2.33
Sensor Dimensions	6.08 x 4.56 mm
Sensor Area	27.72mm²
Sensor Resolution	16 megapixels
Max Image Resolution	4608 x 3456
Max Native ISO	1,600
Max Boosted ISO	6400
Min Native ISO	100
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	23
Number of Cross Focus Points	Unknown
Video Features
Video Resolutions	1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Max Video Resolution	1280 x 720
Video Formats	MPEG-4
Microphone Port
Headphone Port
Connectivity
Wireless Connectivity	None
HDMI
USB	USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
Physical
Environmental Sealing
Water Proof
Dust Proof
Shock Proof
Crush Proof
Freeze Proof
Weight	142g
Physical Dimensions	104 x 58 x 20mm
Battery Life	250 shots
Battery Type	Battery Pack
Other Features
Self Timer	Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Timelapse Recording
GPS	None
Storage Type	SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage Slots	1