LCD and Viewfinder
Panasonic ZS30 has a Fixed Type 3″ LCD screen with a resolution of 920k dots. Both the screen size and the screen resolution is up to the standards of this class.
LCD is
Touch screen type, so you can change the settings and set the focus point with your fingertips.
ZS30 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 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS70 (Lumix DC-TZ90) (Compare) or Nikon Coolpix P7000 (Compare). If the price is not an issue, take a look at our Top Rated Cameras with Viewfinders.
Max Shutter speed
Panasonic ZS30 can shoot continuously at max speed of 10 fps and has max shutter speed of 1/1200 sec.
Flash
Unfortunately ZS30 doesn't have an external flash shoe so you are limited with the built-in flash.
Focusing
Panasonic ZS30 features a Contrast Detection autofocusing system. The AF system has 23 points to choose from.
Video Features
With Panasonic ZS30, you can record your videos at a highest resolution of 1920 x 1080 at 60 fps and save in MPEG-4 and AVCHD formats. Full HD resolution of Panasonic ZS30 will be adequate in most of the situations. But if you are after the highest resolution videos available, see our list of Top Cameras with 4K (Ultra-HD) Video.
ZS30 also a high speed mode where it captures videos at 220 fps for ultra slow motion videos. ZS30 has a built-in Stereo microphone and a Mono speaker.
Panasonic ZS30 doesn't have any connections for external microphones and headphones. If you need a Compact camera with external microphone connectivity, consider Nikon Coolpix P7000 or Olympus Stylus SH-1 in a similar price range.
Connectivity and Storage
Thanks to the built-in wireless (Wi-Fi) connectivity feature, Panasonic ZS30 lets you transfer your photos directly to compatible devices without any physical connection.
You can connect ZS30 to compatible devices via its HDMI port or USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) port.
Battery Panasonic ZS30 is powered by a proprietary battery which provides a shooting life of 260 according to CIPA standards.
Considering that the average battery life of Compact type cameras is 255 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 Small Sensor Superzoom Cameras
Fujifilm HS35EXR with its 600shots is the model with longest battery life among Small Sensor Superzoom cameras. Check the comparison of Panasonic ZS30 vs Fujifilm HS35EXR or take a look at Longest Battery Life Compact cameras list.
Panasonic ZS30 Features Compared to Main Competitors
Lowest Price
Current Lowest price for Panasonic ZS30 is $249.99