Canon SD940 IS vs Panasonic FS42
96 Imaging
34 Features
21 Overall
28


95 Imaging
33 Features
10 Overall
23
Canon SD940 IS vs Panasonic FS42 Key Specs
(Full Review)
- 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
- 2.7" Fixed Display
- ISO 80 - 1600
- Optical Image Stabilization
- 1280 x 720 video
- 28-112mm (F2.8-5.9) lens
- 120g - 89 x 55 x 20mm
- Introduced August 2009
- Additionally Known as Digital IXUS 120 IS
(Full Review)
- 10MP - 1/2.5" Sensor
- 2.5" Fixed Screen
- ISO 80 - 1000 (Raise to 6400)
- 640 x 480 video
- 33-132mm (F2.8-5.9) lens
- 132g - 98 x 55 x 22mm
- Announced April 2009

Canon SD940 IS vs Panasonic FS42 Overview
The following is a extended assessment of the Canon SD940 IS and Panasonic FS42, both Ultracompact digital cameras by manufacturers Canon and Panasonic. The sensor resolution of the SD940 IS (12MP) and the FS42 (10MP) is relatively similar but the SD940 IS (1/2.3") and FS42 (1/2.5") posses totally different sensor sizes.

The SD940 IS was brought out 5 months after the FS42 and they are of a similar age. Each of the cameras feature the same body design (Ultracompact).
Before we go right into a detailed comparison, here is a concise introduction of how the SD940 IS matches up versus the FS42 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

Canon SD940 IS vs Panasonic FS42 Gallery
Here is a preview of the gallery photos for Canon PowerShot SD940 IS & Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS42. The entire galleries are available at Canon SD940 IS Gallery & Panasonic FS42 Gallery.
Reasons to pick Canon SD940 IS over the Panasonic FS42
SD940 IS | FS42 | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Screen size | 2.7" | ![]() | 2.5" | Bigger screen (+0.2") |
Reasons to pick Panasonic FS42 over the Canon SD940 IS
FS42 | SD940 IS |
---|
Common features in the Canon SD940 IS and Panasonic FS42
SD940 IS | FS42 | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Announced | August 2009 | ![]() | April 2009 | Similar age |
Manual focus | ![]() | No manual focus | ||
Screen type | Fixed | ![]() | Fixed | Fixed screen |
Screen resolution | 230k | ![]() | 230k | Same screen resolution |
Selfie screen | ![]() | Neither has selfie screen | ||
Touch friendly screen | ![]() | Neither has Touch friendly screen |
Canon SD940 IS vs Panasonic FS42 Physical Comparison
If you are planning to travel with your camera often, you are going to need to consider its weight and size. The Canon SD940 IS has physical dimensions of 89mm x 55mm x 20mm (3.5" x 2.2" x 0.8") accompanied by a weight of 120 grams (0.26 lbs) while the Panasonic FS42 has specifications of 98mm x 55mm x 22mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 0.9") having a weight of 132 grams (0.29 lbs).
Compare the Canon SD940 IS and Panasonic FS42 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool.
Take into consideration, the weight of an ILC will change based on the lens you are utilising at the time. Here is a front view dimension comparison of the SD940 IS vs the FS42.

Using dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the SD940 IS and FS42 is 96 and 95 respectively.

Canon SD940 IS vs Panasonic FS42 Sensor Comparison
Quite often, it can be hard to visualise the difference between sensor dimensions purely by going over specs. The picture here will offer you a more clear sense of the sensor dimensions in the SD940 IS and FS42.
As you can plainly see, both of these cameras come with different resolutions and different sensor dimensions. The SD940 IS featuring a bigger sensor will make shooting shallower depth of field easier and the Canon SD940 IS will deliver extra detail having its extra 2MP. Higher resolution will also enable you to crop photographs a good deal more aggressively.

Canon SD940 IS vs Panasonic FS42 Screen and ViewFinder


Photography Type Scores
Portrait Comparison

Street Comparison

Sports Comparison

Travel Comparison

Landscape Comparison

Vlogging Comparison

Canon SD940 IS vs Panasonic FS42 Specifications
Canon PowerShot SD940 IS | Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS42 | |
---|---|---|
General Information | ||
Make | Canon | Panasonic |
Model type | Canon PowerShot SD940 IS | Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS42 |
Also called as | Digital IXUS 120 IS | - |
Class | Ultracompact | Ultracompact |
Introduced | 2009-08-19 | 2009-04-17 |
Physical type | Ultracompact | Ultracompact |
Sensor Information | ||
Processor Chip | Digic 4 | - |
Sensor type | CCD | CCD |
Sensor size | 1/2.3" | 1/2.5" |
Sensor measurements | 6.17 x 4.55mm | 5.744 x 4.308mm |
Sensor surface area | 28.1mm² | 24.7mm² |
Sensor resolution | 12 megapixel | 10 megapixel |
Anti alias filter | ||
Aspect ratio | 4:3 and 16:9 | 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 |
Highest Possible resolution | 4000 x 3000 | 3648 x 2736 |
Maximum native ISO | 1600 | 1000 |
Maximum enhanced ISO | - | 6400 |
Min native ISO | 80 | 80 |
RAW pictures | ||
Autofocusing | ||
Manual focusing | ||
Touch focus | ||
Continuous autofocus | ||
Autofocus single | ||
Autofocus tracking | ||
Autofocus selectice | ||
Center weighted autofocus | ||
Autofocus multi area | ||
Live view autofocus | ||
Face detect autofocus | ||
Contract detect autofocus | ||
Phase detect autofocus | ||
Total focus points | 9 | - |
Lens | ||
Lens support | fixed lens | fixed lens |
Lens zoom range | 28-112mm (4.0x) | 33-132mm (4.0x) |
Maximal aperture | f/2.8-5.9 | f/2.8-5.9 |
Macro focusing range | 3cm | 5cm |
Crop factor | 5.8 | 6.3 |
Screen | ||
Type of display | Fixed Type | Fixed Type |
Display size | 2.7" | 2.5" |
Resolution of display | 230k dots | 230k dots |
Selfie friendly | ||
Liveview | ||
Touch capability | ||
Viewfinder Information | ||
Viewfinder | None | None |
Features | ||
Min shutter speed | 15 secs | 60 secs |
Max shutter speed | 1/1500 secs | 1/2000 secs |
Continuous shutter rate | 1.0 frames per second | 2.0 frames per second |
Shutter priority | ||
Aperture priority | ||
Expose Manually | ||
Change white balance | ||
Image stabilization | ||
Inbuilt flash | ||
Flash distance | 4.00 m | 6.30 m |
Flash settings | Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync | Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Sync |
Hot shoe | ||
Auto exposure bracketing | ||
WB bracketing | ||
Exposure | ||
Multisegment | ||
Average | ||
Spot | ||
Partial | ||
AF area | ||
Center weighted | ||
Video features | ||
Supported video resolutions | 1280 x 720 (30 fps) 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15 fps) | 848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps) |
Maximum video resolution | 1280x720 | 640x480 |
Video format | H.264 | Motion JPEG |
Microphone port | ||
Headphone port | ||
Connectivity | ||
Wireless | None | None |
Bluetooth | ||
NFC | ||
HDMI | ||
USB | USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) | USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) |
GPS | None | None |
Physical | ||
Environment sealing | ||
Water proofing | ||
Dust proofing | ||
Shock proofing | ||
Crush proofing | ||
Freeze proofing | ||
Weight | 120 gr (0.26 lb) | 132 gr (0.29 lb) |
Physical dimensions | 89 x 55 x 20mm (3.5" x 2.2" x 0.8") | 98 x 55 x 22mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 0.9") |
DXO scores | ||
DXO Overall rating | not tested | not tested |
DXO Color Depth rating | not tested | not tested |
DXO Dynamic range rating | not tested | not tested |
DXO Low light rating | not tested | not tested |
Other | ||
Battery ID | NB-4L | - |
Self timer | Yes (2, 10, Custom, Face) | Yes (2 or 10 sec) |
Time lapse feature | ||
Storage type | SD, SDHC, MMC, MMCplus, HC MMCplus | SD/SDHC card, Internal |
Card slots | 1 | 1 |
Pricing at release | $299 | $580 |