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Kodak M381 vs Panasonic FS42

Portability
95
Imaging
34
Features
13
Overall
25
Kodak EasyShare M381 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS42 front
Portability
95
Imaging
33
Features
10
Overall
23

Kodak M381 vs Panasonic FS42 Key Specs

Kodak M381
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 64 - 1600
  • 640 x 480 video
  • 35-175mm (F3.0-4.8) lens
  • 153g - 101 x 60 x 20mm
  • Introduced July 2009
Panasonic FS42
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - 1/2.5" Sensor
  • 2.5" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 1000 (Bump to 6400)
  • 640 x 480 video
  • 33-132mm (F2.8-5.9) lens
  • 132g - 98 x 55 x 22mm
  • Revealed April 2009
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Kodak M381 vs Panasonic FS42 Overview

Let's take a closer look at the Kodak M381 versus Panasonic FS42, both Ultracompact digital cameras by competitors Kodak and Panasonic. The sensor resolution of the M381 (12MP) and the FS42 (10MP) is very well matched but the M381 (1/2.3") and FS42 (1/2.5") enjoy totally different sensor dimensions.

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The M381 was brought out 4 months after the FS42 which means that they are of a similar generation. Both cameras come with the identical body type (Ultracompact).

Before getting through a full comparison, below is a brief highlight of how the M381 matches up against the FS42 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Kodak M381 over the Panasonic FS42

 M381 FS42 
Display dimension3"2.5"Larger display (+0.5")

Reasons to pick Panasonic FS42 over the Kodak M381

 FS42 M381 

Common features in the Kodak M381 and Panasonic FS42

 M381 FS42 
RevealedJuly 2009April 2009Similar generation
Focus manually No manual focus
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display resolution230k230kIdentical display resolution
Selfie screen Missing selfie screen
Touch friendly display Neither has Touch friendly display

Kodak M381 vs Panasonic FS42 Physical Comparison

When you are intending to travel with your camera regularly, you're going to have to consider its weight and size. The Kodak M381 has outer measurements of 101mm x 60mm x 20mm (4.0" x 2.4" x 0.8") accompanied by a weight of 153 grams (0.34 lbs) while the Panasonic FS42 has specifications of 98mm x 55mm x 22mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 0.9") accompanied by a weight of 132 grams (0.29 lbs).

Check the Kodak M381 versus Panasonic FS42 in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ dependant on the lens you are employing at the time. The following is the front view measurement comparison of the M381 vs the FS42.

Kodak M381 vs Panasonic FS42 size comparison

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability score of the M381 and FS42 is 95 and 95 respectively.

Kodak M381 vs Panasonic FS42 top view buttons comparison

Kodak M381 vs Panasonic FS42 Sensor Comparison

Normally, it is very tough to see the contrast between sensor dimensions simply by reading through a spec sheet. The image here might provide you a stronger sense of the sensor sizing in the M381 and FS42.

Clearly, the 2 cameras have got different megapixels and different sensor dimensions. The M381 featuring a larger sensor will make shooting shallow DOF simpler and the Kodak M381 will resolve extra detail having its extra 2MP. Greater resolution will allow you to crop photos much more aggressively.

Kodak M381 vs Panasonic FS42 sensor size comparison

Kodak M381 vs Panasonic FS42 Screen and ViewFinder

Kodak M381 vs Panasonic FS42 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Kodak M381 Portrait photography details
Panasonic FS42 Portrait photography details
20
focusing manually not possible
no manual exposure
no external flash support
low MP (12 megapixels)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
19
focusing manually not possible
lack of manual mode
can't use external flash
resolution not great (10 megapixels)
very small sensor size (1/2.5")
lack of RAW support
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Street Comparison

Kodak M381 Street photography highlights
Panasonic FS42 Street photography highlights
47
fixed screen
lack of image stabilization
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
more heavy than others in class (153g)
47
screen does not articulate
lack of image stabilization
very small sensor size (1/2.5")
lack of RAW support
max ISO too low (1,000)
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Kodak M381
Sports photography with Panasonic FS42
17
low max shutter speed (1/1,400 seconds)
no shutter priority
lack of image stabilization
low MP (12 megapixels)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect auto focus
16
max frames per second very slow (2.0 fps)
no shutter priority
lack of image stabilization
resolution not great (10 megapixels)
very small sensor size (1/2.5")
lack of phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Kodak M381 Travel photography info
Panasonic FS42 Travel photography info
50
built-in flash
no Timelapse mode
more heavy than others in class (153 grams)
low MP (12MP)
does not have a selfie friendly display
wide angle not good (35mm)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.0)
51
built-in flash
missing Time Lapse function
resolution not great (10MP)
doesn't have selfie friendly display
wide angle not fantastic (33mm)
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Kodak M381 Landscape photography information
Panasonic FS42 Landscape photography information
27
screen size is good (3")
focusing manually not possible
cannot swap lens (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not good (35mm)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.0)
no manual exposure
lack of image stabilization
low MP (12MP)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
no Timelapse mode
22
focusing manually not possible
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not fantastic (33mm)
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
tiny screen (2.5 inches)
lack of manual mode
lack of image stabilization
resolution not great (10 megapixels)
very small sensor size (1/2.5")
max ISO too low (1,000)
lack of RAW support
missing Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Kodak M381 Vlogging info
Panasonic FS42 Vlogging info
22
wide angle not good (35mm)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.0)
does not have a selfie friendly display
lack of image stabilization
video res low (640 x 480 resolution)
no external microphone support
more heavy than others in class (153g)
22
wide angle not fantastic (33mm)
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
doesn't have selfie friendly display
lack of image stabilization
low video resolution (640 x 480 resolution)
missing mic jack
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Kodak M381 vs Panasonic FS42 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Kodak M381 and Panasonic FS42
 Kodak EasyShare M381Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS42
General Information
Manufacturer Kodak Panasonic
Model type Kodak EasyShare M381 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS42
Type Ultracompact Ultracompact
Introduced 2009-07-29 2009-04-17
Body design Ultracompact Ultracompact
Sensor Information
Sensor type CCD CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.5"
Sensor dimensions 6.08 x 4.56mm 5.744 x 4.308mm
Sensor surface area 27.7mm² 24.7mm²
Sensor resolution 12MP 10MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4000 x 3000 3648 x 2736
Maximum native ISO 1600 1000
Maximum boosted ISO - 6400
Minimum native ISO 64 80
RAW data
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Continuous AF
Single AF
Tracking AF
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 35-175mm (5.0x) 33-132mm (4.0x)
Largest aperture f/3.0-4.8 f/2.8-5.9
Macro focusing range 10cm 5cm
Crop factor 5.9 6.3
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3" 2.5"
Display resolution 230k dot 230k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 8 secs 60 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/1400 secs 1/2000 secs
Continuous shooting speed - 2.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Set WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 3.20 m 6.30 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
AEB
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps) 848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 640x480 640x480
Video format Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
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 None None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 153g (0.34 lb) 132g (0.29 lb)
Dimensions 101 x 60 x 20mm (4.0" x 2.4" x 0.8") 98 x 55 x 22mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 0.9")
DXO scores
DXO All around 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 KLIC-7003 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC card, Internal SD/SDHC card, Internal
Storage slots Single Single
Pricing at launch $170 $580