Nikon L840 vs Panasonic FS42

On this page, we will be reviewing the Nikon L840 vs Panasonic FS42, one is a Small Sensor Superzoom and the latter is a Ultracompact by manufacturers Nikon and Panasonic. There exists a sizeable gap among the sensor resolutions of the L840 (16MP) and FS42 (10MP) and the L840 (1/2.3") and FS42 (1/2.5") have different sensor measurements.

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The L840 was unveiled 5 years after the FS42 which is a fairly large gap as far as camera technology is concerned. Both cameras have different body design with the Nikon L840 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera and the Panasonic FS42 being a Ultracompact camera.

Before going into a in depth comparison, here is a concise overview of how the L840 matches up versus the FS42 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

Below is a preview of the gallery images for Nikon Coolpix L840 and Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS42. The full galleries are viewable at Nikon L840 Gallery and Panasonic FS42 Gallery.

In case you're intending to carry around your camera frequently, you will need to take into account its weight and dimensions. The Nikon L840 comes with outside measurements of 114mm x 89mm x 96mm (4.5" x 3.5" x 3.8") and a weight of 538 grams (1.19 lbs) whilst the Panasonic FS42 has dimensions 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 Nikon L840 vs Panasonic FS42 in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Take into consideration, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change based on the lens you choose at that moment. Underneath is a front view measurements comparison of the L840 compared to the FS42.

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability score of the L840 and FS42 is 67 and 95 respectively.

Sometimes, it is tough to imagine the contrast in sensor sizes merely by looking through a spec sheet. The pic here should provide you a greater sense of the sensor sizing in the L840 and FS42.

Clearly, each of the cameras have different megapixel count and different sensor sizes. The L840 having a bigger sensor is going to make getting bokeh less difficult and the Nikon L840 will result in extra detail having an extra 6MP. Higher resolution will also help you crop shots a bit more aggressively. The newer L840 should have an edge in sensor innovation.