Nikon S3100 vs Panasonic FS42

The following is a in-depth review of the Nikon S3100 vs Panasonic FS42, both Ultracompact digital cameras by companies Nikon and Panasonic. There is a large difference between the sensor resolutions of the S3100 (14MP) and FS42 (10MP) and the S3100 (1/2.3") and FS42 (1/2.5") come with totally different sensor sizes.

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The S3100 was introduced 23 months after the FS42 making the cameras a generation away from each other. Both the cameras offer the identical body type (Ultracompact).

Before delving through a full comparison, below is a simple overview of how the S3100 grades vs the FS42 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

Following is a sample of the gallery pictures for Nikon Coolpix S3100 & Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS42. The whole galleries are available at Nikon S3100 Gallery & Panasonic FS42 Gallery.

For anyone who is aiming to travel with your camera often, you need to think about its weight and size. The Nikon S3100 has external dimensions of 94mm x 58mm x 18mm (3.7" x 2.3" x 0.7") and a weight of 118 grams (0.26 lbs) and 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 out the Nikon S3100 vs Panasonic FS42 in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Do not forget, the weight of an ILC will change based on the lens you have chosen during that time. Here is the front view dimensions comparison of the S3100 and the FS42.

Factoring in size and weight, the portability grade of the S3100 and FS42 is 96 and 95 respectively.

Often, it is very hard to see the difference between sensor dimensions simply by going over technical specs. The picture below may provide you a far better sense of the sensor dimensions in the S3100 and FS42.

As you can tell, the 2 cameras enjoy different resolutions and different sensor dimensions. The S3100 using its larger sensor will make shooting shallow depth of field simpler and the Nikon S3100 will deliver more detail using its extra 4 Megapixels. Greater resolution will make it easier to crop photos far more aggressively. The more recent S3100 is going to have a benefit when it comes to sensor technology.