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Olympus E-3 vs Panasonic FS42

Portability
56
Imaging
44
Features
56
Overall
48
Olympus E-3 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS42 front
Portability
95
Imaging
33
Features
10
Overall
23

Olympus E-3 vs Panasonic FS42 Key Specs

Olympus E-3
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 2.5" Fully Articulated Screen
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • No Video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 890g - 142 x 116 x 75mm
  • Announced February 2008
  • Replaced the Olympus E-1
  • Renewed by Olympus E-5
Panasonic FS42
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - 1/2.5" Sensor
  • 2.5" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 1000 (Push to 6400)
  • 640 x 480 video
  • 33-132mm (F2.8-5.9) lens
  • 132g - 98 x 55 x 22mm
  • Released April 2009
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Olympus E-3 vs Panasonic FS42 Overview

Here, we will be looking at the Olympus E-3 versus Panasonic FS42, one is a Advanced DSLR and the latter is a Ultracompact by brands Olympus and Panasonic. The sensor resolution of the E-3 (10MP) and the FS42 (10MP) is pretty well matched but the E-3 (Four Thirds) and FS42 (1/2.5") offer different sensor measurements.

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The E-3 was released 14 months earlier than the FS42 which makes them a generation away from one another. Each of the cameras feature different body design with the Olympus E-3 being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Panasonic FS42 being a Ultracompact camera.

Before we go right into a detailed comparison, here is a concise highlight of how the E-3 matches up vs the FS42 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-3 over the Panasonic FS42

 E-3 FS42 
Focus manually Very precise focusing
Screen typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating screen
Selfie screen Take selfies

Reasons to pick Panasonic FS42 over the Olympus E-3

 FS42 E-3 
ReleasedApril 2009February 2008More modern by 14 months

Common features in the Olympus E-3 and Panasonic FS42

 E-3 FS42 
Screen size2.5"2.5"Same screen measurements
Screen resolution230k230kEqual screen resolution
Touch screen Lacking Touch screen

Olympus E-3 vs Panasonic FS42 Physical Comparison

If you are planning to carry around your camera frequently, you are going to need to factor its weight and measurements. The Olympus E-3 has got outside dimensions of 142mm x 116mm x 75mm (5.6" x 4.6" x 3.0") having a weight of 890 grams (1.96 lbs) while the Panasonic FS42 has proportions of 98mm x 55mm x 22mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 0.9") along with a weight of 132 grams (0.29 lbs).

Look at the Olympus E-3 versus Panasonic FS42 in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change depending on the lens you have attached at that moment. The following is a front view dimensions comparison of the E-3 vs the FS42.

Olympus E-3 vs Panasonic FS42 size comparison

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the E-3 and FS42 is 56 and 95 respectively.

Olympus E-3 vs Panasonic FS42 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-3 vs Panasonic FS42 Sensor Comparison

Normally, it can be difficult to picture the gap between sensor sizes merely by looking at technical specs. The image underneath will help provide you a far better sense of the sensor dimensions in the E-3 and FS42.

As you can tell, the two cameras come with the identical megapixel count albeit different sensor sizes. The E-3 includes the bigger sensor which is going to make obtaining shallow DOF less difficult. The more aged E-3 is going to be disadvantaged with regard to sensor technology.

Olympus E-3 vs Panasonic FS42 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-3 vs Panasonic FS42 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-3 vs Panasonic FS42 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-3 Portrait photography information
Panasonic FS42 Portrait photography information
56
has manual focus
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
low resolution sensor (10 megapixels)
19
lack of manual focus
no manual control
no external flash support
low MP (10 megapixels)
sensor is tiny (1/2.5")
has no RAW support
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-3 as a Street photography camera
Panasonic FS42 as a Street photography camera
69
screen can move to multiple angles
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
environment proof
47
fixed screen
lack of image stabilization
sensor is tiny (1/2.5")
has no RAW support
low max ISO (1,000)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-3 Sports photography features
Panasonic FS42 Sports photography features
57
high shutter speed (1/8,000s)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
environment proof
sensor has phase detect auto focus
very slow continuous shooting (5.0 frames per second)
low resolution sensor (10MP)
16
max frames per second very slow (2.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority
lack of image stabilization
low MP (10 megapixels)
sensor is tiny (1/2.5")
has no phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-3 Travel photography information
Panasonic FS42 Travel photography information
55
environment proof
flash built-in
selfie friendly display
does not have Timelapse recording
low resolution sensor (10 megapixels)
51
has built in flash
does not have Timelapse function
low MP (10MP)
screen isn't selfie friendly
wide angle not good (33mm)
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-3 Landscape photography information
Panasonic FS42 Landscape photography information
56
has manual focus
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
environment proof
screen is small (2.5 inches)
low resolution sensor (10MP)
does not have Timelapse recording
22
lack of manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not good (33mm)
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
tiny screen (2.5 inches)
no manual control
lack of image stabilization
low MP (10 megapixels)
sensor is tiny (1/2.5")
low max ISO (1,000)
has no RAW support
does not have Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-3 as a Vlogging camera
Panasonic FS42 as a Vlogging camera
18
can't shoot video
22
wide angle not good (33mm)
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
screen isn't selfie friendly
lack of image stabilization
low quality video (640 x 480 resolution)
does not have microphone support
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Olympus E-3 vs Panasonic FS42 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-3 and Panasonic FS42
 Olympus E-3Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS42
General Information
Make Olympus Panasonic
Model Olympus E-3 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS42
Category Advanced DSLR Ultracompact
Announced 2008-02-20 2009-04-17
Physical type Mid-size SLR Ultracompact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip TruePic III -
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.5"
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 5.744 x 4.308mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 24.7mm²
Sensor resolution 10MP 10MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 3648 x 2736 3648 x 2736
Highest native ISO 3200 1000
Highest boosted ISO - 6400
Minimum native ISO 100 80
RAW files
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Continuous AF
Single AF
Tracking AF
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Number of focus points 11 -
Lens
Lens mounting type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 33-132mm (4.0x)
Maximal aperture - f/2.8-5.9
Macro focus distance - 5cm
Total lenses 45 -
Crop factor 2.1 6.3
Screen
Type of screen Fully Articulated Fixed Type
Screen size 2.5" 2.5"
Resolution of screen 230k dots 230k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentaprism) None
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent -
Viewfinder magnification 0.58x -
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60 seconds 60 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/8000 seconds 1/2000 seconds
Continuous shooting rate 5.0fps 2.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Set WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 13.00 m 6.30 m
Flash options Auto, Auto FP, Manual, Red-Eye Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Highest flash synchronize 1/250 seconds -
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions - 848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution None 640x480
Video data format - Motion JPEG
Microphone support
Headphone support
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 proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 890 gr (1.96 lb) 132 gr (0.29 lb)
Physical dimensions 142 x 116 x 75mm (5.6" x 4.6" x 3.0") 98 x 55 x 22mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 0.9")
DXO scores
DXO All around score 56 not tested
DXO Color Depth score 21.6 not tested
DXO Dynamic range score 10.5 not tested
DXO Low light score 571 not tested
Other
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage Compact Flash (Type I or II), xD Picture Card SD/SDHC card, Internal
Card slots 1 1
Cost at launch $670 $580