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Olympus E-420 vs Panasonic FS42

Portability
77
Imaging
45
Features
36
Overall
41
Olympus E-420 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS42 front
Portability
95
Imaging
33
Features
10
Overall
23

Olympus E-420 vs Panasonic FS42 Key Specs

Olympus E-420
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 1600
  • No Video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 426g - 130 x 91 x 53mm
  • Released June 2008
  • Earlier Model is Olympus E-410
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
  • Launched April 2009
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Olympus E-420 vs Panasonic FS42 Overview

In this article, we will be evaluating the Olympus E-420 and Panasonic FS42, one is a Entry-Level DSLR and the latter is a Ultracompact by brands Olympus and Panasonic. The sensor resolution of the E-420 (10MP) and the FS42 (10MP) is pretty comparable but the E-420 (Four Thirds) and FS42 (1/2.5") enjoy different sensor measurements.

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The E-420 was manufactured 9 months earlier than the FS42 so they are of a similar generation. Each of the cameras offer different body type with the Olympus E-420 being a Compact SLR camera and the Panasonic FS42 being a Ultracompact camera.

Before delving through a detailed comparison, below is a short view of how the E-420 grades vs the FS42 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-420 over the Panasonic FS42

 E-420 FS42 
Manually focus More exact focusing
Screen sizing2.7"2.5"Bigger screen (+0.2")

Reasons to pick Panasonic FS42 over the Olympus E-420

 FS42 E-420 
LaunchedApril 2009June 2008Newer by 9 months

Common features in the Olympus E-420 and Panasonic FS42

 E-420 FS42 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen resolution230k230kSame screen resolution
Selfie screen Missing selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Missing Touch friendly screen

Olympus E-420 vs Panasonic FS42 Physical Comparison

If you're going to travel with your camera, you will need to factor in its weight and proportions. The Olympus E-420 has outer measurements of 130mm x 91mm x 53mm (5.1" x 3.6" x 2.1") along with a weight of 426 grams (0.94 lbs) whilst the Panasonic FS42 has measurements 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-420 and Panasonic FS42 in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary dependant on the lens you are utilising at that moment. The following is the front view measurements comparison of the E-420 against the FS42.

Olympus E-420 vs Panasonic FS42 size comparison

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability grade of the E-420 and FS42 is 77 and 95 respectively.

Olympus E-420 vs Panasonic FS42 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-420 vs Panasonic FS42 Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, it is hard to picture the gap in sensor dimensions purely by going through a spec sheet. The picture underneath will give you a more clear sense of the sensor measurements in the E-420 and FS42.

Clearly, the 2 cameras offer the same exact MP albeit different sensor dimensions. The E-420 uses the bigger sensor which should make achieving shallower depth of field less difficult. The more aged E-420 will be disadvantaged with regard to sensor technology.

Olympus E-420 vs Panasonic FS42 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-420 vs Panasonic FS42 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-420 vs Panasonic FS42 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-420 as a Portrait photography camera
Panasonic FS42 as a Portrait photography camera
57
you can focus manually
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
low MP (10MP)
19
no manual focus
manual mode not available
cannot use external flash
megapixel count low (10 megapixels)
sensor size is very small (1/2.5")
has no RAW files
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-420 Street photography info
Panasonic FS42 Street photography info
64
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
lighter than competitors (426g)
no articulating screen
does not have image stabilization
47
no articulating screen
lack of image stabilization
sensor size is very small (1/2.5")
has no RAW files
low maximum ISO (1,000)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-420 Sports photography factors
Panasonic FS42 Sports photography factors
39
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
sensor has phase detect autofocus
continuous shooting slow (4.0 fps)
does not have image stabilization
low MP (10MP)
terrible battery (500 per charge)
16
painfully slow continuous shooting (2.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority
lack of image stabilization
megapixel count low (10MP)
sensor size is very small (1/2.5")
has no phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-420 Travel photography factors
Panasonic FS42 Travel photography factors
53
lighter than competitors (426 grams)
built-in flash
doesn't have Timelapse mode
terrible battery (500 per charge)
low MP (10MP)
screen isn't selfie friendly
51
has built in flash
missing Timelapse mode
megapixel count low (10MP)
doesn't feature selfie friendly screen
wide angle not fantastic (33mm)
slow max aperture (f2.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-420 Landscape photography advice
Panasonic FS42 Landscape photography advice
47
you can focus manually
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
tiny screen (2.7")
does not have image stabilization
low MP (10 megapixels)
terrible battery (500 per charge)
doesn't have Timelapse mode
22
no manual focus
can't switch lenses (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not fantastic (33mm)
slow max aperture (f2.8)
screen is small (2.5")
manual mode not available
lack of image stabilization
megapixel count low (10MP)
sensor size is very small (1/2.5")
low maximum ISO (1,000)
has no RAW files
missing Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-420 Vlogging details
Panasonic FS42 Vlogging details
9
no video shooting
22
wide angle not fantastic (33mm)
slow max aperture (f2.8)
doesn't feature selfie friendly screen
lack of image stabilization
low video resolution (640 x 480 pixels)
missing external microphone jack
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Olympus E-420 vs Panasonic FS42 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-420 and Panasonic FS42
 Olympus E-420Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS42
General Information
Company Olympus Panasonic
Model type Olympus E-420 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS42
Type Entry-Level DSLR Ultracompact
Released 2008-06-23 2009-04-17
Body design Compact SLR Ultracompact
Sensor Information
Powered by 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 area 224.9mm² 24.7mm²
Sensor resolution 10MP 10MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 3648 x 2736 3648 x 2736
Highest native ISO 1600 1000
Highest boosted ISO - 6400
Minimum native ISO 100 80
RAW support
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
AF touch
Continuous AF
AF single
Tracking AF
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Total focus points 3 -
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 33-132mm (4.0x)
Maximal aperture - f/2.8-5.9
Macro focusing range - 5cm
Number of lenses 45 -
Crop factor 2.1 6.3
Screen
Range of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen sizing 2.7 inches 2.5 inches
Screen resolution 230 thousand dot 230 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentamirror) None
Viewfinder coverage 95% -
Viewfinder magnification 0.46x -
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60s 60s
Highest shutter speed 1/4000s 1/2000s
Continuous shooting speed 4.0 frames per sec 2.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes -
Change WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 12.00 m (at ISO 100) 6.30 m
Flash options Auto, Auto FP, Manual, Red-Eye Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Highest flash sync 1/180s -
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported 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 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 426 gr (0.94 lbs) 132 gr (0.29 lbs)
Dimensions 130 x 91 x 53mm (5.1" x 3.6" x 2.1") 98 x 55 x 22mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 0.9")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 56 not tested
DXO Color Depth rating 21.5 not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating 10.4 not tested
DXO Low light rating 527 not tested
Other
Battery life 500 photographs -
Battery format Battery Pack -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Storage media Compact Flash (Type I or II), xD Picture Card SD/SDHC card, Internal
Storage slots Single Single
Pricing at launch $999 $580