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Olympus FE-4000 vs Panasonic FS12

Portability
95
Imaging
35
Features
17
Overall
27
Olympus FE-4000 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS12 front
Portability
95
Imaging
35
Features
14
Overall
26

Olympus FE-4000 vs Panasonic FS12 Key Specs

Olympus FE-4000
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 1600
  • 640 x 480 video
  • 26-105mm (F2.6-5.9) lens
  • 136g - 95 x 57 x 22mm
  • Revealed July 2009
  • Other Name is X-925
Panasonic FS12
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 1600 (Expand to 6400)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 640 x 480 video
  • 31-124mm (F2.8-5.9) lens
  • 129g - 97 x 55 x 22mm
  • Launched April 2009
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Olympus FE-4000 vs Panasonic FS12 Overview

In this write-up, we are evaluating the Olympus FE-4000 vs Panasonic FS12, former being a Small Sensor Compact while the other is a Ultracompact by companies Olympus and Panasonic. The resolution of the FE-4000 (12MP) and the FS12 (12MP) is fairly well matched and they possess the same exact sensor sizes (1/2.3").

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The FE-4000 was introduced 4 months later than the FS12 which means that they are both of a similar age. Both cameras offer different body type with the Olympus FE-4000 being a Compact camera and the Panasonic FS12 being a Ultracompact camera.

Before diving in to a comprehensive comparison, below is a brief introduction of how the FE-4000 matches up versus the FS12 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus FE-4000 over the Panasonic FS12

 FE-4000 FS12 

Reasons to pick Panasonic FS12 over the Olympus FE-4000

 FS12 FE-4000 

Common features in the Olympus FE-4000 and Panasonic FS12

 FE-4000 FS12 
LaunchedJuly 2009April 2009Similar age
Manually focus No manual focusing
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display sizing2.7"2.7"Equivalent display dimensions
Display resolution230k230kEqual display resolution
Selfie screen Missing selfie screen
Touch friendly display Neither features Touch friendly display

Olympus FE-4000 vs Panasonic FS12 Physical Comparison

If you are planning to lug around your camera regularly, you will want to take into account its weight and size. The Olympus FE-4000 enjoys physical measurements of 95mm x 57mm x 22mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.9") along with a weight of 136 grams (0.30 lbs) and the Panasonic FS12 has specifications of 97mm x 55mm x 22mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 0.9") with a weight of 129 grams (0.28 lbs).

See the Olympus FE-4000 vs Panasonic FS12 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an ILC will differ based on the lens you have attached during that time. The following is the front view dimensions comparison of the FE-4000 and the FS12.

Olympus FE-4000 vs Panasonic FS12 size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the FE-4000 and FS12 is 95 and 95 respectively.

Olympus FE-4000 vs Panasonic FS12 top view buttons comparison

Olympus FE-4000 vs Panasonic FS12 Sensor Comparison

Typically, its difficult to picture the contrast between sensor measurements simply by reading through specs. The visual here will help provide you a better sense of the sensor sizing in the FE-4000 and FS12.

All in all, both cameras offer the same exact sensor sizing and the identical megapixels therefore you can expect similar quality of images but you may want to factor the launch date of the products into consideration.

Olympus FE-4000 vs Panasonic FS12 sensor size comparison

Olympus FE-4000 vs Panasonic FS12 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus FE-4000 vs Panasonic FS12 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus FE-4000 Portrait photography features
Panasonic FS12 Portrait photography features
21
manual focus not available
no manual mode
cannot use external flash
megapixel count low (12MP)
small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
21
focusing manually not possible
lack of manual exposure
can't use external flash
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus FE-4000
Street photography with Panasonic FS12
55
lighter than average (136 grams)
no articulating screen
does not have image stabilization
small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
57
has image stabilization (Optical)
no moving screen
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus FE-4000
Sports photography with Panasonic FS12
17
no shutter priority mode
does not have image stabilization
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
25
has image stabilization (Optical)
max fps low (2.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus FE-4000 as a Travel photography camera
Panasonic FS12 as a Travel photography camera
62
lighter than average (136g)
has built in flash
quite wide (26mm)
lack of Time Lapse recording
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
does not posses selfie friendly display
slow max aperture (f2.6)
51
has built in flash
missing Time Lapse function
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
display is not selfie friendly
wide angle not the best (31mm)
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus FE-4000 Landscape photography features
Panasonic FS12 Landscape photography features
28
quite wide (26mm)
manual focus not available
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f2.6)
small screen (2.7")
no manual mode
does not have image stabilization
megapixel count low (12MP)
small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
lack of Time Lapse recording
28
has image stabilization (Optical)
focusing manually not possible
can't switch lens (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not the best (31mm)
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
screen is somewhat small (2.7")
lack of manual exposure
megapixel count low (12MP)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
missing Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus FE-4000 as a Vlogging camera
Panasonic FS12 as a Vlogging camera
28
quite wide (26mm)
lighter than average (136g)
slow max aperture (f2.6)
does not posses selfie friendly display
does not have image stabilization
video res low (640 x 480 pixels)
lack of mic socket
25
has image stabilization (Optical)
wide angle not the best (31mm)
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
display is not selfie friendly
video res low (640 x 480 resolution)
missing mic socket
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Olympus FE-4000 vs Panasonic FS12 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus FE-4000 and Panasonic FS12
 Olympus FE-4000Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS12
General Information
Company Olympus Panasonic
Model type Olympus FE-4000 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS12
Otherwise known as X-925 -
Type Small Sensor Compact Ultracompact
Revealed 2009-07-22 2009-04-17
Physical type Compact Ultracompact
Sensor Information
Processor TruePic III -
Sensor type CCD CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixels 12 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 3968 x 2976 4000 x 3000
Highest native ISO 1600 1600
Highest boosted ISO - 6400
Lowest native ISO 100 80
RAW images
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Lens
Lens support fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 26-105mm (4.0x) 31-124mm (4.0x)
Maximum aperture f/2.6-5.9 f/2.8-5.9
Macro focusing distance 3cm 5cm
Crop factor 5.8 5.9
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display diagonal 2.7 inch 2.7 inch
Resolution of display 230 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Lowest shutter speed 4s 60s
Highest shutter speed 1/2000s 1/2000s
Continuous shooting rate - 2.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 4.00 m 6.30 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Fill-in Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15 fps) 848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 640x480 640x480
Video file format Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
Mic port
Headphone port
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 proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 136g (0.30 pounds) 129g (0.28 pounds)
Dimensions 95 x 57 x 22mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.9") 97 x 55 x 22mm (3.8" 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
Self timer Yes (12 seconds) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage xD Picture Card, microSD Card, Internal SD/SDHC card, Internal
Card slots 1 1
Price at launch $130 $228