Olympus FE-5010 vs Panasonic FS42

Here, we are analyzing the Olympus FE-5010 vs Panasonic FS42, former being a Small Sensor Compact while the other is a Ultracompact by brands Olympus and Panasonic. The sensor resolution of the FE-5010 (12MP) and the FS42 (10MP) is fairly comparable but the FE-5010 (1/2.3") and FS42 (1/2.5") boast different sensor sizes.

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The FE-5010 was released 3 months prior to the FS42 which means that they are both of a similar age. Each of these cameras feature different body design with the Olympus FE-5010 being a Compact camera and the Panasonic FS42 being a Ultracompact camera.

Before diving into a complete comparison, here is a brief view of how the FE-5010 matches up against the FS42 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

This is a sample of the gallery pictures for Olympus FE-5010 & Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS42. The complete galleries are viewable at Olympus FE-5010 Gallery & Panasonic FS42 Gallery.

If you are planning to lug around your camera, you need to consider its weight and size. The Olympus FE-5010 provides outer measurements of 96mm x 57mm x 21mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 0.8") and a weight of 130 grams (0.29 lbs) whilst the Panasonic FS42 has specifications of 98mm x 55mm x 22mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 0.9") along with a weight of 132 grams (0.29 lbs).

Check out the Olympus FE-5010 vs Panasonic FS42 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Do not forget, the weight of an ILC will differ dependant on the lens you are using during that time. The following is a front view sizing comparison of the FE-5010 versus the FS42.

Looking at size and weight, the portability rating of the FE-5010 and FS42 is 96 and 95 respectively.

Generally, it is very hard to imagine the difference in sensor measurements purely by going through specs. The visual below might offer you a more clear sense of the sensor sizing in the FE-5010 and FS42.

As you can plainly see, both of the cameras come with different megapixel count and different sensor measurements. The FE-5010 featuring a larger sensor is going to make shooting shallow depth of field less difficult and the Olympus FE-5010 will produce extra detail as a result of its extra 2MP. Greater resolution can also help you crop pics a good deal more aggressively.