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Olympus FE-5010 vs Panasonic FS42

Portability
96
Imaging
34
Features
20
Overall
28
Olympus FE-5010 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS42 front
Portability
95
Imaging
33
Features
10
Overall
23

Olympus FE-5010 vs Panasonic FS42 Key Specs

Olympus FE-5010
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 64 - 1600
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 640 x 480 video
  • 36-180mm (F3.5-5.6) lens
  • 130g - 96 x 57 x 21mm
  • Launched January 2009
Panasonic FS42
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - 1/2.5" Sensor
  • 2.5" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 1000 (Expand to 6400)
  • 640 x 480 video
  • 33-132mm (F2.8-5.9) lens
  • 132g - 98 x 55 x 22mm
  • Announced April 2009
Photography Glossary

Olympus FE-5010 vs Panasonic FS42 Overview

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.

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Reasons to pick Olympus FE-5010 over the Panasonic FS42

 FE-5010 FS42 
Display size2.7"2.5"Larger display (+0.2")

Reasons to pick Panasonic FS42 over the Olympus FE-5010

 FS42 FE-5010 

Common features in the Olympus FE-5010 and Panasonic FS42

 FE-5010 FS42 
AnnouncedJanuary 2009April 2009Same age
Focus manually No manual focusing
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display resolution230k230kIdentical display resolution
Selfie screen Lacking selfie screen
Touch friendly display Lacking Touch friendly display

Olympus FE-5010 vs Panasonic FS42 Physical Comparison

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. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

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.

Olympus FE-5010 vs Panasonic FS42 size comparison

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

Olympus FE-5010 vs Panasonic FS42 top view buttons comparison

Olympus FE-5010 vs Panasonic FS42 Sensor Comparison

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.

Olympus FE-5010 vs Panasonic FS42 sensor size comparison

Olympus FE-5010 vs Panasonic FS42 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus FE-5010 vs Panasonic FS42 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus FE-5010 Portrait photography details
Panasonic FS42 Portrait photography details
20
focusing manually not possible
manual exposure not possible
cannot use external flash
low MP (12MP)
small sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
19
no manual focus
no manual mode
cannot use external flash
resolution not great (10MP)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.5")
lacks RAW format
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Street Comparison

Olympus FE-5010 Street photography advice
Panasonic FS42 Street photography advice
66
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
weather sealing
lighter than competitors in class (130g)
screen does not articulate
small sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
47
no moving screen
lack of image stabilization
sensor size is tiny (1/2.5")
lacks RAW format
low maximum ISO (1,000)
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Olympus FE-5010
Sports photography with Panasonic FS42
33
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
weather sealing
no shutter priority
low MP (12 megapixels)
small sensor (1/2.3")
has no phase detect AF
16
painfully slow continuous shooting (2.0 frames/s)
lack of shutter priority mode
lack of image stabilization
resolution not great (10MP)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.5")
lacks phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus FE-5010 Travel photography factors
Panasonic FS42 Travel photography factors
60
lighter than competitors in class (130 grams)
weather sealing
has built in flash
doesn't have Timelapse function
low MP (12MP)
doesn't offer selfie friendly screen
wide angle not great (36mm)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
51
built-in flash
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
resolution not great (10 megapixels)
display isn't selfie friendly
wide angle not good (33mm)
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus FE-5010 Landscape photography details
Panasonic FS42 Landscape photography details
31
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
weather sealing
focusing manually not possible
cannot change lenses (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not great (36mm)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
screen is small (2.7 inch)
manual exposure not possible
low MP (12MP)
small sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
doesn't have Timelapse function
22
no manual focus
cannot change lens (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not good (33mm)
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
tiny screen (2.5 inches)
no manual mode
lack of image stabilization
resolution not great (10 megapixels)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.5")
low maximum ISO (1,000)
lacks RAW format
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus FE-5010 Vlogging advice
Panasonic FS42 Vlogging advice
28
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than competitors in class (130g)
wide angle not great (36mm)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
doesn't offer selfie friendly screen
video quality not great (640 x 480 pixels)
doesn't have microphone socket
22
wide angle not good (33mm)
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
display isn't selfie friendly
lack of image stabilization
video resolution low (640 x 480 pxls)
doesn't have mic port
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Olympus FE-5010 vs Panasonic FS42 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus FE-5010 and Panasonic FS42
 Olympus FE-5010Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS42
General Information
Brand Olympus Panasonic
Model Olympus FE-5010 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS42
Class Small Sensor Compact Ultracompact
Launched 2009-01-07 2009-04-17
Body design Compact Ultracompact
Sensor Information
Sensor type CCD CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.5"
Sensor dimensions 6.08 x 4.56mm 5.744 x 4.308mm
Sensor surface area 27.7mm² 24.7mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixels 10 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 3968 x 2976 3648 x 2736
Max native ISO 1600 1000
Max enhanced ISO - 6400
Lowest native ISO 64 80
RAW support
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 36-180mm (5.0x) 33-132mm (4.0x)
Max aperture f/3.5-5.6 f/2.8-5.9
Macro focus range 3cm 5cm
Crop factor 5.9 6.3
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display diagonal 2.7" 2.5"
Resolution of display 230k dot 230k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Min shutter speed 4 seconds 60 seconds
Max shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/2000 seconds
Continuous shutter speed - 2.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 4.00 m 6.30 m
Flash settings Auto, Fill-in, Red-Eye reduction, Off, On Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Sync
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported 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)
Max video resolution 640x480 640x480
Video file format Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
Mic jack
Headphone jack
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 proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 130g (0.29 pounds) 132g (0.29 pounds)
Physical dimensions 96 x 57 x 21mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 0.8") 98 x 55 x 22mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 0.9")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth score not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range score not tested not tested
DXO Low light score not tested not tested
Other
Battery model LI-42B -
Self timer Yes (12 seconds) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Storage media xD-Picture Card (1GB, 2GB), microSD (MASD-1 is required) SD/SDHC card, Internal
Storage slots One One
Pricing at release $130 $580