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Olympus E-M10 vs Panasonic FS42

Portability
82
Imaging
53
Features
73
Overall
61
Olympus OM-D E-M10 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS42 front
Portability
95
Imaging
33
Features
10
Overall
23

Olympus E-M10 vs Panasonic FS42 Key Specs

Olympus E-M10
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 200 - 25600
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 396g - 119 x 82 x 46mm
  • Announced March 2014
  • Updated by Olympus E-M10 II
Panasonic FS42
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - 1/2.5" Sensor
  • 2.5" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 1000 (Bump 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 E-M10 vs Panasonic FS42 Overview

In this article, we will be contrasting the Olympus E-M10 vs Panasonic FS42, former is a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the latter is a Ultracompact by manufacturers Olympus and Panasonic. There exists a large gap among the sensor resolutions of the E-M10 (16MP) and FS42 (10MP) and the E-M10 (Four Thirds) and FS42 (1/2.5") enjoy totally different sensor measurements.

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The E-M10 was manufactured 4 years after the FS42 which is a fairly serious difference as far as camera technology is concerned. Both of the cameras offer different body type with the Olympus E-M10 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic FS42 being a Ultracompact camera.

Before we go through a thorough comparison, below is a brief highlight of how the E-M10 matches up against the FS42 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-M10 over the Panasonic FS42

 E-M10 FS42 
AnnouncedMarch 2014April 2009Newer by 60 months
Manually focus More precise focusing
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen sizing3"2.5"Bigger screen (+0.5")
Screen resolution1037k230kSharper screen (+807k dot)
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Panasonic FS42 over the Olympus E-M10

 FS42 E-M10 

Common features in the Olympus E-M10 and Panasonic FS42

 E-M10 FS42 
Selfie screen Neither has selfie screen

Olympus E-M10 vs Panasonic FS42 Physical Comparison

When you are going to travel with your camera often, you need to take into account its weight and size. The Olympus E-M10 has physical measurements of 119mm x 82mm x 46mm (4.7" x 3.2" x 1.8") and a weight of 396 grams (0.87 lbs) and the Panasonic FS42 has specifications of 98mm x 55mm x 22mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 0.9") with a weight of 132 grams (0.29 lbs).

Take a look at the Olympus E-M10 vs Panasonic FS42 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an ILC will differ depending on the lens you are utilizing at that moment. Underneath is the front view size comparison of the E-M10 vs the FS42.

Olympus E-M10 vs Panasonic FS42 size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the E-M10 and FS42 is 82 and 95 respectively.

Olympus E-M10 vs Panasonic FS42 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-M10 vs Panasonic FS42 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it is hard to visualise the difference in sensor dimensions merely by checking out specifications. The picture underneath might offer you a better sense of the sensor measurements in the E-M10 and FS42.

Plainly, the two cameras enjoy different megapixel count and different sensor dimensions. The E-M10 featuring a bigger sensor will make getting shallower DOF simpler and the Olympus E-M10 will produce greater detail due to its extra 6MP. Higher resolution can also help you crop pictures far more aggressively. The younger E-M10 will have an edge with regard to sensor technology.

Olympus E-M10 vs Panasonic FS42 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-M10 vs Panasonic FS42 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-M10 vs Panasonic FS42 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-M10 Portrait photography info
Panasonic FS42 Portrait photography info
71
has manual focus
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
supports face detection focus
exports RAW files
19
manual focus not available
manual mode not possible
no external flash support
low MP (10MP)
very small sensor (1/2.5")
doesn't have RAW support
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-M10 as a Street photography camera
Panasonic FS42 as a Street photography camera
77
screen tilts up and down
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
exports RAW files
comes with touch to focus
good ISO range (25,600)
heavier than competition in class (396g)
47
screen does not articulate
lack of image stabilization
very small sensor (1/2.5")
doesn't have RAW support
maximum ISO low (1,000)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-M10 Sports photography features
Panasonic FS42 Sports photography features
66
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
supports tracking autofocus
does not have phase detect auto focus
16
slow continuous shooting (2.0 fps)
no shutter priority
lack of image stabilization
low MP (10MP)
very small sensor (1/2.5")
doesn't have phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-M10 Travel photography advice
Panasonic FS42 Travel photography advice
67
comes with touch to focus
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
has built in flash
heavier than competition in class (396g)
screen isn't selfie friendly
51
built-in flash
does not have Timelapse mode
low MP (10MP)
doesn't have a selfie friendly display
wide angle not great (33mm)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-M10 Landscape photography info
Panasonic FS42 Landscape photography info
79
has manual focus
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is good (3 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
good ISO range (25,600)
exports RAW files
22
manual focus not available
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not great (33mm)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
screen is somewhat small (2.5")
manual mode not possible
lack of image stabilization
low MP (10MP)
very small sensor (1/2.5")
maximum ISO low (1,000)
doesn't have RAW support
does not have Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus E-M10 Vlogging features
Panasonic FS42 Vlogging features
33
touchscreen functionality
image stabilization (Sensor based)
supports face detection focus
video res high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
screen isn't selfie friendly
lack of external mic jack
heavier than competition in class (396g)
22
wide angle not great (33mm)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
doesn't have a selfie friendly display
lack of image stabilization
low video resolution (640 x 480 pixels)
does not have microphone socket
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Olympus E-M10 vs Panasonic FS42 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-M10 and Panasonic FS42
 Olympus OM-D E-M10Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS42
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Panasonic
Model Olympus OM-D E-M10 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS42
Class Entry-Level Mirrorless Ultracompact
Announced 2014-03-18 2009-04-17
Physical type SLR-style mirrorless Ultracompact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip TruePic VII -
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 16MP 10MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4608 x 3456 3648 x 2736
Maximum native ISO 25600 1000
Maximum boosted ISO - 6400
Minimum native ISO 200 80
RAW format
Autofocusing
Manual focus
AF touch
AF continuous
Single AF
Tracking AF
Selective AF
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Number of focus points 81 -
Lens
Lens mount Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens focal range - 33-132mm (4.0x)
Max aperture - f/2.8-5.9
Macro focus range - 5cm
Total lenses 107 -
Crop factor 2.1 6.3
Screen
Type of display Tilting Fixed Type
Display size 3 inch 2.5 inch
Resolution of display 1,037k dots 230k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Display tech TFT LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic None
Viewfinder resolution 1,440k dots -
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent -
Viewfinder magnification 0.58x -
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60 secs 60 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/2000 secs
Continuous shooting rate 8.0 frames/s 2.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes -
Change WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 5.80 m (ISO100) 6.30 m
Flash options Flash Auto, Redeye, Fill-in, Flash Off, Red-eye Slow sync.(1st curtain), Slow sync.(1st curtain), Slow sync.(2nd curtain), Manual(1/1(FULL)~1/64) Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
AEB
WB bracketing
Highest flash synchronize 1/250 secs -
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30p), 1280 x 720 (30p), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 640x480
Video file format H.264, Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
Microphone port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS Optional None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 396 grams (0.87 lbs) 132 grams (0.29 lbs)
Dimensions 119 x 82 x 46mm (4.7" x 3.2" x 1.8") 98 x 55 x 22mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 0.9")
DXO scores
DXO All around score 72 not tested
DXO Color Depth score 22.8 not tested
DXO Dynamic range score 12.3 not tested
DXO Low light score 884 not tested
Other
Battery life 320 shots -
Form of battery Battery Pack -
Battery model BLS-5 -
Self timer Yes (12 sec., 2 sec.,custom (Waiting time 1-30sec.,Shooting interval 0.5/1/2/3sec.,Number of shots 1-10)) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC card, Internal
Card slots 1 1
Retail price $600 $580