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Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Panasonic FS42

Portability
89
Imaging
40
Features
36
Overall
38
Olympus SZ-16 iHS front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS42 front
Portability
95
Imaging
33
Features
10
Overall
23

Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Panasonic FS42 Key Specs

Olympus SZ-16 iHS
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-600mm (F3.0-6.9) lens
  • 226g - 108 x 70 x 40mm
  • Revealed January 2013
Panasonic FS42
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - 1/2.5" Sensor
  • 2.5" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 1000 (Boost to 6400)
  • 640 x 480 video
  • 33-132mm (F2.8-5.9) lens
  • 132g - 98 x 55 x 22mm
  • Revealed April 2009
Photography Glossary

Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Panasonic FS42 Overview

Below is a in depth review of the Olympus SZ-16 iHS versus Panasonic FS42, one being a Small Sensor Superzoom and the other is a Ultracompact by brands Olympus and Panasonic. There exists a huge gap between the image resolutions of the SZ-16 iHS (16MP) and FS42 (10MP) and the SZ-16 iHS (1/2.3") and FS42 (1/2.5") enjoy totally different sensor measurements.

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The SZ-16 iHS was unveiled 3 years later than the FS42 and that is quite a significant gap as far as technology is concerned. Both the cameras come with different body type with the Olympus SZ-16 iHS being a Compact camera and the Panasonic FS42 being a Ultracompact camera.

Before going through a more detailed comparison, below is a brief summary of how the SZ-16 iHS scores vs the FS42 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus SZ-16 iHS over the Panasonic FS42

 SZ-16 iHS FS42 
RevealedJanuary 2013April 2009More recent by 46 months
Display dimension3"2.5"Larger display (+0.5")
Display resolution460k230kCrisper display (+230k dot)

Reasons to pick Panasonic FS42 over the Olympus SZ-16 iHS

 FS42 SZ-16 iHS 

Common features in the Olympus SZ-16 iHS and Panasonic FS42

 SZ-16 iHS FS42 
Manually focus No manual focusing
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Missing selfie screen
Touch display Missing Touch display

Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Panasonic FS42 Physical Comparison

For those who are aiming to lug around your camera often, you are going to need to factor its weight and dimensions. The Olympus SZ-16 iHS features physical measurements of 108mm x 70mm x 40mm (4.3" x 2.8" x 1.6") having a weight of 226 grams (0.50 lbs) and the Panasonic FS42 has dimensions of 98mm x 55mm x 22mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 0.9") accompanied by a weight of 132 grams (0.29 lbs).

See the Olympus SZ-16 iHS versus Panasonic FS42 in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary based on the lens you are using at that moment. Underneath is the front view measurement comparison of the SZ-16 iHS vs the FS42.

Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Panasonic FS42 size comparison

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the SZ-16 iHS and FS42 is 89 and 95 respectively.

Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Panasonic FS42 top view buttons comparison

Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Panasonic FS42 Sensor Comparison

Normally, it is tough to visualise the gap between sensor measurements only by reading specifications. The visual underneath may provide you a clearer sense of the sensor sizing in the SZ-16 iHS and FS42.

Plainly, both of these cameras have got different megapixel count and different sensor measurements. The SZ-16 iHS having a larger sensor will make achieving shallower DOF simpler and the Olympus SZ-16 iHS will offer you greater detail having an extra 6MP. Greater resolution will let you crop pics much more aggressively. The fresher SZ-16 iHS will have a benefit when it comes to sensor technology.

Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Panasonic FS42 sensor size comparison

Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Panasonic FS42 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Panasonic FS42 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus SZ-16 iHS Portrait photography advice
Panasonic FS42 Portrait photography advice
35
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
features face detection autofocus
focusing manually not possible
manual mode not possible
can't use external flash
sensor is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
19
manual focus not available
lack of manual mode
no external flash support
megapixel count low (10 megapixels)
sensor is small (1/2.5")
doesn't have RAW support
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Street Comparison

Olympus SZ-16 iHS Street photography features
Panasonic FS42 Street photography features
61
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than average (226 grams)
no moving screen
sensor is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
47
screen does not articulate
lack of image stabilization
sensor is small (1/2.5")
doesn't have RAW support
maximum ISO low (1,000)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus SZ-16 iHS Sports photography details
Panasonic FS42 Sports photography details
42
great zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good megapixels (16MP)
features tracking autofocus
very slow continuous shooting (2.0 frames/s)
lack of shutter priority mode
sensor is small (1/2.3")
not so great battery life (220 shots)
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
16
low frames per second (2.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority
lack of image stabilization
megapixel count low (10MP)
sensor is small (1/2.5")
doesn't have phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus SZ-16 iHS
Travel photography with Panasonic FS42
65
lighter than average (226 grams)
good megapixels (16MP)
flash built-in
decently wide (25mm)
long reach (600mm)
missing Timelapse function
not so great battery life (220 shots)
display is not selfie friendly
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
51
built-in flash
does not have Timelapse function
megapixel count low (10MP)
screen is not selfie friendly
wide angle not the best (33mm)
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus SZ-16 iHS as a Landscape photography camera
Panasonic FS42 as a Landscape photography camera
41
decently wide (25mm)
pretty good screen size (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good megapixels (16MP)
focusing manually not possible
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
manual mode not possible
sensor is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
not so great battery life (220 shots)
missing Timelapse function
22
manual focus not available
can't switch lenses (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not the best (33mm)
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
tiny screen (2.5")
lack of manual mode
lack of image stabilization
megapixel count low (10 megapixels)
sensor is small (1/2.5")
maximum ISO low (1,000)
doesn't have RAW support
does not have Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus SZ-16 iHS
Vlogging with Panasonic FS42
31
decently wide (25mm)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
features face detection autofocus
lighter than average (226g)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
display is not selfie friendly
video res low (1280 x 720 pxls)
missing external microphone support
22
wide angle not the best (33mm)
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
screen is not selfie friendly
lack of image stabilization
video resolution low (640 x 480 pixels)
does not have external microphone socket
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Olympus SZ-16 iHS vs Panasonic FS42 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SZ-16 iHS and Panasonic FS42
 Olympus SZ-16 iHSPanasonic Lumix DMC-FS42
General Information
Company Olympus Panasonic
Model type Olympus SZ-16 iHS Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS42
Class Small Sensor Superzoom Ultracompact
Revealed 2013-01-08 2009-04-17
Physical type Compact Ultracompact
Sensor Information
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.5"
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 5.744 x 4.308mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 24.7mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixels 10 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio - 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4608 x 3456 3648 x 2736
Highest native ISO 6400 1000
Highest enhanced ISO - 6400
Min native ISO 80 80
RAW images
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch focus
Continuous AF
AF single
Tracking AF
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Cross type focus points - -
Lens
Lens support fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 25-600mm (24.0x) 33-132mm (4.0x)
Highest aperture f/3.0-6.9 f/2.8-5.9
Macro focusing range - 5cm
Crop factor 5.8 6.3
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 3 inches 2.5 inches
Screen resolution 460 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Screen tech TFT Color LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 4 secs 60 secs
Fastest shutter speed 1/2000 secs 1/2000 secs
Continuous shutter rate 2.0 frames per sec 2.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance - 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
Supported video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 180 (30fps) 848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1280x720 640x480
Video file format MPEG-4, H.264 Motion JPEG
Microphone 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 226 gr (0.50 pounds) 132 gr (0.29 pounds)
Dimensions 108 x 70 x 40mm (4.3" x 2.8" x 1.6") 98 x 55 x 22mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 0.9")
DXO scores
DXO Overall 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
Battery life 220 shots -
Style of battery Battery Pack -
Battery ID LI-50B -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec, pet auto shutter) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC card, Internal
Card slots Single Single
Pricing at release $230 $580