Olympus 1 vs Panasonic FS42

Here, we are looking at the Olympus 1 vs Panasonic FS42, former is a Small Sensor Superzoom while the other is a Ultracompact by brands Olympus and Panasonic. The image resolution of the 1 (12MP) and the FS42 (10MP) is very comparable but the 1 (1/1.7") and FS42 (1/2.5") have totally different sensor measurements.

Photography Glossary

The 1 was unveiled 4 years after the FS42 which is a fairly large difference as far as camera tech is concerned. Both the cameras feature different body design with the Olympus 1 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera and the Panasonic FS42 being a Ultracompact camera.

Before delving right into a detailed comparison, here is a quick overview of how the 1 grades versus the FS42 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

Below is a sample of the gallery pics for Olympus Stylus 1 & Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS42. The full galleries are viewable at Olympus 1 Gallery & Panasonic FS42 Gallery.

If you are going to carry around your camera regularly, you have to take into account its weight and dimensions. The Olympus 1 provides external dimensions of 116mm x 87mm x 57mm (4.6" x 3.4" x 2.2") with a weight of 402 grams (0.89 lbs) whilst the Panasonic FS42 has dimensions 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 the Olympus 1 vs Panasonic FS42 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Take into consideration, the weight of an ILC will vary depending on the lens you are utilizing at that moment. Here is a front view over all size comparison of the 1 compared to the FS42.

Factoring in size and weight, the portability rating of the 1 and FS42 is 79 and 95 respectively.

Often, it can be difficult to see the difference in sensor sizes just by seeing technical specs. The pic below may give you a stronger sense of the sensor sizes in the 1 and FS42.

As you can tell, the two cameras come with different megapixels and different sensor sizes. The 1 with its larger sensor will make achieving shallower DOF less difficult and the Olympus 1 will produce greater detail having an extra 2 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also help you crop images a good deal more aggressively. The more modern 1 is going to have a benefit with regard to sensor innovation.