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Olympus 7000 vs Panasonic FS42

Portability
94
Imaging
34
Features
21
Overall
28
Olympus Stylus 7000 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS42 front
Portability
95
Imaging
33
Features
10
Overall
23

Olympus 7000 vs Panasonic FS42 Key Specs

Olympus 7000
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 50 - 1600
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 640 x 480 video
  • 37-260mm (F3.5-5.3) lens
  • 172g - 96 x 56 x 25mm
  • Announced January 2009
  • Additionally referred to as mju 7000
Panasonic FS42
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - 1/2.5" Sensor
  • 2.5" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 1000 (Increase to 6400)
  • 640 x 480 video
  • 33-132mm (F2.8-5.9) lens
  • 132g - 98 x 55 x 22mm
  • Introduced April 2009
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Olympus 7000 vs Panasonic FS42 Overview

Here, we will be reviewing the Olympus 7000 and Panasonic FS42, former being a Small Sensor Compact while the latter is a Ultracompact by brands Olympus and Panasonic. The resolution of the 7000 (12MP) and the FS42 (10MP) is pretty well matched but the 7000 (1/2.3") and FS42 (1/2.5") posses totally different sensor sizing.

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The 7000 was released 3 months earlier than the FS42 which means that they are both of a similar age. Both the cameras feature different body design with the Olympus 7000 being a Compact camera and the Panasonic FS42 being a Ultracompact camera.

Before we go straight to a thorough comparison, here is a quick summary of how the 7000 scores vs the FS42 for portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Olympus 7000 over the Panasonic FS42

 7000 FS42 
Screen size3"2.5"Bigger screen (+0.5")

Reasons to pick Panasonic FS42 over the Olympus 7000

 FS42 7000 

Common features in the Olympus 7000 and Panasonic FS42

 7000 FS42 
IntroducedJanuary 2009April 2009Similar age
Manual focus No manual focusing
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen resolution230k230kEqual screen resolution
Selfie screen Neither has selfie screen
Touch screen Neither has Touch screen

Olympus 7000 vs Panasonic FS42 Physical Comparison

For those who are looking to lug around your camera regularly, you'll have to think about its weight and proportions. The Olympus 7000 has physical dimensions of 96mm x 56mm x 25mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 1.0") and a weight of 172 grams (0.38 lbs) whilst the Panasonic FS42 has measurements of 98mm x 55mm x 22mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 0.9") with a weight of 132 grams (0.29 lbs).

Examine the Olympus 7000 and Panasonic FS42 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an ILC will change dependant on the lens you select at that moment. Underneath is a front view measurement comparison of the 7000 against the FS42.

Olympus 7000 vs Panasonic FS42 size comparison

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the 7000 and FS42 is 94 and 95 respectively.

Olympus 7000 vs Panasonic FS42 top view buttons comparison

Olympus 7000 vs Panasonic FS42 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, its tough to visualise the contrast between sensor measurements merely by looking at technical specs. The visual underneath will offer you a stronger sense of the sensor dimensions in the 7000 and FS42.

As you have seen, each of these cameras come with different resolutions and different sensor measurements. The 7000 due to its bigger sensor will make shooting shallow depth of field easier and the Olympus 7000 will resolve more detail as a result of its extra 2MP. Higher resolution can also make it easier to crop shots a good deal more aggressively.

Olympus 7000 vs Panasonic FS42 sensor size comparison

Olympus 7000 vs Panasonic FS42 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus 7000 vs Panasonic FS42 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus 7000 Portrait photography factors
Panasonic FS42 Portrait photography factors
20
no manual focus
manual mode not available
external flash not possible
sensor resolution low (12MP)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
19
focusing manually not possible
manual exposure not possible
can't use external flash
sensor resolution low (10MP)
very small sensor (1/2.5")
lack of RAW support
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Street Comparison

Olympus 7000 Street photography info
Panasonic FS42 Street photography info
56
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
no articulating screen
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
47
fixed screen
does not have image stabilization
very small sensor (1/2.5")
lack of RAW support
max ISO too low (1,000)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus 7000 Sports photography details
Panasonic FS42 Sports photography details
27
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
no shutter priority mode
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
has no phase detect auto focus
16
painfully slow continuous shooting (2.0 fps)
lack of shutter priority mode
does not have image stabilization
sensor resolution low (10MP)
very small sensor (1/2.5")
lack of phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus 7000 Travel photography information
Panasonic FS42 Travel photography information
55
flash built-in
long zoom (260mm)
no Time Lapse function
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
screen isn't selfie friendly
wide angle not good (37mm)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
51
flash built-in
does not have Timelapse mode
sensor resolution low (10MP)
screen isn't selfie friendly
wide angle not good (33mm)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus 7000 Landscape photography details
Panasonic FS42 Landscape photography details
32
screen size is decent (3")
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
no manual focus
cannot change lenses (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not good (37mm)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
manual mode not available
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
no Time Lapse function
22
focusing manually not possible
cannot swap lenses (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not good (33mm)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
small screen (2.5")
manual exposure not possible
does not have image stabilization
sensor resolution low (10MP)
very small sensor (1/2.5")
max ISO too low (1,000)
lack of RAW support
does not have Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus 7000 Vlogging info
Panasonic FS42 Vlogging info
25
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
wide angle not good (37mm)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
screen isn't selfie friendly
video res low (640 x 480 pxls)
no external mic port
22
wide angle not good (33mm)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
screen isn't selfie friendly
does not have image stabilization
video res low (640 x 480 pixels)
does not have microphone support
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Olympus 7000 vs Panasonic FS42 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus 7000 and Panasonic FS42
 Olympus Stylus 7000Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS42
General Information
Brand Olympus Panasonic
Model Olympus Stylus 7000 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS42
Otherwise known as mju 7000 -
Type Small Sensor Compact Ultracompact
Announced 2009-01-07 2009-04-17
Physical type Compact Ultracompact
Sensor Information
Sensor type CCD CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.5"
Sensor measurements 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 16:9, 4:3 and 3:2 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 3968 x 2976 3648 x 2736
Maximum native ISO 1600 1000
Maximum enhanced ISO - 6400
Minimum native ISO 50 80
RAW files
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
Continuous AF
Single AF
AF tracking
AF selectice
AF center weighted
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 37-260mm (7.0x) 33-132mm (4.0x)
Max aperture f/3.5-5.3 f/2.8-5.9
Macro focus distance 2cm 5cm
Focal length multiplier 5.9 6.3
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen size 3 inch 2.5 inch
Screen resolution 230 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 4s 60s
Fastest shutter speed 1/2000s 1/2000s
Continuous shutter rate - 2.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Set WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 4.80 m 6.30 m
Flash modes Auto, Fill-in, Red-Eye reduction, Off, On Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
AEB
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
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)
Maximum video resolution 640x480 640x480
Video data format Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
Microphone support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 172 grams (0.38 lb) 132 grams (0.29 lb)
Physical dimensions 96 x 56 x 25mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 1.0") 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
Self timer Yes (12 seconds) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage xD Picture Card, microSD Card, Internal SD/SDHC card, Internal
Card slots 1 1
Launch cost $280 $580