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Olympus 7030 vs Panasonic FS42

Portability
95
Imaging
37
Features
27
Overall
33
Olympus Stylus 7030 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS42 front
Portability
95
Imaging
33
Features
10
Overall
23

Olympus 7030 vs Panasonic FS42 Key Specs

Olympus 7030
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 64 - 1600
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 640 x 480 video
  • 28-196mm (F3.0-5.9) lens
  • 140g - 93 x 56 x 26mm
  • Introduced January 2010
  • Other Name is mju 7030
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
  • Launched April 2009
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Olympus 7030 vs Panasonic FS42 Overview

Lets examine more in depth at the Olympus 7030 versus Panasonic FS42, former being a Small Sensor Compact while the other is a Ultracompact by rivals Olympus and Panasonic. There is a sizable difference among the resolutions of the 7030 (14MP) and FS42 (10MP) and the 7030 (1/2.3") and FS42 (1/2.5") use different sensor sizing.

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The 7030 was released 9 months later than the FS42 and they are both of a similar age. The two cameras offer different body type with the Olympus 7030 being a Compact camera and the Panasonic FS42 being a Ultracompact camera.

Before we go in to a step-by-step comparison, below is a simple overview of how the 7030 scores vs the FS42 for portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus 7030 over the Panasonic FS42

 7030 FS42 
LaunchedJanuary 2010April 2009More recent by 9 months
Display sizing2.7"2.5"Larger display (+0.2")

Reasons to pick Panasonic FS42 over the Olympus 7030

 FS42 7030 

Common features in the Olympus 7030 and Panasonic FS42

 7030 FS42 
Manually focus No manual focusing
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display resolution230k230kExact same display resolution
Selfie screen Absent selfie screen
Touch friendly display Neither provides Touch friendly display

Olympus 7030 vs Panasonic FS42 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is aiming to lug around your camera, you are going to need to consider its weight and volume. The Olympus 7030 provides exterior dimensions of 93mm x 56mm x 26mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 1.0") having a weight of 140 grams (0.31 lbs) while the Panasonic FS42 has sizing of 98mm x 55mm x 22mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 0.9") accompanied by a weight of 132 grams (0.29 lbs).

Check the Olympus 7030 versus Panasonic FS42 in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an ILC will change dependant on the lens you have attached at that moment. Here is the front view physical size comparison of the 7030 versus the FS42.

Olympus 7030 vs Panasonic FS42 size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability grade of the 7030 and FS42 is 95 and 95 respectively.

Olympus 7030 vs Panasonic FS42 top view buttons comparison

Olympus 7030 vs Panasonic FS42 Sensor Comparison

Generally, it's hard to imagine the contrast in sensor measurements purely by going through a spec sheet. The graphic here will help offer you a stronger sense of the sensor sizes in the 7030 and FS42.

Clearly, both of the cameras enjoy different resolutions and different sensor measurements. The 7030 due to its larger sensor is going to make shooting shallow DOF less difficult and the Olympus 7030 will produce greater detail as a result of its extra 4MP. Greater resolution will also help you crop images far more aggressively. The fresher 7030 should have an edge with regard to sensor technology.

Olympus 7030 vs Panasonic FS42 sensor size comparison

Olympus 7030 vs Panasonic FS42 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus 7030 vs Panasonic FS42 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus 7030 Portrait photography factors
Panasonic FS42 Portrait photography factors
28
decent sensor resolution (14 megapixels)
lack of manual focus
no manual exposure
external flash not possible
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
no RAW files
19
no manual focus
manual mode not possible
external flash not possible
MP count low (10 megapixels)
sensor is small (1/2.5")
lacks RAW files
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus 7030
Street photography with Panasonic FS42
57
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
no articulating screen
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
no RAW files
47
no articulating screen
no image stabilization
sensor is small (1/2.5")
lacks RAW files
low maximum ISO (1,000)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus 7030 as a Sports photography camera
Panasonic FS42 as a Sports photography camera
39
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
decent sensor resolution (14MP)
features tracking focus
continuous shooting slow (1.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
no phase detect AF
16
slow continuous shooting (2.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority mode
no image stabilization
MP count low (10MP)
sensor is small (1/2.5")
lacks phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus 7030 Travel photography details
Panasonic FS42 Travel photography details
65
decent sensor resolution (14MP)
built-in flash
rather wide (28mm)
no Time Lapse recording
does not feature selfie friendly screen
sluggish max aperture (f3.0)
51
has built in flash
does not have Time Lapse mode
MP count low (10MP)
display is not selfie friendly
wide angle not fantastic (33mm)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus 7030 as a Landscape photography camera
Panasonic FS42 as a Landscape photography camera
37
rather wide (28mm)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
decent sensor resolution (14MP)
lack of manual focus
can't switch lenses (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.0)
tiny screen (2.7")
no manual exposure
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
no RAW files
no Time Lapse recording
22
no manual focus
can't swap lens (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not fantastic (33mm)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
small screen (2.5 inches)
manual mode not possible
no image stabilization
MP count low (10MP)
sensor is small (1/2.5")
low maximum ISO (1,000)
lacks RAW files
does not have Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus 7030
Vlogging with Panasonic FS42
29
rather wide (28mm)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
sluggish max aperture (f3.0)
does not feature selfie friendly screen
video quality not great (640 x 480 pixels)
no mic jack
22
wide angle not fantastic (33mm)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
display is not selfie friendly
no image stabilization
video res low (640 x 480 pxls)
does not have external mic socket
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Olympus 7030 vs Panasonic FS42 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus 7030 and Panasonic FS42
 Olympus Stylus 7030Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS42
General Information
Brand Olympus Panasonic
Model type Olympus Stylus 7030 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS42
Otherwise known as mju 7030 -
Type Small Sensor Compact Ultracompact
Introduced 2010-01-07 2009-04-17
Physical type Compact Ultracompact
Sensor Information
Powered by TruePic III -
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 14MP 10MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 16:9 and 4:3 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 4288 x 3216 3648 x 2736
Max native ISO 1600 1000
Max enhanced ISO - 6400
Min native ISO 64 80
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 28-196mm (7.0x) 33-132mm (4.0x)
Maximum aperture f/3.0-5.9 f/2.8-5.9
Macro focusing range 2cm 5cm
Focal length multiplier 5.9 6.3
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display sizing 2.7 inch 2.5 inch
Resolution of display 230k dots 230k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Min shutter speed 4 secs 60 secs
Max shutter speed 1/2000 secs 1/2000 secs
Continuous shutter rate 1.0 frames per second 2.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 5.70 m 6.30 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Fill-in Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
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 format Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
Mic 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
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 140g (0.31 lbs) 132g (0.29 lbs)
Dimensions 93 x 56 x 26mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 1.0") 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
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 seconds) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Storage type SC/SDHC, Internal SD/SDHC card, Internal
Card slots 1 1
Pricing at release $179 $580