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Olympus SH-3 vs Panasonic FS42

Portability
88
Imaging
41
Features
51
Overall
45
Olympus Stylus SH-3 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS42 front
Portability
95
Imaging
33
Features
10
Overall
23

Olympus SH-3 vs Panasonic FS42 Key Specs

Olympus SH-3
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 125 - 6400
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • 25-600mm (F3.0-6.9) lens
  • 271g - 109 x 63 x 42mm
  • Released February 2016
  • Replaced the Olympus SH-2
Panasonic FS42
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - 1/2.5" Sensor
  • 2.5" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 1000 (Push 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 SH-3 vs Panasonic FS42 Overview

Here, we will be analyzing the Olympus SH-3 versus Panasonic FS42, former is a Small Sensor Superzoom while the latter is a Ultracompact by rivals Olympus and Panasonic. There is a considerable difference among the resolutions of the SH-3 (16MP) and FS42 (10MP) and the SH-3 (1/2.3") and FS42 (1/2.5") have different sensor sizing.

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The SH-3 was announced 6 years after the FS42 which is a fairly large difference as far as camera tech is concerned. Both of these cameras feature different body design with the Olympus SH-3 being a Compact camera and the Panasonic FS42 being a Ultracompact camera.

Before getting into a step-by-step comparison, here is a short summary of how the SH-3 grades versus the FS42 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Olympus SH-3 over the Panasonic FS42

 SH-3 FS42 
IntroducedFebruary 2016April 2009More modern by 83 months
Screen size3"2.5"Bigger screen (+0.5")
Screen resolution460k230kClearer screen (+230k dot)
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Panasonic FS42 over the Olympus SH-3

 FS42 SH-3 

Common features in the Olympus SH-3 and Panasonic FS42

 SH-3 FS42 
Focus manually No manual focus
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Absent selfie screen

Olympus SH-3 vs Panasonic FS42 Physical Comparison

If you are planning to carry around your camera, you will have to consider its weight and volume. The Olympus SH-3 has got external measurements of 109mm x 63mm x 42mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.7") having a weight of 271 grams (0.60 lbs) and 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).

Analyze the Olympus SH-3 versus Panasonic FS42 in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an ILC will vary based on the lens you have attached at that time. The following is a front view measurement comparison of the SH-3 vs the FS42.

Olympus SH-3 vs Panasonic FS42 size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability rating of the SH-3 and FS42 is 88 and 95 respectively.

Olympus SH-3 vs Panasonic FS42 top view buttons comparison

Olympus SH-3 vs Panasonic FS42 Sensor Comparison

In many cases, it is tough to picture the difference in sensor sizes merely by researching specs. The image here may offer you a stronger sense of the sensor sizing in the SH-3 and FS42.

As you can plainly see, the 2 cameras feature different megapixel count and different sensor sizes. The SH-3 having a bigger sensor is going to make shooting bokeh less difficult and the Olympus SH-3 will result in extra detail with its extra 6MP. Higher resolution can also make it easier to crop pictures way more aggressively. The more recent SH-3 provides a benefit with regard to sensor tech.

Olympus SH-3 vs Panasonic FS42 sensor size comparison

Olympus SH-3 vs Panasonic FS42 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus SH-3 vs Panasonic FS42 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Olympus SH-3
Portrait photography with Panasonic FS42
44
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
has face detect autofocus
exports RAW formats
focusing manually not possible
external flash not possible
small sensor size (1/2.3")
19
no manual focus
no manual control
cannot use external flash
megapixel count low (10 megapixels)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.5")
no RAW format
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Street Comparison

Olympus SH-3 Street photography highlights
Panasonic FS42 Street photography highlights
70
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
exports RAW formats
provides focus by touch
lighter than competitors (271 grams)
fixed screen
small sensor size (1/2.3")
47
no articulating screen
lack of image stabilization
sensor size is tiny (1/2.5")
no RAW format
low maximum ISO (1,000)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus SH-3 Sports photography advice
Panasonic FS42 Sports photography advice
51
amazing zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
decent megapixels (16MP)
has tracking focus
good battery power (380 per charge)
lack of shutter priority mode
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect autofocus
16
very slow continuous shooting (2.0 fps)
no shutter priority
lack of image stabilization
megapixel count low (10 megapixels)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.5")
no phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Olympus SH-3
Travel photography with Panasonic FS42
74
good battery power (380 CIPA)
lighter than competitors (271g)
provides focus by touch
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
pretty wide (25mm)
long reach (600mm)
doesn't feature selfie friendly screen
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.0)
51
flash built-in
missing Time Lapse recording
megapixel count low (10 megapixels)
doesn't feature selfie friendly screen
wide angle not good (33mm)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus SH-3 as a Landscape photography camera
Panasonic FS42 as a Landscape photography camera
55
pretty wide (25mm)
pretty good screen size (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
exports RAW formats
good battery power (380 CIPA)
focusing manually not possible
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.0)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
22
no manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not good (33mm)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
tiny screen (2.5 inch)
no manual control
lack of image stabilization
megapixel count low (10 megapixels)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.5")
low maximum ISO (1,000)
no RAW format
missing Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Olympus SH-3 Vlogging advice
Panasonic FS42 Vlogging advice
35
pretty wide (25mm)
has touchscreen
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
has face detect autofocus
high res video (3840 x 2160 pxls)
lighter than competitors (271g)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.0)
doesn't feature selfie friendly screen
missing mic port
22
wide angle not good (33mm)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
doesn't feature selfie friendly screen
lack of image stabilization
low res video (640 x 480 pixels)
missing external mic jack
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Olympus SH-3 vs Panasonic FS42 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SH-3 and Panasonic FS42
 Olympus Stylus SH-3Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS42
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Panasonic
Model Olympus Stylus SH-3 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS42
Type Small Sensor Superzoom Ultracompact
Released 2016-02-08 2009-04-17
Body design Compact Ultracompact
Sensor Information
Powered by TruePic VII -
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.5"
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 5.744 x 4.308mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 24.7mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixel 10 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 4608 x 3456 3648 x 2736
Max native ISO 6400 1000
Max boosted ISO - 6400
Min native ISO 125 80
RAW format
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 25-600mm (24.0x) 33-132mm (4.0x)
Max aperture f/3.0-6.9 f/2.8-5.9
Macro focus range 3cm 5cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 6.3
Screen
Range of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 3 inches 2.5 inches
Screen resolution 460k dot 230k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 30s 60s
Maximum shutter speed 1/2000s 1/2000s
Continuous shooting speed 11.5 frames/s 2.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 8.30 m (at ISO 3200) 6.30 m
Flash settings Auto, redeye reduction, fill-in, off Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Sync
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 3840 x 2160 (15 fps), 1920 x 1080 (60p, 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)
Max video resolution 3840x2160 640x480
Video format H.264 Motion JPEG
Mic input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 271 gr (0.60 lb) 132 gr (0.29 lb)
Physical dimensions 109 x 63 x 42mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.7") 98 x 55 x 22mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 0.9")
DXO scores
DXO All around 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
Battery life 380 photos -
Form of battery Battery Pack -
Battery model LI-92B -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec, custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Storage media SD, SDHC, SDXC, Internal Memory SD/SDHC card, Internal
Storage slots 1 1
Launch pricing $579 $580