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Olympus SP-100 vs Panasonic FS42

Portability
63
Imaging
40
Features
48
Overall
43
Olympus Stylus SP-100 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS42 front
Portability
95
Imaging
33
Features
10
Overall
23

Olympus SP-100 vs Panasonic FS42 Key Specs

Olympus SP-100
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 125 - 6400 (Increase to 12800)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-1200mm (F2.9-6.5) lens
  • 594g - 122 x 91 x 133mm
  • Introduced January 2014
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
  • Introduced April 2009
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Olympus SP-100 vs Panasonic FS42 Overview

Below is a extended analysis of the Olympus SP-100 versus Panasonic FS42, one being a Small Sensor Superzoom and the other is a Ultracompact by competitors Olympus and Panasonic. There is a huge difference between the resolutions of the SP-100 (16MP) and FS42 (10MP) and the SP-100 (1/2.3") and FS42 (1/2.5") have totally different sensor measurements.

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The SP-100 was manufactured 4 years later than the FS42 and that is quite a significant gap as far as tech is concerned. The two cameras have different body design with the Olympus SP-100 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera and the Panasonic FS42 being a Ultracompact camera.

Before getting straight to a complete comparison, here is a quick summary of how the SP-100 grades against the FS42 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus SP-100 over the Panasonic FS42

 SP-100 FS42 
IntroducedJanuary 2014April 2009More recent by 59 months
Manually focus Very precise focusing
Display dimensions3"2.5"Larger display (+0.5")
Display resolution460k230kSharper display (+230k dot)

Reasons to pick Panasonic FS42 over the Olympus SP-100

 FS42 SP-100 

Common features in the Olympus SP-100 and Panasonic FS42

 SP-100 FS42 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Neither contains selfie screen
Touch display Neither contains Touch display

Olympus SP-100 vs Panasonic FS42 Physical Comparison

In case you're going to lug around your camera frequently, you should consider its weight and measurements. The Olympus SP-100 has got outer measurements of 122mm x 91mm x 133mm (4.8" x 3.6" x 5.2") along with a weight of 594 grams (1.31 lbs) and the Panasonic FS42 has proportions of 98mm x 55mm x 22mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 0.9") accompanied by a weight of 132 grams (0.29 lbs).

Take a look at the Olympus SP-100 versus Panasonic FS42 in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ dependant on the lens you choose at the time. The following is a front view size comparison of the SP-100 against the FS42.

Olympus SP-100 vs Panasonic FS42 size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability grade of the SP-100 and FS42 is 63 and 95 respectively.

Olympus SP-100 vs Panasonic FS42 top view buttons comparison

Olympus SP-100 vs Panasonic FS42 Sensor Comparison

Often, it is very difficult to see the difference between sensor measurements simply by reading through technical specs. The visual underneath will help give you a much better sense of the sensor sizing in the SP-100 and FS42.

As you have seen, both of the cameras provide different resolutions and different sensor measurements. The SP-100 featuring a larger sensor will make achieving shallow DOF easier and the Olympus SP-100 will give you more detail due to its extra 6 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also make it easier to crop images more aggressively. The fresher SP-100 will have an edge in sensor technology.

Olympus SP-100 vs Panasonic FS42 sensor size comparison

Olympus SP-100 vs Panasonic FS42 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus SP-100 vs Panasonic FS42 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus SP-100 as a Portrait photography camera
Panasonic FS42 as a Portrait photography camera
44
you can focus manually
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
includes face detection focusing
can't use external flash
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
19
lack of manual focus
manual exposure not possible
external flash not possible
low megapixels (10 megapixels)
very small sensor size (1/2.5")
doesn't have RAW files
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Olympus SP-100
Street photography with Panasonic FS42
42
built in image stabilization (Optical)
screen does not articulate
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
heavier than competition in class (594 grams)
47
screen is fixed
lack of image stabilization
very small sensor size (1/2.5")
doesn't have RAW files
low max ISO (1,000)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus SP-100 as a Sports photography camera
Panasonic FS42 as a Sports photography camera
53
great zoom range (24-1200mm 50.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count decent (16MP)
includes tracking autofocus
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect AF
16
max fps low (2.0 fps)
lack of shutter priority mode
lack of image stabilization
low megapixels (10 megapixels)
very small sensor size (1/2.5")
doesn't have phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Olympus SP-100 Travel photography information
Panasonic FS42 Travel photography information
53
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
reasonably wide (24mm)
great reach (1200mm)
missing Time Lapse mode
heavier than competition in class (594 grams)
screen is not selfie friendly
slow maximum aperture (f2.9)
51
built-in flash
does not have Time Lapse function
low megapixels (10 megapixels)
display is not selfie friendly
wide angle not fantastic (33mm)
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus SP-100 Landscape photography features
Panasonic FS42 Landscape photography features
47
you can focus manually
reasonably wide (24mm)
screen is a decent size (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f2.9)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
missing Time Lapse mode
22
lack of manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not fantastic (33mm)
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
small screen (2.5 inch)
manual exposure not possible
lack of image stabilization
low megapixels (10 megapixels)
very small sensor size (1/2.5")
low max ISO (1,000)
doesn't have RAW files
does not have Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus SP-100
Vlogging with Panasonic FS42
29
reasonably wide (24mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
includes face detection focusing
high res video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
does have external mic support
slow maximum aperture (f2.9)
screen is not selfie friendly
heavier than competition in class (594g)
22
wide angle not fantastic (33mm)
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
display is not selfie friendly
lack of image stabilization
video resolution low (640 x 480 pxls)
does not have external mic port
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Olympus SP-100 vs Panasonic FS42 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus SP-100 and Panasonic FS42
 Olympus Stylus SP-100Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS42
General Information
Brand Olympus Panasonic
Model type Olympus Stylus SP-100 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS42
Class Small Sensor Superzoom Ultracompact
Introduced 2014-01-29 2009-04-17
Body design SLR-like (bridge) Ultracompact
Sensor Information
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 16MP 10MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 4608 x 3456 3648 x 2736
Max native ISO 6400 1000
Max enhanced ISO 12800 6400
Min native ISO 125 80
RAW files
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
AF continuous
AF single
Tracking AF
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Cross type focus points - -
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 24-1200mm (50.0x) 33-132mm (4.0x)
Largest aperture f/2.9-6.5 f/2.8-5.9
Macro focusing distance 1cm 5cm
Crop factor 5.8 6.3
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display size 3 inches 2.5 inches
Display resolution 460 thousand dot 230 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Display technology TFT LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic None
Viewfinder resolution 920 thousand dot -
Features
Minimum shutter speed 30s 60s
Fastest shutter speed 1/1700s 1/2000s
Continuous shutter speed 7.0fps 2.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance - 6.30 m
Flash options Auto, Red Eye Reduction, Fill-in, Off Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
AEB
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60p, 30p), 1280 x 720 (60p), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 640x480
Video format H.264 Motion JPEG
Mic jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless Optional None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 594 grams (1.31 pounds) 132 grams (0.29 pounds)
Physical dimensions 122 x 91 x 133mm (4.8" x 3.6" x 5.2") 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 330 photographs -
Battery form Battery Pack -
Battery ID LI-92B -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 secs, custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC, internal SD/SDHC card, Internal
Storage slots Single Single
Pricing at release $400 $580