Olympus Tough-3000 vs Panasonic FS42

Here, we will be reviewing the Olympus Tough-3000 versus Panasonic FS42, one is a Waterproof and the latter is a Ultracompact by competitors Olympus and Panasonic. The resolution of the Tough-3000 (12MP) and the FS42 (10MP) is relatively similar but the Tough-3000 (1/2.3") and FS42 (1/2.5") offer different sensor sizing.

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The Tough-3000 was brought out 9 months after the FS42 which means that they are of a similar generation. The two cameras feature different body design with the Olympus Tough-3000 being a Compact camera and the Panasonic FS42 being a Ultracompact camera.

Before going right into a full comparison, here is a concise highlight of how the Tough-3000 scores versus the FS42 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

Here is a preview of the gallery photos for Olympus Stylus Tough-3000 and Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS42. The entire galleries are available at Olympus Tough-3000 Gallery and Panasonic FS42 Gallery.

When you are going to carry around your camera frequently, you will want to consider its weight and size. The Olympus Tough-3000 provides external dimensions of 96mm x 65mm x 23mm (3.8" x 2.6" x 0.9") with a weight of 159 grams (0.35 lbs) while the Panasonic FS42 has specifications of 98mm x 55mm x 22mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 0.9") and a weight of 132 grams (0.29 lbs).

Look at the Olympus Tough-3000 versus Panasonic FS42 in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Always remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change based on the lens you select during that time. Below is a front view measurement comparison of the Tough-3000 compared to the FS42.

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability score of the Tough-3000 and FS42 is 94 and 95 respectively.

Typically, it's tough to imagine the difference between sensor sizes only by going over specs. The image underneath may offer you a stronger sense of the sensor sizes in the Tough-3000 and FS42.

As you can plainly see, each of the cameras feature different resolutions and different sensor sizes. The Tough-3000 featuring a bigger sensor is going to make shooting shallower DOF easier and the Olympus Tough-3000 will offer you greater detail having its extra 2 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also enable you to crop shots way more aggressively. The younger Tough-3000 provides a benefit in sensor technology.