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Olympus Tough-3000 vs Panasonic FS42

Portability
94
Imaging
35
Features
26
Overall
31
Olympus Stylus Tough-3000 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS42 front
Portability
95
Imaging
33
Features
10
Overall
23

Olympus Tough-3000 vs Panasonic FS42 Key Specs

Olympus Tough-3000
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 64 - 1600
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-102mm (F3.5-5.1) lens
  • 159g - 96 x 65 x 23mm
  • Revealed January 2010
  • Also referred to as mju Tough 3000
Panasonic FS42
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - 1/2.5" Sensor
  • 2.5" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 1000 (Raise to 6400)
  • 640 x 480 video
  • 33-132mm (F2.8-5.9) lens
  • 132g - 98 x 55 x 22mm
  • Revealed April 2009
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Olympus Tough-3000 vs Panasonic FS42 Overview

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.

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Reasons to pick Olympus Tough-3000 over the Panasonic FS42

 Tough-3000 FS42 
RevealedJanuary 2010April 2009More modern by 9 months
Screen size2.7"2.5"Bigger screen (+0.2")

Reasons to pick Panasonic FS42 over the Olympus Tough-3000

 FS42 Tough-3000 

Common features in the Olympus Tough-3000 and Panasonic FS42

 Tough-3000 FS42 
Manually focus Lack of manual focus
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen resolution230k230kIdentical screen resolution
Selfie screen Neither provides selfie screen
Touch friendly screen No Touch friendly screen

Olympus Tough-3000 vs Panasonic FS42 Physical Comparison

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. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

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.

Olympus Tough-3000 vs Panasonic FS42 size comparison

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

Olympus Tough-3000 vs Panasonic FS42 top view buttons comparison

Olympus Tough-3000 vs Panasonic FS42 Sensor Comparison

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.

Olympus Tough-3000 vs Panasonic FS42 sensor size comparison

Olympus Tough-3000 vs Panasonic FS42 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus Tough-3000 vs Panasonic FS42 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus Tough-3000 Portrait photography details
Panasonic FS42 Portrait photography details
21
no manual focus
manual mode not available
no external flash support
MP count low (12 megapixels)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
19
lack of manual focus
lack of manual exposure
no external flash support
MP count low (10 megapixels)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.5")
no RAW support
Photography Glossary

Street Comparison

Olympus Tough-3000 Street photography factors
Panasonic FS42 Street photography factors
62
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
weather sealing
no articulating screen
sensor is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
47
fixed screen
no image stabilization
sensor size is tiny (1/2.5")
no RAW support
low max ISO (1,000)
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Sports Comparison

Olympus Tough-3000 Sports photography features
Panasonic FS42 Sports photography features
36
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
comes with tracking focus
weather sealing
max frames per second very slow (1.0 fps)
no shutter priority mode
MP count low (12MP)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
16
low frames per second (2.0 frames per second)
lack of shutter priority mode
no image stabilization
MP count low (10 megapixels)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.5")
no phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus Tough-3000 Travel photography advice
Panasonic FS42 Travel photography advice
61
weather sealing
has built in flash
quite wide (28mm)
does not have Timelapse mode
MP count low (12 megapixels)
does not have a selfie friendly display
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
51
has built in flash
does not have Time Lapse function
MP count low (10 megapixels)
screen isn't selfie friendly
wide angle not great (33mm)
slow max aperture (f2.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus Tough-3000 Landscape photography factors
Panasonic FS42 Landscape photography factors
35
quite wide (28mm)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
weather sealing
no manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
screen is somewhat small (2.7 inches)
manual mode not available
MP count low (12MP)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
does not have Timelapse mode
22
lack of manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not great (33mm)
slow max aperture (f2.8)
screen is somewhat small (2.5")
lack of manual exposure
no image stabilization
MP count low (10 megapixels)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.5")
low max ISO (1,000)
no RAW support
does not have Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus Tough-3000
Vlogging with Panasonic FS42
28
quite wide (28mm)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
does not have a selfie friendly display
low video resolution (1280 x 720 pixels)
does not have microphone socket
22
wide angle not great (33mm)
slow max aperture (f2.8)
screen isn't selfie friendly
no image stabilization
low video resolution (640 x 480 resolution)
does not have external mic jack
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Olympus Tough-3000 vs Panasonic FS42 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus Tough-3000 and Panasonic FS42
 Olympus Stylus Tough-3000Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS42
General Information
Make Olympus Panasonic
Model Olympus Stylus Tough-3000 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS42
Also referred to as mju Tough 3000 -
Class Waterproof Ultracompact
Revealed 2010-01-07 2009-04-17
Body design Compact Ultracompact
Sensor Information
Chip 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 area 27.7mm² 24.7mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixel 10 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 3968 x 2976 3648 x 2736
Highest native ISO 1600 1000
Highest boosted ISO - 6400
Min native ISO 64 80
RAW support
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 28-102mm (3.6x) 33-132mm (4.0x)
Max aperture f/3.5-5.1 f/2.8-5.9
Macro focus distance 2cm 5cm
Focal length multiplier 5.9 6.3
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen size 2.7" 2.5"
Resolution of screen 230 thousand dot 230 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 4s 60s
Maximum shutter speed 1/2000s 1/2000s
Continuous shooting speed 1.0 frames per sec 2.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 4.00 m 6.30 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Fill-in Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Sync
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps) 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)
Highest video resolution 1280x720 640x480
Video data format MPEG-4 Motion JPEG
Mic input
Headphone input
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 seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 159 gr (0.35 lbs) 132 gr (0.29 lbs)
Physical dimensions 96 x 65 x 23mm (3.8" x 2.6" x 0.9") 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
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 seconds) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC, Internal SD/SDHC card, Internal
Storage slots One One
Launch pricing $0 $580