Olympus TG-850 iHS vs Panasonic FS42

Following is a comprehensive overview of the Olympus TG-850 iHS vs Panasonic FS42, former is a Waterproof while the latter is a Ultracompact by companies Olympus and Panasonic. There is a noticeable difference between the resolutions of the TG-850 iHS (16MP) and FS42 (10MP) and the TG-850 iHS (1/2.3") and FS42 (1/2.5") offer different sensor measurements.

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The TG-850 iHS was unveiled 4 years after the FS42 which is quite a sizable difference as far as tech is concerned. Both of these cameras feature different body design with the Olympus TG-850 iHS being a Compact camera and the Panasonic FS42 being a Ultracompact camera.

Before we go into a full comparison, here is a concise introduction of how the TG-850 iHS grades versus the FS42 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

Here is a preview of the gallery photos for Olympus Stylus Tough TG-850 iHS & Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS42. The full galleries are provided at Olympus TG-850 iHS Gallery & Panasonic FS42 Gallery.

For anybody who is looking to carry around your camera often, you have to factor its weight and proportions. The Olympus TG-850 iHS enjoys outer dimensions of 110mm x 64mm x 28mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.1") and a weight of 218 grams (0.48 lbs) and the Panasonic FS42 has measurements of 98mm x 55mm x 22mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 0.9") having a weight of 132 grams (0.29 lbs).

Contrast the Olympus TG-850 iHS vs Panasonic FS42 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Remember, the weight of an ILC will differ based on the lens you choose during that time. The following is a front view size comparison of the TG-850 iHS and the FS42.

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability rating of the TG-850 iHS and FS42 is 91 and 95 respectively.

Generally, it is very tough to visualize the difference between sensor sizes only by looking at technical specs. The pic below may give you a clearer sense of the sensor dimensions in the TG-850 iHS and FS42.

As you can tell, both the cameras come with different megapixels and different sensor sizes. The TG-850 iHS having a bigger sensor is going to make getting shallow depth of field easier and the Olympus TG-850 iHS will give you more detail having an extra 6MP. Higher resolution can also let you crop photographs a good deal more aggressively. The more modern TG-850 iHS provides an advantage in sensor innovation.