Olympus VH-515 vs Panasonic FS42

Let's look more in depth at the Olympus VH-515 versus Panasonic FS42, former is a Small Sensor Compact while the latter is a Ultracompact by companies Olympus and Panasonic. The image resolution of the VH-515 (12MP) and the FS42 (10MP) is relatively close but the VH-515 (1/2.3") and FS42 (1/2.5") boast different sensor measurements.

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The VH-515 was unveiled 3 years after the FS42 which is a fairly big difference as far as camera tech is concerned. Both of these cameras feature different body design with the Olympus VH-515 being a Compact camera and the Panasonic FS42 being a Ultracompact camera.

Before we go straight to a more detailed comparison, here is a quick synopsis of how the VH-515 grades against the FS42 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

The following is a preview of the gallery photos for Olympus VH-515 & Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS42. The full galleries are viewable at Olympus VH-515 Gallery & Panasonic FS42 Gallery.

If you are planning to travel with your camera frequently, you will have to consider its weight and measurements. The Olympus VH-515 has got exterior measurements of 102mm x 60mm x 21mm (4.0" x 2.4" x 0.8") and a weight of 152 grams (0.34 lbs) while the Panasonic FS42 has proportions of 98mm x 55mm x 22mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 0.9") with a weight of 132 grams (0.29 lbs).

Take a look at the Olympus VH-515 versus Panasonic FS42 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Always remember, the weight of an ILC will vary dependant on the lens you use during that time. The following is a front view over all size comparison of the VH-515 and the FS42.

Using size and weight, the portability score of the VH-515 and FS42 is 95 and 95 respectively.

In many cases, it's difficult to imagine the difference in sensor dimensions simply by looking through a spec sheet. The image here should give you a stronger sense of the sensor measurements in the VH-515 and FS42.

As you can see, both cameras come with different megapixels and different sensor dimensions. The VH-515 having a bigger sensor is going to make achieving shallow DOF easier and the Olympus VH-515 will render greater detail having an extra 2 Megapixels. Higher resolution will make it easier to crop shots a good deal more aggressively. The more modern VH-515 provides an edge in sensor tech.