Clicky

Panasonic FH20 vs Panasonic FS42

Portability
93
Imaging
36
Features
21
Overall
30
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH20 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS42 front
Portability
95
Imaging
33
Features
10
Overall
23

Panasonic FH20 vs Panasonic FS42 Key Specs

Panasonic FH20
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-224mm (F3.3-5.9) lens
  • 178g - 100 x 56 x 28mm
  • Released January 2010
  • Alternative Name is Lumix DMC-FS30
Panasonic FS42
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - 1/2.5" Sensor
  • 2.5" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 1000 (Bump to 6400)
  • 640 x 480 video
  • 33-132mm (F2.8-5.9) lens
  • 132g - 98 x 55 x 22mm
  • Launched April 2009
Apple Innovates by Creating Next-Level Optical Stabilization for iPhone

Panasonic FH20 vs Panasonic FS42 Overview

Below, we are evaluating the Panasonic FH20 vs Panasonic FS42, former is a Small Sensor Compact while the other is a Ultracompact and both of them are manufactured by Panasonic. There exists a large gap between the resolutions of the FH20 (14MP) and FS42 (10MP) and the FH20 (1/2.3") and FS42 (1/2.5") feature different sensor size.

Sora from OpenAI releases its first ever music video

The FH20 was announced 9 months after the FS42 which means that they are of a similar age. The two cameras come with different body type with the Panasonic FH20 being a Compact camera and the Panasonic FS42 being a Ultracompact camera.

Before going straight into a complete comparison, below is a simple view of how the FH20 scores against the FS42 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

Meta to Introduce 'AI-Generated' Labels for Media starting next month
	
	

Reasons to pick Panasonic FH20 over the Panasonic FS42

 FH20 FS42 
LaunchedJanuary 2010April 2009More modern by 9 months
Display dimension2.7"2.5"Larger display (+0.2")

Reasons to pick Panasonic FS42 over the Panasonic FH20

 FS42 FH20 

Common features in the Panasonic FH20 and Panasonic FS42

 FH20 FS42 
Manually focus Lack of manual focus
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display resolution230k230kExact same display resolution
Selfie screen Lack of selfie screen
Touch friendly display Lack of Touch friendly display

Panasonic FH20 vs Panasonic FS42 Physical Comparison

If you're aiming to carry around your camera regularly, you will need to take into account its weight and measurements. The Panasonic FH20 enjoys exterior dimensions of 100mm x 56mm x 28mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 1.1") and a weight of 178 grams (0.39 lbs) and the Panasonic FS42 has proportions of 98mm x 55mm x 22mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 0.9") and a weight of 132 grams (0.29 lbs).

See the Panasonic FH20 vs Panasonic FS42 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an ILC will vary dependant on the lens you have attached at that time. Here is the front view overall size comparison of the FH20 against the FS42.

Panasonic FH20 vs Panasonic FS42 size comparison

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the FH20 and FS42 is 93 and 95 respectively.

Panasonic FH20 vs Panasonic FS42 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic FH20 vs Panasonic FS42 Sensor Comparison

Normally, it is difficult to imagine the difference between sensor sizes purely by reading through a spec sheet. The image here might provide you a stronger sense of the sensor sizes in the FH20 and FS42.

As you can see, both the cameras posses different resolutions and different sensor sizes. The FH20 having a larger sensor is going to make getting shallower depth of field simpler and the Panasonic FH20 will resolve greater detail with its extra 4 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also let you crop photos somewhat more aggressively. The fresher FH20 should have an advantage with regard to sensor technology.

Panasonic FH20 vs Panasonic FS42 sensor size comparison

Panasonic FH20 vs Panasonic FS42 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic FH20 vs Panasonic FS42 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Pentax 17 Pre-Orders Outperform Expectations by a Landslide

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic FH20 Portrait photography information
Panasonic FS42 Portrait photography information
28
resolution is good (14MP)
focusing manually not possible
manual exposure not possible
cannot use external flash
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
19
focusing manually not possible
manual mode not available
no external flash support
sensor resolution low (10 megapixels)
sensor is small (1/2.5")
does not have RAW support
Samsung Releases Faster Versions of EVO MicroSD Cards

Street Comparison

Panasonic FH20 Street photography advice
Panasonic FS42 Street photography advice
56
built in image stabilization (Optical)
screen is fixed
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
47
no articulating screen
lack of image stabilization
sensor is small (1/2.5")
does not have RAW support
max ISO too low (1,000)
Photobucket discusses licensing 13 billion images with AI firms

Sports Comparison

Panasonic FH20 Sports photography factors
Panasonic FS42 Sports photography factors
34
built in image stabilization (Optical)
resolution is good (14 megapixels)
continuous shooting slow (5.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority mode
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect AF
16
very slow continuous shooting (2.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority mode
lack of image stabilization
sensor resolution low (10MP)
sensor is small (1/2.5")
does not have phase detect auto focus
Photography Glossary

Travel Comparison

Panasonic FH20 as a Travel photography camera
Panasonic FS42 as a Travel photography camera
64
resolution is good (14 megapixels)
has built in flash
fairly wide (28mm)
lack of Time Lapse recording
doesn't posses selfie friendly display
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
51
built-in flash
lack of Time Lapse function
sensor resolution low (10 megapixels)
doesn't posses selfie friendly screen
wide angle not great (33mm)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
President Biden pushes bill mandating TikTok sale or ban

Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Panasonic FH20
Landscape photography with Panasonic FS42
37
fairly wide (28mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
resolution is good (14MP)
focusing manually not possible
cannot switch lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
screen is somewhat small (2.7")
manual exposure not possible
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
lack of Time Lapse recording
22
focusing manually not possible
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not great (33mm)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
screen is somewhat small (2.5 inches)
manual mode not available
lack of image stabilization
sensor resolution low (10 megapixels)
sensor is small (1/2.5")
max ISO too low (1,000)
does not have RAW support
lack of Time Lapse function
Snapchat Adds Watermarks to AI-Created Images

Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic FH20 Vlogging highlights
Panasonic FS42 Vlogging highlights
28
fairly wide (28mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
doesn't posses selfie friendly display
video quality not great (1280 x 720 pxls)
lack of mic support
22
wide angle not great (33mm)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
doesn't posses selfie friendly screen
lack of image stabilization
low res video (640 x 480 pxls)
lack of mic socket
Japan-exclusive Leica Leitz Phone 3 features big sensor and new modes

Panasonic FH20 vs Panasonic FS42 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic FH20 and Panasonic FS42
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH20Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS42
General Information
Brand Panasonic Panasonic
Model Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH20 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS42
Otherwise known as Lumix DMC-FS30 -
Class Small Sensor Compact Ultracompact
Released 2010-01-06 2009-04-17
Physical type Compact Ultracompact
Sensor Information
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 14 megapixel 10 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 4320 x 3240 3648 x 2736
Max native ISO 6400 1000
Max boosted ISO - 6400
Lowest native ISO 80 80
RAW support
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch to focus
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Number of focus points 9 -
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 28-224mm (8.0x) 33-132mm (4.0x)
Maximum aperture f/3.3-5.9 f/2.8-5.9
Macro focus range 5cm 5cm
Crop factor 5.9 6.3
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 2.7 inch 2.5 inch
Resolution of screen 230k dots 230k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60 secs 60 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/1600 secs 1/2000 secs
Continuous shooting rate 5.0 frames per second 2.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 5.80 m (Auto ISO) 6.30 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Sync
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps) 848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 1280x720 640x480
Video format Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
Mic port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 178 grams (0.39 pounds) 132 grams (0.29 pounds)
Dimensions 100 x 56 x 28mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 1.1") 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 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal SD/SDHC card, Internal
Card slots Single Single
Launch pricing $179 $580