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Panasonic FH5 vs Panasonic FS42

Portability
96
Imaging
39
Features
31
Overall
35
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH5 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS42 front
Portability
95
Imaging
33
Features
10
Overall
23

Panasonic FH5 vs Panasonic FS42 Key Specs

Panasonic FH5
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-112mm (F3.1-6.5) lens
  • 121g - 94 x 54 x 19mm
  • Launched January 2011
  • Alternate Name is Lumix DMC-FS18
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
  • Announced April 2009
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Panasonic FH5 vs Panasonic FS42 Overview

Let's look a little more closely at the Panasonic FH5 and Panasonic FS42, one is a Small Sensor Compact and the other is a Ultracompact and both of them are manufactured by Panasonic. There is a huge difference between the image resolutions of the FH5 (16MP) and FS42 (10MP) and the FH5 (1/2.3") and FS42 (1/2.5") have totally different sensor dimensions.

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The FH5 was unveiled 21 months after the FS42 making them a generation away from each other. Both of these cameras have different body design with the Panasonic FH5 being a Compact camera and the Panasonic FS42 being a Ultracompact camera.

Before we go into a complete comparison, here is a concise summation of how the FH5 matches up versus the FS42 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic FH5 over the Panasonic FS42

 FH5 FS42 
AnnouncedJanuary 2011April 2009More modern by 21 months
Display dimensions2.7"2.5"Larger display (+0.2")

Reasons to pick Panasonic FS42 over the Panasonic FH5

 FS42 FH5 

Common features in the Panasonic FH5 and Panasonic FS42

 FH5 FS42 
Manually focus No manual focus
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display resolution230k230kSame display resolution
Selfie screen Lack of selfie screen
Touch display Lack of Touch display

Panasonic FH5 vs Panasonic FS42 Physical Comparison

When you are looking to carry around your camera, you will have to factor its weight and proportions. The Panasonic FH5 features exterior dimensions of 94mm x 54mm x 19mm (3.7" x 2.1" x 0.7") having a weight of 121 grams (0.27 lbs) while the Panasonic FS42 has measurements 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 Panasonic FH5 and 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 vary based on the lens you select during that time. Here is a front view proportions comparison of the FH5 and the FS42.

Panasonic FH5 vs Panasonic FS42 size comparison

Looking at size and weight, the portability grade of the FH5 and FS42 is 96 and 95 respectively.

Panasonic FH5 vs Panasonic FS42 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic FH5 vs Panasonic FS42 Sensor Comparison

Often, it is very tough to envision the contrast between sensor sizes just by checking specifications. The picture here will offer you a far better sense of the sensor dimensions in the FH5 and FS42.

Plainly, the two cameras have different megapixels and different sensor sizes. The FH5 using its larger sensor will make getting shallow DOF simpler and the Panasonic FH5 will resolve greater detail having an extra 6MP. Greater resolution will also enable you to crop images a bit more aggressively. The fresher FH5 is going to have a benefit in sensor innovation.

Panasonic FH5 vs Panasonic FS42 sensor size comparison

Panasonic FH5 vs Panasonic FS42 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic FH5 vs Panasonic FS42 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic FH5 as a Portrait photography camera
Panasonic FS42 as a Portrait photography camera
34
MP count good (16 megapixels)
comes with face detection autofocus
no manual focus
manual exposure not available
no external flash support
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
19
no manual focus
lack of manual exposure
external flash not possible
low MP (10MP)
sensor size is small (1/2.5")
lack of RAW format
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Street Comparison

Panasonic FH5 Street photography factors
Panasonic FS42 Street photography factors
67
built in image stabilization (Optical)
provides touch to focus
lighter than average in class (121g)
screen is fixed
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
47
fixed screen
does not have image stabilization
sensor size is small (1/2.5")
lack of RAW format
low maximum ISO (1,000)
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Panasonic FH5
Sports photography with Panasonic FS42
40
built in image stabilization (Optical)
MP count good (16MP)
comes with tracking autofocus
slow fps (4.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority mode
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
has no phase detect autofocus
16
painfully slow continuous shooting (2.0 fps)
no shutter priority
does not have image stabilization
low MP (10MP)
sensor size is small (1/2.5")
lack of phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic FH5 Travel photography factors
Panasonic FS42 Travel photography factors
71
lighter than average in class (121 grams)
provides touch to focus
MP count good (16 megapixels)
has built in flash
quite wide (28mm)
lack of Time Lapse mode
does not have a selfie friendly display
slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
51
built-in flash
does not have Timelapse function
low MP (10 megapixels)
screen isn't selfie friendly
wide angle not great (33mm)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic FH5 Landscape photography highlights
Panasonic FS42 Landscape photography highlights
38
quite wide (28mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
MP count good (16 megapixels)
no manual focus
cannot swap lens (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
screen is somewhat small (2.7")
manual exposure not available
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
lack of Time Lapse mode
22
no manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not great (33mm)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
screen is small (2.5")
lack of manual exposure
does not have image stabilization
low MP (10MP)
sensor size is small (1/2.5")
low maximum ISO (1,000)
lack of RAW format
does not have Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic FH5 Vlogging factors
Panasonic FS42 Vlogging factors
33
quite wide (28mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
comes with face detection autofocus
lighter than average in class (121 grams)
slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
does not have a selfie friendly display
video quality not great (1280 x 720 pxls)
lack of external mic support
22
wide angle not great (33mm)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
screen isn't selfie friendly
does not have image stabilization
low quality video (640 x 480 resolution)
does not have external microphone port
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Panasonic FH5 vs Panasonic FS42 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic FH5 and Panasonic FS42
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH5Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS42
General Information
Company Panasonic Panasonic
Model Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH5 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS42
Alternative name Lumix DMC-FS18 -
Category Small Sensor Compact Ultracompact
Launched 2011-01-05 2009-04-17
Body design Compact Ultracompact
Sensor Information
Powered by Venus Engine IV -
Sensor type CCD CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.5"
Sensor measurements 6.08 x 4.56mm 5.744 x 4.308mm
Sensor area 27.7mm² 24.7mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixels 10 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 4608 x 3456 3648 x 2736
Highest native ISO 6400 1000
Highest boosted ISO - 6400
Minimum native ISO 100 80
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch focus
Continuous AF
AF single
Tracking AF
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Number of focus points 11 -
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 28-112mm (4.0x) 33-132mm (4.0x)
Maximal aperture f/3.1-6.5 f/2.8-5.9
Macro focus distance 5cm 5cm
Crop factor 5.9 6.3
Screen
Range of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen size 2.7" 2.5"
Screen resolution 230k dot 230k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60 secs 60 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/1600 secs 1/2000 secs
Continuous shooting speed 4.0 frames per second 2.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 3.30 m 6.30 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1280 x 720 (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)
Highest video resolution 1280x720 640x480
Video data format Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
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 seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 121g (0.27 lb) 132g (0.29 lb)
Physical dimensions 94 x 54 x 19mm (3.7" x 2.1" x 0.7") 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
Battery life 260 images -
Style of battery Battery Pack -
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal SD/SDHC card, Internal
Storage slots One One
Pricing at launch $169 $580