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Panasonic FS42 vs Panasonic FZ150

Portability
95
Imaging
33
Features
10
Overall
23
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS42 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ150 front
Portability
67
Imaging
36
Features
57
Overall
44

Panasonic FS42 vs Panasonic FZ150 Key Specs

Panasonic FS42
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - 1/2.5" Sensor
  • 2.5" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 1000 (Raise to 6400)
  • 640 x 480 video
  • 33-132mm (F2.8-5.9) lens
  • 132g - 98 x 55 x 22mm
  • Released April 2009
Panasonic FZ150
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 25-600mm (F2.8-5.2) lens
  • 528g - 124 x 82 x 92mm
  • Revealed April 2012
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Panasonic FS42 vs Panasonic FZ150 Overview

In this article, we will be evaluating the Panasonic FS42 and Panasonic FZ150, former is a Ultracompact while the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom and they are both produced by Panasonic. The image resolution of the FS42 (10MP) and the FZ150 (12MP) is relatively close but the FS42 (1/2.5") and FZ150 (1/2.3") come with different sensor sizing.

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The FS42 was revealed 4 years prior to the FZ150 which is a fairly sizable difference as far as camera technology is concerned. Both the cameras offer different body type with the Panasonic FS42 being a Ultracompact camera and the Panasonic FZ150 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera.

Before getting through a comprehensive comparison, below is a concise introduction of how the FS42 matches up against the FZ150 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic FS42 over the Panasonic FZ150

 FS42 FZ150 

Reasons to pick Panasonic FZ150 over the Panasonic FS42

 FZ150 FS42 
RevealedApril 2012April 2009More modern by 36 months
Manual focus Dial exact focus
Screen typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating screen
Screen sizing3"2.5"Bigger screen (+0.5")
Screen resolution460k230kCrisper screen (+230k dot)
Selfie screen Easy selfies

Common features in the Panasonic FS42 and Panasonic FZ150

 FS42 FZ150 
Touch friendly screen Neither features Touch friendly screen

Panasonic FS42 vs Panasonic FZ150 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is going to carry around your camera regularly, you will need to factor its weight and dimensions. The Panasonic FS42 enjoys outside measurements of 98mm x 55mm x 22mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 0.9") along with a weight of 132 grams (0.29 lbs) whilst the Panasonic FZ150 has dimensions of 124mm x 82mm x 92mm (4.9" x 3.2" x 3.6") accompanied by a weight of 528 grams (1.16 lbs).

Look at the Panasonic FS42 and Panasonic FZ150 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an ILC will differ depending on the lens you have attached at that time. Here is the front view size comparison of the FS42 compared to the FZ150.

Panasonic FS42 vs Panasonic FZ150 size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the FS42 and FZ150 is 95 and 67 respectively.

Panasonic FS42 vs Panasonic FZ150 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic FS42 vs Panasonic FZ150 Sensor Comparison

Quite often, it's hard to imagine the contrast in sensor sizes only by viewing a spec sheet. The pic underneath should give you a better sense of the sensor sizing in the FS42 and FZ150.

As you can see, each of the cameras enjoy different resolutions and different sensor sizes. The FS42 having a smaller sensor is going to make getting shallower DOF more challenging and the Panasonic FZ150 will render more detail because of its extra 2MP. Higher resolution can also allow you to crop photographs far more aggressively. The more aged FS42 will be behind in sensor tech.

Panasonic FS42 vs Panasonic FZ150 sensor size comparison

Panasonic FS42 vs Panasonic FZ150 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic FS42 vs Panasonic FZ150 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic FS42 as a Portrait photography camera
Panasonic FZ150 as a Portrait photography camera
19
manual focus not available
no manual control
cannot use external flash
low megapixels (10MP)
small sensor (1/2.5")
lacks RAW files
41
manual focus
delivers RAW files
low resolution (12MP)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
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Street Comparison

Panasonic FS42 Street photography info
Panasonic FZ150 Street photography info
47
no articulating screen
lack of image stabilization
small sensor (1/2.5")
lacks RAW files
maximum ISO low (1,000)
58
fully articulated screen
built in image stabilization (Optical)
delivers RAW files
very small sensor (1/2.3")
heavier than competition in class (528 grams)
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Panasonic FS42
Sports photography with Panasonic FZ150
16
slow continuous shooting (2.0 frames per second)
lack of shutter priority mode
lack of image stabilization
low megapixels (10MP)
small sensor (1/2.5")
lacks phase detect autofocus
43
excellent zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
good battery life (410 per charge)
low resolution (12MP)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic FS42 Travel photography highlights
Panasonic FZ150 Travel photography highlights
51
has built in flash
doesn't have Timelapse mode
low megapixels (10MP)
screen isn't selfie friendly
wide angle not good (33mm)
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
56
good battery life (410 CIPA)
has built in flash
selfie friendly screen
relatively wide (25mm)
very long zoom (600mm)
no Time Lapse mode
heavier than competition in class (528g)
low resolution (12 megapixels)
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic FS42 Landscape photography highlights
Panasonic FZ150 Landscape photography highlights
22
manual focus not available
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not good (33mm)
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
screen is somewhat small (2.5 inch)
no manual control
lack of image stabilization
low megapixels (10 megapixels)
small sensor (1/2.5")
maximum ISO low (1,000)
lacks RAW files
doesn't have Timelapse mode
48
manual focus
relatively wide (25mm)
screen size is good (3")
built in image stabilization (Optical)
delivers RAW files
good battery life (410 per charge)
cannot change lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
low resolution (12MP)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
no Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic FS42 Vlogging details
Panasonic FZ150 Vlogging details
22
wide angle not good (33mm)
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
screen isn't selfie friendly
lack of image stabilization
video resolution low (640 x 480 pixels)
doesn't have external microphone support
62
relatively wide (25mm)
selfie friendly screen
built in image stabilization (Optical)
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
includes mic support
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
heavier than competition in class (528g)
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Panasonic FS42 vs Panasonic FZ150 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic FS42 and Panasonic FZ150
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS42Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ150
General Information
Brand Panasonic Panasonic
Model Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS42 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ150
Category Ultracompact Small Sensor Superzoom
Released 2009-04-17 2012-04-11
Physical type Ultracompact SLR-like (bridge)
Sensor Information
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.5" 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 5.744 x 4.308mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 24.7mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 10MP 12MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 3648 x 2736 4000 x 3000
Max native ISO 1000 6400
Max enhanced ISO 6400 -
Min native ISO 80 100
RAW format
Autofocusing
Manual focus
AF touch
Continuous AF
Single AF
Tracking AF
Selective AF
AF center weighted
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Number of focus points - 23
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 33-132mm (4.0x) 25-600mm (24.0x)
Highest aperture f/2.8-5.9 f/2.8-5.2
Macro focus distance 5cm 1cm
Crop factor 6.3 5.8
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fully Articulated
Display sizing 2.5 inch 3 inch
Resolution of display 230k dots 460k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Electronic
Viewfinder coverage - 100 percent
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60s 30s
Fastest shutter speed 1/2000s 1/2000s
Continuous shutter rate 2.0fps 12.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation - Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 6.30 m 9.50 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
AEB
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60, 30 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (220 fps)
Max video resolution 640x480 1920x1080
Video file format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD, Motion JPEG
Mic support
Headphone support
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 132 grams (0.29 lb) 528 grams (1.16 lb)
Dimensions 98 x 55 x 22mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 0.9") 124 x 82 x 92mm (4.9" x 3.2" x 3.6")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score not tested 40
DXO Color Depth score not tested 19.4
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 10.9
DXO Low light score not tested 132
Other
Battery life - 410 pictures
Battery style - Battery Pack
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10 sec (3 pictures))
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC card, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Card slots 1 1
Retail price $580 $499