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Panasonic FS42 vs Panasonic GF8

Portability
95
Imaging
33
Features
10
Overall
23
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS42 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF8 front
Portability
90
Imaging
54
Features
62
Overall
57

Panasonic FS42 vs Panasonic GF8 Key Specs

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
  • Released April 2009
Panasonic GF8
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 200 - 25600
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 266g - 107 x 65 x 33mm
  • Launched February 2016
  • Succeeded the Panasonic GF7
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Panasonic FS42 vs Panasonic GF8 Overview

Here, we will be looking at the Panasonic FS42 vs Panasonic GF8, one is a Ultracompact and the latter is a Entry-Level Mirrorless and both are manufactured by Panasonic. There exists a sizeable gap between the resolutions of the FS42 (10MP) and GF8 (16MP) and the FS42 (1/2.5") and GF8 (Four Thirds) boast totally different sensor sizing.

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The FS42 was manufactured 7 years earlier than the GF8 which is quite a large gap as far as technology is concerned. Both cameras feature different body design with the Panasonic FS42 being a Ultracompact camera and the Panasonic GF8 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before delving right into a complete comparison, here is a simple synopsis of how the FS42 scores against the GF8 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic FS42 over the Panasonic GF8

 FS42 GF8 

Reasons to pick Panasonic GF8 over the Panasonic FS42

 GF8 FS42 
LaunchedFebruary 2016April 2009Newer by 83 months
Focus manually More accurate focusing
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen size3"2.5"Bigger screen (+0.5")
Screen resolution1040k230kSharper screen (+810k dot)
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Common features in the Panasonic FS42 and Panasonic GF8

 FS42 GF8 
Selfie screen Lacking selfie screen

Panasonic FS42 vs Panasonic GF8 Physical Comparison

When you are aiming to travel with your camera often, you have to consider its weight and measurements. The Panasonic FS42 provides exterior measurements of 98mm x 55mm x 22mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 0.9") and a weight of 132 grams (0.29 lbs) while the Panasonic GF8 has proportions of 107mm x 65mm x 33mm (4.2" x 2.6" x 1.3") accompanied by a weight of 266 grams (0.59 lbs).

See the Panasonic FS42 vs Panasonic GF8 in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change dependant on the lens you are working with at the time. Underneath is a front view measurements comparison of the FS42 vs the GF8.

Panasonic FS42 vs Panasonic GF8 size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the FS42 and GF8 is 95 and 90 respectively.

Panasonic FS42 vs Panasonic GF8 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic FS42 vs Panasonic GF8 Sensor Comparison

Normally, it's tough to see the gap between sensor dimensions simply by reading through specs. The image here might provide you a more clear sense of the sensor sizing in the FS42 and GF8.

All in all, both of these cameras feature different megapixel count and different sensor dimensions. The FS42 because of its tinier sensor will make achieving shallower DOF harder and the Panasonic GF8 will give more detail due to its extra 6 Megapixels. Higher resolution will enable you to crop pictures way more aggressively. The more aged FS42 is going to be behind in sensor tech.

Panasonic FS42 vs Panasonic GF8 sensor size comparison

Panasonic FS42 vs Panasonic GF8 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic FS42 vs Panasonic GF8 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic FS42 Portrait photography highlights
Panasonic GF8 Portrait photography highlights
19
no manual focus
no manual control
no external flash support
MP count low (10MP)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.5")
has no RAW files
65
you can focus manually
MP count good (16 megapixels)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
features face detect autofocus
saves RAW files
no external flash support
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Street Comparison

Panasonic FS42 Street photography factors
Panasonic GF8 Street photography factors
47
screen is fixed
no image stabilization
sensor size is tiny (1/2.5")
has no RAW files
low maximum ISO (1,000)
80
screen tilts up and down
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
comes with touch to focus
great ISO range (25,600)
no image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Panasonic FS42
Sports photography with Panasonic GF8
16
painfully slow continuous shooting (2.0 frames/s)
lack of shutter priority mode
no image stabilization
MP count low (10 megapixels)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.5")
has no phase detect auto focus
49
quiet mode (1/16,000 seconds)
MP count good (16 megapixels)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
features tracking focus
low max shutter speed (1/500 seconds)
slow fps (5.8 frames per second)
no image stabilization
not so great battery (230 shots)
no phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic FS42 Travel photography factors
Panasonic GF8 Travel photography factors
51
built-in flash
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
MP count low (10 megapixels)
screen isn't selfie friendly
wide angle not good (33mm)
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
66
comes with touch to focus
MP count good (16 megapixels)
built-in flash
missing Timelapse mode
not so great battery (230 per charge)
display isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic FS42 Landscape photography information
Panasonic GF8 Landscape photography information
22
no manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not good (33mm)
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
screen is somewhat small (2.5 inch)
no manual control
no image stabilization
MP count low (10MP)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.5")
low maximum ISO (1,000)
has no RAW files
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
65
you can focus manually
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
nice screen size (3 inch)
MP count good (16MP)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
great ISO range (25,600)
saves RAW files
no image stabilization
not so great battery (230 CIPA)
missing Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic FS42 Vlogging factors
Panasonic GF8 Vlogging factors
22
wide angle not good (33mm)
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
screen isn't selfie friendly
no image stabilization
video res low (640 x 480 resolution)
doesn't have mic jack
33
touchscreen
features face detect autofocus
good video quality (1920 x 1080 pxls)
display isn't selfie friendly
no image stabilization
missing microphone support
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Panasonic FS42 vs Panasonic GF8 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic FS42 and Panasonic GF8
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS42Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF8
General Information
Brand Name Panasonic Panasonic
Model Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS42 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF8
Type Ultracompact Entry-Level Mirrorless
Released 2009-04-17 2016-02-15
Physical type Ultracompact Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Processor Chip - Venus Engine
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.5" Four Thirds
Sensor measurements 5.744 x 4.308mm 17.3 x 13mm
Sensor surface area 24.7mm² 224.9mm²
Sensor resolution 10 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 3648 x 2736 4592 x 3448
Max native ISO 1000 25600
Max boosted ISO 6400 -
Lowest native ISO 80 200
RAW format
Lowest boosted ISO - 100
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Number of focus points - 23
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens Micro Four Thirds
Lens focal range 33-132mm (4.0x) -
Max aperture f/2.8-5.9 -
Macro focus distance 5cm -
Total lenses - 107
Focal length multiplier 6.3 2.1
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Tilting
Display size 2.5 inch 3 inch
Display resolution 230 thousand dots 1,040 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60 seconds 60 seconds
Maximum shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/500 seconds
Maximum quiet shutter speed - 1/16000 seconds
Continuous shooting rate 2.0 frames/s 5.8 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation - Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 6.30 m 5.60 m (at ISO 200)
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Sync Auto, auto w/redeye reduction, flash on, flash on w/redeye reduction, slow sync, slow sync w/redeye reduction, flash off
External flash
AEB
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60p, 60i, 50p, 50i, 30p, 25p, 24p), 1280 x 720 (30p, 25p), 640 x 480 (30p, 25p)
Max video resolution 640x480 1920x1080
Video format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD, H.264
Microphone support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless None Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 132g (0.29 pounds) 266g (0.59 pounds)
Physical dimensions 98 x 55 x 22mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 0.9") 107 x 65 x 33mm (4.2" x 2.6" x 1.3")
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 - 230 shots
Battery style - Battery Pack
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 secs, 3-shot/10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Storage type SD/SDHC card, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC card
Card slots One One
Retail cost $580 $549