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Panasonic FS42 vs Panasonic GX7

Portability
95
Imaging
33
Features
10
Overall
23
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS42 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX7 front
Portability
81
Imaging
53
Features
75
Overall
61

Panasonic FS42 vs Panasonic GX7 Key Specs

Panasonic FS42
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - 1/2.5" Sensor
  • 2.5" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 1000 (Increase to 6400)
  • 640 x 480 video
  • 33-132mm (F2.8-5.9) lens
  • 132g - 98 x 55 x 22mm
  • Released April 2009
Panasonic GX7
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 125 - 25600
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 402g - 123 x 71 x 55mm
  • Announced November 2013
  • Replaced the Panasonic GX1
  • Replacement is Panasonic GX8
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Panasonic FS42 vs Panasonic GX7 Overview

On this page, we will be reviewing the Panasonic FS42 versus Panasonic GX7, one being a Ultracompact and the latter is a Advanced Mirrorless and they are both created by Panasonic. There exists a sizeable gap among the sensor resolutions of the FS42 (10MP) and GX7 (16MP) and the FS42 (1/2.5") and GX7 (Four Thirds) have totally different sensor sizes.

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The FS42 was introduced 5 years before the GX7 and that is a fairly large gap as far as camera technology is concerned. Each of these cameras have different body design with the Panasonic FS42 being a Ultracompact camera and the Panasonic GX7 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before going right into a comprehensive comparison, here is a concise overview of how the FS42 grades versus the GX7 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic FS42 over the Panasonic GX7

 FS42 GX7 

Reasons to pick Panasonic GX7 over the Panasonic FS42

 GX7 FS42 
AnnouncedNovember 2013April 2009More recent by 55 months
Focus manually More accurate focus
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen dimensions3"2.5"Bigger screen (+0.5")
Screen resolution1040k230kClearer screen (+810k dot)
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Common features in the Panasonic FS42 and Panasonic GX7

 FS42 GX7 
Selfie screen Neither includes selfie screen

Panasonic FS42 vs Panasonic GX7 Physical Comparison

If you're planning to lug around your camera frequently, you will want to think about its weight and size. The Panasonic FS42 features physical measurements of 98mm x 55mm x 22mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 0.9") accompanied by a weight of 132 grams (0.29 lbs) whilst the Panasonic GX7 has specifications of 123mm x 71mm x 55mm (4.8" x 2.8" x 2.2") along with a weight of 402 grams (0.89 lbs).

Check out the Panasonic FS42 versus Panasonic GX7 in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change depending on the lens you choose at that moment. Following is a front view scale comparison of the FS42 compared to the GX7.

Panasonic FS42 vs Panasonic GX7 size comparison

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the FS42 and GX7 is 95 and 81 respectively.

Panasonic FS42 vs Panasonic GX7 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic FS42 vs Panasonic GX7 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it is tough to visualise the contrast in sensor measurements purely by checking out specs. The graphic below will help provide you a clearer sense of the sensor sizing in the FS42 and GX7.

As you can plainly see, both of the cameras provide different resolutions and different sensor measurements. The FS42 using its smaller sensor will make achieving shallower depth of field harder and the Panasonic GX7 will produce more detail using its extra 6 Megapixels. Higher resolution can also let you crop pictures more aggressively. The older FS42 will be behind with regard to sensor tech.

Panasonic FS42 vs Panasonic GX7 sensor size comparison

Panasonic FS42 vs Panasonic GX7 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic FS42 vs Panasonic GX7 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic FS42 Portrait photography information
Panasonic GX7 Portrait photography information
19
lack of manual focus
no manual control
can't use external flash
low resolution sensor (10 megapixels)
sensor size is small (1/2.5")
does not have RAW files
71
focusing manually
above average flash sync (1/320s)
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
comes with face detect autofocus
saves RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Panasonic FS42 Street photography advice
Panasonic GX7 Street photography advice
47
screen is fixed
lack of image stabilization
sensor size is small (1/2.5")
does not have RAW files
low max ISO (1,000)
82
screen tilts up and down
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
provides touch to focus
very good high ISO (25,600)
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Panasonic FS42
Sports photography with Panasonic GX7
16
max fps very slow (2.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority mode
lack of image stabilization
low resolution sensor (10MP)
sensor size is small (1/2.5")
does not have phase detect auto focus
59
great max shutter speed (1/8,000 seconds)
quiet mode (1/16,000 seconds)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good megapixels (16MP)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
comes with tracking focus
slow continuous shooting (5.0 frames/s)
bad battery (350 CIPA)
does not have phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic FS42 Travel photography advice
Panasonic GX7 Travel photography advice
51
built-in flash
no Time Lapse function
low resolution sensor (10MP)
screen isn't selfie friendly
wide angle not great (33mm)
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
67
provides touch to focus
good megapixels (16MP)
has built in flash
bad battery (350 CIPA)
display is not selfie friendly
Photography Glossary

Landscape Comparison

Panasonic FS42 Landscape photography information
Panasonic GX7 Landscape photography information
22
lack of manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not great (33mm)
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
tiny screen (2.5")
no manual control
lack of image stabilization
low resolution sensor (10MP)
sensor size is small (1/2.5")
low max ISO (1,000)
does not have RAW files
no Time Lapse function
73
focusing manually
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
nice screen size (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
very good high ISO (25,600)
saves RAW formats
bad battery (350 CIPA)
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic FS42 Vlogging info
Panasonic GX7 Vlogging info
22
wide angle not great (33mm)
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
screen isn't selfie friendly
lack of image stabilization
low res video (640 x 480 pxls)
no mic port
34
touchscreen functionality
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
comes with face detect autofocus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
display is not selfie friendly
does not have microphone port
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Panasonic FS42 vs Panasonic GX7 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic FS42 and Panasonic GX7
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS42Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX7
General Information
Make Panasonic Panasonic
Model type Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS42 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX7
Category Ultracompact Advanced Mirrorless
Released 2009-04-17 2013-11-07
Body design 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 area 24.7mm² 224.9mm²
Sensor resolution 10 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 3648 x 2736 4592 x 3448
Highest native ISO 1000 25600
Highest boosted ISO 6400 -
Lowest native ISO 80 125
RAW support
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Total focus points - 23
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens Micro Four Thirds
Lens zoom range 33-132mm (4.0x) -
Maximum aperture f/2.8-5.9 -
Macro focusing range 5cm -
Total lenses - 107
Focal length multiplier 6.3 2.1
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Tilting
Display sizing 2.5" 3"
Display resolution 230 thousand dot 1,040 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Display tech - LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 2,765 thousand dot
Viewfinder coverage - 100%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.7x
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60 secs 60 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/2000 secs 1/8000 secs
Maximum quiet shutter speed - 1/16000 secs
Continuous shooting speed 2.0 frames per second 5.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 6.30 m 7.00 m (at ISO 200)
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Sync Auto, Auto & Red-eye reduction, Fill-in flash, Slow sync, Slow sync w/red-eye reduction, off
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Maximum flash sync - 1/320 secs
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 (60p, 60i, 50p, 50i, 30p, 24p), 1280 x 720 (60p, 30p), 640 x 480 (30p)
Highest video resolution 640x480 1920x1080
Video file format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
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 seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 132g (0.29 lb) 402g (0.89 lb)
Physical dimensions 98 x 55 x 22mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 0.9") 123 x 71 x 55mm (4.8" x 2.8" x 2.2")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating not tested 70
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 22.6
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 12.2
DXO Low light rating not tested 718
Other
Battery life - 350 photos
Battery form - Battery Pack
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 secs, 10 secs w/ 3 shots)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC card, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC card
Storage slots 1 1
Retail pricing $580 $1,000