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Panasonic FS42 vs Panasonic GX85

Portability
95
Imaging
33
Features
10
Overall
23
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS42 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX85 front
Portability
83
Imaging
54
Features
76
Overall
62

Panasonic FS42 vs Panasonic GX85 Key Specs

Panasonic FS42
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - 1/2.5" Sensor
  • 2.5" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 1000 (Boost to 6400)
  • 640 x 480 video
  • 33-132mm (F2.8-5.9) lens
  • 132g - 98 x 55 x 22mm
  • Launched April 2009
Panasonic GX85
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 200 - 25600
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 426g - 122 x 71 x 44mm
  • Launched April 2016
  • Alternative Name is Lumix DMC-GX80 / Lumix DMC-GX7 Mark II
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Panasonic FS42 vs Panasonic GX85 Overview

Its time to look closer at the Panasonic FS42 and Panasonic GX85, former is a Ultracompact while the other is a Advanced Mirrorless and they are both produced by Panasonic. There is a large difference among the sensor resolutions of the FS42 (10MP) and GX85 (16MP) and the FS42 (1/2.5") and GX85 (Four Thirds) offer different sensor sizes.

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The FS42 was launched 8 years earlier than the GX85 which is a fairly serious difference as far as camera tech is concerned. Each of these cameras feature different body design with the Panasonic FS42 being a Ultracompact camera and the Panasonic GX85 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before getting straight to a comprehensive comparison, here is a concise overview of how the FS42 scores vs the GX85 for portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Panasonic FS42 over the Panasonic GX85

 FS42 GX85 

Reasons to pick Panasonic GX85 over the Panasonic FS42

 GX85 FS42 
LaunchedApril 2016April 2009Newer by 84 months
Manual focus More precise focusing
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display size3"2.5"Larger display (+0.5")
Display resolution1040k230kClearer display (+810k dot)
Touch display Easily navigate

Common features in the Panasonic FS42 and Panasonic GX85

 FS42 GX85 
Selfie screen No selfie screen

Panasonic FS42 vs Panasonic GX85 Physical Comparison

For those who are aiming to travel with your camera often, you'll need to factor its weight and dimensions. The Panasonic FS42 comes with exterior dimensions of 98mm x 55mm x 22mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 0.9") along with a weight of 132 grams (0.29 lbs) while the Panasonic GX85 has dimensions of 122mm x 71mm x 44mm (4.8" x 2.8" x 1.7") with a weight of 426 grams (0.94 lbs).

Check out the Panasonic FS42 and Panasonic GX85 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an ILC will change depending on the lens you are utilizing at that moment. Following is a front view dimension comparison of the FS42 vs the GX85.

Panasonic FS42 vs Panasonic GX85 size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability grade of the FS42 and GX85 is 95 and 83 respectively.

Panasonic FS42 vs Panasonic GX85 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic FS42 vs Panasonic GX85 Sensor Comparison

In many cases, its hard to imagine the difference in sensor dimensions only by going through technical specs. The pic below should provide you a clearer sense of the sensor dimensions in the FS42 and GX85.

As you can tell, the two cameras come with different megapixels and different sensor dimensions. The FS42 due to its smaller sensor is going to make shooting shallower depth of field more difficult and the Panasonic GX85 will show greater detail utilizing its extra 6 Megapixels. Greater resolution will make it easier to crop pics a good deal more aggressively. The more aged FS42 will be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor innovation.

Panasonic FS42 vs Panasonic GX85 sensor size comparison

Panasonic FS42 vs Panasonic GX85 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic FS42 vs Panasonic GX85 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Panasonic FS42
Portrait photography with Panasonic GX85
19
no manual focus
no manual mode
external flash not possible
resolution not great (10MP)
sensor is tiny (1/2.5")
has no RAW format
72
focusing manually
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
has face detection autofocus
supports RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Panasonic FS42 as a Street photography camera
Panasonic GX85 as a Street photography camera
47
no moving screen
lack of image stabilization
sensor is tiny (1/2.5")
has no RAW format
low maximum ISO (1,000)
83
screen tilts
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
features focus via touch
very good ISO range (25,600)
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic FS42 Sports photography advice
Panasonic GX85 Sports photography advice
16
slow continuous shooting (2.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority
lack of image stabilization
resolution not great (10 megapixels)
sensor is tiny (1/2.5")
has no phase detect auto focus
62
silent mode (1/16,000 seconds)
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
has tracking autofocus
not so great battery pack (290 CIPA)
no phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic FS42 Travel photography features
Panasonic GX85 Travel photography features
51
built-in flash
missing Timelapse recording
resolution not great (10 megapixels)
display isn't selfie friendly
wide angle not good (33mm)
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
68
features focus via touch
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
built-in flash
not so great battery pack (290 per charge)
screen is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic FS42 Landscape photography features
Panasonic GX85 Landscape photography features
22
no manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not good (33mm)
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
small screen (2.5 inch)
no manual mode
lack of image stabilization
resolution not great (10MP)
sensor is tiny (1/2.5")
low maximum ISO (1,000)
has no RAW format
missing Timelapse recording
74
focusing manually
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen is a decent size (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
good sensor size (Four Thirds)
no anti-alias filter
very good ISO range (25,600)
supports RAW formats
not so great battery pack (290 CIPA)
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic FS42 as a Vlogging camera
Panasonic GX85 as a Vlogging camera
22
wide angle not good (33mm)
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
display isn't selfie friendly
lack of image stabilization
low quality video (640 x 480 pixels)
missing microphone socket
35
touchscreen
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
has face detection autofocus
high video quality (3840 x 2160 pixels)
screen is not selfie friendly
no external microphone port
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Panasonic FS42 vs Panasonic GX85 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic FS42 and Panasonic GX85
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS42Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX85
General Information
Make Panasonic Panasonic
Model type Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS42 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX85
Also called as - Lumix DMC-GX80 / Lumix DMC-GX7 Mark II
Type Ultracompact Advanced Mirrorless
Launched 2009-04-17 2016-04-05
Body design Ultracompact Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
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 megapixel 16 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 3648 x 2736 4592 x 3448
Highest native ISO 1000 25600
Highest enhanced ISO 6400 -
Lowest native ISO 80 200
RAW images
Lowest enhanced ISO - 100
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch focus
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Total focus points - 49
Lens
Lens support fixed lens Micro Four Thirds
Lens zoom range 33-132mm (4.0x) -
Maximal aperture f/2.8-5.9 -
Macro focusing distance 5cm -
Amount of lenses - 107
Crop factor 6.3 2.1
Screen
Range of screen Fixed Type Tilting
Screen size 2.5" 3"
Resolution of screen 230 thousand dot 1,040 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 2,764 thousand dot
Viewfinder coverage - 100%
Features
Min shutter speed 60 seconds 60 seconds
Max shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Max silent shutter speed - 1/16000 seconds
Continuous shutter speed 2.0 frames/s 8.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 6.30 m 6.00 m (at ISO 200)
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Sync Auto, auto w/redeye reduction, forced on, forced on w/redeye reduction, slow sync, slow sync w/redeye reduction, forced off
Hot shoe
AEB
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions 848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps) 3840 x 2160 (30p, 24p), 1920 x 1080 (60p, 60i, 30p, 24p), 1280 x 720 (30p), 640 x 480 (30p)
Highest video resolution 640x480 3840x2160
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
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 132g (0.29 lb) 426g (0.94 lb)
Physical dimensions 98 x 55 x 22mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 0.9") 122 x 71 x 44mm (4.8" x 2.8" x 1.7")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating not tested 71
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 22.9
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 12.6
DXO Low light rating not tested 662
Other
Battery life - 290 images
Form of battery - Battery Pack
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes
Time lapse shooting
Storage media SD/SDHC card, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC card
Storage slots One One
Pricing at release $580 $800