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Panasonic FS42 vs Panasonic LZ30

Portability
95
Imaging
33
Features
10
Overall
23
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS42 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-LZ30 front
Portability
66
Imaging
40
Features
32
Overall
36

Panasonic FS42 vs Panasonic LZ30 Key Specs

Panasonic FS42
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - 1/2.5" Sensor
  • 2.5" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 1000 (Increase to 6400)
  • 640 x 480 video
  • 33-132mm (F2.8-5.9) lens
  • 132g - 98 x 55 x 22mm
  • Launched April 2009
Panasonic LZ30
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-875mm (F3.0-5.9) lens
  • 552g - 124 x 84 x 92mm
  • Released January 2013
  • Previous Model is Panasonic LZ20
  • New Model is Panasonic LZ40
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Panasonic FS42 vs Panasonic LZ30 Overview

Its time to look a bit more in depth at the Panasonic FS42 and Panasonic LZ30, former is a Ultracompact while the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom and both are sold by Panasonic. There exists a substantial gap among the resolutions of the FS42 (10MP) and LZ30 (16MP) and the FS42 (1/2.5") and LZ30 (1/2.3") boast different sensor size.

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The FS42 was introduced 4 years prior to the LZ30 which is a fairly big difference as far as camera technology is concerned. The two cameras have different body design with the Panasonic FS42 being a Ultracompact camera and the Panasonic LZ30 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera.

Before diving straight to a in-depth comparison, here is a short summary of how the FS42 matches up versus the LZ30 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic FS42 over the Panasonic LZ30

 FS42 LZ30 

Reasons to pick Panasonic LZ30 over the Panasonic FS42

 LZ30 FS42 
ReleasedJanuary 2013April 2009Newer by 45 months
Screen dimensions3"2.5"Bigger screen (+0.5")
Screen resolution460k230kSharper screen (+230k dot)

Common features in the Panasonic FS42 and Panasonic LZ30

 FS42 LZ30 
Manual focus Lack of manual focus
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Neither provides selfie screen
Touch screen Neither provides Touch screen

Panasonic FS42 vs Panasonic LZ30 Physical Comparison

In case you're planning to travel with your camera often, you'll need to factor its weight and volume. The Panasonic FS42 provides outside dimensions of 98mm x 55mm x 22mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 0.9") and a weight of 132 grams (0.29 lbs) whilst the Panasonic LZ30 has sizing of 124mm x 84mm x 92mm (4.9" x 3.3" x 3.6") along with a weight of 552 grams (1.22 lbs).

Check the Panasonic FS42 and Panasonic LZ30 in our newest 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 using at that time. Following is a front view dimensions comparison of the FS42 versus the LZ30.

Panasonic FS42 vs Panasonic LZ30 size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the FS42 and LZ30 is 95 and 66 respectively.

Panasonic FS42 vs Panasonic LZ30 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic FS42 vs Panasonic LZ30 Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, its hard to picture the difference in sensor dimensions just by looking through technical specs. The pic below may offer you a greater sense of the sensor dimensions in the FS42 and LZ30.

As you have seen, both the cameras have different megapixels and different sensor dimensions. The FS42 with its smaller sensor is going to make achieving shallower depth of field harder and the Panasonic LZ30 will provide you with more detail using its extra 6 Megapixels. Higher resolution can also help you crop photographs a bit more aggressively. The more aged FS42 will be behind with regard to sensor technology.

Panasonic FS42 vs Panasonic LZ30 sensor size comparison

Panasonic FS42 vs Panasonic LZ30 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic FS42 vs Panasonic LZ30 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic FS42 Portrait photography information
Panasonic LZ30 Portrait photography information
19
focusing manually not possible
manual exposure not available
external flash not possible
sensor resolution low (10MP)
very small sensor (1/2.5")
lacks RAW support
32
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
manual focus not available
no external flash support
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
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Street Comparison

Panasonic FS42 Street photography advice
Panasonic LZ30 Street photography advice
47
no moving screen
does not have image stabilization
very small sensor (1/2.5")
lacks RAW support
max ISO too low (1,000)
43
image stabilization (Optical)
screen is fixed
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
more heavy than competitors (552 grams)
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic FS42 as a Sports photography camera
Panasonic LZ30 as a Sports photography camera
16
max fps low (2.0 fps)
no shutter priority mode
does not have image stabilization
sensor resolution low (10MP)
very small sensor (1/2.5")
lacks phase detect auto focus
47
excellent zoom range (25-875mm 35.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
comes with tracking focus
great battery power (380 per charge)
continuous shooting slow (1.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic FS42 Travel photography information
Panasonic LZ30 Travel photography information
51
flash built-in
no Timelapse recording
sensor resolution low (10MP)
display is not selfie friendly
wide angle not the best (33mm)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
56
great battery power (380 CIPA)
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
flash built-in
rather wide (25mm)
long reach (875mm)
doesn't have Timelapse function
more heavy than competitors (552g)
screen is not selfie friendly
sluggish max aperture (f3.0)
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic FS42 Landscape photography information
Panasonic LZ30 Landscape photography information
22
focusing manually not possible
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not the best (33mm)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
tiny screen (2.5 inch)
manual exposure not available
does not have image stabilization
sensor resolution low (10 megapixels)
very small sensor (1/2.5")
max ISO too low (1,000)
lacks RAW support
no Timelapse recording
45
rather wide (25mm)
pretty good screen size (3 inch)
image stabilization (Optical)
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
great battery power (380 CIPA)
manual focus not available
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.0)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
doesn't have Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic FS42 as a Vlogging camera
Panasonic LZ30 as a Vlogging camera
22
wide angle not the best (33mm)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
display is not selfie friendly
does not have image stabilization
low video resolution (640 x 480 pixels)
no microphone socket
22
rather wide (25mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
sluggish max aperture (f3.0)
screen is not selfie friendly
low quality video (1280 x 720 pxls)
doesn't have microphone port
more heavy than competitors (552 grams)
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Panasonic FS42 vs Panasonic LZ30 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic FS42 and Panasonic LZ30
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS42Panasonic Lumix DMC-LZ30
General Information
Make Panasonic Panasonic
Model type Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS42 Panasonic Lumix DMC-LZ30
Category Ultracompact Small Sensor Superzoom
Launched 2009-04-17 2013-01-07
Body design Ultracompact SLR-like (bridge)
Sensor Information
Sensor type CCD CCD
Sensor size 1/2.5" 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 5.744 x 4.308mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 24.7mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 10 megapixel 16 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 -
Maximum resolution 3648 x 2736 4608 x 3456
Maximum native ISO 1000 6400
Maximum boosted ISO 6400 -
Lowest native ISO 80 100
RAW format
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Cross type focus points - -
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 33-132mm (4.0x) 25-875mm (35.0x)
Largest aperture f/2.8-5.9 f/3.0-5.9
Macro focusing range 5cm 1cm
Focal length multiplier 6.3 5.8
Screen
Range of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen sizing 2.5" 3"
Resolution of screen 230k dot 460k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Screen tech - TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60 secs 15 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/2000 secs 1/2000 secs
Continuous shooting speed 2.0 frames/s 1.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation - Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 6.30 m 4.40 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
WB 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) 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 640x480 1280x720
Video 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
Environmental seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 132 grams (0.29 lb) 552 grams (1.22 lb)
Physical dimensions 98 x 55 x 22mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 0.9") 124 x 84 x 92mm (4.9" x 3.3" x 3.6")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth rating not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested not tested
DXO Low light rating not tested not tested
Other
Battery life - 380 shots
Battery form - AA
Battery ID - 4 x AA
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 0r 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Storage media SD/SDHC card, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage slots 1 1
Launch price $580 $230