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Panasonic FS42 vs Panasonic S2

Portability
95
Imaging
33
Features
10
Overall
23
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS42 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-S2 front
Portability
96
Imaging
37
Features
29
Overall
33

Panasonic FS42 vs Panasonic S2 Key Specs

Panasonic FS42
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - 1/2.5" Sensor
  • 2.5" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 1000 (Push to 6400)
  • 640 x 480 video
  • 33-132mm (F2.8-5.9) lens
  • 132g - 98 x 55 x 22mm
  • Launched April 2009
Panasonic S2
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-112mm (F3.1-6.5) lens
  • 112g - 98 x 57 x 21mm
  • Introduced January 2012
Photography Glossary

Panasonic FS42 vs Panasonic S2 Overview

Its time to look closer at the Panasonic FS42 and Panasonic S2, one is a Ultracompact and the latter is a Small Sensor Compact and both are manufactured by Panasonic. There is a significant difference among the image resolutions of the FS42 (10MP) and S2 (14MP) and the FS42 (1/2.5") and S2 (1/2.3") feature different sensor dimensions.

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The FS42 was manufactured 3 years before the S2 which is a fairly sizable gap as far as camera tech is concerned. Both of these cameras come with different body type with the Panasonic FS42 being a Ultracompact camera and the Panasonic S2 being a Compact camera.

Before delving in to a in-depth comparison, below is a simple introduction of how the FS42 grades vs the S2 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic FS42 over the Panasonic S2

 FS42 S2 

Reasons to pick Panasonic S2 over the Panasonic FS42

 S2 FS42 
IntroducedJanuary 2012April 2009Newer by 33 months
Screen dimension2.7"2.5"Bigger screen (+0.2")

Common features in the Panasonic FS42 and Panasonic S2

 FS42 S2 
Focus manually No manual focus
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen resolution230k230kEqual screen resolution
Selfie screen Lack of selfie screen
Touch screen Lack of Touch screen

Panasonic FS42 vs Panasonic S2 Physical Comparison

If you are intending to travel with your camera regularly, you're going to have to think about its weight and measurements. The Panasonic FS42 enjoys outside measurements 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 S2 has proportions of 98mm x 57mm x 21mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 0.8") accompanied by a weight of 112 grams (0.25 lbs).

Look at the Panasonic FS42 and Panasonic S2 in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change depending on the lens you have attached at that moment. Underneath is the front view scale comparison of the FS42 versus the S2.

Panasonic FS42 vs Panasonic S2 size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability grade of the FS42 and S2 is 95 and 96 respectively.

Panasonic FS42 vs Panasonic S2 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic FS42 vs Panasonic S2 Sensor Comparison

Usually, it is very tough to visualize the contrast in sensor dimensions purely by checking out technical specs. The picture below will help give you a greater sense of the sensor measurements in the FS42 and S2.

As you can tell, both of these cameras posses different resolutions and different sensor dimensions. The FS42 featuring a smaller sensor is going to make shooting shallow depth of field tougher and the Panasonic S2 will provide extra detail due to its extra 4MP. Higher resolution will also make it easier to crop photographs somewhat more aggressively. The more aged FS42 will be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor technology.

Panasonic FS42 vs Panasonic S2 sensor size comparison

Panasonic FS42 vs Panasonic S2 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic FS42 vs Panasonic S2 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic FS42 Portrait photography information
Panasonic S2 Portrait photography information
19
manual focus not available
manual mode not possible
can't use external flash
megapixel count low (10MP)
tiny sensor (1/2.5")
doesn't have RAW files
33
MP count decent (14MP)
features face detect autofocus
focusing manually not possible
no manual control
external flash not possible
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
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Street Comparison

Panasonic FS42 as a Street photography camera
Panasonic S2 as a Street photography camera
47
screen does not articulate
no image stabilization
tiny sensor (1/2.5")
doesn't have RAW files
maximum ISO low (1,000)
63
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than others (112 grams)
fixed screen
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic FS42 Sports photography information
Panasonic S2 Sports photography information
16
slow continuous shooting (2.0 fps)
lack of shutter priority mode
no image stabilization
megapixel count low (10 megapixels)
tiny sensor (1/2.5")
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
39
built in image stabilization (Optical)
MP count decent (14 megapixels)
good battery pack (280 shots)
continuous shooting slow (2.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority mode
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic FS42 as a Travel photography camera
Panasonic S2 as a Travel photography camera
51
flash built-in
lack of Time Lapse recording
megapixel count low (10 megapixels)
does not posses selfie friendly screen
wide angle not fantastic (33mm)
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
70
good battery pack (280 shots)
lighter than others (112 grams)
MP count decent (14 megapixels)
flash built-in
really wide (28mm)
no Time Lapse mode
screen isn't selfie friendly
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic FS42 Landscape photography advice
Panasonic S2 Landscape photography advice
22
manual focus not available
can't change lenses (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not fantastic (33mm)
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
screen is somewhat small (2.5 inch)
manual mode not possible
no image stabilization
megapixel count low (10 megapixels)
tiny sensor (1/2.5")
maximum ISO low (1,000)
doesn't have RAW files
lack of Time Lapse recording
41
really wide (28mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
MP count decent (14 megapixels)
good battery pack (280 CIPA)
focusing manually not possible
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
small screen (2.7")
no manual control
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
no Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic FS42 Vlogging features
Panasonic S2 Vlogging features
22
wide angle not fantastic (33mm)
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
does not posses selfie friendly screen
no image stabilization
low quality video (640 x 480 resolution)
lack of external mic socket
32
really wide (28mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
features face detect autofocus
lighter than others (112g)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
screen isn't selfie friendly
low quality video (1280 x 720 pixels)
no mic jack
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Panasonic FS42 vs Panasonic S2 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic FS42 and Panasonic S2
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS42Panasonic Lumix DMC-S2
General Information
Brand Name Panasonic Panasonic
Model Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS42 Panasonic Lumix DMC-S2
Type Ultracompact Small Sensor Compact
Launched 2009-04-17 2012-01-09
Body design Ultracompact Compact
Sensor Information
Sensor type CCD CCD
Sensor size 1/2.5" 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 5.744 x 4.308mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor surface area 24.7mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 10MP 14MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3 and 16:9
Peak resolution 3648 x 2736 4320 x 3240
Highest native ISO 1000 6400
Highest enhanced ISO 6400 -
Minimum native ISO 80 100
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
AF continuous
Single AF
Tracking AF
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Number of focus points - 23
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 33-132mm (4.0x) 28-112mm (4.0x)
Maximum aperture f/2.8-5.9 f/3.1-6.5
Macro focus distance 5cm 5cm
Crop factor 6.3 5.9
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen size 2.5" 2.7"
Screen resolution 230 thousand dot 230 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Screen technology - TFT Color LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Min shutter speed 60 secs 8 secs
Max shutter speed 1/2000 secs 1/1600 secs
Continuous shutter speed 2.0fps 2.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 6.30 m 3.30 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction
External flash
AEB
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
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), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 640x480 1280x720
Video data format Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
Mic input
Headphone input
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 seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 132 gr (0.29 pounds) 112 gr (0.25 pounds)
Dimensions 98 x 55 x 22mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 0.9") 98 x 57 x 21mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 0.8")
DXO scores
DXO Overall 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 - 280 photos
Battery format - Battery Pack
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC card, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage slots Single Single
Cost at release $580 $109