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Panasonic FS42 vs Panasonic S3

Portability
95
Imaging
33
Features
10
Overall
23
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS42 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-S3 front
Portability
96
Imaging
37
Features
24
Overall
31

Panasonic FS42 vs Panasonic S3 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
  • Introduced April 2009
Panasonic S3
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-112mm (F3.1-5.6) lens
  • 117g - 99 x 59 x 21mm
  • Announced January 2011
Photography Glossary

Panasonic FS42 vs Panasonic S3 Overview

Below is a comprehensive review of the Panasonic FS42 and Panasonic S3, former being a Ultracompact while the latter is a Small Sensor Compact and both of them are created by Panasonic. There exists a considerable gap among the image resolutions of the FS42 (10MP) and S3 (14MP) and the FS42 (1/2.5") and S3 (1/2.3") provide different sensor size.

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The FS42 was announced 20 months before the S3 which makes them a generation apart from one another. Each of these cameras have different body design with the Panasonic FS42 being a Ultracompact camera and the Panasonic S3 being a Compact camera.

Before going right into a full comparison, here is a simple summary of how the FS42 grades against the S3 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic FS42 over the Panasonic S3

 FS42 S3 

Reasons to pick Panasonic S3 over the Panasonic FS42

 S3 FS42 
AnnouncedJanuary 2011April 2009More recent by 20 months
Screen dimensions2.7"2.5"Bigger screen (+0.2")

Common features in the Panasonic FS42 and Panasonic S3

 FS42 S3 
Focus manually No manual focusing
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen resolution230k230kExact same screen resolution
Selfie screen Neither contains selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Neither contains Touch friendly screen

Panasonic FS42 vs Panasonic S3 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is intending to lug around your camera regularly, you have to think about its weight and size. The Panasonic FS42 has got external measurements of 98mm x 55mm x 22mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 0.9") with a weight of 132 grams (0.29 lbs) and the Panasonic S3 has specifications of 99mm x 59mm x 21mm (3.9" x 2.3" x 0.8") along with a weight of 117 grams (0.26 lbs).

Check the Panasonic FS42 and Panasonic S3 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an ILC will vary dependant on the lens you are utilizing at the time. Below is a front view scale comparison of the FS42 versus the S3.

Panasonic FS42 vs Panasonic S3 size comparison

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the FS42 and S3 is 95 and 96 respectively.

Panasonic FS42 vs Panasonic S3 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic FS42 vs Panasonic S3 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it's difficult to visualize the difference in sensor measurements just by seeing specs. The visual below may provide you a clearer sense of the sensor measurements in the FS42 and S3.

All in all, both of those cameras have different resolutions and different sensor measurements. The FS42 having a smaller sensor is going to make getting shallow depth of field tougher and the Panasonic S3 will produce greater detail with its extra 4MP. Higher resolution can also enable you to crop photographs a bit more aggressively. The older FS42 will be behind in sensor tech.

Panasonic FS42 vs Panasonic S3 sensor size comparison

Panasonic FS42 vs Panasonic S3 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic FS42 vs Panasonic S3 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic FS42 Portrait photography highlights
Panasonic S3 Portrait photography highlights
19
focusing manually not possible
manual exposure not available
cannot use external flash
low resolution sensor (10 megapixels)
sensor is tiny (1/2.5")
lacks RAW support
28
decent megapixels (14MP)
focusing manually not possible
no manual control
no external flash support
very small sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
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Street Comparison

Panasonic FS42 Street photography factors
Panasonic S3 Street photography factors
47
fixed screen
does not have image stabilization
sensor is tiny (1/2.5")
lacks RAW support
max ISO too low (1,000)
63
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than average (117g)
screen is fixed
very small sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic FS42 Sports photography features
Panasonic S3 Sports photography features
16
slow continuous shooting (2.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority mode
does not have image stabilization
low resolution sensor (10 megapixels)
sensor is tiny (1/2.5")
lacks phase detect AF
35
image stabilization (Optical)
decent megapixels (14 megapixels)
very slow continuous shooting (2.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority mode
very small sensor (1/2.3")
has no phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic FS42 Travel photography factors
Panasonic S3 Travel photography factors
51
built-in flash
missing Time Lapse function
low resolution sensor (10 megapixels)
screen isn't selfie friendly
wide angle not great (33mm)
slow max aperture (f2.8)
68
lighter than average (117g)
decent megapixels (14MP)
has built in flash
pretty wide (28mm)
does not have Timelapse recording
does not offer selfie friendly screen
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.1)
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic FS42 Landscape photography factors
Panasonic S3 Landscape photography factors
22
focusing manually not possible
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not great (33mm)
slow max aperture (f2.8)
tiny screen (2.5 inches)
manual exposure not available
does not have image stabilization
low resolution sensor (10MP)
sensor is tiny (1/2.5")
max ISO too low (1,000)
lacks RAW support
missing Time Lapse function
38
pretty wide (28mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
decent megapixels (14MP)
focusing manually not possible
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.1)
tiny screen (2.7")
no manual control
very small sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
does not have Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic FS42 as a Vlogging camera
Panasonic S3 as a Vlogging camera
22
wide angle not great (33mm)
slow max aperture (f2.8)
screen isn't selfie friendly
does not have image stabilization
low quality video (640 x 480 pxls)
missing external mic socket
31
pretty wide (28mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than average (117g)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.1)
does not offer selfie friendly screen
video resolution low (1280 x 720 resolution)
does not have external microphone socket
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Panasonic FS42 vs Panasonic S3 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic FS42 and Panasonic S3
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS42Panasonic Lumix DMC-S3
General Information
Make Panasonic Panasonic
Model type Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS42 Panasonic Lumix DMC-S3
Class Ultracompact Small Sensor Compact
Introduced 2009-04-17 2011-01-05
Physical type Ultracompact Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by - Venus Engine IV
Sensor type CCD CCD
Sensor size 1/2.5" 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 5.744 x 4.308mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor surface area 24.7mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 10 megapixels 14 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3, 3:2 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 support
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
AF continuous
AF single
Tracking AF
AF selectice
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Total focus points - 11
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 33-132mm (4.0x) 28-112mm (4.0x)
Maximal aperture f/2.8-5.9 f/3.1-5.6
Macro focusing range 5cm 5cm
Crop factor 6.3 5.9
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 2.5 inches 2.7 inches
Screen resolution 230k dots 230k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Screen tech - TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Min shutter speed 60s 8s
Max shutter speed 1/2000s 1/1600s
Continuous shutter rate 2.0 frames/s 2.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Change WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 6.30 m 3.30 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions 848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps) 1280 x 720 (30fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 640x480 1280x720
Video format Motion JPEG MPEG-4
Microphone port
Headphone port
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 sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 132 gr (0.29 lb) 117 gr (0.26 lb)
Physical dimensions 98 x 55 x 22mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 0.9") 99 x 59 x 21mm (3.9" x 2.3" x 0.8")
DXO scores
DXO Overall 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 - 250 photographs
Type of battery - 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
Card slots One One
Pricing at release $580 $110