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Panasonic FS42 vs Panasonic SZ10

Portability
95
Imaging
33
Features
10
Overall
23
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS42 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ10 front
Portability
93
Imaging
40
Features
34
Overall
37

Panasonic FS42 vs Panasonic SZ10 Key Specs

Panasonic FS42
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - 1/2.5" Sensor
  • 2.5" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 1000 (Push to 6400)
  • 640 x 480 video
  • 33-132mm (F2.8-5.9) lens
  • 132g - 98 x 55 x 22mm
  • Revealed April 2009
Panasonic SZ10
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 100 - 1600 (Boost to 6400)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 24-288mm (F3.1-6.3) lens
  • 177g - 99 x 60 x 30mm
  • Revealed January 2015
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Panasonic FS42 vs Panasonic SZ10 Overview

Below, we will be reviewing the Panasonic FS42 and Panasonic SZ10, former being a Ultracompact while the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom and both are offered by Panasonic. There is a substantial difference among the image resolutions of the FS42 (10MP) and SZ10 (16MP) and the FS42 (1/2.5") and SZ10 (1/2.3") feature totally different sensor dimensions.

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The FS42 was manufactured 6 years prior to the SZ10 and that is a fairly big difference as far as camera tech is concerned. Both cameras come with different body type with the Panasonic FS42 being a Ultracompact camera and the Panasonic SZ10 being a Compact camera.

Before diving in to a detailed comparison, below is a concise view of how the FS42 matches up against the SZ10 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic FS42 over the Panasonic SZ10

 FS42 SZ10 

Reasons to pick Panasonic SZ10 over the Panasonic FS42

 SZ10 FS42 
RevealedJanuary 2015April 2009Fresher by 69 months
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen dimension3"2.5"Bigger screen (+0.5")
Screen resolution460k230kSharper screen (+230k dot)

Common features in the Panasonic FS42 and Panasonic SZ10

 FS42 SZ10 
Focus manually Lack of manual focusing
Selfie screen No selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Neither offers Touch friendly screen

Panasonic FS42 vs Panasonic SZ10 Physical Comparison

In case you're aiming to carry your camera regularly, you need to consider its weight and dimensions. The Panasonic FS42 offers exterior dimensions of 98mm x 55mm x 22mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 0.9") having a weight of 132 grams (0.29 lbs) whilst the Panasonic SZ10 has dimensions of 99mm x 60mm x 30mm (3.9" x 2.4" x 1.2") accompanied by a weight of 177 grams (0.39 lbs).

Take a look at the Panasonic FS42 and Panasonic SZ10 in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an ILC will vary depending on the lens you have attached at the time. Underneath is the front view measurements comparison of the FS42 compared to the SZ10.

Panasonic FS42 vs Panasonic SZ10 size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability grade of the FS42 and SZ10 is 95 and 93 respectively.

Panasonic FS42 vs Panasonic SZ10 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic FS42 vs Panasonic SZ10 Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, it is very tough to envision the gap in sensor sizing just by researching specs. The graphic underneath will help give you a far better sense of the sensor dimensions in the FS42 and SZ10.

All in all, both of those cameras posses different megapixel count and different sensor sizing. The FS42 because of its smaller sensor will make getting bokeh trickier and the Panasonic SZ10 will provide you with extra detail due to its extra 6 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also let you crop photographs somewhat more aggressively. The older FS42 will be behind in sensor innovation.

Panasonic FS42 vs Panasonic SZ10 sensor size comparison

Panasonic FS42 vs Panasonic SZ10 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic FS42 vs Panasonic SZ10 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Panasonic FS42
Portrait photography with Panasonic SZ10
19
no manual focus
no manual control
external flash not possible
resolution not great (10 megapixels)
sensor is very small (1/2.5")
doesn't have RAW support
35
good resolution (16 megapixels)
comes with face detection autofocus
focusing manually not possible
manual exposure not possible
external flash not possible
very small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
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Street Comparison

Panasonic FS42 Street photography highlights
Panasonic SZ10 Street photography highlights
47
no moving screen
lack of image stabilization
sensor is very small (1/2.5")
doesn't have RAW support
low maximum ISO (1,000)
70
screen tilts
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition in class (177 grams)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic FS42 as a Sports photography camera
Panasonic SZ10 as a Sports photography camera
16
slow continuous shooting (2.0 fps)
lack of shutter priority mode
lack of image stabilization
resolution not great (10 megapixels)
sensor is very small (1/2.5")
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
34
has image stabilization (Optical)
good resolution (16MP)
painfully slow continuous shooting (1.4 frames/s)
no shutter priority
very small sensor (1/2.3")
not so great battery pack (200 per charge)
does not have phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic FS42 as a Travel photography camera
Panasonic SZ10 as a Travel photography camera
51
built-in flash
no Time Lapse function
resolution not great (10MP)
display isn't selfie friendly
wide angle not good (33mm)
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
67
lighter than competition in class (177g)
good resolution (16 megapixels)
built-in flash
decently wide (24mm)
great zoom (288mm)
missing Time Lapse mode
not so great battery pack (200 per charge)
display isn't selfie friendly
slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic FS42 Landscape photography factors
Panasonic SZ10 Landscape photography factors
22
no manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not good (33mm)
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
screen is somewhat small (2.5 inch)
no manual control
lack of image stabilization
resolution not great (10 megapixels)
sensor is very small (1/2.5")
low maximum ISO (1,000)
doesn't have RAW support
no Time Lapse function
41
decently wide (24mm)
nice screen size (3")
has image stabilization (Optical)
good resolution (16MP)
focusing manually not possible
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
manual exposure not possible
very small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
not so great battery pack (200 CIPA)
missing Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic FS42 Vlogging features
Panasonic SZ10 Vlogging features
22
wide angle not good (33mm)
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
display isn't selfie friendly
lack of image stabilization
low video resolution (640 x 480 resolution)
no mic socket
32
decently wide (24mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
comes with face detection autofocus
lighter than competition in class (177g)
slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
display isn't selfie friendly
video res low (1280 x 720 pxls)
missing external mic socket
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Panasonic FS42 vs Panasonic SZ10 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic FS42 and Panasonic SZ10
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS42Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ10
General Information
Brand Panasonic Panasonic
Model Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS42 Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ10
Type Ultracompact Small Sensor Superzoom
Revealed 2009-04-17 2015-01-06
Physical type 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 10 megapixel 16 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 3648 x 2736 4608 x 3456
Maximum native ISO 1000 1600
Maximum enhanced ISO 6400 6400
Minimum native ISO 80 100
RAW support
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Number of focus points - 9
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 33-132mm (4.0x) 24-288mm (12.0x)
Largest aperture f/2.8-5.9 f/3.1-6.3
Macro focus distance 5cm -
Crop factor 6.3 5.9
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Tilting
Display sizing 2.5 inches 3 inches
Resolution of display 230k dots 460k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Min shutter speed 60 secs 8 secs
Max shutter speed 1/2000 secs 1/2000 secs
Continuous shutter rate 2.0 frames/s 1.4 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 6.30 m 5.20 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Sync Auto, auto w/redeye reduction, on, slow sync w/redeye, off
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
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 (30p), 640 x 480 (30p), 320 x 240 (30p)
Maximum video resolution 640x480 1280x720
Video format Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
Mic port
Headphone port
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 sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 132 gr (0.29 pounds) 177 gr (0.39 pounds)
Dimensions 98 x 55 x 22mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 0.9") 99 x 60 x 30mm (3.9" x 2.4" x 1.2")
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 - 200 photos
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
Cost at release $580 $200