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Panasonic FS42 vs Panasonic SZ3

Portability
95
Imaging
33
Features
10
Overall
23
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS42 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ3 front
Portability
96
Imaging
40
Features
29
Overall
35

Panasonic FS42 vs Panasonic SZ3 Key Specs

Panasonic FS42
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - 1/2.5" Sensor
  • 2.5" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 1000 (Raise to 6400)
  • 640 x 480 video
  • 33-132mm (F2.8-5.9) lens
  • 132g - 98 x 55 x 22mm
  • Revealed April 2009
Panasonic SZ3
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-250mm (F3.1-5.9) lens
  • 126g - 95 x 56 x 22mm
  • Released January 2013
Photography Glossary

Panasonic FS42 vs Panasonic SZ3 Overview

Let's examine more closely at the Panasonic FS42 vs Panasonic SZ3, one being a Ultracompact and the other is a Small Sensor Compact and both are offered by Panasonic. There is a huge difference between the sensor resolutions of the FS42 (10MP) and SZ3 (16MP) and the FS42 (1/2.5") and SZ3 (1/2.3") enjoy different sensor size.

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The FS42 was released 4 years before the SZ3 and that is quite a significant gap as far as tech is concerned. The two cameras offer different body type with the Panasonic FS42 being a Ultracompact camera and the Panasonic SZ3 being a Compact camera.

Before we go through a in-depth comparison, below is a quick overview of how the FS42 scores vs the SZ3 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic FS42 over the Panasonic SZ3

 FS42 SZ3 

Reasons to pick Panasonic SZ3 over the Panasonic FS42

 SZ3 FS42 
ReleasedJanuary 2013April 2009Fresher by 45 months
Display sizing2.7"2.5"Larger display (+0.2")

Common features in the Panasonic FS42 and Panasonic SZ3

 FS42 SZ3 
Manual focus Lack of manual focusing
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display resolution230k230kSame display resolution
Selfie screen Neither features selfie screen
Touch display Neither features Touch display

Panasonic FS42 vs Panasonic SZ3 Physical Comparison

When you are intending to carry your camera, you will want to take into account its weight and dimensions. The Panasonic FS42 enjoys external dimensions of 98mm x 55mm x 22mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 0.9") accompanied by a weight of 132 grams (0.29 lbs) whilst the Panasonic SZ3 has dimensions of 95mm x 56mm x 22mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.9") along with a weight of 126 grams (0.28 lbs).

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Bear in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change based on the lens you have at the time. The following is the front view measurements comparison of the FS42 versus the SZ3.

Panasonic FS42 vs Panasonic SZ3 size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability rating of the FS42 and SZ3 is 95 and 96 respectively.

Panasonic FS42 vs Panasonic SZ3 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic FS42 vs Panasonic SZ3 Sensor Comparison

Often, its hard to picture the difference between sensor sizing only by reading specifications. The photograph underneath should provide you a far better sense of the sensor sizes in the FS42 and SZ3.

To sum up, the two cameras offer different megapixels and different sensor sizing. The FS42 featuring a tinier sensor is going to make getting shallow depth of field trickier and the Panasonic SZ3 will deliver more detail as a result of its extra 6 Megapixels. Greater resolution will help you crop pics a little more aggressively. The older FS42 is going to be behind in sensor innovation.

Panasonic FS42 vs Panasonic SZ3 sensor size comparison

Panasonic FS42 vs Panasonic SZ3 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic FS42 vs Panasonic SZ3 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Panasonic FS42
Portrait photography with Panasonic SZ3
19
focusing manually not possible
manual mode not possible
can't use external flash
megapixel count low (10 megapixels)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.5")
lack of RAW files
30
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
no manual focus
manual mode not possible
external flash not possible
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
no RAW support
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Street Comparison

Panasonic FS42 Street photography advice
Panasonic SZ3 Street photography advice
47
no moving screen
no image stabilization
sensor size is tiny (1/2.5")
lack of RAW files
max ISO too low (1,000)
64
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition (126 grams)
screen is fixed
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
no RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic FS42 Sports photography highlights
Panasonic SZ3 Sports photography highlights
16
max fps very slow (2.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority mode
no image stabilization
megapixel count low (10MP)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.5")
lack of phase detect autofocus
41
built in image stabilization (Optical)
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
comes with tracking focus
slow continuous shooting (1.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority mode
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
no phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Panasonic FS42
Travel photography with Panasonic SZ3
51
flash built-in
doesn't have Timelapse function
megapixel count low (10MP)
does not feature selfie friendly display
wide angle not good (33mm)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
71
lighter than competition (126 grams)
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
built-in flash
rather wide (25mm)
long zoom (250mm)
missing Time Lapse function
doesn't offer selfie friendly screen
sluggish max aperture (f3.1)
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic FS42 as a Landscape photography camera
Panasonic SZ3 as a Landscape photography camera
22
focusing manually not possible
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not good (33mm)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
screen is small (2.5")
manual mode not possible
no image stabilization
megapixel count low (10MP)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.5")
max ISO too low (1,000)
lack of RAW files
doesn't have Timelapse function
39
rather wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
no manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.1)
small screen (2.7")
manual mode not possible
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
no RAW support
missing Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic FS42 Vlogging information
Panasonic SZ3 Vlogging information
22
wide angle not good (33mm)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
does not feature selfie friendly display
no image stabilization
low quality video (640 x 480 pxls)
doesn't have microphone jack
31
rather wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition (126g)
sluggish max aperture (f3.1)
doesn't offer selfie friendly screen
video res low (1280 x 720 resolution)
missing mic support
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Panasonic FS42 vs Panasonic SZ3 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic FS42 and Panasonic SZ3
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS42Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ3
General Information
Brand Panasonic Panasonic
Model Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS42 Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ3
Type Ultracompact Small Sensor Compact
Revealed 2009-04-17 2013-01-07
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 -
Maximum resolution 3648 x 2736 4608 x 3456
Maximum native ISO 1000 6400
Maximum boosted ISO 6400 -
Minimum native ISO 80 100
RAW format
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Number of focus points - 23
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 33-132mm (4.0x) 25-250mm (10.0x)
Maximal aperture f/2.8-5.9 f/3.1-5.9
Macro focus range 5cm 5cm
Crop factor 6.3 5.9
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 2.5 inches 2.7 inches
Resolution of screen 230 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Screen technology - TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60s 60s
Highest shutter speed 1/2000s 1/1600s
Continuous shooting rate 2.0 frames/s 1.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 6.30 m 4.10 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 exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
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 data format Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
Mic support
Headphone support
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 proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 132 gr (0.29 lb) 126 gr (0.28 lb)
Dimensions 98 x 55 x 22mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 0.9") 95 x 56 x 22mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.9")
DXO scores
DXO All around 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 - 250 pictures
Battery style - Battery Pack
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Storage type SD/SDHC card, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Card slots 1 1
Pricing at launch $580 $150