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Panasonic FS42 vs Panasonic SZ5

Portability
95
Imaging
33
Features
10
Overall
23
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS42 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ5 front
Portability
95
Imaging
38
Features
34
Overall
36

Panasonic FS42 vs Panasonic SZ5 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 SZ5
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 1600 (Expand to 6400)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-250mm (F3.1-5.9) lens
  • 136g - 104 x 58 x 21mm
  • Released July 2012
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Panasonic FS42 vs Panasonic SZ5 Overview

Let's look a bit more closely at the Panasonic FS42 versus Panasonic SZ5, former being a Ultracompact while the latter is a Small Sensor Compact and they are both manufactured by Panasonic. There is a noticeable difference between the image resolutions of the FS42 (10MP) and SZ5 (14MP) and the FS42 (1/2.5") and SZ5 (1/2.3") offer totally different sensor sizes.

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The FS42 was brought out 4 years before the SZ5 and that is quite a sizable difference as far as tech is concerned. Both of the cameras have different body design with the Panasonic FS42 being a Ultracompact camera and the Panasonic SZ5 being a Compact camera.

Before diving into a full comparison, here is a quick summary of how the FS42 scores versus the SZ5 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic FS42 over the Panasonic SZ5

 FS42 SZ5 

Reasons to pick Panasonic SZ5 over the Panasonic FS42

 SZ5 FS42 
ReleasedJuly 2012April 2009More recent by 39 months
Screen dimensions3"2.5"Bigger screen (+0.5")

Common features in the Panasonic FS42 and Panasonic SZ5

 FS42 SZ5 
Focus manually Lack of manual focusing
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen resolution230k230kSame screen resolution
Selfie screen Neither comes with selfie screen
Touch screen Neither comes with Touch screen

Panasonic FS42 vs Panasonic SZ5 Physical Comparison

If you are intending to lug around your camera often, you'll need to think about its weight and measurements. The Panasonic FS42 comes with physical measurements of 98mm x 55mm x 22mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 0.9") accompanied by a weight of 132 grams (0.29 lbs) and the Panasonic SZ5 has proportions of 104mm x 58mm x 21mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 0.8") having a weight of 136 grams (0.30 lbs).

Check the Panasonic FS42 versus Panasonic SZ5 in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an ILC will change dependant on the lens you use at the time. Below is a front view overall size comparison of the FS42 against the SZ5.

Panasonic FS42 vs Panasonic SZ5 size comparison

Taking into account size and weight, the portability rating of the FS42 and SZ5 is 95 and 95 respectively.

Panasonic FS42 vs Panasonic SZ5 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic FS42 vs Panasonic SZ5 Sensor Comparison

Often, it is tough to visualise the contrast between sensor measurements purely by going over specifications. The visual below should provide you a much better sense of the sensor sizing in the FS42 and SZ5.

To sum up, the two cameras have different megapixels and different sensor measurements. The FS42 because of its tinier sensor will make achieving shallower depth of field tougher and the Panasonic SZ5 will offer extra detail having its extra 4 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also let you crop shots a bit more aggressively. The older FS42 is going to be behind when it comes to sensor tech.

Panasonic FS42 vs Panasonic SZ5 sensor size comparison

Panasonic FS42 vs Panasonic SZ5 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic FS42 vs Panasonic SZ5 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Panasonic FS42
Portrait photography with Panasonic SZ5
19
focusing manually not possible
lack of manual mode
external flash not possible
low MP (10MP)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.5")
doesn't have RAW support
34
decent MP (14MP)
offers face detect focusing
manual focus not available
no manual control
cannot use external flash
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Panasonic FS42
Street photography with Panasonic SZ5
47
fixed screen
does not have image stabilization
sensor size is tiny (1/2.5")
doesn't have RAW support
max ISO too low (1,000)
63
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competitors in class (136g)
no articulating screen
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic FS42 as a Sports photography camera
Panasonic SZ5 as a Sports photography camera
16
low fps (2.0 fps)
lack of shutter priority mode
does not have image stabilization
low MP (10 megapixels)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.5")
doesn't have phase detect auto focus
40
image stabilization (Optical)
decent MP (14 megapixels)
offers tracking focus
very slow continuous shooting (2.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority mode
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
has no phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic FS42 as a Travel photography camera
Panasonic SZ5 as a Travel photography camera
51
flash built-in
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
low MP (10MP)
doesn't contain selfie friendly display
wide angle not the best (33mm)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
70
lighter than competitors in class (136 grams)
decent MP (14 megapixels)
built-in flash
reasonably wide (25mm)
great reach (250mm)
does not have Timelapse function
screen is not selfie friendly
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.1)
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic FS42 Landscape photography details
Panasonic SZ5 Landscape photography details
22
focusing manually not possible
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not the best (33mm)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
small screen (2.5 inch)
lack of manual mode
does not have image stabilization
low MP (10 megapixels)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.5")
max ISO too low (1,000)
doesn't have RAW support
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
42
reasonably wide (25mm)
screen is a decent size (3")
image stabilization (Optical)
decent MP (14 megapixels)
manual focus not available
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.1)
no manual control
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
does not have Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Panasonic FS42
Vlogging with Panasonic SZ5
22
wide angle not the best (33mm)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
doesn't contain selfie friendly display
does not have image stabilization
low res video (640 x 480 pxls)
doesn't have external mic jack
32
reasonably wide (25mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
offers face detect focusing
lighter than competitors in class (136 grams)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.1)
screen is not selfie friendly
video resolution low (1280 x 720 resolution)
does not have microphone support
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Panasonic FS42 vs Panasonic SZ5 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic FS42 and Panasonic SZ5
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS42Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ5
General Information
Brand Panasonic Panasonic
Model type Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS42 Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ5
Class Ultracompact Small Sensor Compact
Launched 2009-04-17 2012-07-18
Physical type Ultracompact Compact
Sensor Information
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 area 24.7mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 10 megapixels 14 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 3648 x 2736 4320 x 3240
Max native ISO 1000 1600
Max boosted ISO 6400 6400
Min native ISO 80 100
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
AF touch
AF continuous
Single AF
AF tracking
Selective AF
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Total focus points - 23
Lens
Lens support fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 33-132mm (4.0x) 25-250mm (10.0x)
Largest aperture f/2.8-5.9 f/3.1-5.9
Macro focusing range 5cm 5cm
Focal length multiplier 6.3 5.9
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen sizing 2.5" 3"
Resolution of screen 230 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Screen tech - TFT Screen LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60 secs 8 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/2000 secs 1/1600 secs
Continuous shooting rate 2.0 frames/s 2.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Set WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 6.30 m 5.60 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
AEB
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 720p ( 30,25 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 25 fps)
Max video resolution 640x480 1280x720
Video format Motion JPEG MPEG-4
Microphone support
Headphone support
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
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 132 grams (0.29 pounds) 136 grams (0.30 pounds)
Physical dimensions 98 x 55 x 22mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 0.9") 104 x 58 x 21mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 0.8")
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 - 250 shots
Form of battery - Battery Pack
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 secs)
Time lapse feature
Storage type SD/SDHC card, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Card slots Single Single
Launch price $580 $195