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Panasonic FS42 vs Panasonic ZS15

Portability
95
Imaging
33
Features
10
Overall
23
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS42 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS15 front
Portability
92
Imaging
36
Features
37
Overall
36

Panasonic FS42 vs Panasonic ZS15 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
  • Released April 2009
Panasonic ZS15
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-384mm (F3.3-5.9) lens
  • 208g - 105 x 58 x 33mm
  • Announced June 2012
  • Alternate Name is Lumix DMC-TZ25
  • Replacement is Panasonic ZS20
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Panasonic FS42 vs Panasonic ZS15 Overview

Its time to take a closer look at the Panasonic FS42 vs Panasonic ZS15, former is a Ultracompact while the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom and both are offered by Panasonic. The resolution of the FS42 (10MP) and the ZS15 (12MP) is relatively close but the FS42 (1/2.5") and ZS15 (1/2.3") have totally different sensor size.

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The FS42 was manufactured 4 years earlier than the ZS15 which is a fairly sizable difference as far as camera technology is concerned. Each of these cameras feature different body design with the Panasonic FS42 being a Ultracompact camera and the Panasonic ZS15 being a Compact camera.

Before diving right into a more detailed comparison, here is a brief view of how the FS42 scores against the ZS15 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic FS42 over the Panasonic ZS15

 FS42 ZS15 

Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS15 over the Panasonic FS42

 ZS15 FS42 
AnnouncedJune 2012April 2009More modern by 38 months
Screen size3"2.5"Bigger screen (+0.5")
Screen resolution460k230kSharper screen (+230k dot)

Common features in the Panasonic FS42 and Panasonic ZS15

 FS42 ZS15 
Focus manually No manual focus
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Neither provides selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Lack of Touch friendly screen

Panasonic FS42 vs Panasonic ZS15 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is planning to carry around your camera often, you will have to consider its weight and measurements. The Panasonic FS42 provides external measurements of 98mm x 55mm x 22mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 0.9") along with a weight of 132 grams (0.29 lbs) whilst the Panasonic ZS15 has proportions of 105mm x 58mm x 33mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.3") along with a weight of 208 grams (0.46 lbs).

Compare the Panasonic FS42 vs Panasonic ZS15 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an ILC will vary based on the lens you are utilising at the time. Underneath is a front view physical size comparison of the FS42 against the ZS15.

Panasonic FS42 vs Panasonic ZS15 size comparison

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the FS42 and ZS15 is 95 and 92 respectively.

Panasonic FS42 vs Panasonic ZS15 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic FS42 vs Panasonic ZS15 Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, it can be difficult to visualise the gap in sensor sizes purely by researching a spec sheet. The pic here will help provide you a better sense of the sensor measurements in the FS42 and ZS15.

Clearly, each of the cameras come with different resolutions and different sensor sizes. The FS42 featuring a smaller sensor will make achieving shallower depth of field more difficult and the Panasonic ZS15 will provide you with extra detail due to its extra 2MP. Higher resolution can also enable you to crop shots a good deal more aggressively. The more aged FS42 will be behind with regard to sensor innovation.

Panasonic FS42 vs Panasonic ZS15 sensor size comparison

Panasonic FS42 vs Panasonic ZS15 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic FS42 vs Panasonic ZS15 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic FS42 Portrait photography info
Panasonic ZS15 Portrait photography info
19
manual focus not available
lack of manual mode
cannot use external flash
sensor resolution low (10 megapixels)
tiny sensor (1/2.5")
lack of RAW support
21
manual focus not available
can't use external flash
resolution not great (12MP)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Panasonic FS42
Street photography with Panasonic ZS15
47
screen does not articulate
no image stabilization
tiny sensor (1/2.5")
lack of RAW support
maximum ISO low (1,000)
61
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competitors (208g)
no articulating screen
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic FS42 Sports photography info
Panasonic ZS15 Sports photography info
16
low fps (2.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority mode
no image stabilization
sensor resolution low (10 megapixels)
tiny sensor (1/2.5")
lack of phase detect auto focus
36
long zoom range (24-384mm 16.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
provides tracking focus
continuous shooting slow (2.0 fps)
resolution not great (12MP)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
bad battery power (260 CIPA)
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic FS42 Travel photography advice
Panasonic ZS15 Travel photography advice
51
flash built-in
lack of Time Lapse recording
sensor resolution low (10 megapixels)
does not have a selfie friendly display
wide angle not fantastic (33mm)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
61
lighter than competitors (208 grams)
has built in flash
quite wide (24mm)
very long zoom (384mm)
lack of Timelapse mode
bad battery power (260 per charge)
resolution not great (12 megapixels)
display isn't selfie friendly
slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic FS42 as a Landscape photography camera
Panasonic ZS15 as a Landscape photography camera
22
manual focus not available
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not fantastic (33mm)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
screen is small (2.5 inches)
lack of manual mode
no image stabilization
sensor resolution low (10MP)
tiny sensor (1/2.5")
maximum ISO low (1,000)
lack of RAW support
lack of Time Lapse recording
37
quite wide (24mm)
pretty good screen size (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Optical)
manual focus not available
cannot swap lens (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
resolution not great (12 megapixels)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
bad battery power (260 per charge)
lack of Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic FS42 Vlogging details
Panasonic ZS15 Vlogging details
22
wide angle not fantastic (33mm)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
does not have a selfie friendly display
no image stabilization
low video resolution (640 x 480 pixels)
lack of external mic socket
33
quite wide (24mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
lighter than competitors (208 grams)
slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
display isn't selfie friendly
lack of microphone jack
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Panasonic FS42 vs Panasonic ZS15 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic FS42 and Panasonic ZS15
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS42Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS15
General Information
Make Panasonic Panasonic
Model Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS42 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS15
Also called as - Lumix DMC-TZ25
Type Ultracompact Small Sensor Superzoom
Released 2009-04-17 2012-06-29
Body design Ultracompact Compact
Sensor Information
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.5" 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 5.744 x 4.308mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 24.7mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 10MP 12MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 3648 x 2736 4000 x 3000
Highest native ISO 1000 6400
Highest boosted ISO 6400 -
Min native ISO 80 100
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch focus
AF continuous
Single AF
Tracking AF
Selective AF
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Number of focus points - 23
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 33-132mm (4.0x) 24-384mm (16.0x)
Maximal aperture f/2.8-5.9 f/3.3-5.9
Macro focus distance 5cm 3cm
Crop factor 6.3 5.8
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display size 2.5 inch 3 inch
Resolution of display 230 thousand dot 460 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60 seconds 15 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shooting speed 2.0 frames per second 2.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 6.30 m 6.40 m
Flash settings 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) 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 640x480 1920x1080
Video file format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD
Microphone 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 lbs) 208 gr (0.46 lbs)
Physical dimensions 98 x 55 x 22mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 0.9") 105 x 58 x 33mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.3")
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 - 260 photographs
Battery format - Battery Pack
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Storage media SD/SDHC card, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage slots One One
Retail price $580 $279