Panasonic FS42 vs Panasonic ZS20

Below, we are contrasting the Panasonic FS42 and Panasonic ZS20, former being a Ultracompact while the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom and both of them are produced by Panasonic. There is a sizable difference between the sensor resolutions of the FS42 (10MP) and ZS20 (14MP) and the FS42 (1/2.5") and ZS20 (1/2.3") feature different sensor dimensions.

Photography Glossary

The FS42 was released 4 years before the ZS20 and that is quite a significant difference as far as tech is concerned. The two cameras come with different body type with the Panasonic FS42 being a Ultracompact camera and the Panasonic ZS20 being a Compact camera.

Before diving through a full comparison, below is a simple summary of how the FS42 scores versus the ZS20 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

The following is a sample of the gallery pics for Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS42 & Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS20. The complete galleries are available at Panasonic FS42 Gallery & Panasonic ZS20 Gallery.

If you're planning to carry your camera frequently, you'll need to factor its weight and size. The Panasonic FS42 enjoys exterior 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 ZS20 has specifications of 105mm x 59mm x 28mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.1") along with a weight of 206 grams (0.45 lbs).

Examine the Panasonic FS42 and Panasonic ZS20 in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Remember, the weight of an ILC will vary depending on the lens you have during that time. Here is the front view over all size comparison of the FS42 and the ZS20.

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability score of the FS42 and ZS20 is 95 and 92 respectively.

In many cases, it is tough to imagine the contrast between sensor sizing only by going over specifications. The graphic underneath may give you a better sense of the sensor measurements in the FS42 and ZS20.

To sum up, both of those cameras posses different megapixel count and different sensor sizing. The FS42 due to its tinier sensor is going to make achieving shallower DOF more challenging and the Panasonic ZS20 will offer extra detail as a result of its extra 4 Megapixels. Greater resolution will enable you to crop photos somewhat more aggressively. The older FS42 is going to be behind in sensor innovation.