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Panasonic FS42 vs Panasonic ZS45

Portability
95
Imaging
33
Features
10
Overall
23
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS42 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS45 front
Portability
91
Imaging
40
Features
55
Overall
46

Panasonic FS42 vs Panasonic ZS45 Key Specs

Panasonic FS42
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - 1/2.5" Sensor
  • 2.5" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 1000 (Expand to 6400)
  • 640 x 480 video
  • 33-132mm (F2.8-5.9) lens
  • 132g - 98 x 55 x 22mm
  • Introduced April 2009
Panasonic ZS45
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-480mm (F3.3-6.4) lens
  • 249g - 108 x 60 x 32mm
  • Released January 2015
  • Additionally Known as Lumix DMC-TZ57
  • Replaced the Panasonic ZS40
  • Updated by Panasonic ZS50
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Panasonic FS42 vs Panasonic ZS45 Overview

Its time to look much closer at the Panasonic FS42 vs Panasonic ZS45, former being a Ultracompact while the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom and they are both designed by Panasonic. There exists a large gap between the image resolutions of the FS42 (10MP) and ZS45 (16MP) and the FS42 (1/2.5") and ZS45 (1/2.3") feature different sensor measurements.

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The FS42 was manufactured 6 years prior to the ZS45 and that is quite a serious difference as far as technology is concerned. Both of these cameras offer different body type with the Panasonic FS42 being a Ultracompact camera and the Panasonic ZS45 being a Compact camera.

Before we go straight into a in depth comparison, below is a concise introduction of how the FS42 matches up against the ZS45 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Panasonic FS42 over the Panasonic ZS45

 FS42 ZS45 

Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS45 over the Panasonic FS42

 ZS45 FS42 
ReleasedJanuary 2015April 2009Fresher by 69 months
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen sizing3"2.5"Bigger screen (+0.5")
Screen resolution1040k230kClearer screen (+810k dot)

Common features in the Panasonic FS42 and Panasonic ZS45

 FS42 ZS45 
Focus manually Lack of manual focusing
Selfie screen Missing selfie screen
Touch screen Neither has Touch screen

Panasonic FS42 vs Panasonic ZS45 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is aiming to carry your camera often, you're going to have to factor in its weight and dimensions. The Panasonic FS42 has exterior measurements of 98mm x 55mm x 22mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 0.9") with a weight of 132 grams (0.29 lbs) and the Panasonic ZS45 has dimensions of 108mm x 60mm x 32mm (4.3" x 2.4" x 1.3") with a weight of 249 grams (0.55 lbs).

Check the Panasonic FS42 vs Panasonic ZS45 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an ILC will vary based on the lens you are utilising at that moment. Here is the front view dimensions comparison of the FS42 against the ZS45.

Panasonic FS42 vs Panasonic ZS45 size comparison

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the FS42 and ZS45 is 95 and 91 respectively.

Panasonic FS42 vs Panasonic ZS45 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic FS42 vs Panasonic ZS45 Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, its difficult to visualize the gap between sensor sizing only by looking at technical specs. The visual below might give you a more clear sense of the sensor sizing in the FS42 and ZS45.

As you have seen, each of these cameras enjoy different resolutions and different sensor sizing. The FS42 due to its tinier sensor is going to make getting bokeh more difficult and the Panasonic ZS45 will resolve more detail due to its extra 6 Megapixels. Higher resolution can also allow you to crop pictures far more aggressively. The older FS42 is going to be behind with regard to sensor tech.

Panasonic FS42 vs Panasonic ZS45 sensor size comparison

Panasonic FS42 vs Panasonic ZS45 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic FS42 vs Panasonic ZS45 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic FS42 as a Portrait photography camera
Panasonic ZS45 as a Portrait photography camera
19
manual focus not available
lack of manual mode
cannot use external flash
low resolution (10MP)
sensor size is small (1/2.5")
lack of RAW support
37
MP count decent (16MP)
offers face detection focusing
manual focus not available
no external flash support
small sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
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Street Comparison

Panasonic FS42 Street photography features
Panasonic ZS45 Street photography features
47
fixed screen
no image stabilization
sensor size is small (1/2.5")
lack of RAW support
maximum ISO low (1,000)
69
screen tilts up and down
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competitors in class (249g)
small sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic FS42 Sports photography advice
Panasonic ZS45 Sports photography advice
16
slow continuous shooting (2.0 fps)
no shutter priority
no image stabilization
low resolution (10 megapixels)
sensor size is small (1/2.5")
lack of phase detect auto focus
55
amazing zoom range (24-480mm 20.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
MP count decent (16MP)
offers tracking autofocus
good battery (350 shots)
small sensor (1/2.3")
has no phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Panasonic FS42
Travel photography with Panasonic ZS45
51
built-in flash
no Time Lapse function
low resolution (10 megapixels)
doesn't contain selfie friendly display
wide angle not good (33mm)
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
71
good battery (350 per charge)
lighter than competitors in class (249 grams)
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
pretty wide (24mm)
long reach (480mm)
no Timelapse mode
screen is not selfie friendly
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Panasonic FS42
Landscape photography with Panasonic ZS45
22
manual focus not available
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not good (33mm)
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
small screen (2.5")
lack of manual mode
no image stabilization
low resolution (10MP)
sensor size is small (1/2.5")
maximum ISO low (1,000)
lack of RAW support
no Time Lapse function
47
pretty wide (24mm)
nice screen size (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Optical)
MP count decent (16MP)
good battery (350 per charge)
manual focus not available
can't switch lenses (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
small sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
no Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Panasonic FS42
Vlogging with Panasonic ZS45
22
wide angle not good (33mm)
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
doesn't contain selfie friendly display
no image stabilization
low res video (640 x 480 pxls)
no external mic jack
34
pretty wide (24mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
offers face detection focusing
great video quality (1920 x 1080 pxls)
lighter than competitors in class (249 grams)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
screen is not selfie friendly
no external microphone socket
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Panasonic FS42 vs Panasonic ZS45 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic FS42 and Panasonic ZS45
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS42Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS45
General Information
Make Panasonic Panasonic
Model type Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS42 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS45
Also Known as - Lumix DMC-TZ57
Type Ultracompact Small Sensor Superzoom
Introduced 2009-04-17 2015-01-06
Physical type Ultracompact Compact
Sensor Information
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.5" 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 5.744 x 4.308mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor surface area 24.7mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 10 megapixels 16 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 4608 x 3456
Max native ISO 1000 6400
Max boosted ISO 6400 -
Lowest native ISO 80 100
RAW images
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch to focus
AF continuous
AF single
AF tracking
AF selectice
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Total focus points - 21
Lens
Lens support fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 33-132mm (4.0x) 24-480mm (20.0x)
Maximal aperture f/2.8-5.9 f/3.3-6.4
Macro focusing distance 5cm 3cm
Focal length multiplier 6.3 5.9
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Tilting
Screen sizing 2.5 inch 3 inch
Resolution of screen 230 thousand dots 1,040 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60 secs 4 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/2000 secs 1/2000 secs
Continuous shooting rate 2.0 frames/s 10.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation - Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 6.30 m 6.00 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Sync Auto, Auto/Red-eye Reduction, Forced On, Slow Sync./Red-eye Reduction, Forced Off
External flash
AE bracketing
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) 1920 x 1080 (30p), 1280 x 720 (30p), 640 x 480 (30p)
Max video resolution 640x480 1920x1080
Video format Motion JPEG MPEG-4
Microphone 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
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 132g (0.29 lb) 249g (0.55 lb)
Dimensions 98 x 55 x 22mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 0.9") 108 x 60 x 32mm (4.3" x 2.4" x 1.3")
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 - 350 photographs
Style of battery - Battery Pack
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Storage type SD/SDHC card, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Card slots Single Single
Launch pricing $580 $300