Panasonic FS42 vs Panasonic ZS70

On this page, we are reviewing the Panasonic FS42 versus Panasonic ZS70, former is a Ultracompact while the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom and both are created by Panasonic. There is a sizable difference among the image resolutions of the FS42 (10MP) and ZS70 (20MP) and the FS42 (1/2.5") and ZS70 (1/2.3") have totally different sensor sizes.

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The FS42 was released 9 years earlier than the ZS70 which is a fairly significant difference as far as camera tech is concerned. Both of the cameras have different body design with the Panasonic FS42 being a Ultracompact camera and the Panasonic ZS70 being a Compact camera.

Before getting into a more detailed comparison, here is a concise view of how the FS42 grades vs the ZS70 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

Following is a sample of the gallery pics for Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS42 & Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS70. The complete galleries are available at Panasonic FS42 Gallery & Panasonic ZS70 Gallery.

If you are looking to carry around your camera frequently, you will have to think about its weight and proportions. The Panasonic FS42 enjoys external measurements of 98mm x 55mm x 22mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 0.9") having a weight of 132 grams (0.29 lbs) whilst the Panasonic ZS70 has measurements of 112mm x 67mm x 41mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.6") and a weight of 322 grams (0.71 lbs).

Take a look at the Panasonic FS42 versus Panasonic ZS70 in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Remember that, the weight of an ILC will change dependant on the lens you select at that time. Following is a front view measurement comparison of the FS42 versus the ZS70.

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability rating of the FS42 and ZS70 is 95 and 87 respectively.

Oftentimes, it can be hard to envision the difference in sensor sizes just by seeing specs. The pic below will help offer you a much better sense of the sensor sizing in the FS42 and ZS70.

As you can plainly see, the two cameras have different resolutions and different sensor sizes. The FS42 because of its smaller sensor will make achieving shallow depth of field more challenging and the Panasonic ZS70 will produce extra detail as a result of its extra 10MP. Greater resolution will also allow you to crop images a bit more aggressively. The more aged FS42 will be behind when it comes to sensor tech.