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Panasonic FS42 vs Pentax E90

Portability
95
Imaging
33
Features
10
Overall
23
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS42 front
 
Pentax Optio E90 front
Portability
94
Imaging
33
Features
11
Overall
24

Panasonic FS42 vs Pentax E90 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
  • Released April 2009
Pentax E90
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 32-95mm (F3.1-5.9) lens
  • 145g - 102 x 59 x 25mm
  • Revealed January 2010
Photography Glossary

Panasonic FS42 vs Pentax E90 Overview

In this article, we will be analyzing the Panasonic FS42 and Pentax E90, former being a Ultracompact while the latter is a Small Sensor Compact by manufacturers Panasonic and Pentax. The resolution of the FS42 (10MP) and the E90 (10MP) is pretty close but the FS42 (1/2.5") and E90 (1/2.3") feature different sensor sizing.

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The FS42 was released 9 months prior to the E90 which means that they are both of a similar age. Each of these cameras offer different body type with the Panasonic FS42 being a Ultracompact camera and the Pentax E90 being a Compact camera.

Before getting in to a thorough comparison, below is a short overview of how the FS42 grades versus the E90 for portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic FS42 over the Pentax E90

 FS42 E90 

Reasons to pick Pentax E90 over the Panasonic FS42

 E90 FS42 
RevealedJanuary 2010April 2009Fresher by 9 months
Screen sizing2.7"2.5"Bigger screen (+0.2")

Common features in the Panasonic FS42 and Pentax E90

 FS42 E90 
Manual focus Lack of manual focusing
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen resolution230k230kEqual screen resolution
Selfie screen Neither has selfie screen
Touch screen No Touch screen

Panasonic FS42 vs Pentax E90 Physical Comparison

In case you're looking to carry your camera often, you will want to consider its weight and volume. The Panasonic FS42 has physical dimensions of 98mm x 55mm x 22mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 0.9") with a weight of 132 grams (0.29 lbs) while the Pentax E90 has sizing of 102mm x 59mm x 25mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.0") and a weight of 145 grams (0.32 lbs).

See the Panasonic FS42 and Pentax E90 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an ILC will change depending on the lens you are utilizing at that moment. The following is the front view physical size comparison of the FS42 vs the E90.

Panasonic FS42 vs Pentax E90 size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the FS42 and E90 is 95 and 94 respectively.

Panasonic FS42 vs Pentax E90 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic FS42 vs Pentax E90 Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, it is very tough to picture the difference in sensor sizing simply by looking through specifications. The graphic underneath will help offer you a much better sense of the sensor dimensions in the FS42 and E90.

Plainly, both cameras enjoy the same exact megapixels albeit different sensor sizing. The FS42 contains the smaller sensor which will make obtaining shallow depth of field trickier. The older FS42 will be behind with regard to sensor innovation.

Panasonic FS42 vs Pentax E90 sensor size comparison

Panasonic FS42 vs Pentax E90 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic FS42 vs Pentax E90 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Panasonic FS42
Portrait photography with Pentax E90
19
focusing manually not possible
manual exposure not possible
cannot use external flash
megapixel count low (10 megapixels)
sensor is small (1/2.5")
doesn't have RAW support
19
manual focus not available
no manual control
can't use external flash
low MP (10MP)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
no RAW files
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Street Comparison

Panasonic FS42 Street photography features
Pentax E90 Street photography features
47
no articulating screen
lack of image stabilization
sensor is small (1/2.5")
doesn't have RAW support
max ISO too low (1,000)
47
screen does not articulate
does not have image stabilization
sensor is small (1/2.3")
no RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Panasonic FS42
Sports photography with Pentax E90
16
painfully slow continuous shooting (2.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority mode
lack of image stabilization
megapixel count low (10MP)
sensor is small (1/2.5")
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
16
no shutter priority mode
does not have image stabilization
low MP (10MP)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
no phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic FS42 Travel photography features
Pentax E90 Travel photography features
51
built-in flash
does not have Timelapse mode
megapixel count low (10MP)
screen isn't selfie friendly
wide angle not great (33mm)
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
50
has built in flash
doesn't have Time Lapse function
low MP (10 megapixels)
screen is not selfie friendly
wide angle not fantastic (32mm)
slow max aperture (f3.1)
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic FS42 Landscape photography factors
Pentax E90 Landscape photography factors
22
focusing manually not possible
cannot switch lenses (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not great (33mm)
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
tiny screen (2.5 inches)
manual exposure not possible
lack of image stabilization
megapixel count low (10 megapixels)
sensor is small (1/2.5")
max ISO too low (1,000)
doesn't have RAW support
does not have Timelapse mode
22
manual focus not available
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not fantastic (32mm)
slow max aperture (f3.1)
small screen (2.7 inches)
no manual control
does not have image stabilization
low MP (10MP)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
no RAW files
doesn't have Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic FS42 as a Vlogging camera
Pentax E90 as a Vlogging camera
22
wide angle not great (33mm)
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
screen isn't selfie friendly
lack of image stabilization
video res low (640 x 480 pxls)
does not have microphone socket
22
wide angle not fantastic (32mm)
slow max aperture (f3.1)
screen is not selfie friendly
does not have image stabilization
video resolution low (1280 x 720 pxls)
doesn't have mic support
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Panasonic FS42 vs Pentax E90 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic FS42 and Pentax E90
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS42Pentax Optio E90
General Information
Manufacturer Panasonic Pentax
Model type Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS42 Pentax Optio E90
Category Ultracompact Small Sensor Compact
Released 2009-04-17 2010-01-25
Physical type Ultracompact Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip - Prime
Sensor type CCD CCD
Sensor size 1/2.5" 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 5.744 x 4.308mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor surface area 24.7mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 10 megapixels 10 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3 and 16:9
Max resolution 3648 x 2736 3648 x 2736
Max native ISO 1000 3200
Max enhanced ISO 6400 -
Minimum native ISO 80 80
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Total focus points - 3
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 33-132mm (4.0x) 32-95mm (3.0x)
Maximum aperture f/2.8-5.9 f/3.1-5.9
Macro focusing range 5cm 6cm
Focal length multiplier 6.3 5.9
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 2.5 inch 2.7 inch
Resolution of screen 230k dots 230k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Min shutter speed 60 seconds 4 seconds
Max shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/2000 seconds
Continuous shutter rate 2.0 frames/s -
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 6.30 m 3.50 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Sync -
Hot shoe
AEB
White balance 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) 1280 x 720 (15 fps), 848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 640x480 1280x720
Video file format Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
Mic support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless None None
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 lbs) 145g (0.32 lbs)
Dimensions 98 x 55 x 22mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 0.9") 102 x 59 x 25mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.0")
DXO scores
DXO Overall 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 ID - 2 x AA
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Storage type SD/SDHC card, Internal SD/SDHC, Internal
Card slots 1 1
Pricing at release $580 $100