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Panasonic FS42 vs Pentax RZ18

Portability
95
Imaging
33
Features
10
Overall
23
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS42 front
 
Pentax Optio RZ18 front
Portability
92
Imaging
39
Features
37
Overall
38

Panasonic FS42 vs Pentax RZ18 Key Specs

Panasonic FS42
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - 1/2.5" Sensor
  • 2.5" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 1000 (Boost to 6400)
  • 640 x 480 video
  • 33-132mm (F2.8-5.9) lens
  • 132g - 98 x 55 x 22mm
  • Announced April 2009
Pentax RZ18
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-450mm (F3.5-5.9) lens
  • 178g - 97 x 61 x 33mm
  • Launched September 2011
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Panasonic FS42 vs Pentax RZ18 Overview

Here, we are looking at the Panasonic FS42 versus Pentax RZ18, former is a Ultracompact while the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom by brands Panasonic and Pentax. There is a substantial difference among the sensor resolutions of the FS42 (10MP) and RZ18 (16MP) and the FS42 (1/2.5") and RZ18 (1/2.3") offer totally different sensor size.

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The FS42 was brought out 3 years earlier than the RZ18 which is a fairly big difference as far as camera tech is concerned. The two cameras feature different body design with the Panasonic FS42 being a Ultracompact camera and the Pentax RZ18 being a Compact camera.

Before getting straight to a detailed comparison, here is a simple summary of how the FS42 scores versus the RZ18 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic FS42 over the Pentax RZ18

 FS42 RZ18 

Reasons to pick Pentax RZ18 over the Panasonic FS42

 RZ18 FS42 
LaunchedSeptember 2011April 2009Newer by 29 months
Manual focus Very exact focusing
Display size3"2.5"Larger display (+0.5")
Display resolution460k230kSharper display (+230k dot)

Common features in the Panasonic FS42 and Pentax RZ18

 FS42 RZ18 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Neither provides selfie screen
Touch display Neither provides Touch display

Panasonic FS42 vs Pentax RZ18 Physical Comparison

If you are intending to travel with your camera frequently, you will need to factor its weight and proportions. The Panasonic FS42 provides outside measurements of 98mm x 55mm x 22mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 0.9") having a weight of 132 grams (0.29 lbs) while the Pentax RZ18 has measurements of 97mm x 61mm x 33mm (3.8" x 2.4" x 1.3") having a weight of 178 grams (0.39 lbs).

Analyze the Panasonic FS42 versus Pentax RZ18 in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an ILC will differ depending on the lens you have chosen at that time. Underneath is a front view measurements comparison of the FS42 against the RZ18.

Panasonic FS42 vs Pentax RZ18 size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability score of the FS42 and RZ18 is 95 and 92 respectively.

Panasonic FS42 vs Pentax RZ18 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic FS42 vs Pentax RZ18 Sensor Comparison

Usually, it is difficult to visualise the difference in sensor dimensions purely by looking through technical specs. The image underneath should give you a greater sense of the sensor measurements in the FS42 and RZ18.

As you have seen, both cameras come with different megapixels and different sensor dimensions. The FS42 featuring a smaller sensor will make shooting bokeh more difficult and the Pentax RZ18 will render extra detail having its extra 6MP. Greater resolution will enable you to crop pics a good deal more aggressively. The more aged FS42 will be disadvantaged with regard to sensor innovation.

Panasonic FS42 vs Pentax RZ18 sensor size comparison

Panasonic FS42 vs Pentax RZ18 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic FS42 vs Pentax RZ18 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic FS42 Portrait photography information
Pentax RZ18 Portrait photography information
19
no manual focus
no manual mode
external flash not possible
MP count low (10MP)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.5")
has no RAW files
36
you can focus manually
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
lack of manual exposure
cannot use external flash
very small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
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Street Comparison

Panasonic FS42 Street photography features
Pentax RZ18 Street photography features
47
screen does not articulate
no image stabilization
sensor size is tiny (1/2.5")
has no RAW files
low maximum ISO (1,000)
65
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
weather proofing
lighter than average in class (178 grams)
screen does not articulate
very small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Panasonic FS42
Sports photography with Pentax RZ18
16
max frames per second very slow (2.0 fps)
lack of shutter priority mode
no image stabilization
MP count low (10MP)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.5")
has no phase detect auto focus
47
incredible zoom range (25-450mm 18.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
includes tracking focus
weather proofing
continuous shooting slow (1.0 frames per second)
lack of shutter priority mode
very small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Panasonic FS42
Travel photography with Pentax RZ18
51
has built in flash
missing Timelapse mode
MP count low (10MP)
doesn't feature selfie friendly screen
wide angle not the best (33mm)
slow max aperture (f2.8)
71
lighter than average in class (178g)
weather proofing
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
built-in flash
reasonably wide (25mm)
great reach (450mm)
doesn't have Timelapse mode
screen is not selfie friendly
slow max aperture (f3.5)
Photography Glossary

Landscape Comparison

Panasonic FS42 Landscape photography information
Pentax RZ18 Landscape photography information
22
no manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not the best (33mm)
slow max aperture (f2.8)
small screen (2.5 inch)
no manual mode
no image stabilization
MP count low (10MP)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.5")
low maximum ISO (1,000)
has no RAW files
missing Timelapse mode
49
you can focus manually
reasonably wide (25mm)
screen is a decent size (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
weather proofing
can't change lenses (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.5)
lack of manual exposure
very small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
doesn't have Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic FS42 Vlogging highlights
Pentax RZ18 Vlogging highlights
22
wide angle not the best (33mm)
slow max aperture (f2.8)
doesn't feature selfie friendly screen
no image stabilization
video res low (640 x 480 pxls)
missing external microphone jack
30
reasonably wide (25mm)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than average in class (178 grams)
slow max aperture (f3.5)
screen is not selfie friendly
low quality video (1280 x 720 pixels)
doesn't have microphone socket
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Panasonic FS42 vs Pentax RZ18 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic FS42 and Pentax RZ18
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS42Pentax Optio RZ18
General Information
Brand Panasonic Pentax
Model type Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS42 Pentax Optio RZ18
Category Ultracompact Small Sensor Superzoom
Announced 2009-04-17 2011-09-12
Physical type Ultracompact Compact
Sensor Information
Sensor type CCD CCD
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 megapixel 16 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 3648 x 2736 4608 x 3456
Maximum native ISO 1000 6400
Maximum boosted ISO 6400 -
Minimum native ISO 80 80
RAW support
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
Continuous AF
Single AF
Tracking AF
AF selectice
AF center weighted
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Total focus points - 9
Lens
Lens support fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 33-132mm (4.0x) 25-450mm (18.0x)
Highest aperture f/2.8-5.9 f/3.5-5.9
Macro focusing distance 5cm 4cm
Crop factor 6.3 5.9
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen size 2.5 inches 3 inches
Screen resolution 230 thousand dots 460 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Screen tech - TFT color LCD with Anti-reflective coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60 seconds 4 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/2000 seconds
Continuous shooting rate 2.0fps 1.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Change WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 6.30 m 2.80 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Soft
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps) 1280 x 720 (30, 15 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15 fps)
Maximum video resolution 640x480 1280x720
Video file format Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
Microphone port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless None Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 132 grams (0.29 lb) 178 grams (0.39 lb)
Physical dimensions 98 x 55 x 22mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 0.9") 97 x 61 x 33mm (3.8" 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 ID - D-LI92
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC card, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Card slots Single Single
Pricing at launch $580 $210