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Panasonic FS42 vs Pentax S1

Portability
95
Imaging
33
Features
10
Overall
23
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS42 front
 
Pentax Optio S1 front
Portability
93
Imaging
37
Features
31
Overall
34

Panasonic FS42 vs Pentax S1 Key Specs

Panasonic FS42
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - 1/2.5" Sensor
  • 2.5" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 1000 (Raise to 6400)
  • 640 x 480 video
  • 33-132mm (F2.8-5.9) lens
  • 132g - 98 x 55 x 22mm
  • Announced April 2009
Pentax S1
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-140mm (F3.5-5.5) lens
  • 157g - 114 x 58 x 28mm
  • Revealed March 2011
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Panasonic FS42 vs Pentax S1 Overview

Here is a in depth analysis of the Panasonic FS42 vs Pentax S1, former being a Ultracompact while the other is a Small Sensor Compact by companies Panasonic and Pentax. There exists a noticeable gap among the resolutions of the FS42 (10MP) and S1 (14MP) and the FS42 (1/2.5") and S1 (1/2.3") enjoy totally different sensor measurements.

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The FS42 was released 22 months before the S1 making the cameras a generation apart from one another. Each of these cameras offer different body type with the Panasonic FS42 being a Ultracompact camera and the Pentax S1 being a Compact camera.

Before getting straight into a complete comparison, below is a short view of how the FS42 matches up against the S1 for portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic FS42 over the Pentax S1

 FS42 S1 

Reasons to pick Pentax S1 over the Panasonic FS42

 S1 FS42 
RevealedMarch 2011April 2009Fresher by 22 months
Manual focus More exact focusing
Display sizing2.7"2.5"Larger display (+0.2")

Common features in the Panasonic FS42 and Pentax S1

 FS42 S1 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display resolution230k230kThe same display resolution
Selfie screen Neither contains selfie screen
Touch display Neither contains Touch display

Panasonic FS42 vs Pentax S1 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is intending to carry your camera, you have to consider its weight and volume. The Panasonic FS42 has got 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) whilst the Pentax S1 has sizing of 114mm x 58mm x 28mm (4.5" x 2.3" x 1.1") with a weight of 157 grams (0.35 lbs).

See the Panasonic FS42 vs Pentax S1 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an ILC will vary dependant on the lens you use at the time. Underneath is the front view dimensions comparison of the FS42 vs the S1.

Panasonic FS42 vs Pentax S1 size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the FS42 and S1 is 95 and 93 respectively.

Panasonic FS42 vs Pentax S1 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic FS42 vs Pentax S1 Sensor Comparison

Normally, its tough to see the difference in sensor sizing merely by researching technical specs. The graphic underneath should give you a stronger sense of the sensor dimensions in the FS42 and S1.

As you can tell, each of these cameras offer different megapixels and different sensor sizing. The FS42 because of its smaller sensor will make shooting shallow DOF more challenging and the Pentax S1 will provide you with greater detail as a result of its extra 4MP. Greater resolution can also enable you to crop images a little more aggressively. The older FS42 will be behind in sensor innovation.

Panasonic FS42 vs Pentax S1 sensor size comparison

Panasonic FS42 vs Pentax S1 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic FS42 vs Pentax S1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic FS42 Portrait photography information
Pentax S1 Portrait photography information
19
manual focus not available
lack of manual exposure
cannot use external flash
low MP (10 megapixels)
tiny sensor size (1/2.5")
no RAW support
35
focusing manually
MP count good (14MP)
no manual exposure
no external flash support
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
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Street Comparison

Panasonic FS42 Street photography info
Pentax S1 Street photography info
47
screen is fixed
no image stabilization
tiny sensor size (1/2.5")
no RAW support
maximum ISO low (1,000)
56
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
screen is fixed
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Panasonic FS42
Sports photography with Pentax S1
16
max fps low (2.0 fps)
no shutter priority mode
no image stabilization
low MP (10 megapixels)
tiny sensor size (1/2.5")
no phase detect auto focus
39
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
MP count good (14MP)
offers tracking autofocus
max frames per second low (1.0 fps)
lack of shutter priority mode
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Panasonic FS42
Travel photography with Pentax S1
51
has built in flash
doesn't have Timelapse mode
low MP (10MP)
display isn't selfie friendly
wide angle not great (33mm)
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
64
MP count good (14 megapixels)
has built in flash
relatively wide (28mm)
no Timelapse mode
does not have selfie friendly display
slow max aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic FS42 Landscape photography info
Pentax S1 Landscape photography info
22
manual focus not available
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not great (33mm)
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
screen is somewhat small (2.5 inches)
lack of manual exposure
no image stabilization
low MP (10 megapixels)
tiny sensor size (1/2.5")
maximum ISO low (1,000)
no RAW support
doesn't have Timelapse mode
42
focusing manually
relatively wide (28mm)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
MP count good (14 megapixels)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.5)
screen is somewhat small (2.7")
no manual exposure
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
no Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Panasonic FS42
Vlogging with Pentax S1
22
wide angle not great (33mm)
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
display isn't selfie friendly
no image stabilization
low quality video (640 x 480 pxls)
doesn't have external microphone port
28
relatively wide (28mm)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
slow max aperture (f3.5)
does not have selfie friendly display
video resolution low (1280 x 720 pixels)
no external microphone port
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Panasonic FS42 vs Pentax S1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic FS42 and Pentax S1
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS42Pentax Optio S1
General Information
Brand Name Panasonic Pentax
Model Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS42 Pentax Optio S1
Type Ultracompact Small Sensor Compact
Announced 2009-04-17 2011-03-02
Body design Ultracompact Compact
Sensor Information
Sensor type CCD CCD
Sensor size 1/2.5" 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 5.744 x 4.308mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 24.7mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 10 megapixels 14 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3 and 16:9
Max resolution 3648 x 2736 4288 x 3216
Max native ISO 1000 6400
Max enhanced ISO 6400 -
Min native ISO 80 80
RAW support
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch focus
AF continuous
AF single
Tracking AF
Selective AF
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Number of focus points - 9
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 33-132mm (4.0x) 28-140mm (5.0x)
Highest aperture f/2.8-5.9 f/3.5-5.5
Macro focus distance 5cm 1cm
Crop factor 6.3 5.8
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display diagonal 2.5" 2.7"
Resolution of display 230k dot 230k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Display tech - TFT color LCD with Anti-reflective coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60 seconds 4 seconds
Fastest shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/1500 seconds
Continuous shutter speed 2.0 frames/s 1.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Set WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 6.30 m 3.90 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Soft
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) 1280 x 720 (30, 15 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15 fps)
Max video resolution 640x480 1280x720
Video file format Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 132 gr (0.29 pounds) 157 gr (0.35 pounds)
Dimensions 98 x 55 x 22mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 0.9") 114 x 58 x 28mm (4.5" x 2.3" x 1.1")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth score not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range score not tested not tested
DXO Low light score not tested not tested
Other
Battery life - 260 pictures
Battery form - Battery Pack
Battery model - D-LI92
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Storage media SD/SDHC card, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage slots Single Single
Cost at release $580 $174