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Panasonic FS42 vs Samsung CL5

Portability
95
Imaging
33
Features
10
Overall
23
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS42 front
 
Samsung CL5 front
Portability
95
Imaging
32
Features
14
Overall
24

Panasonic FS42 vs Samsung CL5 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
Samsung CL5
(Full Review)
  • 9MP - 1/2.5" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • 640 x 480 video
  • 38-114mm (F3.5-4.5) lens
  • 141g - 93 x 60 x 19mm
  • Introduced February 2009
  • Also referred to as PL10
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Panasonic FS42 vs Samsung CL5 Overview

Following is a extended overview of the Panasonic FS42 versus Samsung CL5, both Ultracompact cameras by competitors Panasonic and Samsung. The sensor resolution of the FS42 (10MP) and the CL5 (9MP) is very close and both cameras posses the same sensor dimensions (1/2.5").

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The FS42 was brought out 2 months after the CL5 and they are of a similar age. Both the cameras have the same body design (Ultracompact).

Before diving into a in depth comparison, here is a brief summation of how the FS42 matches up versus the CL5 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic FS42 over the Samsung CL5

 FS42 CL5 

Reasons to pick Samsung CL5 over the Panasonic FS42

 CL5 FS42 
Display dimensions2.7"2.5"Larger display (+0.2")

Common features in the Panasonic FS42 and Samsung CL5

 FS42 CL5 
IntroducedApril 2009February 2009Same age
Focus manually Lack of manual focus
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display resolution230k230kThe same display resolution
Selfie screen Missing selfie screen
Touch display Missing Touch display

Panasonic FS42 vs Samsung CL5 Physical Comparison

For those who are going to carry around your camera regularly, you're going to have to consider its weight and volume. The Panasonic FS42 features external dimensions of 98mm x 55mm x 22mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 0.9") accompanied by a weight of 132 grams (0.29 lbs) whilst the Samsung CL5 has sizing of 93mm x 60mm x 19mm (3.7" x 2.4" x 0.7") along with a weight of 141 grams (0.31 lbs).

Check out the Panasonic FS42 versus Samsung CL5 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an ILC will change dependant on the lens you choose at the time. Here is a front view measurement comparison of the FS42 versus the CL5.

Panasonic FS42 vs Samsung CL5 size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability score of the FS42 and CL5 is 95 and 95 respectively.

Panasonic FS42 vs Samsung CL5 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic FS42 vs Samsung CL5 Sensor Comparison

Usually, it is difficult to see the contrast in sensor sizes simply by looking through specifications. The picture here may provide you a clearer sense of the sensor dimensions in the FS42 and CL5.

Plainly, both of these cameras have the same sensor dimensions but not the same megapixels. You can expect to see the Panasonic FS42 to result in extra detail having its extra 1 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also enable you to crop pics a bit more aggressively.

Panasonic FS42 vs Samsung CL5 sensor size comparison

Panasonic FS42 vs Samsung CL5 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic FS42 vs Samsung CL5 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Panasonic FS42
Portrait photography with Samsung CL5
19
lack of manual focus
no manual control
cannot use external flash
low MP (10MP)
small sensor size (1/2.5")
does not have RAW files
24
features face detect autofocus
focusing manually not possible
manual mode not possible
external flash not possible
MP count low (9MP)
tiny sensor (1/2.5")
lacks RAW files
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Street Comparison

Panasonic FS42 Street photography advice
Samsung CL5 Street photography advice
47
no articulating screen
does not have image stabilization
small sensor size (1/2.5")
does not have RAW files
low max ISO (1,000)
47
screen is fixed
does not have image stabilization
tiny sensor (1/2.5")
lacks RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic FS42 as a Sports photography camera
Samsung CL5 as a Sports photography camera
16
max fps very slow (2.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority
does not have image stabilization
low MP (10MP)
small sensor size (1/2.5")
does not have phase detect autofocus
16
no shutter priority mode
does not have image stabilization
MP count low (9 megapixels)
tiny sensor (1/2.5")
lacks phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Panasonic FS42
Travel photography with Samsung CL5
51
flash built-in
lack of Timelapse function
low MP (10 megapixels)
doesn't feature selfie friendly screen
wide angle not the best (33mm)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
51
flash built-in
no Time Lapse function
MP count low (9MP)
screen is not selfie friendly
wide angle not the best (38mm)
sluggish max aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic FS42 Landscape photography info
Samsung CL5 Landscape photography info
22
lack of manual focus
can't swap lenses (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not the best (33mm)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
small screen (2.5")
no manual control
does not have image stabilization
low MP (10 megapixels)
small sensor size (1/2.5")
low max ISO (1,000)
does not have RAW files
lack of Timelapse function
22
focusing manually not possible
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not the best (38mm)
sluggish max aperture (f3.5)
screen is somewhat small (2.7")
manual mode not possible
does not have image stabilization
MP count low (9MP)
tiny sensor (1/2.5")
lacks RAW files
no Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic FS42 Vlogging features
Samsung CL5 Vlogging features
22
wide angle not the best (33mm)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
doesn't feature selfie friendly screen
does not have image stabilization
low res video (640 x 480 pixels)
lack of microphone jack
25
features face detect autofocus
wide angle not the best (38mm)
sluggish max aperture (f3.5)
screen is not selfie friendly
does not have image stabilization
low res video (640 x 480 pixels)
no mic support
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Panasonic FS42 vs Samsung CL5 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic FS42 and Samsung CL5
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS42Samsung CL5
General Information
Manufacturer Panasonic Samsung
Model type Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS42 Samsung CL5
Also called as - PL10
Class Ultracompact Ultracompact
Released 2009-04-17 2009-02-23
Physical type Ultracompact Ultracompact
Sensor Information
Sensor type CCD CCD
Sensor size 1/2.5" 1/2.5"
Sensor dimensions 5.744 x 4.308mm 5.744 x 4.308mm
Sensor area 24.7mm² 24.7mm²
Sensor resolution 10MP 9MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 16:9, 4:3 and 3:2
Peak resolution 3648 x 2736 3456 x 2592
Highest native ISO 1000 3200
Highest enhanced ISO 6400 -
Min native ISO 80 80
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Lens
Lens support fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 33-132mm (4.0x) 38-114mm (3.0x)
Max aperture f/2.8-5.9 f/3.5-4.5
Macro focusing range 5cm 5cm
Crop factor 6.3 6.3
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 2.5" 2.7"
Resolution of screen 230 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Min shutter speed 60 seconds 16 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 4.00 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Sync Auto, Auto & Red-eye reduction, Fill-in flash, Slow sync, Flash off, Red eye fix
External flash
AEB
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps) 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (60, 30, 15 fps)
Highest video resolution 640x480 640x480
Video format Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
Mic support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) none
GPS None None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 132 grams (0.29 pounds) 141 grams (0.31 pounds)
Physical dimensions 98 x 55 x 22mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 0.9") 93 x 60 x 19mm (3.7" x 2.4" x 0.7")
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
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (10 sec, 2 sec, Double, Motion Timer)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC card, Internal SC/SDHC/MMC/MMCplus, internal
Card slots Single Single
Launch pricing $580 $391