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Panasonic FS42 vs Samsung HZ50W

Portability
95
Imaging
33
Features
10
Overall
23
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS42 front
 
Samsung HZ50W front
Portability
70
Imaging
37
Features
44
Overall
39

Panasonic FS42 vs Samsung HZ50W Key Specs

Panasonic FS42
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - 1/2.5" Sensor
  • 2.5" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 1000 (Raise to 6400)
  • 640 x 480 video
  • 33-132mm (F2.8-5.9) lens
  • 132g - 98 x 55 x 22mm
  • Revealed April 2009
Samsung HZ50W
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 64 - 3200 (Boost to 6400)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 26-676mm (F2.8-5.0) lens
  • 426g - 116 x 83 x 91mm
  • Launched May 2010
  • Other Name is WB5500
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Panasonic FS42 vs Samsung HZ50W Overview

Below, we will be contrasting the Panasonic FS42 versus Samsung HZ50W, former being a Ultracompact while the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom by brands Panasonic and Samsung. There exists a noticeable gap among the image resolutions of the FS42 (10MP) and HZ50W (14MP) and the FS42 (1/2.5") and HZ50W (1/2.3") come with different sensor dimensions.

Photography Glossary

The FS42 was unveiled 12 months earlier than the HZ50W and they are both of a similar age. Both of these cameras come with different body type with the Panasonic FS42 being a Ultracompact camera and the Samsung HZ50W being a SLR-like (bridge) camera.

Before getting straight into a detailed comparison, below is a brief highlight of how the FS42 grades vs the HZ50W with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic FS42 over the Samsung HZ50W

 FS42 HZ50W 

Reasons to pick Samsung HZ50W over the Panasonic FS42

 HZ50W FS42 
LaunchedMay 2010April 2009Fresher by 12 months
Focus manually Very precise focus
Screen dimension3"2.5"Bigger screen (+0.5")

Common features in the Panasonic FS42 and Samsung HZ50W

 FS42 HZ50W 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen resolution230k230kExact same screen resolution
Selfie screen Neither features selfie screen
Touch screen Neither features Touch screen

Panasonic FS42 vs Samsung HZ50W Physical Comparison

For anybody who is looking to carry your camera frequently, you will have to factor its weight and dimensions. The Panasonic FS42 enjoys outer measurements of 98mm x 55mm x 22mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 0.9") and a weight of 132 grams (0.29 lbs) and the Samsung HZ50W has dimensions of 116mm x 83mm x 91mm (4.6" x 3.3" x 3.6") along with a weight of 426 grams (0.94 lbs).

See the Panasonic FS42 versus Samsung HZ50W in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an ILC will change based on the lens you have chosen at that time. Below is the front view scale comparison of the FS42 against the HZ50W.

Panasonic FS42 vs Samsung HZ50W size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability score of the FS42 and HZ50W is 95 and 70 respectively.

Panasonic FS42 vs Samsung HZ50W top view buttons comparison

Panasonic FS42 vs Samsung HZ50W Sensor Comparison

Normally, it is difficult to visualize the contrast in sensor sizing purely by looking through specifications. The visual here may give you a far better sense of the sensor sizing in the FS42 and HZ50W.

To sum up, both of those cameras posses different resolutions and different sensor sizing. The FS42 with its smaller sensor is going to make shooting shallow DOF harder and the Samsung HZ50W will provide you with extra detail having an extra 4 Megapixels. Higher resolution can also help you crop pictures somewhat more aggressively. The older FS42 will be behind in sensor innovation.

Panasonic FS42 vs Samsung HZ50W sensor size comparison

Panasonic FS42 vs Samsung HZ50W Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic FS42 vs Samsung HZ50W Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic FS42 Portrait photography advice
Samsung HZ50W Portrait photography advice
19
no manual focus
no manual control
cannot use external flash
low MP (10 megapixels)
tiny sensor size (1/2.5")
lacks RAW files
46
focusing manually
decent megapixels (14MP)
exports RAW files
no external flash support
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
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Street Comparison

Panasonic FS42 Street photography factors
Samsung HZ50W Street photography factors
47
no articulating screen
lack of image stabilization
tiny sensor size (1/2.5")
lacks RAW files
low maximum ISO (1,000)
56
image stabilization (Optical)
exports RAW files
screen does not articulate
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic FS42 Sports photography information
Samsung HZ50W Sports photography information
16
painfully slow continuous shooting (2.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority
lack of image stabilization
low MP (10 megapixels)
tiny sensor size (1/2.5")
lacks phase detect autofocus
48
amazing zoom range (26-676mm 26.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
decent megapixels (14 megapixels)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
no phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic FS42 Travel photography features
Samsung HZ50W Travel photography features
51
has built in flash
lack of Time Lapse recording
low MP (10 megapixels)
display is not selfie friendly
wide angle not fantastic (33mm)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
58
decent megapixels (14MP)
built-in flash
rather wide (26mm)
long zoom (676mm)
lack of Time Lapse mode
doesn't feature selfie friendly screen
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic FS42 Landscape photography highlights
Samsung HZ50W Landscape photography highlights
22
no manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not fantastic (33mm)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
screen is somewhat small (2.5 inches)
no manual control
lack of image stabilization
low MP (10 megapixels)
tiny sensor size (1/2.5")
low maximum ISO (1,000)
lacks RAW files
lack of Time Lapse recording
51
focusing manually
rather wide (26mm)
nice screen size (3 inch)
image stabilization (Optical)
decent megapixels (14 megapixels)
exports RAW files
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic FS42 Vlogging details
Samsung HZ50W Vlogging details
22
wide angle not fantastic (33mm)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
display is not selfie friendly
lack of image stabilization
low res video (640 x 480 resolution)
lack of mic jack
24
rather wide (26mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
doesn't feature selfie friendly screen
video quality not great (1280 x 720 pxls)
lack of external mic port
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Panasonic FS42 vs Samsung HZ50W Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic FS42 and Samsung HZ50W
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS42Samsung HZ50W
General Information
Brand Name Panasonic Samsung
Model Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS42 Samsung HZ50W
Also called as - WB5500
Type Ultracompact Small Sensor Superzoom
Revealed 2009-04-17 2010-05-03
Body design Ultracompact SLR-like (bridge)
Sensor Information
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 megapixel 14 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3 and 16:9
Highest resolution 3648 x 2736 4320 x 3240
Highest native ISO 1000 3200
Highest boosted ISO 6400 6400
Minimum native ISO 80 64
RAW support
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
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
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 33-132mm (4.0x) 26-676mm (26.0x)
Max aperture f/2.8-5.9 f/2.8-5.0
Macro focus distance 5cm 10cm
Crop factor 6.3 5.9
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen sizing 2.5 inches 3 inches
Resolution of screen 230k dot 230k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Electronic
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60 secs 16 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/2000 secs 1/2000 secs
Continuous shooting speed 2.0fps -
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 6.30 m 5.60 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
WB 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 (60, 30 fps)
Highest video resolution 640x480 1280x720
Video format Motion JPEG H.264
Mic 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 132g (0.29 pounds) 426g (0.94 pounds)
Dimensions 98 x 55 x 22mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 0.9") 116 x 83 x 91mm (4.6" x 3.3" x 3.6")
DXO scores
DXO All around 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 model - SLB-11A
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec, Double)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC card, Internal SC/SDHC, Internal
Storage slots 1 1
Launch pricing $580 $250