Panasonic FS42 vs Samsung PL120
95 Imaging
33 Features
10 Overall
23
![Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS42 front Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS42 front](https://pxlmag.com/db/images/cameras/gallery/medium/Panasonic-Lumix-DMC-FS42/Panasonic-FS42-front.jpg)
![Samsung PL120 front Samsung PL120 front](https://pxlmag.com/db/images/cameras/gallery/medium/Samsung-PL120/Samsung-PL120-front.jpg)
99 Imaging
37 Features
20 Overall
30
Panasonic FS42 vs Samsung PL120 Key Specs
(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
- Introduced April 2009
(Full Review)
- 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
- 2.7" Fixed Screen
- ISO 0 - 3200
- 1280 x 720 video
- ()mm (F) lens
- n/ag - 94 x 54 x 19mm
- Launched January 2011
![](https://pxlmag.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Approach-to-AI-Generated-Content-218x150.jpg)
Panasonic FS42 vs Samsung PL120 Overview
Let's look a bit more closely at the Panasonic FS42 versus Samsung PL120, both Ultracompact digital cameras by rivals Panasonic and Samsung. There is a big difference between the sensor resolutions of the FS42 (10MP) and PL120 (14MP) and the FS42 (1/2.5") and PL120 (1/2.3") feature totally different sensor size.
![](https://pxlmag.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/samsung-evo-microsd-cards-featur-218x150.jpg)
The FS42 was revealed 20 months earlier than the PL120 which makes the cameras a generation apart from each other. Each of the cameras come with the identical body type (Ultracompact).
Before we go in to a complete comparison, below is a simple view of how the FS42 matches up against the PL120 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.
![](https://pxlmag.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/photography-glossary-218x150.jpg)
Panasonic FS42 vs Samsung PL120 Gallery
The following is a preview of the gallery images for Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS42 and Samsung PL120. The full galleries are viewable at Panasonic FS42 Gallery and Samsung PL120 Gallery.
Reasons to pick Panasonic FS42 over the Samsung PL120
FS42 | PL120 |
---|
Reasons to pick Samsung PL120 over the Panasonic FS42
PL120 | FS42 | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Launched | January 2011 | ![]() | April 2009 | Fresher by 20 months |
Screen dimension | 2.7" | ![]() | 2.5" | Bigger screen (+0.2") |
Common features in the Panasonic FS42 and Samsung PL120
FS42 | PL120 | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Manually focus | ![]() | Lack of manual focusing | ||
Screen type | Fixed | ![]() | Fixed | Fixed screen |
Screen resolution | 230k | ![]() | 230k | Exact same screen resolution |
Selfie screen | ![]() | Lack of selfie screen | ||
Touch screen | ![]() | Lack of Touch screen |
Panasonic FS42 vs Samsung PL120 Physical Comparison
For anybody who is aiming to carry your camera frequently, you will have to take into account its weight and size. The Panasonic FS42 has got outer measurements of 98mm x 55mm x 22mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 0.9") accompanied by a weight of 132 grams (0.29 lbs) while the Samsung PL120 has specifications of 94mm x 54mm x 19mm (3.7" x 2.1" x 0.7") with a weight of n/a grams (0.00 lbs).
Take a look at the Panasonic FS42 versus Samsung PL120 in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool.![Camera Size Comparison with Lenses Camera Size Comparison with Lenses](https://pxlmag.com/db/assets/camera-size-comparison-animation.gif)
Remember that, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ dependant on the lens you are using at that time. Underneath is the front view dimension comparison of the FS42 vs the PL120.
![Panasonic FS42 vs Samsung PL120 size comparison Panasonic FS42 vs Samsung PL120 size comparison](https://pxlmag.com/db/images/camera-compare/Panasonic-Lumix-DMC-FS42-vs-Samsung-PL120-size-comparison.jpg)
Considering size and weight, the portability rating of the FS42 and PL120 is 95 and 99 respectively.
![Panasonic FS42 vs Samsung PL120 top view buttons comparison Panasonic FS42 vs Samsung PL120 top view buttons comparison](https://pxlmag.com/db/images/camera-compare/Panasonic-Lumix-DMC-FS42-vs-Samsung-PL120-top-view-buttons-comparison.jpg)
Panasonic FS42 vs Samsung PL120 Sensor Comparison
In many cases, it is very difficult to see the gap between sensor sizing simply by reading technical specs. The visual here should give you a more clear sense of the sensor measurements in the FS42 and PL120.
As you can tell, both the cameras posses different megapixels and different sensor sizing. The FS42 using its tinier sensor will make shooting shallower depth of field harder and the Samsung PL120 will offer greater detail because of its extra 4 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also allow you to crop photographs somewhat more aggressively. The older FS42 is going to be behind in sensor innovation.
![Panasonic FS42 vs Samsung PL120 sensor size comparison Panasonic FS42 vs Samsung PL120 sensor size comparison](https://pxlmag.com/db/images/sensor-compare/Panasonic-Lumix-DMC-FS42-vs-Samsung-PL120-sensor-size-comparison.png)
Panasonic FS42 vs Samsung PL120 Screen and ViewFinder
![Panasonic FS42 vs Samsung PL120 Screen and Viewfinder comparison Panasonic FS42 vs Samsung PL120 Screen and Viewfinder comparison](https://pxlmag.com/db/images/camera-compare/Panasonic-Lumix-DMC-FS42-vs-Samsung-PL120-screen-back-comparison.jpg)
![](https://pxlmag.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/snapchat-218x150.jpg)
Photography Type Scores
Portrait Comparison
![](https://pxlmag.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/ai-licence-218x150.jpg)
Street Comparison
![](https://pxlmag.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/iphone-optical-stabilization-218x150.jpg)
Sports Comparison
![](https://pxlmag.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/maxresdefault-218x150.jpg)
Travel Comparison
![](https://pxlmag.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/No-Surprise-Pentax-17-Pre-Orders-218x150.jpg)
Landscape Comparison
![](https://pxlmag.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/LP3_cut_13f_0212-218x150.jpg)
Vlogging Comparison
![](https://pxlmag.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/tiktok-218x150.jpg)
Panasonic FS42 vs Samsung PL120 Specifications
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS42 | Samsung PL120 | |
---|---|---|
General Information | ||
Make | Panasonic | Samsung |
Model type | Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS42 | Samsung PL120 |
Category | Ultracompact | Ultracompact |
Introduced | 2009-04-17 | 2011-01-05 |
Physical type | Ultracompact | Ultracompact |
Sensor Information | ||
Sensor type | CCD | CCD |
Sensor size | 1/2.5" | 1/2.3" |
Sensor measurements | 5.744 x 4.308mm | 6.16 x 4.62mm |
Sensor surface area | 24.7mm² | 28.5mm² |
Sensor resolution | 10 megapixels | 14 megapixels |
Anti alias filter | ||
Aspect ratio | 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 | - |
Highest Possible resolution | 3648 x 2736 | 4608 x 3456 |
Maximum native ISO | 1000 | 3200 |
Maximum enhanced ISO | 6400 | - |
Min native ISO | 80 | - |
RAW format | ||
Autofocusing | ||
Focus manually | ||
Touch to focus | ||
Autofocus continuous | ||
Autofocus single | ||
Tracking autofocus | ||
Selective autofocus | ||
Autofocus center weighted | ||
Multi area autofocus | ||
Autofocus live view | ||
Face detection autofocus | ||
Contract detection autofocus | ||
Phase detection autofocus | ||
Cross type focus points | - | - |
Lens | ||
Lens mount type | fixed lens | fixed lens |
Lens zoom range | 33-132mm (4.0x) | () |
Highest aperture | f/2.8-5.9 | - |
Macro focusing range | 5cm | - |
Focal length multiplier | 6.3 | 5.8 |
Screen | ||
Screen type | Fixed Type | Fixed Type |
Screen diagonal | 2.5 inch | 2.7 inch |
Resolution of screen | 230 thousand dots | 230 thousand dots |
Selfie friendly | ||
Liveview | ||
Touch function | ||
Viewfinder Information | ||
Viewfinder type | None | None |
Features | ||
Min shutter speed | 60 secs | 8 secs |
Max shutter speed | 1/2000 secs | 1/2000 secs |
Continuous shutter rate | 2.0fps | - |
Shutter priority | ||
Aperture priority | ||
Manually set exposure | ||
Set white balance | ||
Image stabilization | ||
Integrated flash | ||
Flash distance | 6.30 m | - |
Flash settings | Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Sync | - |
External flash | ||
AE bracketing | ||
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) | 1280 x 720 |
Maximum video resolution | 640x480 | 1280x720 |
Video data format | Motion JPEG | - |
Microphone support | ||
Headphone support | ||
Connectivity | ||
Wireless | None | None |
Bluetooth | ||
NFC | ||
HDMI | ||
USB | USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) | none |
GPS | None | None |
Physical | ||
Environmental sealing | ||
Water proofing | ||
Dust proofing | ||
Shock proofing | ||
Crush proofing | ||
Freeze proofing | ||
Weight | 132g (0.29 lb) | - |
Dimensions | 98 x 55 x 22mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 0.9") | 94 x 54 x 19mm (3.7" x 2.1" 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) | - |
Time lapse feature | ||
Type of storage | SD/SDHC card, Internal | - |
Card slots | Single | - |
Cost at release | $580 | $150 |