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Panasonic FS42 vs Samsung PL120

Portability
95
Imaging
33
Features
10
Overall
23
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS42 front
 
Samsung PL120 front
Portability
99
Imaging
37
Features
20
Overall
30

Panasonic FS42 vs Samsung PL120 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
  • Introduced April 2009
Samsung PL120
(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
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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.

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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.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic FS42 over the Samsung PL120

 FS42 PL120 

Reasons to pick Samsung PL120 over the Panasonic FS42

 PL120 FS42 
LaunchedJanuary 2011April 2009Fresher by 20 months
Screen dimension2.7"2.5"Bigger screen (+0.2")

Common features in the Panasonic FS42 and Samsung PL120

 FS42 PL120 
Manually focus Lack of manual focusing
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen resolution230k230kExact 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

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

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 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 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic FS42 vs Samsung PL120 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Panasonic FS42
Portrait photography with Samsung PL120
19
lack of manual focus
manual mode not possible
no external flash support
MP count low (10MP)
sensor size is small (1/2.5")
doesn't have RAW files
28
megapixel count decent (14MP)
lack of manual focus
lack of manual mode
external flash not possible
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
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Street Comparison

Panasonic FS42 Street photography information
Samsung PL120 Street photography information
47
no articulating screen
does not have image stabilization
sensor size is small (1/2.5")
doesn't have RAW files
low max ISO (1,000)
49
no moving screen
lack of image stabilization
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic FS42 Sports photography features
Samsung PL120 Sports photography features
16
low fps (2.0 frames/s)
lack of shutter priority mode
does not have image stabilization
MP count low (10 megapixels)
sensor size is small (1/2.5")
doesn't have phase detect AF
26
megapixel count decent (14MP)
can't change focal length (()mm)
no shutter priority
lack of image stabilization
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic FS42 Travel photography highlights
Samsung PL120 Travel photography highlights
51
built-in flash
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
MP count low (10 megapixels)
screen is not selfie friendly
wide angle not the best (33mm)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
71
megapixel count decent (14 megapixels)
flash built-in
great maximum aperture (f)
lack of Timelapse recording
screen is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic FS42 Landscape photography factors
Samsung PL120 Landscape photography factors
22
lack of manual focus
can't switch lenses (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not the best (33mm)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
tiny screen (2.5 inch)
manual mode not possible
does not have image stabilization
MP count low (10 megapixels)
sensor size is small (1/2.5")
low max ISO (1,000)
doesn't have RAW files
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
33
great maximum aperture (f)
megapixel count decent (14MP)
lack of manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
can't change focal length (()mm)
small screen (2.7 inch)
lack of manual mode
lack of image stabilization
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
lack of Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic FS42 Vlogging factors
Samsung PL120 Vlogging factors
22
wide angle not the best (33mm)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
screen is not selfie friendly
does not have image stabilization
low quality video (640 x 480 pxls)
doesn't have mic jack
31
great maximum aperture (f)
does have external microphone support
screen is not selfie friendly
lack of image stabilization
video quality not great (1280 x 720 pxls)
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Panasonic FS42 vs Samsung PL120 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic FS42 and Samsung PL120
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS42Samsung 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