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Panasonic FS42 vs Sony A99 II

Portability
95
Imaging
33
Features
10
Overall
23
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS42 front
 
Sony Alpha A99 II front
Portability
57
Imaging
77
Features
92
Overall
83

Panasonic FS42 vs Sony A99 II Key Specs

Panasonic FS42
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - 1/2.5" Sensor
  • 2.5" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 1000 (Push to 6400)
  • 640 x 480 video
  • 33-132mm (F2.8-5.9) lens
  • 132g - 98 x 55 x 22mm
  • Announced April 2009
Sony A99 II
(Full Review)
  • 42MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Display
  • ISO 100 - 25600 (Bump to 102400)
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 849g - 143 x 104 x 76mm
  • Introduced September 2016
  • Old Model is Sony A99
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Panasonic FS42 vs Sony A99 II Overview

Following is a detailed review of the Panasonic FS42 vs Sony A99 II, one is a Ultracompact and the other is a Advanced DSLR by competitors Panasonic and Sony. There exists a sizeable gap among the sensor resolutions of the FS42 (10MP) and A99 II (42MP) and the FS42 (1/2.5") and A99 II (Full frame) use different sensor measurements.

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The FS42 was brought out 8 years earlier than the A99 II which is a fairly large gap as far as camera technology is concerned. Both of these cameras come with different body type with the Panasonic FS42 being a Ultracompact camera and the Sony A99 II being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before diving straight into a thorough comparison, below is a brief introduction of how the FS42 matches up against the A99 II in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic FS42 over the Sony A99 II

 FS42 A99 II 

Reasons to pick Sony A99 II over the Panasonic FS42

 A99 II FS42 
IntroducedSeptember 2016April 2009More modern by 90 months
Manually focus More accurate focusing
Display typeFully articulatedFixed Fully Articulating display
Display dimension3"2.5"Larger display (+0.5")
Display resolution1229k230kSharper display (+999k dot)
Selfie screen Easy selfies

Common features in the Panasonic FS42 and Sony A99 II

 FS42 A99 II 
Touch friendly display Neither includes Touch friendly display

Panasonic FS42 vs Sony A99 II Physical Comparison

If you're aiming to carry around your camera frequently, you have to take into account its weight and dimensions. The Panasonic FS42 features outer dimensions of 98mm x 55mm x 22mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 0.9") having a weight of 132 grams (0.29 lbs) and the Sony A99 II has dimensions of 143mm x 104mm x 76mm (5.6" x 4.1" x 3.0") accompanied by a weight of 849 grams (1.87 lbs).

Compare the Panasonic FS42 vs Sony A99 II in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ depending on the lens you have chosen at that time. Following is the front view proportions comparison of the FS42 and the A99 II.

Panasonic FS42 vs Sony A99 II size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the FS42 and A99 II is 95 and 57 respectively.

Panasonic FS42 vs Sony A99 II top view buttons comparison

Panasonic FS42 vs Sony A99 II Sensor Comparison

Quite often, it can be difficult to imagine the contrast in sensor sizes only by looking through specs. The pic below should offer you a more clear sense of the sensor sizes in the FS42 and A99 II.

All in all, both cameras have got different megapixels and different sensor sizes. The FS42 featuring a smaller sensor is going to make getting shallower depth of field harder and the Sony A99 II will provide you with more detail having its extra 32 Megapixels. Greater resolution will allow you to crop photos much more aggressively. The more aged FS42 will be disadvantaged in sensor technology.

Panasonic FS42 vs Sony A99 II sensor size comparison

Panasonic FS42 vs Sony A99 II Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic FS42 vs Sony A99 II Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Panasonic FS42
Portrait photography with Sony A99 II
19
lack of manual focus
lack of manual exposure
no external flash support
sensor resolution not great (10 megapixels)
very small sensor size (1/2.5")
lacks RAW format
86
manual focus
fantastic megapixels (42MP)
sensor size is large (Full frame)
supports face detect focus
supports RAW files
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Panasonic FS42
Street photography with Sony A99 II
47
fixed screen
no image stabilization
very small sensor size (1/2.5")
lacks RAW format
low max ISO (1,000)
76
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor size is large (Full frame)
supports RAW files
environment proof
above average high ISO (25,600)
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic FS42 as a Sports photography camera
Sony A99 II as a Sports photography camera
16
painfully slow continuous shooting (2.0 fps)
lack of shutter priority mode
no image stabilization
sensor resolution not great (10MP)
very small sensor size (1/2.5")
lacks phase detect auto focus
82
high shutter speed (1/8,000 seconds)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
fantastic megapixels (42 megapixels)
sensor size is large (Full frame)
supports tracking focus
environment proof
comes with phase detect auto focus
not so great battery pack (490 per charge)
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic FS42 Travel photography information
Sony A99 II Travel photography information
51
has built in flash
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
sensor resolution not great (10 megapixels)
doesn't contain selfie friendly screen
wide angle not the best (33mm)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
70
environment proof
has bluetooth
fantastic megapixels (42MP)
selfie friendly screen
not so great battery pack (490 per charge)
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic FS42 as a Landscape photography camera
Sony A99 II as a Landscape photography camera
22
lack of manual focus
can't switch lenses (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not the best (33mm)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
screen is small (2.5 inches)
lack of manual exposure
no image stabilization
sensor resolution not great (10 megapixels)
very small sensor size (1/2.5")
low max ISO (1,000)
lacks RAW format
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
82
manual focus
switch lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
nice screen size (3")
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
fantastic megapixels (42 megapixels)
sensor size is large (Full frame)
doesnt have low pass filter
above average high ISO (25,600)
supports RAW files
environment proof
two card slots
not so great battery pack (490 CIPA)
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic FS42 Vlogging features
Sony A99 II Vlogging features
22
wide angle not the best (33mm)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
doesn't contain selfie friendly screen
no image stabilization
video res low (640 x 480 pxls)
doesn't have external mic port
78
selfie friendly screen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
supports face detect focus
high res video (3840 x 2160 pixels)
does have mic socket
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Panasonic FS42 vs Sony A99 II Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic FS42 and Sony A99 II
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS42Sony Alpha A99 II
General Information
Company Panasonic Sony
Model Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS42 Sony Alpha A99 II
Type Ultracompact Advanced DSLR
Announced 2009-04-17 2016-09-19
Physical type Ultracompact Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Processor - Bionz X
Sensor type CCD BSI-CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.5" Full frame
Sensor dimensions 5.744 x 4.308mm 35.9 x 24mm
Sensor surface area 24.7mm² 861.6mm²
Sensor resolution 10 megapixel 42 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 3648 x 2736 7952 x 5304
Max native ISO 1000 25600
Max enhanced ISO 6400 102400
Lowest native ISO 80 100
RAW support
Lowest enhanced ISO - 50
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
Continuous AF
Single AF
AF tracking
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Number of focus points - 399
Cross focus points - 79
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens Sony/Minolta Alpha
Lens focal range 33-132mm (4.0x) -
Max aperture f/2.8-5.9 -
Macro focus range 5cm -
Available lenses - 143
Focal length multiplier 6.3 1
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fully articulated
Display diagonal 2.5" 3"
Display resolution 230k dots 1,229k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 2,359k dots
Viewfinder coverage - 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.78x
Features
Min shutter speed 60s 30s
Max shutter speed 1/2000s 1/8000s
Continuous shutter rate 2.0 frames per second 12.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 6.30 m no built-in flash
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Sync Off, auto, fill, slow sync, redeye reduction, rear sync, high-speed sync, wireless
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Max flash synchronize - 1/250s
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) -
Max video resolution 640x480 3840x2160
Video data format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD, XAVC S
Mic port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless None Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 132 grams (0.29 lbs) 849 grams (1.87 lbs)
Dimensions 98 x 55 x 22mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 0.9") 143 x 104 x 76mm (5.6" x 4.1" x 3.0")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score not tested 92
DXO Color Depth score not tested 25.4
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 13.4
DXO Low light score not tested 2317
Other
Battery life - 490 pictures
Type of battery - NP-FM500H lithium-ion battery & charger
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2, 5, 10 secs)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC card, Internal Dual SD/SDHC/SDXC/MS Duo slots
Card slots Single Dual
Pricing at release $580 $3,198