Panasonic FS42 vs Sony A330
95 Imaging
33 Features
10 Overall
23


67 Imaging
50 Features
50 Overall
50
Panasonic FS42 vs Sony A330 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
- Revealed April 2009
(Full Review)
- 10MP - APS-C Sensor
- 2.7" Tilting Screen
- ISO 100 - 3200
- Sensor based Image Stabilization
- No Video
- Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
- 529g - 128 x 97 x 71mm
- Introduced May 2009
- Old Model is Sony A300

Panasonic FS42 vs Sony A330 Overview
Let's take a closer look at the Panasonic FS42 vs Sony A330, former is a Ultracompact while the latter is a Entry-Level DSLR by companies Panasonic and Sony. The image resolution of the FS42 (10MP) and the A330 (10MP) is pretty comparable but the FS42 (1/2.5") and A330 (APS-C) enjoy different sensor sizes.

The FS42 was launched very close to the A330 so they are of a similar age. Both of these cameras come with different body type with the Panasonic FS42 being a Ultracompact camera and the Sony A330 being a Compact SLR camera.
Before we go in to a in depth comparison, below is a brief summary of how the FS42 matches up against the A330 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

Panasonic FS42 vs Sony A330 Gallery
This is a preview of the gallery images for Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS42 & Sony Alpha DSLR-A330. The complete galleries are viewable at Panasonic FS42 Gallery & Sony A330 Gallery.
Reasons to pick Panasonic FS42 over the Sony A330
FS42 | A330 |
---|
Reasons to pick Sony A330 over the Panasonic FS42
A330 | FS42 | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Focus manually | ![]() | More exact focusing | ||
Screen type | Tilting | ![]() | Fixed | Tilting screen |
Screen dimension | 2.7" | ![]() | 2.5" | Bigger screen (+0.2") |
Common features in the Panasonic FS42 and Sony A330
FS42 | A330 | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Introduced | April 2009 | ![]() | May 2009 | Same age |
Screen resolution | 230k | ![]() | 230k | The same screen resolution |
Selfie screen | ![]() | Absent selfie screen | ||
Touch friendly screen | ![]() | Absent Touch friendly screen |
Panasonic FS42 vs Sony A330 Physical Comparison
In case you're looking to carry around your camera regularly, you are going to need to think about its weight and size. The Panasonic FS42 has outside measurements of 98mm x 55mm x 22mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 0.9") along with a weight of 132 grams (0.29 lbs) and the Sony A330 has specifications of 128mm x 97mm x 71mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 2.8") and a weight of 529 grams (1.17 lbs).
Contrast the Panasonic FS42 vs Sony A330 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool.
Don't forget, the weight of an ILC will vary depending on the lens you are working with during that time. Underneath is the front view measurements comparison of the FS42 versus the A330.

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the FS42 and A330 is 95 and 67 respectively.

Panasonic FS42 vs Sony A330 Sensor Comparison
Typically, it is tough to imagine the gap in sensor sizes purely by going through a spec sheet. The image underneath will provide you a greater sense of the sensor measurements in the FS42 and A330.
Clearly, both the cameras have got the exact same megapixels albeit different sensor sizes. The FS42 uses the smaller sensor which will make achieving shallow depth of field trickier.

Panasonic FS42 vs Sony A330 Screen and ViewFinder


Photography Type Scores
Portrait Comparison

Street Comparison

Sports Comparison

Travel Comparison

Landscape Comparison

Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic FS42 vs Sony A330 Specifications
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS42 | Sony Alpha DSLR-A330 | |
---|---|---|
General Information | ||
Manufacturer | Panasonic | Sony |
Model type | Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS42 | Sony Alpha DSLR-A330 |
Category | Ultracompact | Entry-Level DSLR |
Revealed | 2009-04-17 | 2009-05-18 |
Body design | Ultracompact | Compact SLR |
Sensor Information | ||
Chip | - | Bionz |
Sensor type | CCD | CCD |
Sensor size | 1/2.5" | APS-C |
Sensor dimensions | 5.744 x 4.308mm | 23.5 x 15.7mm |
Sensor area | 24.7mm² | 369.0mm² |
Sensor resolution | 10 megapixel | 10 megapixel |
Anti alias filter | ||
Aspect ratio | 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 | 3:2 and 16:9 |
Full resolution | 3648 x 2736 | 3872 x 2592 |
Max native ISO | 1000 | 3200 |
Max boosted ISO | 6400 | - |
Minimum native ISO | 80 | 100 |
RAW support | ||
Autofocusing | ||
Focus manually | ||
Touch to focus | ||
Continuous autofocus | ||
Single autofocus | ||
Autofocus tracking | ||
Selective autofocus | ||
Center weighted autofocus | ||
Autofocus multi area | ||
Autofocus live view | ||
Face detection autofocus | ||
Contract detection autofocus | ||
Phase detection autofocus | ||
Total focus points | - | 9 |
Lens | ||
Lens mount type | fixed lens | Sony/Minolta Alpha |
Lens zoom range | 33-132mm (4.0x) | - |
Max aperture | f/2.8-5.9 | - |
Macro focusing range | 5cm | - |
Amount of lenses | - | 143 |
Focal length multiplier | 6.3 | 1.5 |
Screen | ||
Screen type | Fixed Type | Tilting |
Screen diagonal | 2.5 inch | 2.7 inch |
Screen resolution | 230 thousand dot | 230 thousand dot |
Selfie friendly | ||
Liveview | ||
Touch screen | ||
Viewfinder Information | ||
Viewfinder type | None | Optical (pentamirror) |
Viewfinder coverage | - | 95% |
Viewfinder magnification | - | 0.49x |
Features | ||
Lowest shutter speed | 60 seconds | 30 seconds |
Highest shutter speed | 1/2000 seconds | 1/4000 seconds |
Continuous shooting speed | 2.0fps | 3.0fps |
Shutter priority | ||
Aperture priority | ||
Expose Manually | ||
Exposure compensation | - | Yes |
Set white balance | ||
Image stabilization | ||
Integrated flash | ||
Flash distance | 6.30 m | 10.00 m |
Flash modes | Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Sync | Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Wireless |
External flash | ||
AE bracketing | ||
WB bracketing | ||
Highest flash sync | - | 1/160 seconds |
Exposure | ||
Multisegment metering | ||
Average metering | ||
Spot metering | ||
Partial metering | ||
AF area metering | ||
Center weighted metering | ||
Video features | ||
Video resolutions | 848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps) | - |
Max video resolution | 640x480 | None |
Video data format | Motion JPEG | - |
Mic input | ||
Headphone input | ||
Connectivity | ||
Wireless | None | None |
Bluetooth | ||
NFC | ||
HDMI | ||
USB | USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) | USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) |
GPS | None | None |
Physical | ||
Environmental seal | ||
Water proofing | ||
Dust proofing | ||
Shock proofing | ||
Crush proofing | ||
Freeze proofing | ||
Weight | 132g (0.29 lb) | 529g (1.17 lb) |
Dimensions | 98 x 55 x 22mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 0.9") | 128 x 97 x 71mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 2.8") |
DXO scores | ||
DXO All around rating | not tested | 64 |
DXO Color Depth rating | not tested | 22.4 |
DXO Dynamic range rating | not tested | 11.5 |
DXO Low light rating | not tested | 535 |
Other | ||
Battery life | - | 230 photos |
Type of battery | - | Battery Pack |
Battery ID | - | NP-FH50 |
Self timer | Yes (2 or 10 sec) | Yes (2 or 10 sec) |
Time lapse recording | ||
Type of storage | SD/SDHC card, Internal | SD/ SDHC, Memory Stick Pro Duo |
Storage slots | Single | Single |
Launch pricing | $580 | $545 |