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Panasonic FS42 vs Sony A390

Portability
95
Imaging
33
Features
10
Overall
23
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS42 front
 
Sony Alpha DSLR-A390 front
Portability
66
Imaging
53
Features
54
Overall
53

Panasonic FS42 vs Sony A390 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
Sony A390
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 2.7" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 549g - 128 x 97 x 86mm
  • Released July 2010
  • Succeeded the Sony A380
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Panasonic FS42 vs Sony A390 Overview

The following is a in depth analysis of the Panasonic FS42 vs Sony A390, former is a Ultracompact while the other is a Entry-Level DSLR by competitors Panasonic and Sony. There is a noticeable difference among the image resolutions of the FS42 (10MP) and A390 (14MP) and the FS42 (1/2.5") and A390 (APS-C) use totally different sensor dimensions.

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The FS42 was revealed 15 months prior to the A390 making the cameras a generation away from each other. Both the cameras offer different body type with the Panasonic FS42 being a Ultracompact camera and the Sony A390 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before diving in to a in-depth comparison, below is a quick view of how the FS42 matches up versus the A390 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic FS42 over the Sony A390

 FS42 A390 

Reasons to pick Sony A390 over the Panasonic FS42

 A390 FS42 
ReleasedJuly 2010April 2009Newer by 15 months
Manually focus Very precise focus
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display sizing2.7"2.5"Larger display (+0.2")

Common features in the Panasonic FS42 and Sony A390

 FS42 A390 
Display resolution230k230kIdentical display resolution
Selfie screen Neither features selfie screen
Touch display Neither features Touch display

Panasonic FS42 vs Sony A390 Physical Comparison

When you are looking to travel with your camera often, you are going to need to factor its weight and volume. The Panasonic FS42 enjoys physical dimensions of 98mm x 55mm x 22mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 0.9") accompanied by a weight of 132 grams (0.29 lbs) whilst the Sony A390 has sizing of 128mm x 97mm x 86mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 3.4") along with a weight of 549 grams (1.21 lbs).

Compare the Panasonic FS42 vs Sony A390 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an ILC will vary depending on the lens you have attached during that time. Following is the front view size comparison of the FS42 versus the A390.

Panasonic FS42 vs Sony A390 size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability rating of the FS42 and A390 is 95 and 66 respectively.

Panasonic FS42 vs Sony A390 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic FS42 vs Sony A390 Sensor Comparison

Usually, its tough to envision the difference in sensor dimensions purely by researching specifications. The image below might give you a far better sense of the sensor sizes in the FS42 and A390.

Plainly, both the cameras offer different resolutions and different sensor dimensions. The FS42 having a smaller sensor will make shooting shallower depth of field trickier and the Sony A390 will result in more detail because of its extra 4 Megapixels. Greater resolution will make it easier to crop pics a little more aggressively. The more aged FS42 will be behind with regard to sensor tech.

Panasonic FS42 vs Sony A390 sensor size comparison

Panasonic FS42 vs Sony A390 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic FS42 vs Sony A390 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic FS42 Portrait photography features
Sony A390 Portrait photography features
19
manual focus not available
lack of manual exposure
cannot use external flash
low MP (10 megapixels)
tiny sensor (1/2.5")
does not have RAW format
71
focusing manually
decent MP (14 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
includes face detect autofocus
exports RAW files
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Street Comparison

Panasonic FS42 Street photography factors
Sony A390 Street photography factors
47
no articulating screen
does not have image stabilization
tiny sensor (1/2.5")
does not have RAW format
maximum ISO low (1,000)
75
has a tilting screen
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic FS42 Sports photography information
Sony A390 Sports photography information
16
max fps low (2.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority
does not have image stabilization
low MP (10 megapixels)
tiny sensor (1/2.5")
does not have phase detect autofocus
59
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent MP (14 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
comes with phase detect autofocus
max fps low (3.0 fps)
terrible battery power (230 shots)
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic FS42 Travel photography highlights
Sony A390 Travel photography highlights
51
built-in flash
no Time Lapse function
low MP (10 megapixels)
display isn't selfie friendly
wide angle not great (33mm)
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
53
decent MP (14 megapixels)
has built in flash
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
terrible battery power (230 per charge)
doesn't contain selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic FS42 Landscape photography details
Sony A390 Landscape photography details
22
manual focus not available
cannot switch lens (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not great (33mm)
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
screen is small (2.5 inches)
lack of manual exposure
does not have image stabilization
low MP (10MP)
tiny sensor (1/2.5")
maximum ISO low (1,000)
does not have RAW format
no Time Lapse function
61
focusing manually
swap lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent MP (14MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW files
tiny screen (2.7 inches)
terrible battery power (230 shots)
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic FS42 Vlogging information
Sony A390 Vlogging information
22
wide angle not great (33mm)
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
display isn't selfie friendly
does not have image stabilization
low video resolution (640 x 480 resolution)
no mic support
9
can't shoot video
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Panasonic FS42 vs Sony A390 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic FS42 and Sony A390
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS42Sony Alpha DSLR-A390
General Information
Make Panasonic Sony
Model Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS42 Sony Alpha DSLR-A390
Class Ultracompact Entry-Level DSLR
Revealed 2009-04-17 2010-07-28
Body design Ultracompact Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Processor 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 surface area 24.7mm² 369.0mm²
Sensor resolution 10MP 14MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 3648 x 2736 4592 x 3056
Max native ISO 1000 3200
Max boosted ISO 6400 -
Min native ISO 80 100
RAW data
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Number of focus points - 9
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens Sony/Minolta Alpha
Lens focal range 33-132mm (4.0x) -
Maximum aperture f/2.8-5.9 -
Macro focus distance 5cm -
Total lenses - 143
Focal length multiplier 6.3 1.5
Screen
Range of screen Fixed Type Tilting
Screen sizing 2.5 inch 2.7 inch
Resolution of screen 230k dot 230k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Optical (pentamirror)
Viewfinder coverage - 95 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.49x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60s 30s
Highest shutter speed 1/2000s 1/4000s
Continuous shooting speed 2.0 frames/s 3.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 6.30 m 10.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Wireless
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Highest flash sync - 1/160s
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported 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 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
Environmental seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 132 grams (0.29 lb) 549 grams (1.21 lb)
Dimensions 98 x 55 x 22mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 0.9") 128 x 97 x 86mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 3.4")
DXO scores
DXO All around score not tested 66
DXO Color Depth score not tested 22.5
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 11.5
DXO Low light score not tested 607
Other
Battery life - 230 images
Battery form - Battery Pack
Battery model - NP-FH50
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Storage media SD/SDHC card, Internal SD/ SDHC, Memory Stick Pro Duo
Storage slots 1 1
Launch cost $580 $500