Panasonic FS42 vs Sony NEX-5R

Its time to look a little more in depth at the Panasonic FS42 vs Sony NEX-5R, one is a Ultracompact and the other is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by brands Panasonic and Sony. There is a big difference among the image resolutions of the FS42 (10MP) and NEX-5R (16MP) and the FS42 (1/2.5") and NEX-5R (APS-C) provide different sensor size.

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The FS42 was released 4 years prior to the NEX-5R which is a fairly big gap as far as camera tech is concerned. Both the cameras feature different body design with the Panasonic FS42 being a Ultracompact camera and the Sony NEX-5R being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before getting straight to a in-depth comparison, here is a quick summation of how the FS42 scores versus the NEX-5R with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

Following is a sample of the gallery pictures for Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS42 and Sony Alpha NEX-5R. The complete galleries are viewable at Panasonic FS42 Gallery and Sony NEX-5R Gallery.

If you're planning to travel with your camera often, you will want to consider its weight and proportions. The Panasonic FS42 offers outer measurements of 98mm x 55mm x 22mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 0.9") with a weight of 132 grams (0.29 lbs) whilst the Sony NEX-5R has measurements of 111mm x 59mm x 39mm (4.4" x 2.3" x 1.5") with a weight of 276 grams (0.61 lbs).

Examine the Panasonic FS42 vs Sony NEX-5R in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ depending on the lens you choose during that time. The following is a front view dimension comparison of the FS42 versus the NEX-5R.

Taking into account size and weight, the portability grade of the FS42 and NEX-5R is 95 and 89 respectively.

Usually, it is tough to visualize the gap in sensor dimensions merely by going through technical specs. The picture below should provide you a clearer sense of the sensor sizing in the FS42 and NEX-5R.

As you have seen, each of these cameras feature different megapixels and different sensor dimensions. The FS42 featuring a smaller sensor is going to make shooting shallow depth of field trickier and the Sony NEX-5R will provide greater detail as a result of its extra 6 Megapixels. Greater resolution will allow you to crop pics way more aggressively. The more aged FS42 will be behind with regard to sensor tech.