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Panasonic FS42 vs Sony NEX-F3

Portability
95
Imaging
33
Features
10
Overall
23
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS42 front
 
Sony Alpha NEX-F3 front
Portability
86
Imaging
57
Features
60
Overall
58

Panasonic FS42 vs Sony NEX-F3 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
  • Launched April 2009
Sony NEX-F3
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 200 - 16000
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 314g - 117 x 67 x 42mm
  • Released August 2012
  • Succeeded the Sony NEX-C3
  • Newer Model is Sony NEX-3N
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Panasonic FS42 vs Sony NEX-F3 Overview

Let's examine more closely at the Panasonic FS42 vs Sony NEX-F3, one is a Ultracompact and the latter is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by brands Panasonic and Sony. There exists a sizeable gap between the sensor resolutions of the FS42 (10MP) and NEX-F3 (16MP) and the FS42 (1/2.5") and NEX-F3 (APS-C) enjoy different sensor sizes.

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The FS42 was manufactured 4 years earlier than the NEX-F3 which is quite a large gap as far as technology is concerned. Each of the cameras offer different body type with the Panasonic FS42 being a Ultracompact camera and the Sony NEX-F3 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before going in to a more detailed comparison, below is a simple summation of how the FS42 grades vs the NEX-F3 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic FS42 over the Sony NEX-F3

 FS42 NEX-F3 

Reasons to pick Sony NEX-F3 over the Panasonic FS42

 NEX-F3 FS42 
ReleasedAugust 2012April 2009Newer by 40 months
Manually focus More exact focusing
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen sizing3"2.5"Bigger screen (+0.5")
Screen resolution920k230kClearer screen (+690k dot)

Common features in the Panasonic FS42 and Sony NEX-F3

 FS42 NEX-F3 
Selfie screen Neither provides selfie screen
Touch screen Neither provides Touch screen

Panasonic FS42 vs Sony NEX-F3 Physical Comparison

When you are going to travel with your camera, you should factor in its weight and measurements. The Panasonic FS42 provides physical measurements of 98mm x 55mm x 22mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 0.9") and a weight of 132 grams (0.29 lbs) whilst the Sony NEX-F3 has proportions of 117mm x 67mm x 42mm (4.6" x 2.6" x 1.7") with a weight of 314 grams (0.69 lbs).

Examine the Panasonic FS42 vs Sony NEX-F3 in the all 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 select at that moment. Below is the front view over all size comparison of the FS42 compared to the NEX-F3.

Panasonic FS42 vs Sony NEX-F3 size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the FS42 and NEX-F3 is 95 and 86 respectively.

Panasonic FS42 vs Sony NEX-F3 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic FS42 vs Sony NEX-F3 Sensor Comparison

Normally, it's difficult to picture the gap between sensor dimensions simply by reviewing specifications. The pic here should give you a far better sense of the sensor measurements in the FS42 and NEX-F3.

To sum up, the two cameras offer different megapixel count and different sensor dimensions. The FS42 due to its tinier sensor is going to make shooting bokeh more difficult and the Sony NEX-F3 will deliver more detail due to its extra 6MP. Higher resolution can also help you crop pictures a little more aggressively. The more aged FS42 is going to be behind when it comes to sensor technology.

Panasonic FS42 vs Sony NEX-F3 sensor size comparison

Panasonic FS42 vs Sony NEX-F3 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic FS42 vs Sony NEX-F3 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic FS42 Portrait photography features
Sony NEX-F3 Portrait photography features
19
no manual focus
lack of manual exposure
no external flash support
low megapixels (10 megapixels)
sensor size is small (1/2.5")
no RAW support
74
focusing manually
good megapixels (16MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW files
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Panasonic FS42
Street photography with Sony NEX-F3
47
screen is fixed
lack of image stabilization
sensor size is small (1/2.5")
no RAW support
low maximum ISO (1,000)
76
screen tilts
nice sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW files
lack of image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic FS42 Sports photography details
Sony NEX-F3 Sports photography details
16
painfully slow continuous shooting (2.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority mode
lack of image stabilization
low megapixels (10MP)
sensor size is small (1/2.5")
no phase detect autofocus
53
good megapixels (16MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
great battery (470 per charge)
slow continuous shooting (6.0 fps)
lack of image stabilization
lacks phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic FS42 Travel photography advice
Sony NEX-F3 Travel photography advice
51
flash built-in
lack of Timelapse function
low megapixels (10 megapixels)
screen isn't selfie friendly
wide angle not good (33mm)
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
69
great battery (470 per charge)
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
does not have Timelapse function
doesn't feature selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic FS42 as a Landscape photography camera
Sony NEX-F3 as a Landscape photography camera
22
no manual focus
cannot swap lenses (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not good (33mm)
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
screen is small (2.5")
lack of manual exposure
lack of image stabilization
low megapixels (10MP)
sensor size is small (1/2.5")
low maximum ISO (1,000)
no RAW support
lack of Timelapse function
70
focusing manually
interchangeable lenses (Sony E mount)
screen size is good (3")
good megapixels (16MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW files
great battery (470 CIPA)
lack of image stabilization
does not have Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Panasonic FS42
Vlogging with Sony NEX-F3
22
wide angle not good (33mm)
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
screen isn't selfie friendly
lack of image stabilization
low video resolution (640 x 480 pixels)
lack of microphone jack
27
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
doesn't feature selfie friendly display
lack of image stabilization
does not have external microphone jack
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Panasonic FS42 vs Sony NEX-F3 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic FS42 and Sony NEX-F3
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS42Sony Alpha NEX-F3
General Information
Manufacturer Panasonic Sony
Model Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS42 Sony Alpha NEX-F3
Category Ultracompact Entry-Level Mirrorless
Launched 2009-04-17 2012-08-16
Body design Ultracompact Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Chip - Bionz
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.5" APS-C
Sensor measurements 5.744 x 4.308mm 23.4 x 15.6mm
Sensor surface area 24.7mm² 365.0mm²
Sensor resolution 10MP 16MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 3648 x 2736 4912 x 3264
Max native ISO 1000 16000
Max boosted ISO 6400 -
Minimum native ISO 80 200
RAW files
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Number of focus points - 25
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens Sony E
Lens focal range 33-132mm (4.0x) -
Highest aperture f/2.8-5.9 -
Macro focus distance 5cm -
Amount of lenses - 121
Crop factor 6.3 1.5
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Tilting
Display sizing 2.5 inch 3 inch
Display resolution 230k dot 920k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Display tech - TFT Xtra Fine LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Electronic (optional)
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60s 30s
Maximum shutter speed 1/2000s 1/4000s
Continuous shooting speed 2.0 frames per sec 6.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation - Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 6.30 m -
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Maximum flash sync - 1/160s
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60, 24 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 640x480 1920x1080
Video file format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD
Microphone input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless None Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 132 gr (0.29 lb) 314 gr (0.69 lb)
Dimensions 98 x 55 x 22mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 0.9") 117 x 67 x 42mm (4.6" x 2.6" x 1.7")
DXO scores
DXO All around score not tested 73
DXO Color Depth score not tested 22.7
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 12.3
DXO Low light score not tested 1114
Other
Battery life - 470 images
Battery format - Battery Pack
Battery model - NPFW50
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10 sec 3 or 5 images)
Time lapse feature
Storage media SD/SDHC card, Internal SD/ SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots One One
Cost at launch $580 $470