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Panasonic FS42 vs Sony A6500

Portability
95
Imaging
33
Features
10
Overall
23
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS42 front
 
Sony Alpha a6500 front
Portability
81
Imaging
67
Features
85
Overall
74

Panasonic FS42 vs Sony A6500 Key Specs

Panasonic FS42
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - 1/2.5" Sensor
  • 2.5" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 1000 (Expand to 6400)
  • 640 x 480 video
  • 33-132mm (F2.8-5.9) lens
  • 132g - 98 x 55 x 22mm
  • Released April 2009
Sony A6500
(Full Review)
  • 24MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 25600 (Boost to 51200)
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 453g - 120 x 67 x 53mm
  • Announced October 2016
  • Succeeded the Sony A6300
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Panasonic FS42 vs Sony A6500 Overview

Let's take a more detailed look at the Panasonic FS42 and Sony A6500, one being a Ultracompact and the other is a Advanced Mirrorless by competitors Panasonic and Sony. There exists a big gap among the image resolutions of the FS42 (10MP) and A6500 (24MP) and the FS42 (1/2.5") and A6500 (APS-C) have different sensor dimensions.

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The FS42 was announced 8 years prior to the A6500 and that is a fairly big gap as far as camera technology is concerned. Each of the cameras have different body design with the Panasonic FS42 being a Ultracompact camera and the Sony A6500 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before getting straight to a comprehensive comparison, here is a brief summation of how the FS42 scores against the A6500 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic FS42 over the Sony A6500

 FS42 A6500 

Reasons to pick Sony A6500 over the Panasonic FS42

 A6500 FS42 
AnnouncedOctober 2016April 2009Fresher by 90 months
Manually focus Dial accurate focus
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display dimensions3"2.5"Larger display (+0.5")
Display resolution922k230kSharper display (+692k dot)
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Common features in the Panasonic FS42 and Sony A6500

 FS42 A6500 
Selfie screen Neither provides selfie screen

Panasonic FS42 vs Sony A6500 Physical Comparison

If you're looking to carry your camera regularly, you'll have to think about its weight and size. The Panasonic FS42 provides outside dimensions of 98mm x 55mm x 22mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 0.9") with a weight of 132 grams (0.29 lbs) and the Sony A6500 has specifications of 120mm x 67mm x 53mm (4.7" x 2.6" x 2.1") having a weight of 453 grams (1.00 lbs).

Contrast the Panasonic FS42 and Sony A6500 in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change dependant on the lens you are utilising during that time. Here is a front view scale comparison of the FS42 and the A6500.

Panasonic FS42 vs Sony A6500 size comparison

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the FS42 and A6500 is 95 and 81 respectively.

Panasonic FS42 vs Sony A6500 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic FS42 vs Sony A6500 Sensor Comparison

Typically, it's hard to picture the gap in sensor sizing only by researching a spec sheet. The graphic underneath will help offer you a better sense of the sensor sizes in the FS42 and A6500.

Clearly, both cameras have different resolutions and different sensor sizing. The FS42 having a smaller sensor is going to make getting bokeh tougher and the Sony A6500 will result in greater detail with its extra 14MP. Greater resolution will also let you crop photos a bit more aggressively. The older FS42 will be behind in sensor innovation.

Panasonic FS42 vs Sony A6500 sensor size comparison

Panasonic FS42 vs Sony A6500 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic FS42 vs Sony A6500 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Panasonic FS42
Portrait photography with Sony A6500
19
no manual focus
manual mode not available
no external flash support
low MP (10 megapixels)
sensor is tiny (1/2.5")
lack of RAW format
80
you can focus manually
decent megapixels (24 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
supports face detect focus
delivers RAW formats
Photography Glossary

Street Comparison

Panasonic FS42 Street photography information
Sony A6500 Street photography information
47
no articulating screen
lack of image stabilization
sensor is tiny (1/2.5")
lack of RAW format
low maximum ISO (1,000)
85
screen tilts up and down
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
comes with touch to focus
weather sealing
good high ISO (25,600)
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic FS42 as a Sports photography camera
Sony A6500 as a Sports photography camera
16
slow continuous shooting (2.0 frames per second)
lack of shutter priority mode
lack of image stabilization
low MP (10MP)
sensor is tiny (1/2.5")
lack of phase detect autofocus
77
silent shutter (1/32,000s)
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
decent megapixels (24 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
supports tracking focus
weather sealing
comes with phase detect auto focus
bad battery life (350 per charge)
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic FS42 Travel photography information
Sony A6500 Travel photography information
51
flash built-in
lack of Time Lapse recording
low MP (10 megapixels)
doesn't posses selfie friendly screen
wide angle not the best (33mm)
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
74
weather sealing
has bluetooth
comes with touch to focus
decent megapixels (24 megapixels)
flash built-in
bad battery life (350 shots)
does not feature selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Panasonic FS42
Landscape photography with Sony A6500
22
no manual focus
can't swap lenses (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not the best (33mm)
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
small screen (2.5 inch)
manual mode not available
lack of image stabilization
low MP (10MP)
sensor is tiny (1/2.5")
low maximum ISO (1,000)
lack of RAW format
lack of Time Lapse recording
79
you can focus manually
change lenses (Sony E mount)
screen is a decent size (3 inches)
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
decent megapixels (24 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
good high ISO (25,600)
delivers RAW formats
weather sealing
bad battery life (350 per charge)
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic FS42 Vlogging info
Sony A6500 Vlogging info
22
wide angle not the best (33mm)
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
doesn't posses selfie friendly screen
lack of image stabilization
video resolution low (640 x 480 pxls)
lack of external mic socket
39
has touchscreen
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
supports face detect focus
high video quality (3840 x 2160 pxls)
does have mic jack
does not feature selfie friendly screen
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Panasonic FS42 vs Sony A6500 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic FS42 and Sony A6500
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS42Sony Alpha a6500
General Information
Make Panasonic Sony
Model type Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS42 Sony Alpha a6500
Class Ultracompact Advanced Mirrorless
Released 2009-04-17 2016-10-06
Body design Ultracompact Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Processor - Bionz X
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.5" APS-C
Sensor dimensions 5.744 x 4.308mm 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor area 24.7mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 10 megapixel 24 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 3648 x 2736 6000 x 4000
Max native ISO 1000 25600
Max enhanced ISO 6400 51200
Lowest native ISO 80 100
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Continuous AF
Single AF
Tracking AF
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Total focus points - 425
Lens
Lens support fixed lens Sony E
Lens zoom range 33-132mm (4.0x) -
Maximum aperture f/2.8-5.9 -
Macro focusing distance 5cm -
Available lenses - 121
Crop factor 6.3 1.5
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Tilting
Screen size 2.5 inches 3 inches
Screen resolution 230 thousand dot 922 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 2,359 thousand dot
Viewfinder coverage - 100%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.7x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60 secs 30 secs
Fastest shutter speed 1/2000 secs 1/4000 secs
Fastest silent shutter speed - 1/32000 secs
Continuous shutter speed 2.0 frames per second 11.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation - Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 6.30 m 6.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Sync Flash off, Autoflash, Fill-flash, Rear Sync., Slow Sync., Red-eye reduction (On/Off selectable), Hi-speed sync, Wireless
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Fastest flash sync - 1/160 secs
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) 3840 x 2160 @ 30p / 100 Mbps, XAVC S, MP4, H.264, Linear PCM
Max video resolution 640x480 3840x2160
Video data format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD, XAVC S
Mic input
Headphone input
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
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 132g (0.29 lbs) 453g (1.00 lbs)
Physical dimensions 98 x 55 x 22mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 0.9") 120 x 67 x 53mm (4.7" x 2.6" x 2.1")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating not tested 85
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 24.5
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 13.7
DXO Low light rating not tested 1405
Other
Battery life - 350 photographs
Type of battery - Battery Pack
Battery ID - NP-FW50
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes
Time lapse recording With downloadable app
Type of storage SD/SDHC card, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC + Memory Stick Pro Duo
Storage slots 1 1
Launch pricing $580 $1,298