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Panasonic FS42 vs Sony HX400V

Portability
95
Imaging
33
Features
10
Overall
23
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS42 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX400V front
Portability
62
Imaging
45
Features
60
Overall
51

Panasonic FS42 vs Sony HX400V Key Specs

Panasonic FS42
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - 1/2.5" Sensor
  • 2.5" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 1000 (Expand to 6400)
  • 640 x 480 video
  • 33-132mm (F2.8-5.9) lens
  • 132g - 98 x 55 x 22mm
  • Introduced April 2009
Sony HX400V
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 80 - 12800
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-1200mm (F2.8-6.3) lens
  • 660g - 130 x 93 x 103mm
  • Announced February 2014
  • Earlier Model is Sony HX300
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Panasonic FS42 vs Sony HX400V Overview

Below, we will be analyzing the Panasonic FS42 vs Sony HX400V, former being a Ultracompact while the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom by rivals Panasonic and Sony. There exists a large gap among the sensor resolutions of the FS42 (10MP) and HX400V (20MP) and the FS42 (1/2.5") and HX400V (1/2.3") enjoy different sensor dimensions.

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The FS42 was released 5 years prior to the HX400V and that is a fairly serious difference as far as camera technology is concerned. Both cameras come with different body type with the Panasonic FS42 being a Ultracompact camera and the Sony HX400V being a SLR-like (bridge) camera.

Before delving straight into a in-depth comparison, below is a quick introduction of how the FS42 scores vs the HX400V in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic FS42 over the Sony HX400V

 FS42 HX400V 

Reasons to pick Sony HX400V over the Panasonic FS42

 HX400V FS42 
AnnouncedFebruary 2014April 2009More recent by 58 months
Manually focus Very exact focusing
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen dimension3"2.5"Bigger screen (+0.5")
Screen resolution921k230kCrisper screen (+691k dot)

Common features in the Panasonic FS42 and Sony HX400V

 FS42 HX400V 
Selfie screen Lack of selfie screen
Touch screen Lack of Touch screen

Panasonic FS42 vs Sony HX400V Physical Comparison

For anybody who is planning to lug around your camera regularly, you have to think about its weight and size. The Panasonic FS42 features exterior dimensions of 98mm x 55mm x 22mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 0.9") and a weight of 132 grams (0.29 lbs) while the Sony HX400V has specifications of 130mm x 93mm x 103mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 4.1") with a weight of 660 grams (1.46 lbs).

Look at the Panasonic FS42 vs Sony HX400V in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an ILC will differ depending on the lens you use at that time. Here is the front view over all size comparison of the FS42 against the HX400V.

Panasonic FS42 vs Sony HX400V size comparison

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the FS42 and HX400V is 95 and 62 respectively.

Panasonic FS42 vs Sony HX400V top view buttons comparison

Panasonic FS42 vs Sony HX400V Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, it's difficult to picture the gap in sensor measurements only by checking out specifications. The graphic here might provide you a better sense of the sensor dimensions in the FS42 and HX400V.

Plainly, each of the cameras posses different resolutions and different sensor measurements. The FS42 because of its smaller sensor is going to make shooting bokeh more challenging and the Sony HX400V will provide greater detail as a result of its extra 10 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also make it easier to crop pictures somewhat more aggressively. The older FS42 will be disadvantaged in sensor innovation.

Panasonic FS42 vs Sony HX400V sensor size comparison

Panasonic FS42 vs Sony HX400V Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic FS42 vs Sony HX400V Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic FS42 as a Portrait photography camera
Sony HX400V as a Portrait photography camera
19
lack of manual focus
no manual mode
external flash not possible
sensor resolution low (10MP)
small sensor size (1/2.5")
doesn't have RAW support
51
you can focus manually
good resolution (20MP)
provides face detection autofocus
sensor is small (1/2.3")
no RAW files
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Street Comparison

Panasonic FS42 Street photography features
Sony HX400V Street photography features
47
screen does not articulate
lack of image stabilization
small sensor size (1/2.5")
doesn't have RAW support
low max ISO (1,000)
50
screen tilts
has image stabilization (Optical)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
no RAW files
heavier than others in class (660 grams)
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic FS42 Sports photography info
Sony HX400V Sports photography info
16
slow continuous shooting (2.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority mode
lack of image stabilization
sensor resolution low (10 megapixels)
small sensor size (1/2.5")
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
55
great zoom range (24-1200mm 50.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
good resolution (20 megapixels)
provides tracking autofocus
sensor is small (1/2.3")
no phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic FS42 as a Travel photography camera
Sony HX400V as a Travel photography camera
51
flash built-in
does not have Timelapse function
sensor resolution low (10MP)
doesn't contain selfie friendly display
wide angle not fantastic (33mm)
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
53
good resolution (20MP)
flash built-in
fairly wide (24mm)
great reach (1200mm)
missing Time Lapse mode
heavier than others in class (660 grams)
display is not selfie friendly
slow max aperture (f2.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic FS42 Landscape photography features
Sony HX400V Landscape photography features
22
lack of manual focus
can't swap lens (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not fantastic (33mm)
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
tiny screen (2.5 inches)
no manual mode
lack of image stabilization
sensor resolution low (10 megapixels)
small sensor size (1/2.5")
low max ISO (1,000)
doesn't have RAW support
does not have Timelapse function
49
you can focus manually
fairly wide (24mm)
screen size is good (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Optical)
good resolution (20 megapixels)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f2.8)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
no RAW files
missing Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic FS42 Vlogging information
Sony HX400V Vlogging information
22
wide angle not fantastic (33mm)
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
doesn't contain selfie friendly display
lack of image stabilization
video resolution low (640 x 480 pixels)
does not have microphone port
29
fairly wide (24mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
provides face detection autofocus
video res high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
comes with external mic socket
slow max aperture (f2.8)
display is not selfie friendly
heavier than others in class (660 grams)
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Panasonic FS42 vs Sony HX400V Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic FS42 and Sony HX400V
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS42Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX400V
General Information
Brand Panasonic Sony
Model type Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS42 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX400V
Category Ultracompact Small Sensor Superzoom
Introduced 2009-04-17 2014-02-12
Physical type Ultracompact SLR-like (bridge)
Sensor Information
Chip - Bionz X
Sensor type CCD BSI-CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.5" 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 5.744 x 4.308mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 24.7mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 10MP 20MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 3648 x 2736 5184 x 3888
Max native ISO 1000 12800
Max boosted ISO 6400 -
Lowest native ISO 80 80
RAW format
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Total focus points - 9
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 33-132mm (4.0x) 24-1200mm (50.0x)
Maximal aperture f/2.8-5.9 f/2.8-6.3
Macro focusing range 5cm 1cm
Focal length multiplier 6.3 5.8
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Tilting
Display diagonal 2.5 inch 3 inch
Resolution of display 230 thousand dots 921 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Electronic
Viewfinder coverage - 100%
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60 seconds 30 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shooting rate 2.0 frames per sec 10.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation - Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 6.30 m 8.50 m (ISO Auto)
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Sync Flash Off / Autoflash / Fill-flash / Slow Sync. / Advanced Flash / Rear Sync. / Wireless (with optional compliant flash)
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
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) 1920 x 1080 (60p, 60i, 24p), 1440 x 1080 (30p), 640 x 480 (30p)
Max video resolution 640x480 1920x1080
Video data format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD
Mic port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless None Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None BuiltIn
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 132 grams (0.29 pounds) 660 grams (1.46 pounds)
Dimensions 98 x 55 x 22mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 0.9") 130 x 93 x 103mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 4.1")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth rating not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested not tested
DXO Low light rating not tested not tested
Other
Battery life - 300 pictures
Battery type - Battery Pack
Battery ID - NP-BX1
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec, portrait)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC card, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick Duo/Memory Stick Pro Duo, Memory Stick Pro-HG Duo
Card slots One One
Price at launch $580 $448