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Panasonic FS42 vs Sony HX5

Portability
95
Imaging
33
Features
10
Overall
23
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS42 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX5 front
Portability
92
Imaging
33
Features
30
Overall
31

Panasonic FS42 vs Sony HX5 Key Specs

Panasonic FS42
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - 1/2.5" Sensor
  • 2.5" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 1000 (Raise to 6400)
  • 640 x 480 video
  • 33-132mm (F2.8-5.9) lens
  • 132g - 98 x 55 x 22mm
  • Released April 2009
Sony HX5
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - 1/2.4" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 125 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 25-250mm (F3.5-5.5) lens
  • 200g - 102 x 58 x 29mm
  • Launched June 2010
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Panasonic FS42 vs Sony HX5 Overview

Lets look more in depth at the Panasonic FS42 versus Sony HX5, one being a Ultracompact and the latter is a Small Sensor Compact by companies Panasonic and Sony. The resolution of the FS42 (10MP) and the HX5 (10MP) is pretty close but the FS42 (1/2.5") and HX5 (1/2.4") have totally different sensor measurements.

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The FS42 was revealed 14 months earlier than the HX5 which makes them a generation apart from each other. Each of the cameras feature different body design with the Panasonic FS42 being a Ultracompact camera and the Sony HX5 being a Compact camera.

Before delving into a detailed comparison, here is a simple synopsis of how the FS42 scores vs the HX5 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic FS42 over the Sony HX5

 FS42 HX5 

Reasons to pick Sony HX5 over the Panasonic FS42

 HX5 FS42 
LaunchedJune 2010April 2009More recent by 14 months
Screen size3"2.5"Bigger screen (+0.5")

Common features in the Panasonic FS42 and Sony HX5

 FS42 HX5 
Manually focus Lack of manual focusing
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen resolution230k230kSame screen resolution
Selfie screen Neither provides selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Neither provides Touch friendly screen

Panasonic FS42 vs Sony HX5 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is aiming to lug around your camera often, you will need to think about its weight and proportions. The Panasonic FS42 provides physical measurements of 98mm x 55mm x 22mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 0.9") accompanied by a weight of 132 grams (0.29 lbs) and the Sony HX5 has measurements of 102mm x 58mm x 29mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.1") with a weight of 200 grams (0.44 lbs).

See the Panasonic FS42 versus Sony HX5 in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ depending on the lens you are utilizing at that time. Below is a front view over all size comparison of the FS42 compared to the HX5.

Panasonic FS42 vs Sony HX5 size comparison

Taking into account size and weight, the portability grade of the FS42 and HX5 is 95 and 92 respectively.

Panasonic FS42 vs Sony HX5 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic FS42 vs Sony HX5 Sensor Comparison

Generally, its tough to visualise the contrast in sensor measurements purely by looking through specs. The graphic below will give you a better sense of the sensor measurements in the FS42 and HX5.

All in all, both the cameras feature the identical resolution albeit not the same sensor measurements. The FS42 features the smaller sensor which is going to make getting shallower DOF trickier. The older FS42 will be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor innovation.

Panasonic FS42 vs Sony HX5 sensor size comparison

Panasonic FS42 vs Sony HX5 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic FS42 vs Sony HX5 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic FS42 as a Portrait photography camera
Sony HX5 as a Portrait photography camera
19
lack of manual focus
manual mode not available
can't use external flash
sensor resolution not great (10 megapixels)
tiny sensor size (1/2.5")
has no RAW support
19
manual focus not available
external flash not possible
low resolution (10 megapixels)
sensor is tiny (1/2.4")
has no RAW format
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Street Comparison

Panasonic FS42 Street photography highlights
Sony HX5 Street photography highlights
47
fixed screen
does not have image stabilization
tiny sensor size (1/2.5")
has no RAW support
low max ISO (1,000)
55
has image stabilization (Optical)
screen does not articulate
sensor is tiny (1/2.4")
has no RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic FS42 as a Sports photography camera
Sony HX5 as a Sports photography camera
16
slow frames per second (2.0 fps)
no shutter priority mode
does not have image stabilization
sensor resolution not great (10 megapixels)
tiny sensor size (1/2.5")
has no phase detect autofocus
26
has image stabilization (Optical)
no shutter priority
low resolution (10MP)
sensor is tiny (1/2.4")
has no phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Panasonic FS42
Travel photography with Sony HX5
51
built-in flash
lack of Time Lapse mode
sensor resolution not great (10 megapixels)
doesn't contain selfie friendly screen
wide angle not the best (33mm)
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
60
flash built-in
quite wide (25mm)
long zoom (250mm)
does not have Time Lapse mode
low resolution (10 megapixels)
display isn't selfie friendly
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Panasonic FS42
Landscape photography with Sony HX5
22
lack of manual focus
can't switch lenses (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not the best (33mm)
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
screen is small (2.5 inches)
manual mode not available
does not have image stabilization
sensor resolution not great (10MP)
tiny sensor size (1/2.5")
low max ISO (1,000)
has no RAW support
lack of Time Lapse mode
37
quite wide (25mm)
good sized screen (3")
has image stabilization (Optical)
manual focus not available
cannot switch lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
low resolution (10MP)
sensor is tiny (1/2.4")
has no RAW format
does not have Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic FS42 Vlogging factors
Sony HX5 Vlogging factors
22
wide angle not the best (33mm)
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
doesn't contain selfie friendly screen
does not have image stabilization
video res low (640 x 480 pxls)
lack of external mic port
31
quite wide (25mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
good video quality (1920 x 1080 pxls)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
display isn't selfie friendly
does not have external mic socket
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Panasonic FS42 vs Sony HX5 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic FS42 and Sony HX5
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS42Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX5
General Information
Make Panasonic Sony
Model Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS42 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX5
Category Ultracompact Small Sensor Compact
Released 2009-04-17 2010-06-16
Physical type Ultracompact Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by - Bionz
Sensor type CCD BSI-CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.5" 1/2.4"
Sensor dimensions 5.744 x 4.308mm 6.104 x 4.578mm
Sensor surface area 24.7mm² 27.9mm²
Sensor resolution 10 megapixel 10 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3 and 16:9
Full resolution 3648 x 2736 3456 x 2592
Max native ISO 1000 3200
Max boosted ISO 6400 -
Minimum native ISO 80 125
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Continuous AF
AF single
Tracking AF
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Number of focus points - 9
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 33-132mm (4.0x) 25-250mm (10.0x)
Highest aperture f/2.8-5.9 f/3.5-5.5
Macro focus range 5cm 5cm
Crop factor 6.3 5.9
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display diagonal 2.5 inches 3 inches
Display resolution 230 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60 secs 30 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/2000 secs 1/1600 secs
Continuous shooting rate 2.0fps 10.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation - Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 6.30 m 3.80 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Slow syncro
External flash
AEB
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions 848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1440 x 1080 (60, 30fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 640x480 1920x1080
Video format Motion JPEG AVCHD
Mic port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None BuiltIn
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 132 grams (0.29 lb) 200 grams (0.44 lb)
Physical dimensions 98 x 55 x 22mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 0.9") 102 x 58 x 29mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.1")
DXO scores
DXO All around score not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth score not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range score not tested not tested
DXO Low light score not tested not tested
Other
Battery model - NP-BG1
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec, portrait1/portrait2)
Time lapse recording
Storage type SD/SDHC card, Internal Memory Stick Duo / Pro Duo/ PRO HG-Duo, optional SD/SDHC, Internal
Card slots One One
Retail pricing $580 $275