Clicky

Panasonic FS42 vs Sony RX1

Portability
95
Imaging
33
Features
10
Overall
23
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS42 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX1 front
Portability
79
Imaging
69
Features
57
Overall
64

Panasonic FS42 vs Sony RX1 Key Specs

Panasonic FS42
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - 1/2.5" Sensor
  • 2.5" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 1000 (Boost to 6400)
  • 640 x 480 video
  • 33-132mm (F2.8-5.9) lens
  • 132g - 98 x 55 x 22mm
  • Revealed April 2009
Sony RX1
(Full Review)
  • 24MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 25600
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 35mm (F2.0-22.0) lens
  • 482g - 113 x 65 x 70mm
  • Revealed February 2013
Japan-exclusive Leica Leitz Phone 3 features big sensor and new modes

Panasonic FS42 vs Sony RX1 Overview

Following is a in-depth assessment of the Panasonic FS42 vs Sony RX1, one is a Ultracompact and the other is a Large Sensor Compact by brands Panasonic and Sony. There exists a huge gap among the image resolutions of the FS42 (10MP) and RX1 (24MP) and the FS42 (1/2.5") and RX1 (Full frame) posses totally different sensor sizing.

Sora from OpenAI releases its first ever music video

The FS42 was launched 4 years before the RX1 which is a fairly significant gap as far as camera technology is concerned. Both of the cameras have different body design with the Panasonic FS42 being a Ultracompact camera and the Sony RX1 being a Large Sensor Compact camera.

Before delving straight to a thorough comparison, here is a short highlight of how the FS42 matches up vs the RX1 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Panasonic FS42 over the Sony RX1

 FS42 RX1 

Reasons to pick Sony RX1 over the Panasonic FS42

 RX1 FS42 
RevealedFebruary 2013April 2009More modern by 46 months
Focus manually Very accurate focusing
Display dimensions3"2.5"Larger display (+0.5")
Display resolution1229k230kCrisper display (+999k dot)

Common features in the Panasonic FS42 and Sony RX1

 FS42 RX1 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Neither provides selfie screen
Touch friendly display Lacking Touch friendly display

Panasonic FS42 vs Sony RX1 Physical Comparison

In case you're aiming to carry around your camera frequently, you're going to have to consider its weight and proportions. The Panasonic FS42 provides external measurements of 98mm x 55mm x 22mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 0.9") along with a weight of 132 grams (0.29 lbs) whilst the Sony RX1 has measurements of 113mm x 65mm x 70mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 2.8") and a weight of 482 grams (1.06 lbs).

Look at the Panasonic FS42 vs Sony RX1 in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change dependant on the lens you have chosen at the time. Here is a front view scale comparison of the FS42 vs the RX1.

Panasonic FS42 vs Sony RX1 size comparison

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability score of the FS42 and RX1 is 95 and 79 respectively.

Panasonic FS42 vs Sony RX1 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic FS42 vs Sony RX1 Sensor Comparison

Normally, it's tough to visualise the gap in sensor sizes simply by researching specs. The picture here might provide you a better sense of the sensor sizing in the FS42 and RX1.

All in all, the two cameras provide different megapixels and different sensor sizes. The FS42 due to its smaller sensor will make shooting shallow DOF tougher and the Sony RX1 will result in more detail utilizing its extra 14 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also help you crop photos more aggressively. The more aged FS42 will be behind when it comes to sensor tech.

Panasonic FS42 vs Sony RX1 sensor size comparison

Panasonic FS42 vs Sony RX1 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic FS42 vs Sony RX1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Apple Innovates by Creating Next-Level Optical Stabilization for iPhone

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic FS42 as a Portrait photography camera
Sony RX1 as a Portrait photography camera
19
lack of manual focus
lack of manual exposure
can't use external flash
MP count low (10MP)
very small sensor size (1/2.5")
no RAW support
81
you can focus manually
flash sync is higher than normal (1/4,000 seconds)
megapixel count decent (24 megapixels)
big sensor size (Full frame)
supports face detect autofocus
supports RAW formats
Pentax 17 Pre-Orders Outperform Expectations by a Landslide

Street Comparison

Panasonic FS42 Street photography information
Sony RX1 Street photography information
47
screen does not articulate
no image stabilization
very small sensor size (1/2.5")
no RAW support
low max ISO (1,000)
66
big sensor size (Full frame)
supports RAW formats
above average high ISO (25,600)
fixed screen
does not have image stabilization
more heavy than competition (482g)
Snapchat Adds Watermarks to AI-Created Images

Sports Comparison

Panasonic FS42 Sports photography features
Sony RX1 Sports photography features
16
max frames per second very slow (2.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority mode
no image stabilization
MP count low (10 megapixels)
very small sensor size (1/2.5")
no phase detect autofocus
53
megapixel count decent (24 megapixels)
big sensor size (Full frame)
supports tracking focus
can't change focal length (35mm)
low fps (5.0 frames/s)
does not have image stabilization
terrible battery pack (270 shots)
does not have phase detect autofocus
Samsung Releases Faster Versions of EVO MicroSD Cards

Travel Comparison

Panasonic FS42 as a Travel photography camera
Sony RX1 as a Travel photography camera
51
has built in flash
missing Time Lapse recording
MP count low (10 megapixels)
does not have selfie friendly screen
wide angle not good (33mm)
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
62
megapixel count decent (24MP)
built-in flash
fast maximum aperture (f2.0)
no Timelapse function
terrible battery pack (270 CIPA)
more heavy than competition (482 grams)
does not have a selfie friendly screen
President Biden pushes bill mandating TikTok sale or ban

Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Panasonic FS42
Landscape photography with Sony RX1
22
lack of manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not good (33mm)
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
tiny screen (2.5")
lack of manual exposure
no image stabilization
MP count low (10 megapixels)
very small sensor size (1/2.5")
low max ISO (1,000)
no RAW support
missing Time Lapse recording
64
you can focus manually
fast maximum aperture (f2.0)
screen size is decent (3")
megapixel count decent (24MP)
big sensor size (Full frame)
above average high ISO (25,600)
supports RAW formats
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
can't change focal length (35mm)
does not have image stabilization
terrible battery pack (270 shots)
no Timelapse function
Photobucket discusses licensing 13 billion images with AI firms

Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic FS42 Vlogging highlights
Sony RX1 Vlogging highlights
22
wide angle not good (33mm)
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
does not have selfie friendly screen
no image stabilization
video res low (640 x 480 pxls)
missing mic port
34
fast maximum aperture (f2.0)
supports face detect autofocus
video res high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
does have microphone socket
does not have a selfie friendly screen
does not have image stabilization
more heavy than competition (482 grams)
Meta to Introduce 'AI-Generated' Labels for Media starting next month

Panasonic FS42 vs Sony RX1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic FS42 and Sony RX1
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS42Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX1
General Information
Make Panasonic Sony
Model type Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS42 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX1
Category Ultracompact Large Sensor Compact
Revealed 2009-04-17 2013-02-19
Physical type Ultracompact Large Sensor Compact
Sensor Information
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.5" Full frame
Sensor measurements 5.744 x 4.308mm 35.8 x 23.8mm
Sensor surface area 24.7mm² 852.0mm²
Sensor resolution 10MP 24MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 3648 x 2736 6000 x 4000
Highest native ISO 1000 25600
Highest enhanced ISO 6400 -
Min native ISO 80 100
RAW support
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Total focus points - 25
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 33-132mm (4.0x) 35mm (1x)
Largest aperture f/2.8-5.9 f/2.0-22.0
Macro focusing range 5cm -
Focal length multiplier 6.3 1
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen sizing 2.5" 3"
Resolution of screen 230k dots 1,229k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Screen tech - Xtra FineTFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Electronic and Optical (optional)
Features
Min shutter speed 60 secs 30 secs
Max shutter speed 1/2000 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shutter rate 2.0fps 5.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 6.30 m 6.00 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Slow Sync
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Max flash synchronize - 1/4000 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) 1920 x 1080 (60, 50, 25, 24 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30, 25 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 25 fps)
Highest video resolution 640x480 1920x1080
Video format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD
Microphone port
Headphone port
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
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 132 gr (0.29 lbs) 482 gr (1.06 lbs)
Physical dimensions 98 x 55 x 22mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 0.9") 113 x 65 x 70mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 2.8")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating not tested 93
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 25.1
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 14.3
DXO Low light rating not tested 2534
Other
Battery life - 270 images
Battery type - Battery Pack
Battery ID - NP-BX1
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC card, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Duo/Pro Duo/Pro-HG Duo
Card slots Single Single
Launch pricing $580 $2,798