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Panasonic FS42 vs Sony RX100 III

Portability
95
Imaging
33
Features
10
Overall
23
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS42 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 III front
Portability
89
Imaging
51
Features
77
Overall
61

Panasonic FS42 vs Sony RX100 III 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
  • Announced April 2009
Sony RX100 III
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - 1" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 125 - 12800
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-70mm (F1.8-2.8) lens
  • 290g - 102 x 58 x 41mm
  • Introduced May 2014
  • Previous Model is Sony RX100 II
  • Updated by Sony RX100 IV
Photography Glossary

Panasonic FS42 vs Sony RX100 III Overview

Here, we are matching up the Panasonic FS42 and Sony RX100 III, one is a Ultracompact and the other is a Large Sensor Compact by rivals Panasonic and Sony. There exists a crucial gap between the resolutions of the FS42 (10MP) and RX100 III (20MP) and the FS42 (1/2.5") and RX100 III (1") provide totally different sensor sizing.

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The FS42 was manufactured 6 years before the RX100 III which is quite a serious gap as far as technology is concerned. The two cameras feature different body design with the Panasonic FS42 being a Ultracompact camera and the Sony RX100 III being a Large Sensor Compact camera.

Before we go right into a complete comparison, here is a simple highlight of how the FS42 grades versus the RX100 III with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic FS42 over the Sony RX100 III

 FS42 RX100 III 

Reasons to pick Sony RX100 III over the Panasonic FS42

 RX100 III FS42 
IntroducedMay 2014April 2009Newer by 61 months
Focus manually Dial accurate focusing
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display size3"2.5"Larger display (+0.5")
Display resolution1229k230kSharper display (+999k dot)
Selfie screen Take selfies

Common features in the Panasonic FS42 and Sony RX100 III

 FS42 RX100 III 
Touch display Lacking Touch display

Panasonic FS42 vs Sony RX100 III Physical Comparison

If you're intending to travel with your camera frequently, you have to take into account its weight and size. The Panasonic FS42 comes with 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 RX100 III has specifications of 102mm x 58mm x 41mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.6") and a weight of 290 grams (0.64 lbs).

Take a look at the Panasonic FS42 and Sony RX100 III in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary depending on the lens you are utilizing at that moment. The following is a front view size comparison of the FS42 against the RX100 III.

Panasonic FS42 vs Sony RX100 III size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the FS42 and RX100 III is 95 and 89 respectively.

Panasonic FS42 vs Sony RX100 III top view buttons comparison

Panasonic FS42 vs Sony RX100 III Sensor Comparison

Normally, it is hard to see the difference between sensor dimensions only by checking technical specs. The picture below will help provide you a more clear sense of the sensor sizes in the FS42 and RX100 III.

As you can tell, both of those cameras come with different megapixels and different sensor dimensions. The FS42 featuring a tinier sensor will make shooting shallow DOF more difficult and the Sony RX100 III will resolve greater detail due to its extra 10MP. Greater resolution will also let you crop images a good deal more aggressively. The more aged FS42 is going to be disadvantaged in sensor innovation.

Panasonic FS42 vs Sony RX100 III sensor size comparison

Panasonic FS42 vs Sony RX100 III Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic FS42 vs Sony RX100 III Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Panasonic FS42
Portrait photography with Sony RX100 III
19
lack of manual focus
manual mode not available
no external flash support
MP count low (10 megapixels)
small sensor size (1/2.5")
doesn't have RAW files
64
focusing manually
great flash sync speed (1/2,000 seconds)
good megapixels (20MP)
good sensor size (1")
has face detect focus
exports RAW files
no external flash support
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Street Comparison

Panasonic FS42 as a Street photography camera
Sony RX100 III as a Street photography camera
47
screen is fixed
lack of image stabilization
small sensor size (1/2.5")
doesn't have RAW files
low max ISO (1,000)
85
tilting screen
image stabilization (Optical)
good sensor size (1")
exports RAW files
lighter than competitors in class (290g)
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic FS42 Sports photography advice
Sony RX100 III Sports photography advice
16
very slow continuous shooting (2.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority
lack of image stabilization
MP count low (10MP)
small sensor size (1/2.5")
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
65
image stabilization (Optical)
good megapixels (20 megapixels)
good sensor size (1")
has tracking focus
does not have phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic FS42 Travel photography factors
Sony RX100 III Travel photography factors
51
has built in flash
lack of Timelapse recording
MP count low (10 megapixels)
doesn't feature selfie friendly display
wide angle not good (33mm)
slow max aperture (f2.8)
85
lighter than competitors in class (290g)
good megapixels (20MP)
flash built-in
selfie friendly display
fairly wide (24mm)
great max aperture (f1.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic FS42 as a Landscape photography camera
Sony RX100 III as a Landscape photography camera
22
lack of manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not good (33mm)
slow max aperture (f2.8)
screen is somewhat small (2.5 inches)
manual mode not available
lack of image stabilization
MP count low (10MP)
small sensor size (1/2.5")
low max ISO (1,000)
doesn't have RAW files
lack of Timelapse recording
73
focusing manually
fairly wide (24mm)
great max aperture (f1.8)
screen is a good size (3 inch)
image stabilization (Optical)
good megapixels (20MP)
good sensor size (1")
exports RAW files
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Panasonic FS42
Vlogging with Sony RX100 III
22
wide angle not good (33mm)
slow max aperture (f2.8)
doesn't feature selfie friendly display
lack of image stabilization
low res video (640 x 480 pixels)
lack of microphone jack
80
fairly wide (24mm)
great max aperture (f1.8)
selfie friendly display
image stabilization (Optical)
has face detect focus
video res high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
lighter than competitors in class (290g)
lack of mic support
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Panasonic FS42 vs Sony RX100 III Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic FS42 and Sony RX100 III
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS42Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 III
General Information
Manufacturer Panasonic Sony
Model Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS42 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 III
Category Ultracompact Large Sensor Compact
Announced 2009-04-17 2014-05-15
Physical type Ultracompact Large Sensor Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip - Bionz X
Sensor type CCD BSI-CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.5" 1"
Sensor dimensions 5.744 x 4.308mm 13.2 x 8.8mm
Sensor area 24.7mm² 116.2mm²
Sensor resolution 10 megapixels 20 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 3648 x 2736 5472 x 3648
Maximum native ISO 1000 12800
Maximum boosted ISO 6400 -
Min native ISO 80 125
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch to focus
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Number of focus points - 25
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 33-132mm (4.0x) 24-70mm (2.9x)
Highest aperture f/2.8-5.9 f/1.8-2.8
Macro focus range 5cm 5cm
Crop factor 6.3 2.7
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Tilting
Display diagonal 2.5" 3"
Display resolution 230 thousand dots 1,229 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 1,440 thousand dots
Viewfinder coverage - 100%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.59x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60s 30s
Highest shutter speed 1/2000s 1/2000s
Continuous shooting rate 2.0fps 10.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation - Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 6.30 m -
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Sync -
External flash
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Highest flash synchronize - 1/2000s
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), 1280 x 720 (60p/30p/24p/120p), 1440 x 1080 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 640x480 1920x1080
Video data format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD, XAVC S
Mic support
Headphone support
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 sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 132 gr (0.29 lb) 290 gr (0.64 lb)
Physical dimensions 98 x 55 x 22mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 0.9") 102 x 58 x 41mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.6")
DXO scores
DXO All around score not tested 67
DXO Color Depth score not tested 22.4
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 12.3
DXO Low light score not tested 495
Other
Battery life - 320 photographs
Type of battery - Battery Pack
Battery model - NP-BX1
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec, self-portrait, continuous)
Time lapse shooting With downloadable app
Type of storage SD/SDHC card, Internal SD/ SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Card slots Single Single
Pricing at launch $580 $748