Panasonic FS42 vs Sony W310

Its time to take a deeper look at the Panasonic FS42 versus Sony W310, both Ultracompact cameras by manufacturers Panasonic and Sony. The sensor resolution of the FS42 (10MP) and the W310 (12MP) is very close but the FS42 (1/2.5") and W310 (1/2.3") boast totally different sensor dimensions.

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The FS42 was announced 8 months before the W310 which means that they are of a similar generation. Both the cameras have the same body design (Ultracompact).

Before delving straight to a thorough comparison, here is a concise overview of how the FS42 grades against the W310 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

Following is a sample of the gallery pics for Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS42 and Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W310. The whole galleries are provided at Panasonic FS42 Gallery and Sony W310 Gallery.

If you are going to travel with your camera often, you will want to think about its weight and volume. The Panasonic FS42 enjoys physical measurements of 98mm x 55mm x 22mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 0.9") and a weight of 132 grams (0.29 lbs) and the Sony W310 has sizing of 95mm x 55mm x 19mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.7") accompanied by a weight of 137 grams (0.30 lbs).

Look at the Panasonic FS42 versus Sony W310 in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Remember that, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary depending on the lens you choose at that time. Here is a front view dimension comparison of the FS42 and the W310.

Using dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the FS42 and W310 is 95 and 96 respectively.

More often than not, it can be hard to visualise the gap in sensor dimensions only by looking through specs. The picture below may offer you a better sense of the sensor measurements in the FS42 and W310.

As you can plainly see, both the cameras provide different resolutions and different sensor dimensions. The FS42 using its smaller sensor will make shooting shallower DOF harder and the Sony W310 will provide you with more detail with its extra 2 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also enable you to crop photos more aggressively. The more aged FS42 will be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor tech.