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Panasonic FS42 vs Sony W320

Portability
95
Imaging
33
Features
10
Overall
23
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS42 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W320 front
Portability
97
Imaging
37
Features
21
Overall
30

Panasonic FS42 vs Sony W320 Key Specs

Panasonic FS42
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - 1/2.5" Sensor
  • 2.5" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 1000 (Expand to 6400)
  • 640 x 480 video
  • 33-132mm (F2.8-5.9) lens
  • 132g - 98 x 55 x 22mm
  • Revealed April 2009
Sony W320
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • 640 x 480 video
  • 26-105mm (F2.7-5.7) lens
  • 117g - 93 x 52 x 17mm
  • Released January 2010
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Panasonic FS42 vs Sony W320 Overview

The following is a detailed overview of the Panasonic FS42 and Sony W320, both Ultracompact digital cameras by companies Panasonic and Sony. There exists a considerable gap between the image resolutions of the FS42 (10MP) and W320 (14MP) and the FS42 (1/2.5") and W320 (1/2.3") possess different sensor size.

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The FS42 was launched 8 months earlier than the W320 and they are of a similar age. Both of the cameras offer the identical body type (Ultracompact).

Before going straight into a comprehensive comparison, below is a concise summary of how the FS42 matches up vs the W320 for portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic FS42 over the Sony W320

 FS42 W320 

Reasons to pick Sony W320 over the Panasonic FS42

 W320 FS42 
ReleasedJanuary 2010April 2009Newer by 8 months
Display sizing2.7"2.5"Larger display (+0.2")

Common features in the Panasonic FS42 and Sony W320

 FS42 W320 
Manual focus Lack of manual focus
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display resolution230k230kExact same display resolution
Selfie screen Neither offers selfie screen
Touch display Neither offers Touch display

Panasonic FS42 vs Sony W320 Physical Comparison

For those who are looking to travel with your camera often, you have to factor in its weight and measurements. The Panasonic FS42 offers outside measurements 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 W320 has proportions of 93mm x 52mm x 17mm (3.7" x 2.0" x 0.7") and a weight of 117 grams (0.26 lbs).

See the Panasonic FS42 and Sony W320 in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an ILC will vary dependant on the lens you are working with at the time. Underneath is the front view size comparison of the FS42 against the W320.

Panasonic FS42 vs Sony W320 size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the FS42 and W320 is 95 and 97 respectively.

Panasonic FS42 vs Sony W320 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic FS42 vs Sony W320 Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, it is tough to visualize the contrast between sensor dimensions merely by reading technical specs. The picture here will help provide you a stronger sense of the sensor sizing in the FS42 and W320.

As you have seen, the 2 cameras enjoy different megapixel count and different sensor dimensions. The FS42 because of its tinier sensor is going to make getting shallow depth of field trickier and the Sony W320 will offer you extra detail utilizing its extra 4 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also allow you to crop pics far more aggressively. The more aged FS42 is going to be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor innovation.

Panasonic FS42 vs Sony W320 sensor size comparison

Panasonic FS42 vs Sony W320 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic FS42 vs Sony W320 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic FS42 as a Portrait photography camera
Sony W320 as a Portrait photography camera
19
focusing manually not possible
no manual control
external flash not possible
sensor resolution not great (10MP)
sensor is very small (1/2.5")
lacks RAW files
28
decent megapixels (14MP)
manual focus not available
manual mode not possible
no external flash support
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Panasonic FS42
Street photography with Sony W320
47
screen does not articulate
lack of image stabilization
sensor is very small (1/2.5")
lacks RAW files
max ISO too low (1,000)
49
no moving screen
does not have image stabilization
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic FS42 Sports photography factors
Sony W320 Sports photography factors
16
painfully slow continuous shooting (2.0 fps)
no shutter priority
lack of image stabilization
sensor resolution not great (10 megapixels)
sensor is very small (1/2.5")
lacks phase detect auto focus
26
decent megapixels (14MP)
low frames per second (1.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority mode
does not have image stabilization
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic FS42 Travel photography info
Sony W320 Travel photography info
51
built-in flash
missing Timelapse function
sensor resolution not great (10MP)
screen is not selfie friendly
wide angle not fantastic (33mm)
slow max aperture (f2.8)
66
decent megapixels (14 megapixels)
built-in flash
rather wide (26mm)
does not have Timelapse recording
screen is not selfie friendly
slow max aperture (f2.7)
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic FS42 Landscape photography information
Sony W320 Landscape photography information
22
focusing manually not possible
can't switch lenses (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not fantastic (33mm)
slow max aperture (f2.8)
small screen (2.5 inches)
no manual control
lack of image stabilization
sensor resolution not great (10MP)
sensor is very small (1/2.5")
max ISO too low (1,000)
lacks RAW files
missing Timelapse function
33
rather wide (26mm)
decent megapixels (14 megapixels)
manual focus not available
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f2.7)
small screen (2.7 inch)
manual mode not possible
does not have image stabilization
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
does not have Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic FS42 Vlogging info
Sony W320 Vlogging info
22
wide angle not fantastic (33mm)
slow max aperture (f2.8)
screen is not selfie friendly
lack of image stabilization
low quality video (640 x 480 pxls)
missing microphone support
26
rather wide (26mm)
slow max aperture (f2.7)
screen is not selfie friendly
does not have image stabilization
low quality video (640 x 480 pixels)
does not have microphone port
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Panasonic FS42 vs Sony W320 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic FS42 and Sony W320
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS42Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W320
General Information
Company Panasonic Sony
Model type Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS42 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W320
Class Ultracompact Ultracompact
Revealed 2009-04-17 2010-01-07
Body design Ultracompact Ultracompact
Sensor Information
Sensor type CCD CCD
Sensor size 1/2.5" 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 5.744 x 4.308mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 24.7mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 10 megapixel 14 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 3648 x 2736 4320 x 3240
Maximum native ISO 1000 3200
Maximum enhanced ISO 6400 -
Minimum native ISO 80 80
RAW data
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch focus
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Total focus points - 9
Lens
Lens support fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 33-132mm (4.0x) 26-105mm (4.0x)
Largest aperture f/2.8-5.9 f/2.7-5.7
Macro focusing range 5cm 4cm
Crop factor 6.3 5.8
Screen
Range of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen sizing 2.5" 2.7"
Resolution of screen 230k dot 230k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Min shutter speed 60 secs 1 secs
Max shutter speed 1/2000 secs 1/1600 secs
Continuous shutter speed 2.0 frames per sec 1.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 6.30 m 4.80 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Slow syncro
External flash
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions 848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps) 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 640x480 640x480
Video data format Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 132g (0.29 lb) 117g (0.26 lb)
Dimensions 98 x 55 x 22mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 0.9") 93 x 52 x 17mm (3.7" x 2.0" x 0.7")
DXO scores
DXO Overall 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 ID - NP-BN1
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 sec or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Storage media SD/SDHC card, Internal SD/SDHC, Memory Stick Duo / Pro Duo / Pro HG-Duo, Internal
Storage slots 1 1
Price at release $580 $269