Panasonic FS42 vs Sony W530
95 Imaging
33 Features
10 Overall
23


96 Imaging
37 Features
21 Overall
30
Panasonic FS42 vs Sony W530 Key Specs
(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
(Full Review)
- 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
- 2.7" Fixed Display
- ISO 80 - 3200
- 640 x 480 video
- 26-104mm (F2.7-5.7) lens
- 113g - 93 x 53 x 19mm
- Launched January 2011

Panasonic FS42 vs Sony W530 Overview
Let's examine more closely at the Panasonic FS42 and Sony W530, both Ultracompact digital cameras by competitors Panasonic and Sony. There is a sizeable difference between the sensor resolutions of the FS42 (10MP) and W530 (14MP) and the FS42 (1/2.5") and W530 (1/2.3") come with totally different sensor sizes.

The FS42 was launched 20 months earlier than the W530 making the cameras a generation away from each other. Each of the cameras offer the identical body type (Ultracompact).
Before delving through a complete comparison, below is a brief summation of how the FS42 matches up versus the W530 for portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

Panasonic FS42 vs Sony W530 Gallery
Following is a sample of the gallery pictures for Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS42 and Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W530. The complete galleries are available at Panasonic FS42 Gallery and Sony W530 Gallery.
Reasons to pick Panasonic FS42 over the Sony W530
FS42 | W530 |
---|
Reasons to pick Sony W530 over the Panasonic FS42
W530 | FS42 | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Launched | January 2011 | ![]() | April 2009 | Newer by 20 months |
Display sizing | 2.7" | ![]() | 2.5" | Larger display (+0.2") |
Common features in the Panasonic FS42 and Sony W530
FS42 | W530 | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Manual focus | ![]() | Lack of manual focus | ||
Display type | Fixed | ![]() | Fixed | Fixed display |
Display resolution | 230k | ![]() | 230k | Equal display resolution |
Selfie screen | ![]() | Lacking selfie screen | ||
Touch friendly display | ![]() | Lacking Touch friendly display |
Panasonic FS42 vs Sony W530 Physical Comparison
For anyone who is intending to travel with your camera regularly, you are going to need to factor in its weight and size. The Panasonic FS42 has got external dimensions of 98mm x 55mm x 22mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 0.9") having a weight of 132 grams (0.29 lbs) and the Sony W530 has specifications of 93mm x 53mm x 19mm (3.7" x 2.1" x 0.7") and a weight of 113 grams (0.25 lbs).
Check the Panasonic FS42 and Sony W530 in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool.
Don't forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ based on the lens you select at the time. Following is the front view proportions comparison of the FS42 compared to the W530.

Considering size and weight, the portability score of the FS42 and W530 is 95 and 96 respectively.

Panasonic FS42 vs Sony W530 Sensor Comparison
Generally, it's hard to see the contrast between sensor dimensions purely by reading through a spec sheet. The pic here will help provide you a greater sense of the sensor dimensions in the FS42 and W530.
As you can see, both cameras offer different resolutions and different sensor dimensions. The FS42 due to its tinier sensor will make getting shallow depth of field harder and the Sony W530 will give extra detail utilizing its extra 4 Megapixels. Greater resolution will help you crop images a little more aggressively. The more aged FS42 is going to be behind with regard to sensor technology.

Panasonic FS42 vs Sony W530 Screen and ViewFinder


Photography Type Scores
Portrait Comparison

Street Comparison

Sports Comparison

Travel Comparison

Landscape Comparison

Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic FS42 vs Sony W530 Specifications
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS42 | Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W530 | |
---|---|---|
General Information | ||
Company | Panasonic | Sony |
Model type | Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS42 | Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W530 |
Type | Ultracompact | Ultracompact |
Revealed | 2009-04-17 | 2011-01-06 |
Physical type | Ultracompact | Ultracompact |
Sensor Information | ||
Processor | - | BIONZ |
Sensor type | CCD | CCD |
Sensor size | 1/2.5" | 1/2.3" |
Sensor dimensions | 5.744 x 4.308mm | 6.17 x 4.55mm |
Sensor surface area | 24.7mm² | 28.1mm² |
Sensor resolution | 10 megapixels | 14 megapixels |
Anti alias filter | ||
Aspect ratio | 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 | 4:3 and 16:9 |
Full resolution | 3648 x 2736 | 4320 x 3240 |
Max native ISO | 1000 | 3200 |
Max boosted ISO | 6400 | - |
Lowest native ISO | 80 | 80 |
RAW pictures | ||
Autofocusing | ||
Focus manually | ||
Touch focus | ||
Continuous autofocus | ||
Autofocus single | ||
Tracking autofocus | ||
Selective autofocus | ||
Autofocus center weighted | ||
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) | 26-104mm (4.0x) |
Max aperture | f/2.8-5.9 | f/2.7-5.7 |
Macro focusing range | 5cm | 5cm |
Crop factor | 6.3 | 5.8 |
Screen | ||
Screen type | Fixed Type | Fixed Type |
Screen size | 2.5 inches | 2.7 inches |
Resolution of screen | 230 thousand dots | 230 thousand dots |
Selfie friendly | ||
Liveview | ||
Touch capability | ||
Screen technology | - | Clear Photo LCD |
Viewfinder Information | ||
Viewfinder | None | None |
Features | ||
Slowest shutter speed | 60 seconds | 2 seconds |
Maximum shutter speed | 1/2000 seconds | 1/1600 seconds |
Continuous shooting rate | 2.0fps | 1.0fps |
Shutter priority | ||
Aperture priority | ||
Manual mode | ||
Change white balance | ||
Image stabilization | ||
Built-in flash | ||
Flash distance | 6.30 m | 3.50 m |
Flash modes | Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Sync | Auto, On, Off, Slow Sync |
External flash | ||
AEB | ||
WB bracketing | ||
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) | 640 x 480 (30 fps) |
Max video resolution | 640x480 | 640x480 |
Video data format | Motion JPEG | Motion JPEG |
Mic support | ||
Headphone support | ||
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 sealing | ||
Water proofing | ||
Dust proofing | ||
Shock proofing | ||
Crush proofing | ||
Freeze proofing | ||
Weight | 132 gr (0.29 lb) | 113 gr (0.25 lb) |
Dimensions | 98 x 55 x 22mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 0.9") | 93 x 53 x 19mm (3.7" x 2.1" x 0.7") |
DXO scores | ||
DXO All around 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 or 10 sec, Portrait 1/2) |
Time lapse feature | ||
Type of storage | SD/SDHC card, Internal | SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick Duo/Memory Stick Pro Duo, Memory Stick Pro-HG Duo |
Card slots | 1 | 1 |
Price at launch | $580 | $269 |