Panasonic FS42 vs Sony WX5
95 Imaging
33 Features
10 Overall
23


95 Imaging
35 Features
29 Overall
32
Panasonic FS42 vs Sony WX5 Key Specs
(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
(Full Review)
- 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
- 2.8" Fixed Display
- ISO 125 - 3200
- Optical Image Stabilization
- 1920 x 1080 video
- 24-120mm (F2.4-5.9) lens
- 146g - 92 x 52 x 22mm
- Launched July 2010

Panasonic FS42 vs Sony WX5 Overview
Lets look a little more in depth at the Panasonic FS42 versus Sony WX5, former is a Ultracompact while the other is a Small Sensor Compact by brands Panasonic and Sony. The image resolution of the FS42 (10MP) and the WX5 (12MP) is very close but the FS42 (1/2.5") and WX5 (1/2.3") posses totally different sensor measurements.

The FS42 was introduced 14 months prior to the WX5 making them a generation away from one another. Both cameras have different body design with the Panasonic FS42 being a Ultracompact camera and the Sony WX5 being a Compact camera.
Before getting straight to a complete comparison, here is a short highlight of how the FS42 scores vs the WX5 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

Panasonic FS42 vs Sony WX5 Gallery
Following is a sample of the gallery pics for Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS42 & Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX5. The whole galleries are available at Panasonic FS42 Gallery & Sony WX5 Gallery.
Reasons to pick Panasonic FS42 over the Sony WX5
FS42 | WX5 |
---|
Reasons to pick Sony WX5 over the Panasonic FS42
WX5 | FS42 | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Launched | July 2010 | ![]() | April 2009 | More modern by 14 months |
Display dimensions | 2.8" | ![]() | 2.5" | Larger display (+0.3") |
Display resolution | 461k | ![]() | 230k | Crisper display (+231k dot) |
Common features in the Panasonic FS42 and Sony WX5
FS42 | WX5 | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Focus manually | ![]() | No manual focus | ||
Display type | Fixed | ![]() | Fixed | Fixed display |
Selfie screen | ![]() | Neither features selfie screen | ||
Touch display | ![]() | Neither features Touch display |
Panasonic FS42 vs Sony WX5 Physical Comparison
In case you're intending to carry around your camera regularly, you will need to factor its weight and proportions. The Panasonic FS42 enjoys outside measurements of 98mm x 55mm x 22mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 0.9") having a weight of 132 grams (0.29 lbs) while the Sony WX5 has measurements of 92mm x 52mm x 22mm (3.6" x 2.0" x 0.9") accompanied by a weight of 146 grams (0.32 lbs).
Check the Panasonic FS42 versus Sony WX5 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool.
Take into consideration, the weight of an ILC will change based on the lens you use at that moment. Below is a front view dimensions comparison of the FS42 versus the WX5.

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the FS42 and WX5 is 95 and 95 respectively.

Panasonic FS42 vs Sony WX5 Sensor Comparison
Quite often, it's difficult to visualise the gap in sensor sizes only by looking through technical specs. The pic below will help offer you a more clear sense of the sensor measurements in the FS42 and WX5.
As you have seen, both the cameras provide different megapixel count and different sensor sizes. The FS42 using its smaller sensor will make achieving shallow depth of field more challenging and the Sony WX5 will render more detail using its extra 2MP. Greater resolution will also let you crop images more aggressively. The more aged FS42 will be behind with regard to sensor technology.

Panasonic FS42 vs Sony WX5 Screen and ViewFinder


Photography Type Scores
Portrait Comparison

Street Comparison

Sports Comparison

Travel Comparison

Landscape Comparison

Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic FS42 vs Sony WX5 Specifications
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS42 | Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX5 | |
---|---|---|
General Information | ||
Company | Panasonic | Sony |
Model | Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS42 | Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX5 |
Type | Ultracompact | Small Sensor Compact |
Announced | 2009-04-17 | 2010-07-08 |
Physical type | Ultracompact | Compact |
Sensor Information | ||
Powered by | - | Bionz |
Sensor type | CCD | BSI-CMOS |
Sensor size | 1/2.5" | 1/2.3" |
Sensor dimensions | 5.744 x 4.308mm | 6.17 x 4.55mm |
Sensor area | 24.7mm² | 28.1mm² |
Sensor resolution | 10MP | 12MP |
Anti aliasing filter | ||
Aspect ratio | 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 | 4:3 and 16:9 |
Full resolution | 3648 x 2736 | 4000 x 3000 |
Max native ISO | 1000 | 3200 |
Max boosted ISO | 6400 | - |
Min native ISO | 80 | 125 |
RAW data | ||
Autofocusing | ||
Manual focus | ||
Touch focus | ||
Continuous autofocus | ||
Single autofocus | ||
Autofocus tracking | ||
Autofocus selectice | ||
Center weighted autofocus | ||
Autofocus multi area | ||
Live view autofocus | ||
Face detect autofocus | ||
Contract detect autofocus | ||
Phase detect autofocus | ||
Number of focus points | - | 9 |
Lens | ||
Lens mount | fixed lens | fixed lens |
Lens focal range | 33-132mm (4.0x) | 24-120mm (5.0x) |
Largest aperture | f/2.8-5.9 | f/2.4-5.9 |
Macro focus range | 5cm | 5cm |
Crop factor | 6.3 | 5.8 |
Screen | ||
Display type | Fixed Type | Fixed Type |
Display diagonal | 2.5 inch | 2.8 inch |
Resolution of display | 230k dots | 461k dots |
Selfie friendly | ||
Liveview | ||
Touch screen | ||
Viewfinder Information | ||
Viewfinder | None | None |
Features | ||
Lowest shutter speed | 60s | 2s |
Highest shutter speed | 1/2000s | 1/1600s |
Continuous shooting rate | 2.0 frames/s | 10.0 frames/s |
Shutter priority | ||
Aperture priority | ||
Manually set exposure | ||
Change white balance | ||
Image stabilization | ||
Inbuilt flash | ||
Flash range | 6.30 m | 5.10 m |
Flash modes | Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Sync | Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow sync |
External flash | ||
AEB | ||
White balance 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) | 1920 x 1080 (50 fps), 1440 x 1080 (50, 25fps), 1280 x 720 (25 fps), 640 x 480 (25 fps) |
Max video resolution | 640x480 | 1920x1080 |
Video file format | Motion JPEG | AVCHD |
Mic support | ||
Headphone support | ||
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 | ||
Environment sealing | ||
Water proof | ||
Dust proof | ||
Shock proof | ||
Crush proof | ||
Freeze proof | ||
Weight | 132 grams (0.29 lb) | 146 grams (0.32 lb) |
Physical dimensions | 98 x 55 x 22mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 0.9") | 92 x 52 x 22mm (3.6" x 2.0" x 0.9") |
DXO scores | ||
DXO All around score | not tested | not tested |
DXO Color Depth score | not tested | not tested |
DXO Dynamic range score | not tested | not tested |
DXO Low light score | not tested | not tested |
Other | ||
Battery model | - | NP-BN1 |
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, Internal |
Card slots | One | One |
Retail pricing | $580 | $250 |