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Panasonic FS42 Review

  • Overview
  • Alternatives
  • Panasonic FS42

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    Main Features

    • 10MP - 1/2.5-inch CCD Sensor
    • ISO 80 - 1000( expands to 6400)
    • 33-132 mm F2.8-5.9 Zoom Lens
    • 2.50" Fixed Type Screen
    • 2.0fps continuous shooting
    • 132g. 98 x 55 x 22 mm
    CHECK PRICE
    CHECK PRICE

    Panasonic FS42 Overview

    Launched in April 2009 , Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS42 is a 10.0MP Ultracompact camera with a 1/2.5-inch (5.744 x 4.308 mm ) sized CCD sensor and 4.0x zoom 33-132 mm F2.8-5.9 lens.

    Panasonic FS42 Review - Click for Table of Contents

    1. Overview
    2. Pros and Cons
    3. Sensor and Photography Features
    4. Physical Specs
    5. LCD and Viewfinder
    6. Connectivity, Storage and Battery
    7. Other Features
    8. Lens
    9. Photography Type Scores
    10. Alternatives
    11. Popular Comparisons
    12. Frequently Asked Questions
    13. Detailed Specifications

    Panasonic FS42 is a member of Panasonic's Ultracompact class cameras. Below you can see the latest models in this class and how their main specs have changed with each new model.

    Panasonic Ultracompact Series History
    Model Release Date Sensor Max FPS Dimensions Weight
    Panasonic FP5
    Compare
    2011 14.0MP - 1/2.3-inch 6.0 fps 101 x 59 x 18mm 141g
    Panasonic FP7
    Compare
    2011 16.0MP - 1/2.3-inch 4.0 fps 101 x 59 x 18mm 147g
    Panasonic FP3
    Compare
    2010 14.0MP - 1/2.3-inch 5.0 fps 99 x 59 x 19mm 155g
    Panasonic FP2
    Compare
    2010 14.0MP - 1/2.3-inch 5.0 fps 99 x 59 x 19mm 151g
    Panasonic FP1
    Compare
    2010 12.0MP - 1/2.3-inch 6.0 fps 99 x 59 x 19mm 151g

    Check the link below to compare specs of the latest cameras in this series side by side:
    Panasonic FP5 vs FP7 vs FP3 vs FP2 vs FP1


    **This post contains affiliate links and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking through my links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

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    Panasonic FS42 PROs and CONs Review

    Now let's get in to more details of our Panasonic FS42 review by analysing its specs and features and listing out its pros and cons compared to average competitor cameras in its class.

    PROs
    132g Light Body
    Fast 2.80 Lens at Wide
    Report a correction

    Buy Panasonic FS42 from AMAZON or B&H PHOTO


    CONs
    No Wireless Connection
    No Image Stabilization
    No Articulating Screen
    No External Flash Shoe
    No Full HD Video
    No Touch Screen
    No Built-in Viewfinder
    No RAW Shooting
    No Face Detection Focusing
    Low Resolution Sensor: 10.0MP
    Max Sensitivity only ISO 1.000
    Small LCD Screen ( 2.50")
    Low Screen Resolution ( 230kdots )
    Slow Continuous Shooting: 2.0fps
    No Manual Focusing
    No Manual Exposure
    No Environmental Sealing
    33 mm - Poor Wide Angle Coverage
    Slow Lens at Tele: f5.90

    Report a correction


    Panasonic FS42 Physical Specs
    Panasonic FS42 weighs 132 g (0.29 lb / 4.66 oz) and has external dimensions of 98 x 55 x 22 mm (3.86 x 2.17 x 0.87″). Considering that the average weight of Compact type cameras is 188g, Panasonic FS42 is a remarkably light camera for its class. Even better, with a thickness of only 22mm, it is also quite small, 6mm thinner than the average of its class.
    Weight Comparison

    Compact Cameras

    Panasonic FS42
    Min
    Average
    Max
    Thickness Comparison

    Compact Cameras

    Panasonic FS42
    Min
    Average
    Max

    Here is the front and top view image of Panasonic FS42 with the dimensions:

    Panasonic FS42 Body Size Dimensions
    Front and Top View External Dimensions and Size of Panasonic FS42 Camera Body


    In order to give you a better idea about the real life size of Panasonic FS42, we have added an image of how it looks next to a credit card and an AA type battery.


    Panasonic FS42 Body Size Compared to a Credit card and a Battery
    Physical size of the Panasonic FS42 Body Compared to a Credit Card and an AA Battery



    Below you can find the comparison of the weight and thickness of Panasonic FS42 with its main competitors:

    Panasonic FS42 Size Compared to Main Competitors
    Model Weight vs FS42 Thickness vs FS42
    Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS42 Camera Fujifilm X-A3
    Compare
    339g 207g heavier 40mm 18mm thicker
    Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS42 Camera Panasonic ZS70
    Compare
    322g 190g heavier 41mm 19mm thicker
    Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS42 Camera Sony RX1R II
    Compare
    507g 375g heavier 72mm 50mm thicker
    Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS42 Camera Nikon 1 J4
    Compare
    232g 100g heavier 29mm 7mm thicker
    Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS42 Camera Canon S110
    Compare
    198g 66g heavier 27mm 5mm thicker
    Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS42 Camera Panasonic TS6
    Compare
    214g 82g heavier 29mm 7mm thicker
    Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS42 Camera Nikon L840
    Compare
    538g 406g heavier 96mm 74mm thicker
    Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS42 Camera Olympus E-300
    Compare
    624g 492g heavier 64mm 42mm thicker

    Weather Sealing

    Panasonic FS42 doesn't have any environmental sealings on its body so you got to be extra careful to protect it against water and dust. If you shoot under these conditions very often, consider checking Top Compact Cameras with Weather Sealing page.

    Panasonic FS42 Lens

    Panasonic FS42 features a 33-132 mm F2.8-5.9 4× zoom lens. With a focal length of only 33mm on the wide end, it offers very limited wide angle capability . However, 132mm on the tele end means that the medium telephoto angle is well covered, only lacking the reach for wildlife and sports.

    Wide Coverage

    Compact Cameras

    FS42
    Widest - Olympus TG-850 iHS
    Average
    Telezoom

    Compact Cameras

    FS42
    Longest - Canon SX520 HS
    Average

    With a max aperture of f2.80, this lens is fast on wide end, but max aperture of f5.90 at tele end makes is really slow at longer focal lengths.

    Max Aperture at Wide

    Compact Cameras

    FS42
    Fastest - Leica D-Lux 6
    Average
    Max Aperture at Tele

    Compact Cameras

    FS42
    Fastest - Ricoh GR Digital IV
    Average

    Panasonic FS42 Sensor and Photography Features

    Panasonic FS42 has a 10.0MP 1/2.5-inch (5.744 x 4.308 mm ) sized CCD sensor . You can shoot at maximum resolution of 3648 x 2736 pixels with aspect ratios of 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9. FS42 has a native ISO range of 80 - 1000 which can be boosted to 6400 but unfortunately, Panasonic FS42 doesn't have RAW file support. If you need a Compact camera with a RAW support, consider Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS100 (Lumix DMC-TZ100) or Nikon Coolpix P7800 in the same price range.

    Panasonic FS42 is not the highest resolution Small Sensor camera. GoPro Hero9 Black with its 23.0MP sensor is leading in this class. Check the comparison of Panasonic FS42 vs GoPro Hero9 Black or take a look at Highest resolution Compact cameras list.

    Let's look at how the size of the Panasonic FS42's 1/2.5-inch sensor compares with other standard sensor sizes.

    Panasonic FS42 Sensor Size Comparison
    Comparison image of Panasonic FS42 Sensor Size with other standard sensors



    Panasonic FS42 LCD

    Panasonic FS42 has a Fixed Type 2.50-inch LCD screen with a resolution of 230k dots. At only 2.50", the screen is on the smaller side and 230kdot resolution is lower than most of the recent models in this class.



    Panasonic FS42 back view and LCD

    Unfortunately Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS42 doesn't have a Selfie friendly screen. If this feature is important for your shooting style, check here the list of Best Compact Cameras with Selfie Friendly LCD screen.


    FS42 doesn't have a viewfinder and no option for external viewfinder. Lack of a viewfinder can be problematic especially under strong light where visibility of LCD screens goes down dramatically. If you need a Compact camera with a built-in viewfinder in a similar price range, consider Canon PowerShot G5 X (Compare) or Panasonic Lumix DC-LX100 II (Compare).
    Alternatively, check here the list of all Compact cameras with viewfinder..

    Panasonic FS42 Connectivity, Storage and Battery

    Panasonic FS42 has a USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) port to connect your camera to other devices.

    Panasonic FS42 Features Compared to Main Competitors
    Model Max Video Battery Life Wi-fi Bluetooth NFC
    Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS42 Camera Fujifilm X-A3
    Compare
    1920 x 1080 410shots Yes No No
    Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS42 Camera Panasonic ZS70
    Compare
    3840 x 2160 380shots Yes No No
    Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS42 Camera Sony RX1R II
    Compare
    1920 x 1080 220shots Yes No Yes
    Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS42 Camera Nikon 1 J4
    Compare
    1920 x 1080 300shots Yes No No
    Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS42 Camera Canon S110
    Compare
    1920 x 1080 200shots Yes No No
    Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS42 Camera Panasonic TS6
    Compare
    1920 x 1080 370shots Yes No Yes
    Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS42 Camera Nikon L840
    Compare
    1920 x 1080 590shots Yes No Yes
    Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS42 Camera Olympus E-300
    Compare
    None shots No No No

    Panasonic FS42 Other Features

    Max Shutter speed

    Panasonic FS42 can shoot continuously at max speed of 2 fps and has max shutter speed of 1/2000 sec.

    Flash

    Unfortunately FS42 doesn't have an external flash shoe so you are limited with the built-in flash.

    Focusing

    Panasonic FS42 features a Contrast Detection autofocusing system.

    What type of Photography is Panasonic FS42 Good for?
    In this section, we review and score Panasonic FS42 in 5 different photography areas.

    Panasonic FS42 for Portrait Photography

    Panasonic FS42 has a score of 11 for Portrait Photography which makes it a POOR candidate for this type of photography. If Portrait We strongly recommend you to check our Top Compact Cameras for Portrait Photography list and consider these alternatives over theFS42.
    Small 1/2.5" (5.744 x 4.308 mm) sensor
    Very Low Resolution Sensor: 10.0MP
    No Image Stabilization
    No RAW shooting capability
    No External Flash Shoe
    No Built-in Viewfinder
    No Manual Focus Mode
    No Manual Exposure Mode
    Not so good Ergonomics&Handling

    Read the details of how we scored Panasonic FS42 for Portrait Photography

    Panasonic FS42 for Street Photography

    Panasonic FS42 has a score of 30 for Street Photography which makes it a POOR candidate for this type of photography. If Street We strongly recommend you to check our Top Compact Cameras for Street Photography list and consider these alternatives over theFS42.
    Live-view
    Fast Lens at Wide: f2.80
    Small Body
    33 mm - Not so Good Wide Angle Coverage
    No Built-in Viewfinder
    No Manual Focus Mode
    No Image Stabilization
    No RAW shooting capability
    Small 1/2.5" (5.744 x 4.308 mm) sensor

    Read the details of how we scored Panasonic FS42 for Street Photography

    Panasonic FS42 for Sports Photography

    Panasonic FS42 has a score of 15 for Sports Photography which makes it a POOR candidate for this type of photography. If Sports We strongly recommend you to check our Top Compact Cameras for Sports Photography list and consider these alternatives over theFS42.
    Average Max shutter speed: 1/2000s
    132 mm Tele Lens
    Slow Continuous Shooting: 2.0fps
    Environmental Sealings
    Focus Points
    Not so good Ergonomics&Handling
    No Manual Exposure Mode
    No Manual Focus Mode
    No Built-in Viewfinder
    No External Flash Shoe
    No Image Stabilization
    Slow Lens at Tele: f5.90
    No RAW shooting capability

    Read the details of how we scored Panasonic FS42 for Sports Photography

    Panasonic FS42 for Daily Photography

    Panasonic FS42 has a score of 48 for Daily Photography which makes it an AVERAGE candidate for this type of photography. If Daily is important for you, we recommend you to check our Top Compact Cameras for Daily Photography list.
    Compact Body
    132g
    Body Thickness 22mm
    4.0X Optical Zoom
    Small 1/2.5" (5.744 x 4.308 mm) sensor
    No RAW shooting capability

    Read the details of how we scored Panasonic FS42 for Daily Photography

    Panasonic FS42 for Landscape Photography

    Panasonic FS42 has a score of 15 for Landscape Photography which makes it a POOR candidate for this type of photography. If Landscape We strongly recommend you to check our Top Compact Cameras for Landscape Photography list and consider these alternatives over theFS42.
    33 mm - Not so Good Wide Angle Coverage
    No Manual Exposure Mode
    No Manual Focus Mode
    No RAW shooting capability
    Small 1/2.5" (5.744 x 4.308 mm) sensor
    Very Low Resolution Sensor: 10.0MP
    No Environmental Sealings

    Read the details of how we scored Panasonic FS42 for Landscape Photography
    Panasonic FS42 Alternatives
    In this section, we analyse how Panasonic FS42 compares with other Compact cameras within a similar price range.
    Read a more detailed analysis of Panasonic FS42 alternatives.

    Popular Comparisons of Panasonic FS42

    Here is the eight most popular comparisons of Panasonic FS42 amongst Camera Decision readers.

    Fujifilm X-A3
    Fujifilm X-A3
    Compare
    Panasonic ZS70
    Panasonic ZS70
    Compare
    Sony RX1R II
    Sony RX1R II
    Compare
    Nikon 1 J4
    Nikon 1 J4
    Compare
    Canon S110
    Canon S110
    Compare
    Panasonic TS6
    Panasonic TS6
    Compare
    Nikon L840
    Nikon L840
    Compare
    Olympus E-300
    Olympus E-300
    Compare

    Panasonic FS42 Alternatives in Cameras

    It would also be interesting to compare Panasonic FS42 with Cameras. Below we have listed 4 highest ranked cameras in Panasonic FS42's price range.

    Panasonic FS42 Conclusion and Scores

    Currently, Panasonic FS42 has an Overall Score of 26/100 which is based on our evaluation of 69 different technical parameters. Our scores are dynamically updated whenever a new camera is added to our database or when we change our ranking algorithm and the maximum score is always 100. Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS42 is ranked #577 out of 631 in Compact cameras (Top 20 Compact), and ranked #1188 out of 1244 in all Cameras (Top 20 Overall).

    #1188 out of 1244 in Top Ranking Cameras
    #577 out of 631 in Top Ranking Compact Cameras
    #126 out of 152 in Top Ranking Ultracompact Cameras
    #684 out of 740 in Top Ranking Small Sensor Sensor Cameras
    #118 out of 536 in Lightest Compact Cameras with Small Sensor sensor(132g)
    #847 out of 917 in Top Ranking Cameras with Fixed Type Screen

    Main Scores
    Imaging
    Features
    Value for Money
    Portability
    Overall Score
    Check our Smart Finder Tool to filter, sort and compare all digital cameras.

    Frequently Asked Questions about Panasonic FS42
    Does the Panasonic FS42 have Image Stabilization?
    Does the Panasonic FS42 have RAW support?
    Does the Panasonic FS42 have Weather Sealing?
    Does the Panasonic FS42 have built-in GPS?
    What is the Max ISO of Panasonic FS42?
    What is the Sensor Size of Panasonic FS42?
    is the Panasonic FS42 a Full Frame (FF) camera?
    Does the Panasonic FS42 have Touch Screen?
    Does the Panasonic FS42 have built-in Wireless?
    What is the Max Continuous Shooting Speed (fps) of Panasonic FS42?
    What is the Weight of Panasonic FS42?
    What are the Dimensions of Panasonic FS42?
    Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS42 Detailed Specifications

    General
    Brand Panasonic
    Model Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS42
    Announced 2009-04-17
    Body Type Ultracompact
    Lens
    Manual Focus
    Lens Mount fixed lens
    Lens Focal Range 33-132 mm (4×)
    Max Aperture F2.8-5.9
    Macro Focus Range 5cm
    Screen
    Screen Type Fixed Type
    Screen Size 2.50"
    Screen Resolution 230k dots
    Live View
    Touch Screen
    Viewfinder
    Viewfinder None
    Viewfinder Resolution no electronic viewfinder
    Viewfinder Coverage n/a
    Viewfinder Magnification n/a
    Photography Features
    Min Shutter Speed 60s
    Max Mechanical Shutter Speed 1/2000s
    Continuous Shooting 2.0 fps
    Shutter Priority
    Aperture Priority
    Manual Exposure Mode
    Exposure Compensation n/a
    Custom White Balance
    Image Stabilization
    Built-in Flash
    Flash Range 6.30 m
    Flash Modes Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Sync
    External Flash
    AE Bracketing
    WB Bracketing
    Exposure Modes
    Multi-Segment
    Average
    Spot
    Partial
    AF-Area
    Center Weighted
    DxO Sensor Scores
    DxO Overall Score not tested
    DxO Color Depth not tested
    DxO Dynamic Range not tested
    DxO Low Light ISO not tested
    Report a correction

    Sensor
    Sensor Type CCD
    Sensor Size 1/2.5-inch
    Sensor Dimensions 5.744 x 4.308 mm
    Sensor Area 24.74mm2
    Sensor Resolution 10 megapixels
    Max Image Resolution 3648 x 2736
    Max Native ISO 1,000
    Max Boosted ISO 6400
    Min Native ISO 80
    RAW Support
    Autofocus
    AF Touch
    AF Continuous
    AF Single
    AF Tracking
    AF Selective
    AF Center
    AF Multi Area
    AF Live View
    AF Face Detection
    AF Contrast Detection
    AF Phase Detection
    Video Features
    Video Resolutions 848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
    Max Video Resolution 640 x 480
    Video Formats Motion JPEG
    Microphone Port
    Headphone Port
    Connectivity
    Wireless Connectivity None
    HDMI
    USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
    Physical
    Environmental Sealing
    Water Proof
    Dust Proof
    Shock Proof
    Crush Proof
    Freeze Proof
    Weight 132g
    Physical Dimensions 98 x 55 x 22mm
    Other Features
    Self Timer Yes (2 or 10 sec)
    Timelapse Recording
    GPS None
    Storage Type SD/SDHC card, Internal
    Storage Slots 1


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