Kodak PIXPRO AZ255-BK Kodak - Review 🏆

The Kodak Pixpro AZ255 is a budget-friendly bridge camera featuring a 16MP BSI CMOS sensor and a 25x optical zoom lens equivalent to 24-600mm. This lightweight camera body has a DSLR-inspired design with an electronic viewfinder, full manual controls, and a host of automatic shooting modes.

Some key features of the Pixpro AZ255 include:

• 16MP 1/2.3" BSI CMOS sensor
• 25x optical zoom lens, 24-600mm equivalent
• Sensor-shift image stabilization
• 0.39" 200k-dot electronic viewfinder
• 3" 460k-dot LCD screen
• Full HD 1080p video recording
• ISO up to 3200
• 10 fps continuous shooting
• Built-in WiFi and NFC
• Li-ion battery

This camera aims to deliver an impressive zoom range and overall versatility for travel and everyday photography at an affordable price point. In this review, we'll take a closer look at the design, features, image quality, performance, and pros and cons of the Kodak Pixpro AZ255.

Design and Build Quality

The Kodak PIXPRO AZ255-BK has a sleek and compact design despite packing a powerful 25x optical zoom lens. It measures 4.7 x 3.1 x 3.6 inches and weighs approximately 15.5 ounces, making it easy to carry around. The camera body is constructed out of high-quality plastics which feel sturdy and durable. The textured grip on the front and back provides a secure hold even when using the zoom lens at full extension.

Overall, the AZ255 has a well-built body that doesn't feel cheap or flimsy. The relatively lightweight and compact size make it an ideal choice for travel and day-to-day use. The materials used seem durable enough for regular operation while still keeping the weight manageable.

In addition to the AZ255-BK model, the Kodak PIXPRO AZ255-RD offers a similar compact design with a vibrant red exterior that appeals to users looking for a stylish camera. Both models maintain the same impressive 25x optical zoom and high-quality construction, making them excellent choices for photography enthusiasts who value both aesthetics and functionality. With the same robust features as the AZ255-BK, the AZ255-RD ensures that users can capture stunning images in various environments.

Image Sensor and Lens

The Kodak PIXPRO AZ255-BK features a 16MP 1/2.3-inch BSI CMOS sensor, which is a typical sensor size and resolution in this class of camera. The sensor is paired with a 25-600mm equivalent lens, giving you an extremely versatile 25x optical zoom range.

The 25-600mm lens provides everything from a wide 24mm field of view for landscapes and indoor shots, all the way up to 600mm for distant subjects. With the sensor size, 600mm allows you to get relatively close to distant objects. However, the maximum aperture range of f/3.1-5.6 means the lens lets in less light as you zoom in.

Overall, the 16MP sensor resolution provides enough detail for sharp 11x14 prints, and the 25x zoom lens gives you great compositional flexibility for anything from wide landscapes to faraway wildlife. Just be aware that the variable aperture may require higher ISOs in low light as you zoom in. But for a bridge superzoom camera, the PIXPRO AZ255-BK packs an impressive focal length range into a compact body.

In addition to the AZ255-BK, Kodak offers the PIXPRO FZ53, a compact camera that boasts a 16MP sensor and a 5x optical zoom lens. This camera is designed for those who value simplicity and portability, making it perfect for casual photography. With features like a 24mm wide-angle lens and various shooting modes, the Kodak PixPro FZ53 allows you to capture stunning images effortlessly. For more details, visit Kodak PixPro FZ53.

Video Quality

The Kodak PIXPRO AZ255 can record full HD 1080p video at 30 fps. It also offers 720p HD video at 60 fps for smoother motion capture. Additional video resolutions include 480p and 720p at 30fps.

For file formats, you can choose to record video in MOV or MP4. The MP4 format provides greater compression for smaller file sizes, while the MOV format is better for post-processing.

A nice feature of the AZ255 is the dedicated video record button, allowing you to quickly switch to video mode and start recording. There's also a zoom lever around the shutter button, enabling smooth optical zoom during filming.

Slow motion capabilities let you record HD video at up to 120fps. This can be edited in-camera to play back at normal 30fps speed, slowing down action by 4x. It's great for highlighting dramatic moments.

Overall, the AZ255 provides strong video performance for a bridge camera in this price range. The combination of 1080p resolution with 25x optical zoom gives you a lot of flexibility when filming.

Autofocus and Image Stabilization

The Kodak PIXPRO AZ255-BK comes equipped with a contrast detection autofocus system. It provides decent autofocus speeds in good lighting conditions, though it can struggle a bit in low light situations. There are some autofocus modes like face detection, tracking AF, and one shot AF to choose from based on your shooting needs.

For image stabilization, the AZ255-BK relies on optical image stabilization built into the lens. This helps reduce blur caused by camera shake when shooting handheld, especially at longer focal lengths. The optical image stabilization allows you to shoot at slower shutter speeds and still get sharp images. This is useful in low light situations where you need to keep the ISO down by using slower shutter speeds. Overall, the image stabilization works fairly well and lets you capture sharper handheld shots. Just don't expect it to work miracles when shooting at extremely slow shutter speeds.

LCD and Viewfinder

The Kodak PIXPRO AZ255-BK has a 3-inch LCD screen with 460k dots resolution. The screen is fixed and does not articulate. It lacks touch capability.

The LCD provides a decent preview of shots and menu navigation. It has good brightness and visibility in most lighting conditions, though direct sunlight does make it harder to see.

There is no electronic viewfinder on this camera. You'll need to compose all shots using the rear LCD. This isn't ideal for bright outdoor shooting where a viewfinder would help shield glare.

The lack of a touchscreen or articulating display limits the camera's versatility. However, the LCD is sufficient for basic shot composition and playback. An electronic viewfinder would have been a nice addition for the price point.

Connectivity and Storage

The Kodak PIXPRO AZ255 has a good range of connectivity options. For ports, it has a micro HDMI port to connect to TVs and other displays. There is also a micro USB 2.0 port which can be used for charging and transferring files to a computer.

For wireless connectivity, the AZ255 has built-in WiFi. This allows you to wirelessly transfer photos and videos to your smartphone or tablet using the PIXPRO Remote Viewer app. It also enables remote control over some camera functions.

In terms of storage, the AZ255 supports SD, SDHC and SDXC memory cards up to 128GB. This gives you plenty of flexibility to use the memory card you have available. The camera has 36MB of internal memory which allows you to store a few photos if you don't have a memory card inserted. But for any serious shooting, you'll need to use an SD card.

Overall, the connectivity options are fairly standard but provide the essential ports, wireless capabilities and memory card support you'd expect in an entry-level bridge camera like this.

Battery Life

The Kodak PIXPRO AZ255 has a rechargeable lithium-ion battery that provides enough power for around 220 shots per charge based on CIPA standards. This is decent but not exceptional battery life.

The battery is charged inside the camera via the USB port. A full charge takes around 3 hours. There is no separate battery charger included, so you'll need to charge the battery in-camera.

The AZ255 uses Kodak's KLIC-7004 battery. No information is provided about the battery's capacity in mAh. The battery life is fairly average for a superzoom camera. You can squeeze out more shots per charge if using eco mode and other battery-saving features. But in general, you'll want to bring a spare battery if shooting all day or on longer trips.

Overall, the battery life is sufficient for casual use but photographers who plan on heavy usage may want to invest in extra batteries. The lack of an external charger is a minor inconvenience. But the AZ255 gets acceptable battery performance for its class considering its very long zoom lens.

Pros and Cons

The Kodak PIXPRO AZ255-BK has quite a few pros and cons to consider:

Pros

• 25x optical zoom lens provides tremendous versatility and reach
• 24mm wide angle lens is great for landscapes and architecture
• 16MP sensor provides plenty of resolution
• 1080p full HD video with stereo sound
• Large 3" LCD screen makes framing and playback easy
• WiFi and NFC connectivity for wireless image transfer
• Very affordable price point

Cons

• Image quality merely average, especially in low light
• Autofocus can be slow and hunt in low contrast situations
• No RAW shooting mode
• No external mic input for video
• No viewfinder only live view on rear LCD
• Mediocre battery life
• All plastic construction doesn't feel very sturdy

Overall, the AZ255-BK is a very affordable superzoom camera with a tremendous zoom range and decent specs. However, image quality and performance are just average. It can serve well as an entry-level camera but more advanced users may be left wanting more.

Conclusion

The Kodak PIXPRO AZ255 is a capable bridge camera that offers a lot of zoom range and features for the price. It has a 25x optical zoom lens starting from a useful 24mm wide angle, allowing you to capture everything from wide landscapes to distant subjects. The 16MP sensor produces decent image quality in good lighting, though low light performance is just average. 1080p full HD video recording is smooth and effective for casual home videos.

The AZ255 handles well with its slim body, textured grip, and ample controls. Autofocus is fairly quick and image stabilization helps reduce blur from camera shake. The fixed 3" LCD is sufficient for composing shots. Connectivity options like WiFi allow easy sharing. Battery life is rated for a solid 260 shots per charge.

Overall, the Kodak PIXPRO AZ255 is a budget-friendly superzoom camera that can meet the needs of casual photographers looking for high zoom power. It's easy to use and takes decent photos and videos. Just don't expect pro-level image quality, especially in low light. For its affordable price point, the AZ255 is a capable bridge camera worth considering if you need lots of zoom on a budget.