Kodak PIXPRO AZ255-RD Kodak - Review 🏆

The Kodak PIXPRO Astro Zoom AZ255 is a compact digital camera designed for versatility and ease of use. It features a 25x optical zoom lens with a 35mm focal length equivalent of 24-600mm, providing an extremely wide angle on the wide end and super telephoto reach on the long end of the zoom range. With 16 megapixels of resolution from its 1/2.3-inch CMOS sensor, it can capture highly detailed images. The AZ255 also shoots full HD 1080p video.

Key features and specs:

• 16MP 1/2.3" CMOS sensor
• 25x optical zoom lens, 24-600mm equivalent
• 1080p full HD video recording
• 3" 460k-dot LCD screen
• ISO 100-3200
• Optical image stabilization
• Face/smile detection
• Built-in flash
• SD/SDHC/SDXC memory card slot
• Rechargeable lithium-ion battery

This lightweight, pocketable camera combines an extremely versatile zoom range with intuitive controls and features, making it a great all-around compact camera for travel, events, and everyday use.

Design

The Kodak PIXPRO AZ255-RD has a compact and lightweight body made of plastic, which makes it easy to carry around. Despite the plastic build, the camera has a solid and durable feel in hand. The body has a smooth red finish that gives it a stylish look.

The camera features an ergonomic grip on the right side that allows you to hold it securely. The grip has a textured rubber coating for extra comfort. On the back, there is a decent sized 3-inch LCD screen that can tilt up 180 degrees for selfies and down 45 degrees for high or low angle shots.

The camera controls are simple and intuitive. There are dedicated buttons for the main functions like photo mode, video mode, playback and menu. A 5-way controller on the back provides easy navigation of settings. Overall, the AZ255 has a no-frills design focused on portability and ease of use.

In addition to the AZ255, the Kodak DC9200 offers advanced features for photography enthusiasts. It comes with a high-resolution sensor and enhanced optical zoom, allowing for stunning image quality even at a distance. The compact design is also noteworthy, making it a great travel companion without sacrificing performance. With an easy-to-use interface and robust build, the DC9200 is ideal for both novice and experienced photographers.

Image Quality

The Kodak PIXPRO AZ255 has a 16MP 1/2.3-inch BSI CMOS sensor which is on the smaller side but delivers decent image quality for a budget camera. The sensor resolution of 16 megapixels allows for printing high-quality photos up to 13 x 19 inches.

The camera has an ISO range from 80 to 3200, which is suitable for most daylight and indoor shooting scenarios. At lower ISOs image noise is well controlled, though noise starts to become more apparent at ISO 800 and higher. Overall the camera performs well in low light up to ISO 1600 if keeping images at smaller sizes.

When shooting in bright daylight, the AZ255 is capable of capturing good image sharpness and detail, especially when using the lower half of the zoom range. The lens quality decreases a bit when fully zoomed in, but is adequate for this class of camera. Enabling lens-based image stabilization helps maximize sharpness when shooting handheld.

In comparison, the Kodak PIXPRO AZ425 enhances the imaging capabilities with a 20MP sensor, providing even more detail and clarity. This model excels in various lighting conditions thanks to its improved ISO range and advanced image stabilization technologies. The larger optical zoom on the AZ425 allows for greater versatility in framing shots, making it an excellent choice for those looking to explore their photography skills. For more information on this model, check out the Kodak PIXPRO AZ425.

Zoom Lens

The Kodak PIXPRO AZ255 camera has an impressive 25x optical zoom lens with a focal length range of 24-600mm. This gives you tremendous flexibility to zoom in on distant subjects. At the wide end, the 24mm focal length allows you to capture wide landscape shots and group portraits. When zoomed all the way in at 600mm, you can get super close-ups of wildlife, sports action, and other distant subjects.

The lens has a variable maximum aperture range of f/3.1 at 24mm to f/6.8 at 600mm. This is fairly typical for a superzoom lens. While not extremely bright, the f/3.1 aperture at the wide end allows you to blur backgrounds and shoot in lower light conditions.

For image stabilization, the AZ255 utilizes Optical Image Stabilization (OIS) to minimize blur from camera shake. This is essential when using the long telephoto reach of the lens and shooting at slower shutter speeds. Overall, the 25x zoom lens provides tremendous versatility in a single compact camera.

Video Recording

The Kodak PIXPRO AZ255 has impressive video capabilities for a budget point-and-shoot camera. It can record full HD 1080p video at 30 fps, with options for 720p HD at 30 fps as well. The 1080p video is sharp and detailed, making this a great choice for shooting video while traveling or at events.

Some additional video features include:

• File format: MOV (H.264)
• Max video resolution: 1920x1080 (1080p HD)
• Frame rates: 30fps at 1080p, 30fps at 720p
• Continuous autofocus while recording video

The AZ255 also has zoom capability while recording, allowing you to get closer to subjects without interrupting the video. You can zoom up to 25x optically while recording in any video resolution. Overall, the video functions make this budget camera quite versatile for both still photos and HD video.

Autofocus

The Kodak PIXPRO AZ255-RD has a contrast detection autofocus system. It's fairly quick and accurate in good lighting conditions, though it can struggle a bit in low light.

The autofocus locks on quickly when shooting still subjects and landscapes. When tracking moving subjects, it has a bit more difficulty keeping things sharply focused. The autofocus speed does slow down noticeably in dim indoor lighting.

Overall, the autofocus system is decent for a budget superzoom camera like this. It works well for general shooting of still subjects, though more advanced photographers may find it lacks the speed and tracking ability needed for fast action shots. But considering the price point, most casual users will be satisfied with the autofocus performance.

Features

The Kodak PIXPRO AZ255 has a nice range of features for a budget superzoom camera. Shooting modes include Program AE, Shutter priority, Aperture priority, and Manual mode, giving you control over exposure settings. There are also a variety of scene modes like Portrait, Landscape, Sport, Night Portrait, Fireworks and more that optimize settings for specific situations.

For connectivity, the AZ255 has built-in WiFi which allows you to transfer photos wirelessly to smartphones and tablets using the PIXPRO Remote Viewer app. It also supports wireless printing to PIXPRO printers. The camera has a Micro HDMI port to output HD video and images to HDTVs.

Additional handy features include Electronic Image Stabilization to reduce blur from camera shake, Face Detection, Blink Detection, Auto Scene Mode, and Auto Macro Mode. There's also a built-in pop-up flash for low light shots.

Battery

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 a decent battery life for a superzoom camera with a small form factor.

The battery itself is rated for 3.7V and 1050mAh. It's charged internally using the included AC adapter and micro USB cable. A full charge takes approximately 3 hours.

One downside is that the battery is internal and not removable. This means you cannot carry a spare battery for longer shooting sessions. However, the camera can be powered and charged via USB while in use, which helps extend shooting times if an external power bank is connected.

Overall, the battery life is sufficient for casual day trips and short excursions. More intensive users may want to bring along a power bank for longer outings. But the battery performance is on par with competitors in this price range.

Pros & Cons

The Kodak Pixpro AZ255 has some noteworthy pros and cons to consider before purchasing.

Pros

• Powerful 25x optical zoom gets you close to the action
• 24mm wide angle lens captures expansive scenes
• Large 3" LCD makes framing and reviewing shots easy
• 1080p full HD video with stereo sound
• Effective image stabilization reduces blur
• Numerous shooting modes for versatility
• WiFi and NFC for wireless connectivity
• Affordable price point

Cons

• Image quality is just average, especially in low light
• Autofocus can be slow at times
• No viewfinder only LCD screen
• Battery life could be better
• No external mic input for video
• No RAW shooting mode

The AZ255 delivers a long zoom range and effective image stabilization in a compact body at a budget-friendly price. Just don't expect stellar image quality, especially when shooting in low light. For casual photographers wanting an affordable ultrazoom camera, the AZ255 is a decent option. But more advanced users may want to consider other models.

Conclusion

Overall the Kodak Pixpro AZ255 is a decent mid-range superzoom camera that offers a good value for the price. Its biggest highlight is the impressive 25x optical zoom lens, providing a ton of versatility from wide landscapes to far away subjects. Image quality is decent but limited by the small 1/2.3" sensor size. Video is solid at full 1080p resolution with stereo sound. Autofocus can be slow at times but generally accurate. The camera offers a nice range of features including manual exposure controls, panorama shooting and wifi connectivity. Battery life is below average but can deliver around 200 shots per charge.

For the price, the AZ255 offers a lot of zoom range in a compact body. Image quality is good enough for casual use and online sharing. It's a nice option for travelers, families, events and video bloggers on a budget. More advanced users may be frustrated by mediocre low light performance and slower autofocus. But overall it's a solid choice in the budget superzoom category worth considering.