Kodak PIXPRO FZ55 Kodak - Review 🏆

The Kodak PIXPRO FZ55 is a budget-friendly point-and-shoot digital camera that offers decent image quality and performance for casual photographers. Key features of this 16MP compact camera include a 5x optical zoom lens, 720p HD video recording, and WiFi connectivity for easy photo sharing.

While the Kodak PIXPRO FZ55 lacks some of the bells and whistles of higher-end compact cameras, it provides good value for those looking for an affordable, pocketable camera for travel and everyday use. Its compact body houses a 16 megapixel 1/2.3” CMOS sensor paired with a 25-125mm equivalent zoom lens. Overall image quality is suitable for small prints and web sharing, though low light performance is limited. The FZ55 offers user-friendly controls and operation, making it accessible for beginners.

Design

The Kodak PIXPRO FZ55 has a compact and lightweight design that makes it easy to carry around. It measures 4.1 x 2.28 x 0.9 inches and weighs only 5.3 ounces with the battery and memory card installed. This makes the FZ55 one of the more portable point-and-shoot cameras on the market. It can slip into a pocket or small bag without adding much bulk. The smooth body has a stylish two-tone finish with silver and black colors. The front of the camera features the lens, flash, microphone and AF-assist lamp. On the back is a 2.7 inch LCD screen and a few buttons and dials for controlling the camera. Despite its small size, the body has a nice solid feel to it. The mostly plastic construction seems durable enough for everyday use. Overall the FZ55's compact and slim design is ideal for photographers looking for an easy-to-carry camera. Its lightweight build won't weigh you down while still feeling substantial in your hands.

The Kodak PIXPRO AZ405-WH is another excellent camera option in Kodak's lineup. This model features a powerful 40x optical zoom lens and a 20-megapixel sensor, making it suitable for capturing detailed images from a distance. Unlike the FZ55, the AZ405-WH boasts a larger 3-inch LCD screen, providing a better view for composing and reviewing shots. Its ergonomic design ensures a comfortable grip, despite a slightly bulkier and heavier build compared to the FZ55. This camera is perfect for those who seek more advanced features while still enjoying the convenience of a point-and-shoot camera.

Image Quality

The Kodak PIXPRO FZ55 features a 16MP 1/2.3-inch CMOS image sensor, which is fairly standard for a compact camera in this price range. The sensor resolution allows you to produce sharp 12 x 18 prints or crop images moderately without losing detail.

Image quality is quite good for a budget compact camera. The FZ55 produces pleasing colors that are fairly accurate, without being overly saturated. Dynamic range performance is decent, capturing good highlight and shadow detail in high contrast scenes. Noise is well controlled up to ISO 800, with some noticeable noise and loss of detail at ISO 1600 and 3200.

Overall, the image quality is very good for everyday snapshots and casual use. The FZ55 can capture nice images in good lighting conditions. However, more advanced photographers may want a camera with a bigger sensor for better low light performance and more creative control over depth of field.

The Kodak AZ252 is another budget-friendly option that offers a 16MP sensor but with the added benefit of a 25x optical zoom lens. This makes it more versatile for capturing distant subjects without losing image quality. The AZ252 also has optical image stabilization to help reduce blur caused by camera shake, making it easier to achieve sharp photos even at longer focal lengths. While it may not match the low light performance of models with larger sensors, it provides excellent value for casual photographers looking for a bit more zoom capability.

Zoom

The Kodak Pixpro FZ55 has a 5x optical zoom lens, which provides a 35mm focal length equivalent of 28-140mm. This versatile zoom range lets you capture wide-angle landscapes and group shots, as well as zoom in closer on distant subjects.

The lens performs well across the zoom range, producing sharp images with minimal distortion. At the telephoto end, you can zoom in reasonably close on distant details. Image stabilization helps counteract camera shake when zoomed in, allowing you to capture sharper handheld shots.

For most casual shooting scenarios, the 5x zoom gives you a useful range of focal lengths to work with. Advanced photographers may desire longer telephoto reach, but the FZ55 provides a solid zoom range in a compact and affordable package.

Video Recording

The Kodak Pixpro FZ55 can record full HD 1080p video at 30 fps. This allows you to capture high quality, smooth videos. The camera also supports 720p HD recording at 30 fps.

For standard definition video, the FZ55 supports 480p at 30 fps. This lower resolution can be useful if you need to conserve storage space or share videos online where HD is not critical.

Overall, the video capabilities of the FZ55 are decent but not outstanding. The 1080p resolution is good, but some competitors offer 60 fps recording for smoother motion. The lack of 4K video may disappoint videographers looking for higher resolution footage.

However, for casual home videos and online sharing, the video quality of the FZ55 will be sufficient. The image stabilization helps keep your footage steady when handholding the camera. So while not a standout for video, the FZ55 provides capable basic video recording features.

Connectivity

The Kodak PIXPRO FZ55 has decent connectivity options for a budget point-and-shoot camera. It has built-in WiFi which allows you to wirelessly transfer photos and videos to your smartphone or tablet using the PIXPRO app. Bluetooth is missing, so you can't wirelessly pair with other devices besides your phone.

For wired connections, the FZ55 has a micro HDMI port to output video and images to an external monitor or TV. There's also a microUSB port for charging and transferring data. The camera lacks NFC for quick tap-to-connect with NFC enabled smartphones.

Overall the connectivity is fairly basic but covers the essentials like WiFi photo transfer. The lack of Bluetooth is disappointing but expected for the price. The inclusion of micro HDMI is a nice bonus not always found on cheap cameras. The ports and wireless options provide adequate flexibility for sharing your photos and videos from the device.

Battery Life

The Kodak PIXPRO FZ55 comes with a rechargeable Li-ion battery that provides enough power for around 220 shots per charge, based on CIPA standards. This is fairly standard for an entry-level point-and-shoot camera.

The battery life allows you to shoot all day without needing to recharge if you're conservative with turning the camera on and off and not using live view extensively. For a family vacation or day of sightseeing, the battery should last long enough before needing to be topped up.

Heavy users may want to pack a spare battery for all-day shooting or extended trips without daily charging access. But for most casual users, the battery life is sufficient and on par with competitors in this price range.

Charging is done via USB, so you can use a computer, portable charger, or wall adapter to juice up the battery.

Overall, the battery performance is solid for this class of camera and won't leave you stranded after just a couple hours of use. Just be mindful of turning off live view and the camera when not shooting, and the FZ55's battery will deliver all-day shooting without much fuss.

Ease of Use

The Kodak PIXPRO FZ55 is designed to be very easy to use, even for beginner photographers. The camera has a simple button layout that makes the key shooting controls readily accessible. There are dedicated buttons for power, shutter, video recording, and playback. The 4-way controller and menu buttons provide quick navigation through settings.

In terms of handling, the FZ55 has a compact body that is lightweight and fits nicely in the hand. The textured grip helps provide a secure hold. The build quality feels solid despite the plastic construction. The buttons have a nice, clicky feedback when pressed.

The menu system is straightforward with logically organized shooting modes and settings. For example, the exposure compensation, ISO, and white balance controls are all grouped together under one menu. This makes it easy to quickly adjust settings to suit different shooting conditions.

Overall, the FZ55 provides an intuitive user experience for casual photographers who want a point-and-shoot camera that is easy to control and handle. The simple operation combined with the compact form factor make the FZ55 a pleasure to use.

Value

The Kodak Pixpro FZ55 offers decent value for money at its price point of around £100. For that price, you get a compact point-and-shoot camera with a 16MP sensor, 5x optical zoom lens, and full HD 1080p video recording.

The image quality is quite good for this price range. While you won't get DSLR-like image quality, the photos are sharp and color reproduction is pleasing. The 16MP resolution also gives you flexibility for cropping images later.

The 5x zoom lens provides a decent amount of versatility when composing your shots. You can zoom in moderately to capture distant subjects. This zoom range works well for general purpose shooting like landscapes, portraits, and travel photography.

Video recording quality is also good at full HD 1080p resolution up to 30fps. This allows you to capture decent quality home movies and video clips to share online or on a TV screen.

The compact size and intuitive button layout make the camera easy to use and carry around. It won't weigh you down in a purse or backpack.

For around £100, the FZ55 packs in a nice range of features and performance that makes it a good value choice if you want better quality than a smartphone camera but don't want to spend a lot of money. It can serve as a nice starter camera for new photographers or as an inexpensive backup camera for more experienced shooters.

Conclusion

The Kodak Pixpro FZ55 is a decent budget-friendly point and shoot camera. It offers good value for the price, with its 16MP sensor, 5x optical zoom, and array of shooting modes.

The image quality is quite good for a camera in this price range. Photos are sharp and detailed in good lighting conditions. However, low light performance could be better. The zoom range gives you a bit of versatility, but isn't anything extraordinary.

Video quality tops out at 1080p, which is fairly standard. The lack of WiFi or Bluetooth is disappointing given the price, making sharing photos a bit more tedious. Battery life is also mediocre.

Overall, the Kodak Pixpro FZ55 makes a nice starter camera for casual users looking for something inexpensive and easy to use. It's compact and produces pleasing images in the right conditions. Just don't expect stellar low light performance or connectivity. For the budget price though, it gets the job done.

Those seeking more manual controls, low light capability, and wireless connectivity may want to look at other options. But if your needs are basic, the FZ55 is a solid choice that won't break the bank. It captures nice snapshots and offers decent zoom in a user-friendly point and shoot package.