Overview
The Sony Cybershot DSC H55 offers extra zoom power in a relatively compact body. It has a good range of features and I was impressed by the quality of the pictures it takes. It has 14 megapixels and a 10x ultra wide angle lens.
Features include High Definition movies, image stabilisation and a 3 inch LCD screen. There is also a manual exposure setting as well as a sweep panorama mode. This mode lets you sweep the Cybershot DSC H55 round in an arc to produce a panoramic photo.
The most impressive point of the test photos was the sharpness of the images.
There is plenty of competition in this category of digital cameras, but I think this camera does a good job and I would be happy to own one.
Main Features
Megapixels:
Zoom:
LCD Screen:
Dimensions:
Weight:
14
10x
3 inches
102.9 x 57.7 x 28.9mm
200g
Macro:
HD Movies:
Manual Controls:
Batteries:
Memory Cards:
5cm
Yes
Yes
Lithium-ion Rechargeable
SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick PRO Duo
Image Quality - See Sample Images Below
Outdoor Scenic Shots in Good Light
The Cybershot DSC H55 is up against some pretty stiff competition. There are a number of similar digital cameras out there and many of them produce very good picture quality. When it comes to sharpness the Cybershot DSC H55 matches up with the best of those cameras apart from when the lens is zoomed all the way out. Certainly for the majority of my test shots the crispness of the image is eye catching. When zoom is not being used sharpness is still good, but there is a loss of focusing as you move towards the edges of the shot.
Another area where the Cybershot DSC H55 does well is with the level of detail it is able to show in areas of light shade. In my tests the camera did very well in keeping noise levels under control in those areas. There is also little evidence of any purple fringing showing in the shots. This is an issue that often shows up when testing cameras offering this amount of zoom.
Looking at my test pictures taken with the lens zoomed right out I get the impression that parts of the scene towards the edges tend to lean in slightly.
Portraits
I like the portrait shots that the Cybershot DSC H55 produces. The outdoor shot is sharply focused. There is enough colour in the shot to add a some warmth and the image is bright.
The flash seems to work particularly well. There is plenty of light and it is evenly distributed. This is a very good effort for a camera in this price bracket.
Without flash the photo is a little dull, even though noise is controlled well again.
Macro, Colours and Noise
I am very happy with the sharpness and detail showing in my macro shot. The downside is that there is a colour caste produced by the artificial light I use. This creates a purple tinge to the shot. This should not be an issue at all if you are planning to use the camera primarily for outdoor close ups in natural light.
The colours the Cybershot DSC H55 produces are not as strong as some of its rivals. This is a matter of personal taste and you may prefer subtler colours.
As I mentioned above noise levels appear to be controlled well. This is another area where the camera compares well against its main rivals.
Summary
Overall I was impressed by the picture quality offered by this camera. There are one or two imperfections, but on balance I am pleased with the quality on offer.
Style
The Cybershot DSC H55 feels like a well made camera. It is relatively small without being truly pocket sized. Colour choices are black and silver.
Shutter Lag Times
Single Shot
Five Shots
Single Shot With Flash
Five Shots With Flash
Turn on Time
0.28 seconds
17.53 seconds
0.48 seconds
22.38 seconds
2.55 seconds
Ease of Use
There are some extra features to get to know. Other than these the Cybershot DSC H55 is quite straightforward.
Points I Like
3 inch LCD screen - High Definition movies - picture quality - shutter lag times
Where it Could Improve
Nothing stands out
Product Shots
Front View
Back View
Top View
Sample Menus
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The Finepix F80EXR is difficult to beat when it comes to picture quality. Throw in an enticing set of features and Fuji are on to a winner. I found it easy to find my way around the camera and it looks good too.
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Related Pages
Sony DSC H55 Review Sony DSC H55 Specification Sony DSC H55 Sample Images Sony DSC H55 Features
Review Date
July 2010
