Cyber-shot DSC-H55

Released 2010

A 14.1-megapixel travel-zoom compact with a stabilised 25–250 mm equivalent lens, manual exposure and 720p video.

Type: Compact
Sensor: Other
Megapixels: 14.1
Lens: 25–250 mm equivalent
Video: 1280 × 720 at 30 fps
Body weight: 170 g

What reviewers say

PhotographyBlog and Imaging Resource praised the versatile lens, compact handling and easy panorama mode, but found panoramas soft. PhotographyBlog was more positive about ordinary image quality; Imaging Resource criticised aggressive noise reduction, slow shot-to-shot shooting and flash recharge. Imaging Resource also found manual aperture control limited.

From photographyblog.com and imaging-resource.com

Product links

Specifications

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Image and sensor

Camera type: Compact
Sensor format: Other
Sensor type: Super HAD CCD
Effective resolution: 14.1 MP
Largest image: 4320 × 3240
RAW recording: No
Standard ISO range: 80–3200
Sensor detail: 1/2.3-type Super HAD CCD; 14.5 million total photosites. Optical format is not a physical dimension
Image formats: JPEG (Exif 2.21); Sweep Panorama stitches up to 7152×1080, separately from sensor resolution
Image processor: BIONZ with D-Range Optimizer and DRO Plus

Lens and shooting

Built-in lens: 25–250 mm equivalent
Maximum aperture: f/3.5–5.5
Optical zoom: 10×
Stabilisation: Optical lens stabilisation
Maximum continuous burst: 1.84 fps
Lens detail: Sony G lens, actual 4.25–42.5 mm; ten elements in seven groups including four aspherical elements. Movie equivalents 30–300 mm (16:9) or 36–360 mm (4:3); no filter thread or conversion-lens support
Autofocus: Nine-point multi-area, centre and spot AF; approximately 5 cm wide or 100 cm telephoto to infinity. AF illuminator; no manual focus
Shutter: Mechanical shutter: Intelligent Auto 2–1/1600 second, Program 1–1/1600, Manual 30–1/1600. Review statement of a two-second maximum excludes manual mode
Burst detail: Maker UK/Japanese tables specify approximately 1.84 fps for four full-resolution frames. Handbook says up to 100 sequential images depending on size/conditions; that does not establish 100 frames at the headline rate. UK/manual 0.69-second interval conflicts with the explicit maximum-rate table
Stabilisation detail: Optical SteadyShot; Standard and Active movie settings
Flash: Built-in flash; ISO Auto range approximately 0.25–4.1 m wide or 1–2.6 m telephoto. ISO 3200 distance claims use different conditions
Exposure controls: Program, Manual, Intelligent Auto, Easy, Sweep Panorama and 11 scene modes. No aperture/shutter priority. ND filter gives f/3.5 or f/8 wide and f/5.5 or f/13 telephoto, not an adjustable iris. ±2 EV in 1/3 EV steps; three-shot exposure or white-balance bracketing

Video

Highest video resolution: 1280 × 720 at 30 fps
Video detail: MP4 MPEG-4 Visual/AAC-LC: 1280×720 approximately 30 progressive fps at 9 Mbps Fine or 6 Mbps Standard; VGA at approximately 3 Mbps. Optical zoom while recording. Approximately 29-minute/2 GB clip limit; conditions affect recording time
Audio: Monaural built-in microphone, speaker and AV audio output

Screen and viewfinder

Viewfinder: None
Screen size: 3″
Screen dots: 230,400
Touchscreen: No
Tilting screen: No
Display detail: Fixed Clear Photo TFT LCD; screen dots count colour subpixels, not image pixels

Connections and design

Battery life (maker's claim): 310 photographs
Body weight: 170 g
Release detail: Sony Hong Kong 11 March 2010 announcement states H55 available at retail price; separate preorder wording applies to TX5. Earliest worldwide first-sale month remains unresolved, so 2010 year precision retained
Recording media: Approximately 45 MB internal memory; Memory Stick Duo/PRO Duo/PRO-HG Duo and SD/SDHC/SDXC. Movies require PRO Duo Mark 2/PRO-HG or SD Class 4 or faster; SDXC needs compatible exFAT devices
Ports: Type 2b multi terminal for SD/HD component AV, USB 2.0 and DC input; no HDMI. Supplied cable is USB/SD AV; optional compatible component cable needed for HD output
Battery life detail: NP-BG1 supplied; optional NP-FG1. Typical 3.4 Wh/960 mAh at 3.6 V. CIPA: one photo each 30 seconds, alternating zoom, flash every second photo and power cycle every tenth at 25°C. Playback 7400 images/370 minutes is a different test
Charging: External BC-CSGD/BC-CSGE charger: approximately 270-minute normal charge or 330-minute full charge from depleted NP-BG1 at 25°C; not USB charging
Dimensions: 102.9×57.7×28.9 mm width×height×depth, excluding protrusions
Weight detail: 170 g body only; approximately 200 g with NP-BG1 and memory card
Colours: Black and silver
In the box: NP-BG1 battery, external charger, multi-connector USB/AV cable, wrist strap, software/handbook disc and instructions; mains lead varies by region

Pros and cons

Pros

25 mm equivalent wide-angle lens
Optical zoom during video recording
Manual exposure and exposure bracketing

Cons

No RAW recording
No viewfinder
Manual aperture uses two ND-filter settings

Closest rivals

Model	Type	Sensor	Megapixels	Lens	Video	Body weight	Released
SonyCyber-shot DSC-HX5V	Compact	Other	10.2	25–250 mm equivalent	1920 × 1080	170 g	Mar 2010
SonyCyber-shot DSC-H20	Compact	Other	10.1	38–380 mm equivalent	1280 × 720 at 30 fps	250 g	2009
SonyCyber-shot DSC-H70	Compact	Other	16.1	25–250 mm equivalent	1280 × 720 at 30 fps	164 g	2011

Sources

Photo: Sony

Silver DSC-H55 front three-quarter view: Sony
Silver DSC-H55 rear view: Sony
Black DSC-H55 rear view: Sony
Black and silver DSC-H55 finishes arranged together: Sony
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H55 in silver, front oblique studio view with a reflection: Sony
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H55 in silver, rear studio view with flowers displayed on its screen and a reflection: Sony

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