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Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H20 vs Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H55

Every spec side by side, from each maker's published figures.

Better figure, where one is clearly better

SonyCyber-shot DSC-H20SonyCyber-shot DSC-H55
Overview
Released20092010
Image and sensor
Camera typeCompactCompact
Sensor formatOtherOther
Sensor typeSuper HAD CCDSuper HAD CCD
Effective resolution10.1 MP14.1 MP
Largest image3648 × 27364320 × 3240
RAW recordingNoNo
Standard ISO range80–320080–3200
Sensor detail1/2.3-type colour Super HAD CCD, approximately 12.4 million total and 10.1 million effective photosites; optical sensor format does not establish physical sensor dimensions1/2.3-type Super HAD CCD; 14.5 million total photosites. Optical format is not a physical dimension
Image formatsJPEG still images; no RAW recording. Exif 2.21 and DPOF supportedJPEG (Exif 2.21); Sweep Panorama stitches up to 7152×1080, separately from sensor resolution
Image processorBIONZ imaging processor; Dynamic Range Optimizer, Intelligent Scene Recognition, face detection and Smile ShutterBIONZ with D-Range Optimizer and DRO Plus
Lens and shooting
Built-in lens38–380 mm equivalent25–250 mm equivalent
Maximum aperturef/3.5–4.4f/3.5–5.5
Optical zoom10×10×
StabilisationOptical lens stabilisationOptical lens stabilisation
Maximum continuous burst–1.84 fps
Lens detailCarl Zeiss Vario-Tessar 10× optical zoom, physical 6.3–63 mm, equivalent 38–380 mm, f/3.5 wide to f/4.4 telephoto in exact UK specifications and English manual. Hong Kong launch table has conflicting f/3.3–5.2 text but its manual-mode row confirms f/3.5/f/4.4; exact UK/manual values retained. 58 mm filters require optional lens adapterSony 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
AutofocusNine-point multi-area, centre and spot AF, face detection and discrete distance presets rather than continuous manual focus. Maker focus range approximately 2 cm wide or 90 cm telephoto to infinityNine-point multi-area, centre and spot AF; approximately 5 cm wide or 100 cm telephoto to infinity. AF illuminator; no manual focus
ShutterHong Kong exact table: Auto 1/4–1/1600 second, Program 1–1/1600, Manual 30–1/2000; operating conditions affect availabilityMechanical 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 detailUK maker lists approximately 0.57-second burst intervals and up to 100 frames; no reciprocal conversion into headline fpsMaker 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 detailOptical SteadyShot lens stabilisation; UK table explicitly excludes NightShot and NightFramingOptical SteadyShot; Standard and Active movie settings
FlashBuilt-in pop-up flash; Hong Kong maker specifies approximately 0.2–7 m wide or 0.9–5.5 m telephoto at ISO Auto. ISO3200 distance claims use different conditionsBuilt-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 controlsIntelligent Auto, Easy, Program Auto, Manual and scene selections. No aperture-priority or shutter-priority mode. Manual offers f/3.5 or f/8 at wide angle and f/4.4 or f/10 at telephoto; PhotographyBlog explains these use an ND filter rather than changing depth of field. Exposure compensation ±2 EV in 1/3 EV steps; exposure bracketing; One Push custom white balance in exact instructionsProgram, 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 resolution1280 × 720 at 30 fps1280 × 720 at 30 fps
Video detailMPEG-4 Visual movies with monaural audio, maximum 1280×720 at approximately 30 fps. Optical zoom operates while filming; exact manual warns that lens/button sounds may be recorded. 720 Fine 9 Mbps, Standard 6 Mbps or VGA 3 Mbps. Exact instructions limit continuous clips to approximately 29 minutes depending on conditions; 720 modes require Memory Stick PRO Duo. Frame-rate submode entries conflict in Hong Kong launch table, so lower-mode fps omittedMP4 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
AudioBuilt-in monaural microphone and monaural speaker, confirmed by exact instructionsMonaural built-in microphone, speaker and AV audio output
Screen and viewfinder
ViewfinderNoneNone
Screen size3″3″
Screen dots230,400230,400
TouchscreenNoNo
Tilting screenNoNo
Display detailFixed 3-type TFT LCD, 230400 dots in exact English manual; maker tables round to 230000. No viewfinderFixed Clear Photo TFT LCD; screen dots count colour subpixels, not image pixels
Connections and design
BluetoothNo–
Battery life (maker's claim)290 photographs310 photographs
Body weight250 g170 g
Release detailContemporary Sony US announcement republished by Photoxels on 17 February 2009 planned April purchase availability; Hong Kong 3 March announcement planned mid-April. Full independent May/June tests establish retail generation 2009, but earliest actual sale month unconfirmed, so year precision retainedSony 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 mediaApproximately 11 MB internal memory; Memory Stick Duo, PRO Duo and PRO-HG Duo supported, with no PRO-HG speed advantage. Memory card not suppliedApproximately 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
PortsType2b multi-use terminal carries Hi-Speed USB 2.0 and SD/HD analogue AV output. Optional HD output adapter cable is separately sold; this is not an HDMI terminal.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
Wireless connectionsUK exact specifications explicitly list no Bluetooth–
Battery life detailSupplied NP-BG1 lithium-ion battery, nominal 3.6 V, typical 3.4 Wh/960 mAh and minimum 3.3 Wh/910 mAh. Approximately 290 photographs/145 minutes under CIPA still-test conditions. Playback 6400 images/320 minutes is a separate test; optional NP-FG1 supportedNP-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
ChargingExternal BC-CSGD/BC-CSGE charger in exact English instructions; regional supplied components vary. Approximately 330 minutes full charge or 270 minutes normal charge from depleted battery at 25°CExternal 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
DimensionsApproximately 107.3 × 68.7 × 47.1 mm width × height × depth excluding protrusions102.9×57.7×28.9 mm width×height×depth, excluding protrusions
Weight detailApproximately 250 g excluding battery and recording media in UK/Hong Kong maker specifications; 279 g including NP-BG1 battery and Memory Stick Duo in exact instructions170 g body only; approximately 200 g with NP-BG1 and memory card
Colours–Black and silver
In the boxNP-BG1 battery, external charger, multi-connector USB/AV cable, wrist strap, lens cap and software disc; memory card and HD output adapter cable separately sold, regional charger fittings varyNP-BG1 battery, external charger, multi-connector USB/AV cable, wrist strap, software/handbook disc and instructions; mains lead varies by region

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