Kodak Pixpro FZ55: cheap and still okay
Compact cameras under 200 francs are often a disaster. In contrast, the Kodak Pixpro FZ55 is fine for its low price.
The Kodak Pixpro FZ55 is currently the best-selling camera at Digitec Galaxus. This probably has something to do with Christmas. In fact, it is the most suitable gift among the low-cost compact cameras.
The run on the camera has had an impact: Unfortunately, availability is not at its best at the moment, and prices have also risen as a result. Note the differences in the colour variants: the camera is available in black, Rot und Blau.
Image quality okay for the price
The image quality is not really good, but clearly better than that of most cheap cameras. This has a lot to do with the lens. This offers a fivex zoom. In contrast to other cameras in the budget sector, this zoom is not just digital, so sharp images are still possible even when zoomed in. However, the images blur very easily as the device does not have an image stabiliser.
The resolution is 16 megapixels. This is more than enough for a camera of this type. More would be useless, and could even be detrimental. Videos are recorded in full HD at 30 frames per second or HD (720p) at 60 frames per second.
Operation and setting options
The camera is easy to operate. However, it is hardly suitable for small children. The dimensions of the housing are roughly the same as those of a credit card; the buttons are correspondingly tiny. I like the blue version that I have here for testing. It is a little unattractive that the blue on the underside extends further back than on the other three edges.
If you're more than a beginner, you can also adjust things like exposure compensation, ISO or white balance on the camera. The Kodak snapper does not offer RAW, but HDR and colour styles. There is also a macro mode, but this only works at wide angle.
With autofocus, you can choose between a single field in the centre of the image and automatic multi-segment selection. There is also an object tracking function, but this is hardly useful due to the slow autofocus.
Functionality and operation are practically identical to the FZ45.
Scope of delivery: Be careful if you give the camera as a gift
The camera has a USB-C port, which is used to charge the battery. The scope of delivery includes a cable that has a USB-A connection at the other end. As more and more chargers and computers are using USB-C instead of USB-A, you need to make sure that the recipient can charge the camera and transfer images - they may also need a cable that has USB-C at both ends. They will also need an SD memory card - it is not included in the scope of delivery.
In a nutshell
If a cheap camera, then this one
Thanks to the smartphone revolution, low-cost snappers have almost completely disappeared from the market. The few that still exist today are often miserable. Not so the Kodak Pixpro FZ55. It is a compact camera of the kind that used to be widely available - not particularly good, but usable. This is mainly due to the lens, which offers a fivefold optical zoom.
Pro
- favourable
- handy
- fivefold optical zoom
- Logical operation
Contra
- Picture quality in line with the price
- No image stabiliser
- slow autofocus
- no RAW
David Lee
Senior Editor
David.Lee@digitecgalaxus.chMy interest in IT and writing landed me in tech journalism early on (2000). I want to know how we can use technology without being used. Outside of the office, I’m a keen musician who makes up for lacking talent with excessive enthusiasm.
These articles might also interest you
1 comment
later