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Panasonic SZ8 vs Sony H55

Portability
94
Imaging
40
Features
31
Overall
36
Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ8 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H55 front
Portability
92
Imaging
37
Features
28
Overall
33

Panasonic SZ8 vs Sony H55 Key Specs

Panasonic SZ8
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 1600 (Bump to 6400)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 24-288mm (F3.1-6.3) lens
  • 159g - 100 x 60 x 27mm
  • Released January 2014
Sony H55
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-250mm (F3.5-5.5) lens
  • 200g - 103 x 58 x 29mm
  • Announced June 2010
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Panasonic SZ8 vs Sony H55 Overview

Let's examine more in depth at the Panasonic SZ8 versus Sony H55, former being a Small Sensor Superzoom while the latter is a Small Sensor Compact by rivals Panasonic and Sony. The resolution of the SZ8 (16MP) and the H55 (14MP) is pretty comparable and they come with the exact same sensor dimensions (1/2.3").

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The SZ8 was launched 3 years later than the H55 and that is a fairly serious difference as far as camera technology is concerned. The two cameras come with the identical body type (Compact).

Before going straight into a complete comparison, below is a short view of how the SZ8 grades versus the H55 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic SZ8 over the Sony H55

 SZ8 H55 
AnnouncedJanuary 2014June 2010Fresher by 44 months
Screen resolution460k230kSharper screen (+230k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony H55 over the Panasonic SZ8

 H55 SZ8 

Common features in the Panasonic SZ8 and Sony H55

 SZ8 H55 
Focus manually Lack of manual focusing
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen dimension3"3"Identical screen sizing
Selfie screen Neither contains selfie screen
Touch screen Neither contains Touch screen

Panasonic SZ8 vs Sony H55 Physical Comparison

If you're looking to carry your camera regularly, you are going to need to factor in its weight and proportions. The Panasonic SZ8 has got external measurements of 100mm x 60mm x 27mm (3.9" x 2.4" x 1.1") and a weight of 159 grams (0.35 lbs) and the Sony H55 has measurements of 103mm x 58mm x 29mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.1") and a weight of 200 grams (0.44 lbs).

Contrast the Panasonic SZ8 versus Sony H55 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an ILC will vary depending on the lens you select at that moment. Following is the front view scale comparison of the SZ8 against the H55.

Panasonic SZ8 vs Sony H55 size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability score of the SZ8 and H55 is 94 and 92 respectively.

Panasonic SZ8 vs Sony H55 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic SZ8 vs Sony H55 Sensor Comparison

Normally, it is very hard to imagine the contrast in sensor sizing purely by going through technical specs. The photograph here may give you a greater sense of the sensor measurements in the SZ8 and H55.

As you have seen, both of the cameras posses the exact same sensor measurements albeit different MP. You can expect the Panasonic SZ8 to show extra detail utilizing its extra 2 Megapixels. Higher resolution can also allow you to crop shots somewhat more aggressively. The newer SZ8 should have an edge in sensor technology.

Panasonic SZ8 vs Sony H55 sensor size comparison

Panasonic SZ8 vs Sony H55 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic SZ8 vs Sony H55 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic SZ8 Portrait photography highlights
Sony H55 Portrait photography highlights
35
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
includes face detection focus
no manual focus
manual mode not possible
cannot use external flash
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
28
MP count good (14 megapixels)
focusing manually not possible
lack of manual exposure
can't use external flash
small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
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Street Comparison

Panasonic SZ8 Street photography advice
Sony H55 Street photography advice
63
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition in class (159g)
fixed screen
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
56
has image stabilization (Optical)
screen does not articulate
small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Panasonic SZ8
Sports photography with Sony H55
34
has image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
very slow continuous shooting (1.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
bad battery (200 per charge)
lack of phase detect auto focus
38
has image stabilization (Optical)
MP count good (14 megapixels)
no shutter priority
small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic SZ8 as a Travel photography camera
Sony H55 as a Travel photography camera
67
lighter than competition in class (159g)
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
has built in flash
rather wide (24mm)
great reach (288mm)
doesn't have Timelapse recording
bad battery (200 per charge)
doesn't feature selfie friendly screen
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
67
MP count good (14 megapixels)
flash built-in
fairly wide (25mm)
great zoom (250mm)
doesn't have Timelapse recording
does not contain selfie friendly display
slow max aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic SZ8 Landscape photography factors
Sony H55 Landscape photography factors
42
rather wide (24mm)
pretty good screen size (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
no manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
manual mode not possible
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
bad battery (200 per charge)
doesn't have Timelapse recording
42
fairly wide (25mm)
good sized screen (3")
has image stabilization (Optical)
MP count good (14MP)
focusing manually not possible
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.5)
lack of manual exposure
small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
doesn't have Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Panasonic SZ8
Vlogging with Sony H55
32
rather wide (24mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
includes face detection focus
lighter than competition in class (159 grams)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
doesn't feature selfie friendly screen
low res video (1280 x 720 pxls)
doesn't have external microphone jack
28
fairly wide (25mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
slow max aperture (f3.5)
does not contain selfie friendly display
video res low (1280 x 720 pxls)
doesn't have microphone jack
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Panasonic SZ8 vs Sony H55 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic SZ8 and Sony H55
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ8Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H55
General Information
Brand Name Panasonic Sony
Model Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ8 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H55
Category Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Compact
Released 2014-01-06 2010-06-16
Body design Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Venus Engine Bionz
Sensor type CCD CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 6.08 x 4.56mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 27.7mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 16MP 14MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3 and 16:9
Max resolution 4608 x 3456 4320 x 3240
Max native ISO 1600 3200
Max enhanced ISO 6400 -
Lowest native ISO 100 80
RAW images
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
AF continuous
Single AF
Tracking AF
AF selectice
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Number of focus points 9 9
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 24-288mm (12.0x) 25-250mm (10.0x)
Largest aperture f/3.1-6.3 f/3.5-5.5
Macro focus distance - 5cm
Crop factor 5.9 5.8
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of display 460 thousand dot 230 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Display tech TFT LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Min shutter speed 8 seconds 30 seconds
Max shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/1600 seconds
Continuous shutter speed 1.0fps 10.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Change WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 5.20 m 3.80 m
Flash options Auto, Auto/Red-eye Reduction, Forced On, Slow Sync./Red-eye Reduction, Forced Off Auto, On, Slow Syncro, Off
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30p), 640 x 480 (30p), 320 x 240 (30p) 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 1280x720 1280x720
Video file format Motion JPEG MPEG-4
Microphone input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 159 grams (0.35 lb) 200 grams (0.44 lb)
Dimensions 100 x 60 x 27mm (3.9" x 2.4" x 1.1") 103 x 58 x 29mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.1")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth score not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range score not tested not tested
DXO Low light score not tested not tested
Other
Battery life 200 shots -
Battery format Battery Pack -
Battery model - NP-BG1
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec, portrait1/ portrait2)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal Memory Stick Duo / Pro Duo/ PRO HG-Duo, SD/SDHC, Internal
Storage slots Single Single
Retail pricing $275 $235