Pentax RZ18 vs Sony H55
92 Imaging
39 Features
37 Overall
38


92 Imaging
36 Features
28 Overall
32
Pentax RZ18 vs Sony H55 Key Specs
(Full Review)
- 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
- 3" Fixed Screen
- ISO 80 - 6400
- Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
- 1280 x 720 video
- 25-450mm (F3.5-5.9) lens
- 178g - 97 x 61 x 33mm
- Launched September 2011
(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

Pentax RZ18 vs Sony H55 Overview
Its time to examine more closely at the Pentax RZ18 vs Sony H55, former is a Small Sensor Superzoom while the latter is a Small Sensor Compact by companies Pentax and Sony. The resolution of the RZ18 (16MP) and the H55 (14MP) is pretty similar and they use the same exact sensor dimensions (1/2.3").

The RZ18 was manufactured 16 months after the H55 which makes the cameras a generation away from one another. Each of these cameras offer the identical body type (Compact).
Before diving in to a in depth comparison, below is a simple overview of how the RZ18 matches up vs the H55 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

Pentax RZ18 vs Sony H55 Gallery
The following is a preview of the gallery images for Pentax Optio RZ18 & Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H55. The entire galleries are provided at Pentax RZ18 Gallery & Sony H55 Gallery.
Reasons to pick Pentax RZ18 over the Sony H55
RZ18 | H55 | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Announced | September 2011 | ![]() | June 2010 | More modern by 16 months |
Focus manually | ![]() | Dial accurate focusing | ||
Screen resolution | 460k | ![]() | 230k | Sharper screen (+230k dot) |
Reasons to pick Sony H55 over the Pentax RZ18
H55 | RZ18 |
---|
Common features in the Pentax RZ18 and Sony H55
RZ18 | H55 | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Screen type | Fixed | ![]() | Fixed | Fixed screen |
Screen sizing | 3" | ![]() | 3" | Equivalent screen sizing |
Selfie screen | ![]() | Lack of selfie screen | ||
Touch friendly screen | ![]() | Lack of Touch friendly screen |
Pentax RZ18 vs Sony H55 Physical Comparison
For those who are aiming to carry around your camera often, you will want to think about its weight and size. The Pentax RZ18 enjoys outside dimensions of 97mm x 61mm x 33mm (3.8" x 2.4" x 1.3") with a weight of 178 grams (0.39 lbs) whilst the Sony H55 has specifications of 103mm x 58mm x 29mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.1") with a weight of 200 grams (0.44 lbs).
Check out the Pentax RZ18 vs Sony H55 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool.
Take into consideration, the weight of an ILC will change based on the lens you are utilizing during that time. The following is the front view size comparison of the RZ18 vs the H55.

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the RZ18 and H55 is 92 and 92 respectively.

Pentax RZ18 vs Sony H55 Sensor Comparison
Sometimes, it is hard to envision the gap between sensor sizes purely by reading specs. The picture underneath might give you a greater sense of the sensor dimensions in the RZ18 and H55.
All in all, each of the cameras enjoy the same exact sensor sizing albeit not the same megapixels. You can expect the Pentax RZ18 to offer you more detail due to its extra 2 Megapixels. Higher resolution can also help you crop pictures far more aggressively. The more recent RZ18 is going to have an edge with regard to sensor tech.

Pentax RZ18 vs Sony H55 Screen and ViewFinder


Photography Type Scores
Portrait Comparison

Street Comparison

Sports Comparison

Travel Comparison

Landscape Comparison

Vlogging Comparison

Pentax RZ18 vs Sony H55 Specifications
Pentax Optio RZ18 | Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H55 | |
---|---|---|
General Information | ||
Brand Name | Pentax | Sony |
Model | Pentax Optio RZ18 | Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H55 |
Class | Small Sensor Superzoom | Small Sensor Compact |
Launched | 2011-09-12 | 2010-06-16 |
Physical type | Compact | Compact |
Sensor Information | ||
Chip | - | Bionz |
Sensor type | CCD | CCD |
Sensor size | 1/2.3" | 1/2.3" |
Sensor dimensions | 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 and 16:9 | 4:3 and 16:9 |
Highest resolution | 4608 x 3456 | 4320 x 3240 |
Highest native ISO | 6400 | 3200 |
Lowest native ISO | 80 | 80 |
RAW images | ||
Autofocusing | ||
Focus manually | ||
Touch focus | ||
Continuous AF | ||
AF single | ||
Tracking AF | ||
AF selectice | ||
AF center weighted | ||
AF multi area | ||
Live view AF | ||
Face detection focusing | ||
Contract detection focusing | ||
Phase detection focusing | ||
Number of focus points | 9 | 9 |
Lens | ||
Lens mount | fixed lens | fixed lens |
Lens focal range | 25-450mm (18.0x) | 25-250mm (10.0x) |
Max aperture | f/3.5-5.9 | f/3.5-5.5 |
Macro focus range | 4cm | 5cm |
Crop factor | 5.9 | 5.8 |
Screen | ||
Screen type | Fixed Type | Fixed Type |
Screen sizing | 3 inch | 3 inch |
Resolution of screen | 460 thousand dots | 230 thousand dots |
Selfie friendly | ||
Liveview | ||
Touch friendly | ||
Screen technology | TFT color LCD with Anti-reflective coating | - |
Viewfinder Information | ||
Viewfinder | None | None |
Features | ||
Lowest shutter speed | 4 secs | 30 secs |
Highest shutter speed | 1/2000 secs | 1/1600 secs |
Continuous shooting rate | 1.0 frames/s | 10.0 frames/s |
Shutter priority | ||
Aperture priority | ||
Manual mode | ||
Change WB | ||
Image stabilization | ||
Integrated flash | ||
Flash range | 2.80 m | 3.80 m |
Flash options | Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Soft | Auto, On, Slow Syncro, Off |
External flash | ||
Auto exposure bracketing | ||
White balance bracketing | ||
Exposure | ||
Multisegment exposure | ||
Average exposure | ||
Spot exposure | ||
Partial exposure | ||
AF area exposure | ||
Center weighted exposure | ||
Video features | ||
Supported video resolutions | 1280 x 720 (30, 15 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15 fps) | 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) |
Highest video resolution | 1280x720 | 1280x720 |
Video data format | Motion JPEG | MPEG-4 |
Mic support | ||
Headphone support | ||
Connectivity | ||
Wireless | Eye-Fi Connected | None |
Bluetooth | ||
NFC | ||
HDMI | ||
USB | USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) | USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) |
GPS | None | None |
Physical | ||
Environment sealing | ||
Water proof | ||
Dust proof | ||
Shock proof | ||
Crush proof | ||
Freeze proof | ||
Weight | 178 gr (0.39 pounds) | 200 gr (0.44 pounds) |
Dimensions | 97 x 61 x 33mm (3.8" x 2.4" x 1.3") | 103 x 58 x 29mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.1") |
DXO scores | ||
DXO All around 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 model | D-LI92 | NP-BG1 |
Self timer | Yes (2 or 10 sec) | Yes (2 or 10 sec, portrait1/ portrait2) |
Time lapse feature | ||
Storage type | SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal | Memory Stick Duo / Pro Duo/ PRO HG-Duo, SD/SDHC, Internal |
Card slots | One | One |
Cost at launch | $210 | $235 |