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Pentax RZ18 vs Sony H55

Portability
92
Imaging
39
Features
37
Overall
38
Pentax Optio RZ18 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H55 front
Portability
92
Imaging
36
Features
28
Overall
32

Pentax RZ18 vs Sony H55 Key Specs

Pentax RZ18
(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
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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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").

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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.

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Reasons to pick Pentax RZ18 over the Sony H55

 RZ18 H55 
AnnouncedSeptember 2011June 2010More modern by 16 months
Focus manually Dial accurate focusing
Screen resolution460k230kSharper 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 typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen sizing3"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. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

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.

Pentax RZ18 vs Sony H55 size comparison

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

Pentax RZ18 vs Sony H55 top view buttons comparison

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 sensor size comparison

Pentax RZ18 vs Sony H55 Screen and ViewFinder

Pentax RZ18 vs Sony H55 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Pentax RZ18
Portrait photography with Sony H55
36
focusing manually
good megapixels (16MP)
no manual control
external flash not possible
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
28
sensor resolution is decent (14 megapixels)
manual focus not available
no manual control
no external flash support
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
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Street Comparison

Pentax RZ18 Street photography info
Sony H55 Street photography info
65
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
environment proof
lighter than competition (178g)
fixed screen
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
56
built in image stabilization (Optical)
no moving screen
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Pentax RZ18
Sports photography with Sony H55
47
great zoom range (25-450mm 18.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
comes with tracking autofocus
environment proof
slow frames per second (1.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority mode
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
has no phase detect auto focus
38
built in image stabilization (Optical)
sensor resolution is decent (14 megapixels)
no shutter priority mode
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Pentax RZ18
Travel photography with Sony H55
71
lighter than competition (178 grams)
environment proof
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
built-in flash
decently wide (25mm)
very long zoom (450mm)
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
does not offer selfie friendly display
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
66
sensor resolution is decent (14 megapixels)
built-in flash
really wide (25mm)
great zoom (250mm)
lack of Time Lapse function
doesn't offer selfie friendly screen
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Pentax RZ18 Landscape photography details
Sony H55 Landscape photography details
49
focusing manually
decently wide (25mm)
screen size is good (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
environment proof
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
no manual control
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
41
really wide (25mm)
decent sized screen (3")
built in image stabilization (Optical)
sensor resolution is decent (14 megapixels)
manual focus not available
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
no manual control
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
lack of Time Lapse function
Photography Glossary

Vlogging Comparison

Pentax RZ18 as a Vlogging camera
Sony H55 as a Vlogging camera
30
decently wide (25mm)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than competition (178g)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
does not offer selfie friendly display
video quality not great (1280 x 720 pixels)
doesn't have external mic support
28
really wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
doesn't offer selfie friendly screen
low video resolution (1280 x 720 resolution)
lack of external mic support
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Pentax RZ18 vs Sony H55 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Pentax RZ18 and Sony H55
 Pentax Optio RZ18Sony 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