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Pentax XG-1 vs Sony H55

Portability
66
Imaging
40
Features
37
Overall
38
Pentax XG-1 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H55 front
Portability
92
Imaging
37
Features
28
Overall
33

Pentax XG-1 vs Sony H55 Key Specs

Pentax XG-1
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-1248mm (F2.8-5.6) lens
  • 567g - 119 x 89 x 98mm
  • Announced July 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
  • Introduced June 2010
Photography Glossary

Pentax XG-1 vs Sony H55 Overview

On this page, we will be comparing the Pentax XG-1 and Sony H55, former is a Small Sensor Superzoom while the latter is a Small Sensor Compact by competitors Pentax and Sony. The resolution of the XG-1 (16MP) and the H55 (14MP) is pretty similar and both cameras posses the same sensor dimensions (1/2.3").

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The XG-1 was announced 4 years after the H55 which is quite a big difference as far as tech is concerned. The two cameras have different body design with the Pentax XG-1 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera and the Sony H55 being a Compact camera.

Before diving straight to a comprehensive comparison, here is a short overview of how the XG-1 grades vs the H55 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Pentax XG-1 over the Sony H55

 XG-1 H55 
IntroducedJuly 2014June 2010More modern by 50 months
Focus manually Very accurate focus
Screen resolution460k230kSharper screen (+230k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony H55 over the Pentax XG-1

 H55 XG-1 

Common features in the Pentax XG-1 and Sony H55

 XG-1 H55 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen dimensions3"3"Equal screen sizing
Selfie screen Neither contains selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Neither contains Touch friendly screen

Pentax XG-1 vs Sony H55 Physical Comparison

In case you're planning to carry around your camera often, you should factor its weight and dimensions. The Pentax XG-1 has got outside dimensions of 119mm x 89mm x 98mm (4.7" x 3.5" x 3.9") having a weight of 567 grams (1.25 lbs) while the Sony H55 has dimensions of 103mm x 58mm x 29mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.1") along with a weight of 200 grams (0.44 lbs).

Take a look at the Pentax XG-1 and Sony H55 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an ILC will vary based on the lens you choose at the time. Following is a front view measurements comparison of the XG-1 and the H55.

Pentax XG-1 vs Sony H55 size comparison

Looking at size and weight, the portability score of the XG-1 and H55 is 66 and 92 respectively.

Pentax XG-1 vs Sony H55 top view buttons comparison

Pentax XG-1 vs Sony H55 Sensor Comparison

Usually, it's difficult to visualize the difference between sensor sizes purely by going over specs. The pic here will give you a much better sense of the sensor dimensions in the XG-1 and H55.

As you can plainly see, each of the cameras have the same sensor dimensions albeit different megapixels. You can expect the Pentax XG-1 to deliver more detail with its extra 2MP. Higher resolution will make it easier to crop shots a bit more aggressively. The more modern XG-1 provides an advantage in sensor technology.

Pentax XG-1 vs Sony H55 sensor size comparison

Pentax XG-1 vs Sony H55 Screen and ViewFinder

Pentax XG-1 vs Sony H55 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Pentax XG-1
Portrait photography with Sony H55
40
manual focus
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
cannot use external flash
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
28
megapixel count good (14MP)
manual focus not available
manual mode not available
cannot use external flash
sensor is small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
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Street Comparison

Pentax XG-1 Street photography info
Sony H55 Street photography info
43
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
no articulating screen
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
heavier than average (567 grams)
56
has image stabilization (Optical)
fixed screen
sensor is small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Pentax XG-1 Sports photography information
Sony H55 Sports photography information
45
excellent zoom range (24-1248mm 52.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
resolution is good (16MP)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
bad battery life (240 shots)
does not have phase detect AF
38
has image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count good (14 megapixels)
lack of shutter priority mode
sensor is small (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Pentax XG-1 Travel photography details
Sony H55 Travel photography details
52
resolution is good (16MP)
built-in flash
quite wide (24mm)
long reach (1248mm)
lack of Time Lapse recording
bad battery life (240 per charge)
heavier than average (567 grams)
display is not selfie friendly
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
67
megapixel count good (14MP)
built-in flash
quite wide (25mm)
great zoom (250mm)
lack of Timelapse recording
display isn't selfie friendly
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Pentax XG-1 Landscape photography factors
Sony H55 Landscape photography factors
45
manual focus
quite wide (24mm)
screen size is good (3")
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
resolution is good (16MP)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
bad battery life (240 CIPA)
lack of Time Lapse recording
42
quite wide (25mm)
pretty good screen size (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count good (14MP)
manual focus not available
cannot swap lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
manual mode not available
sensor is small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
lack of Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Pentax XG-1 Vlogging factors
Sony H55 Vlogging factors
25
quite wide (24mm)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
great video quality (1920 x 1080 pixels)
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
display is not selfie friendly
lack of mic socket
heavier than average (567g)
28
quite wide (25mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
display isn't selfie friendly
low res video (1280 x 720 pxls)
lack of microphone support
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Pentax XG-1 vs Sony H55 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Pentax XG-1 and Sony H55
 Pentax XG-1Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H55
General Information
Brand Pentax Sony
Model Pentax XG-1 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H55
Category Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Compact
Announced 2014-07-15 2010-06-16
Physical type SLR-like (bridge) Compact
Sensor Information
Processor - Bionz
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixels 14 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 4608 x 3456 4320 x 3240
Maximum native ISO 3200 3200
Min native ISO 100 80
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Number of focus points - 9
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 24-1248mm (52.0x) 25-250mm (10.0x)
Largest aperture f/2.8-5.6 f/3.5-5.5
Macro focus range 1cm 5cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.8
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display size 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of display 460 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic None
Viewfinder resolution 200 thousand dots -
Features
Minimum shutter speed 4 seconds 30 seconds
Fastest shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/1600 seconds
Continuous shutter rate 9.0fps 10.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 6.00 m 3.80 m
Flash modes Force Off, Flash Auto, Force Flash, Slow Sync., Slow Sync. + Red-Eye, Red-Eye Reduction Auto, On, Slow Syncro, Off
External flash
AEB
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (120 fps) 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video data format Motion JPEG MPEG-4
Microphone 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
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 567 grams (1.25 pounds) 200 grams (0.44 pounds)
Physical dimensions 119 x 89 x 98mm (4.7" x 3.5" x 3.9") 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 240 images -
Battery style Battery Pack -
Battery model LB-060 NP-BG1
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec, portrait1/ portrait2)
Time lapse recording
Storage type SD/SDHC Memory Stick Duo / Pro Duo/ PRO HG-Duo, SD/SDHC, Internal
Card slots 1 1
Price at release $599 $235