Sony H50 vs Sony H55: A Hands-On Comparison of Two Compact Superzoom Contenders

When it comes to compact cameras with superzoom capabilities, Sony’s Cyber-shot line has long been a favorite among enthusiasts seeking an all-in-one solution without the bulk of interchangeable lenses. The Sony H50 and H55, both from the late 2000s to early 2010s era, embody two successive design philosophies within this category. But which one suits your photography style best? Having extensively tested both under varied conditions - portrait sessions, wildlife hikes, street wanderings - I’ll walk you through a comprehensive side-by-side to help you decide.

We’ll dive beyond simple specs, analyzing sensor performance, ergonomics, autofocus behavior, and more. Whether you’re shooting landscapes at golden hour or chasing fast action, this comparison aims to translate technical detail into practical insight.

The Physical Feel: Size, Shape, and Design Choices

Let’s start with the bodies themselves. Handling influences every shooting experience, from hand fatigue to quick access controls.

The Sony H50 is noticeably chunkier and heavier at 547g, measuring 116 x 81 x 86 mm - a solid, almost grip-friendly heft for a compact superzoom. Its deeper profile offers a confident handhold and roomier button layout, which is appreciated during extended outings or in chilly weather when wearing gloves.

In contrast, the H55 trims the weight dramatically to 200g and slimness to 103 x 58 x 29 mm, making it pocketable in a way the H50 cannot match. This sleekness enhances portability, ideal for travel photographers who prioritize minimal gear load. However, the trade-off is a more constrained grip and smaller buttons, demanding more precise finger placement.

The control scheme reflects these sizing differences:

The H50 provides dedicated dials for aperture priority, shutter priority, and manual exposure modes - a nod to advanced users. The H55 adopts a simplified approach, lacking those modes and adjusting settings primarily via menus. This simplification can speed workflow for casual shooters but might frustrate enthusiasts who like knobs in hand.

Ergonomically, I prefer the H50 for deliberate shooting scenarios where tactile feedback matters. For spontaneous street or travel photography, the H55’s lightness and discreteness are compelling.

Sensor and Image Quality: The Heart of Your Photos

Both cameras sport a 1/2.3" CCD sensor, quite typical for this category and era, but with a few key distinctions:

• Sony H50: 9MP resolution, max ISO 3200
• Sony H55: 14MP resolution, also max ISO 3200

The H55’s higher megapixel count promises greater resolution - translating to larger prints or more latitude for cropping. However, more megapixels packed into the same sensor size often lead to more noise at high ISO. CCD technology itself tends to produce less noise in mid-tone areas compared to early CMOS sensors of the period, but performance at ISO 1600+ remains challenging in both.

Real-world tests confirm the H55’s extra resolution but show slightly softer noise handling above ISO 800 compared to the H50. For portraits, this can mean a subtly grainier look on skin tones if light is limited.

Dynamic range is equally modest on both, making exposure precision and post-processing critical, especially for landscapes with bright skies and shadowed foregrounds.

Viewing and Interface: How You See Your Scene Matters

Capturing is one thing; composing and reviewing is another, especially when you’re racing a setting sun or tracking active wildlife.

Both models have non-touch 3-inch screens with 230k dots resolution, providing decent visibility outdoors but nowhere near the crispness of modern displays. The H50’s added feature is the electronic viewfinder (EVF), albeit with unspecified resolution. The H55 opts out of an EVF entirely, relying on the rear LCD.

In bright environments, the H50’s EVF proves invaluable. Framing precise compositions without glare, eye-level stabilization, and less distraction from surrounding light help dial in shots faster. The H55’s sole LCD can complicate sunny-day shooting.

However, neither camera offers articulated or touch-sensitive screens, and menu navigation can feel clunky by today’s standards. I found the H50’s physical dials complimented interface quirks by allowing rapid setting changes without digging into menus.

Autofocus and Speed: Chasing the Moment

Autofocus performance is crucial across wildlife, sports, even street needs, so here’s where the most glaring practical differences emerge.

The H50 employs 9 focus points using contrast-detection only; the H55 matches the number but adds a center-weighted AF area for better central subject lock.

• H50: Max continuous shooting at 2 fps
• H55: 10 fps burst, a significant jump

While neither boasts phase detection or advanced tracking tech, the H55’s faster burst capability makes it more suited to brief action sequences like kids playing or pets running. However, with limited AF tracking and lower liveview autofocus speed, both can struggle locking fast-moving subjects compared to modern hybrids.

In my tests, the H55 locks focus swiftly in good light, aided by its faster processor (Bionz), but both falter under dimmer conditions or chaotic scenes.

Lens Versatility: Zoom Range and Aperture Considerations

The fixed lenses are what define these cameras’ appeal - offering far-reaching zoom in pocketable bodies.

• Sony H50: 31-465mm equivalent (15x zoom), aperture f/2.7-4.5
• Sony H55: 25-250mm equivalent (10x zoom), aperture f/3.5-5.5

The H50’s huge telephoto reach almost doubles the H55’s, which will appeal to wildlife and sports photographers needing distance without bulk. Its faster aperture at the wide end grants better low-light capacity and shallower depth of field potential for portraits.

Conversely, the H55 sacrifices maximum zoom length for a wider angle at 25mm, better for landscapes, architectural shots, and indoor environments where perimeter framing matters. Its slower aperture means performance in dim light is more limited, though optical image stabilization mitigates some handshake issues.

Real-World Use Across Photography Genres

Now, let’s see how these features and specs translate into practical strengths and weaknesses in key photographic disciplines.

Portrait Photography

Portrait shooters demand pleasing skin tones, natural bokeh, and reliable eye detection or focus accuracy.

Neither camera supports RAW format or eye autofocus - long before these became mainstream features - so in-camera JPEG quality rules here.

The H50’s wider aperture and longer zoom better isolate subjects, creating natural background blur. Its 9MP resolution suffices for standard prints.

The H55’s higher megapixels attempt tighter detail but require more care with lighting and post-processing to avoid skin texture harshness at higher ISOs.

Bottom line: For casual portraits with sunny lighting, H50’s optical advantages shine. For closer group portraits where wider framing is required, H55’s lens suits better.

Landscape Photography

Landscape photography extols resolution, dynamic range, and weather resistance.

Neither camera offers weather sealing; both are basic compacts meant for fair-weather conditions.

The H55’s higher resolution and wider-angle lens provide framing flexibility and sharper final images, advantageous for sweeping vistas. Dynamic range is limited on both, so shooting during golden hours or using graduated filters externally helps preserve highlights and shadows.

The H50’s narrower zoom range and middling sensor resolution place it slightly behind, but optical stabilization helps with handheld shots at lower shutter speeds.

Wildlife and Sports Photography

Speed and reach define success here.

The H50’s 15x zoom gives undeniable advantage in framing distant animals or athletes from sidelines. Coupled with stabilizer, it’s a solid one-package solution for casual wildlife shooting.

The H55’s superior continuous shooting speed partially compensates with chances to catch decisive moments, but its shorter zoom may force awkward cropping or need for physical proximity.

Autofocus on both is rudimentary, hampering reliable performance with erratic motion, though the H55’s center AF point improves focus lock.

Street Photography

A discreet, lightweight camera capable of performing in low light makes for ideal street gear.

Here, the H55’s smaller size and lighter weight allow quicker, less obtrusive shooting. The lens’ wide angle helps capture context and scenes without stepping back excessively.

The H50 is bulkier, more conspicuous, and somewhat slower operationally due to control complexity.

Neither camera excels in high ISO noise performance, limiting nighttime street photography. A lens with f/2.7 helps the H50 handle twilight better.

Macro Photography

Sharp close-focusing and stabilization create satisfying macro shots.

The H50 can focus as close as 1 cm, while the H55 starts at 5 cm - giving the H50 an edge for tight close-ups of flowers or insects.

Both cameras’ optical stabilization aid handheld macro shooting, though limited aperture control and sensor resolution cap extreme detail capture.

Night and Astrophotography

Both provide modest maximum ISO 3200 but lack raw capture or long exposure controls, restricting astrophotography potential.

However, the H50’s longer shutter speeds (up to 1/30s) and brighter lens at wide end help retain some low-light capability for general night scenes.

Video Capabilities

Neither camera offers advanced video features by modern standards.

• H50 max record: 640 x 480 @ 30 fps
• H55 max record: 1280 x 720 @ 30 fps, MPEG-4

Video enthusiasts will prefer the H55’s HD-quality recording despite lack of external mic input or stabilization for video.

Travel Photography

In travel, versatility, portability, and battery life rule.

The H55’s smaller size and lighter weight favor urban roaming and packing light. Its wider lens suits more shooting situations during travel.

The H50’s long zoom lens and robust controls suit travelers prioritizing telephoto reach and manual setting control.

Professional Workflows

Neither camera supports RAW capture or advanced color profiles, limiting professional post-production flexibility.

Memory Stick Duo and SD card compatibility vary: the H55 supports SD/SDHC cards, a more common standard, easing workflow integration.

Under the Hood: Build, Battery, Connectivity, and Price

Both cameras lack weather sealing and ruggedness enhancements common in modern outdoor models.

Battery life is not officially stated, but both use the same NP-BG1 battery, with slight differences expected due to power consumption and size.

Connectivity is minimal - USB 2.0 only, no Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, NFC, or GPS.

Pricing positions the H50 as a budget-friendly option (~$80), while the H55’s newer specs come at roughly triple the price (around $235).

Summary Scores and Genre Ratings

No need to rely solely on words here - let’s glance at overall and genre-specific performance metrics I compiled from testing data.

The H55 leads in general versatility, burst speed, and resolution. The H50 scores highest in optical zoom and manual operation.

Sample Images Side-by-Side

Rather than abstract talk, sample images reveal how these specs translate into real-world quality:

Sony H50 front Sony H50 screen back Sony H55 front Sony H55 screen back

You can see the H50’s zoom capability winning distant shots, while the H55 renders sharper details with clearer colors in static scenes.

Final Thoughts: Which Should You Choose?

Both Sony cameras serve distinct niches despite surface similarities.

Choose the Sony H50 if:

• You want powerful telephoto reach (31-465mm) for wildlife or sports
• Manual exposure modes are essential for creative control
• You value an EVF for bright environments
• You need close macro focusing capability
• You operate on a tight budget and don’t mind bulk

Choose the Sony H55 if:

• Portability and light travel weight are top priorities
• You desire higher resolution images in daylight or portraits
• You shoot casual action or moments needing faster burst rates (up to 10 fps)
• You want basic HD video capability
• You prefer easier storage with SD card compatibility

Closing Recommended Scenarios

If you are an enthusiast who loves to explore manual exposure creatively across different genres with a long zoom reach, the H50 remains a relevant choice, especially if budget constraints apply.

On the other hand, if your photographic journey emphasizes portability, sharper images, and faster reaction, the H55 better fits a modern snapshot and travel workflow, despite some compromise in zoom reach and manual controls.

I hope this deep comparison helps you cut through the specs to find the camera that matches your style. Let me know which one you’re leaning toward or if you’re curious about how they stack up against current superzooms!

Happy shooting!