Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H55 vs DSC-W810: Budget-Friendly Sony Compacts in Close Combat

As someone who has tested thousands of digital cameras over my 15+ years in the biz, compact cameras always hold a special place for me - especially those affordable Sony Cyber-shot models geared for beginners or budget-conscious enthusiasts. Today, I want to dive deep on two seemingly modest but deceptively different Sony point-and-shoots: the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H55 (aka Sony H55) announced in mid-2010, and the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W810 (Sony W810), a successor of sorts from early 2014.

Right off the bat, these cameras target highly different price points and user expectations, yet they share a lot below the surface. As always, I’ll go beyond the specs sheet and tell you which might fit your photographic ambitions (or lack thereof).

Let’s open up the club for thumbs and grills and see how they stack up across real-world photography needs - portrait, landscape, wildlife, sports, street, and more - while peppering in insights from my lab testing and field trials.

Size, Ergonomics & Design: Which Fits Your Hands and Pockets?

Sony H55 stands out with a typical compact-meets-bridge camera size: measuring 103 x 58 x 29 mm and weighing around 200 grams. In contrast, the W810 is more demurely built as an ultracompact at just 97 x 56 x 21 mm and tipping scales at a featherlight 111 grams.

Hands-on, the H55 feels more substantial with a rubberized grip, providing better stability for longer shooting sessions or zoomed-in shots. The W810 is truly pocketable - so slim you'll forget you have it until a decisive photographic moment strikes. But don’t expect much in the way of comfortable gripping zones on the W810; it’s an exercise in minimalism that might strain your digits during extended shooting.

Turn to the top panel, and the difference in complexity becomes clear. The H55 sports more dedicated controls: zoom rocker, shutter button with zoom collar, and some straightforward buttons for modes and playback. The W810, by contrast, offers a minimalistic layout, favoring simplicity over tactile feedback. Both cameras have fixed LCD screens (no swiveling or touch), but visually:

Given these observations, if you prioritize pocketability and basic grab-and-shoot ease, the W810 wins hands down. But for a more traditional feel with clubs for your thumbs, go for the H55.

Sensor and Image Quality: Pixels Aren’t Everything, But They Matter

Both cameras are fitted with the same size 1/2.3-inch CCD sensor, measuring roughly 6.17 x 4.55 mm, giving a sensor area about 28 mm² - so physically identical sensor real estate (which matters a great deal for noise control and dynamic range). However, the H55 caps out at 14 megapixels, while the W810 pushes to 20 megapixels on that same sensor size.

At face value, more megapixels sound appealing: higher resolution for cropping or big prints. Yet, cramming 20MP into such a tiny sensor raises red flags for noise and image quality, especially in low light. My lab tests confirm this: the W810 images display more noticeable noise and less dynamic range beyond ISO 400 compared to the H55. The pixel pitch (distance between pixels) shrinks in W810’s sensor, impacting light-gathering efficiency per pixel.

Both have an optical low-pass (anti-aliasing) filter in place, helping reduce moiré but slightly softening images. On the H55, 14MP strikes a good balance - a bit more forgiving in noise and decent enough detail.

Neither camera offers RAW shooting (a big no-no for any serious photographer), so you’re stuck with heavily processed JPEGs for image quality tweaks downstream.

Real-world takeaway: For landscapes or detailed shots where you want sharpness and tonal gradation without much post-processing, the H55 delivers cleaner files. If you want slightly higher resolution for casual snaps and printing 4x6 postcards, W810's 20MP isn’t useless, but noise creeps in earlier.

Display and Interface: How Comfortable Is Your Visual Feedback?

Sony doubled down on keeping the experience simple on both cameras - fixed LCD screens, no electronic viewfinders (EVFs), and no touchscreens. This is a classic compact camera design choice favoring size and price over advanced interfaces.

The H55 sports a 3-inch, 230k-dot fixed LCD, while the W810 slightly shrinks the screen to 2.7 inches at the same 230k-dot resolution but boosts it with Sony’s Clear Photo LCD technology. Clear Photo LCD generally improves visibility in daylight and better color fidelity.

In the field, the larger screen of the H55 feels a bit more comfortable to review images and compose shots, particularly for users with aging eyes (guilty here). The W810’s smaller screen, though decent, can feel cramped. Neither screen will wow with brightness or angle adjustments.

Menus are intuitive but basic. Neither camera sports customizable buttons or advanced control wheels, reflecting their casual shooter design. The lack of touch controls is fine for these cameras’ price tier but slows quick menu navigation versus even low-end modern rivals.

Autofocus and Shooting Performance: The Real Action Test

AF speed and accuracy go a long way in determining user frustration or delight. Both cameras feature contrast-detection autofocus with center-weighted metering and 9 AF points for H55 versus unspecified but likely fewer for W810.

• H55 autofocus is single AF only, tracking and continuous AF modes are absent.
• W810 offers single AF and a rudimentary AF tracking mode.

In practice, the H55’s AF locks quite reliably in good light, particularly for static subjects like landscapes or portraits. It does stumble under low light or low contrast conditions - not surprising for a 2010-era consumer CCD sensor. The W810’s autofocus system is notably slower, often hunting noticeably, and struggles more with moving subjects.

Continuous shooting is another differentiation point:

• H55 can burst at 10 fps, fairly quick for a compact.
• W810 only manages 1 fps burst - essentially a single shot every second, unsuitable for fast action.

This directly impacts suitability for sports or wildlife photography.

The internal flash in both models has a limited effective range (~3.2 to 3.8 meters) and minimal modes, reinforcing their casual snapshot nature rather than professional lighting capabilities.

Lens Specs and Optical Performance: Zoom and Aperture Realities

Sony packed different optical zooms on these models:

The H55's 10x zoom range offers impressive reach for a fixed lens compact, making it more versatile for everything from wide-angle landscapes to distant subjects. W810 falls into a more limited 6x zoom gap suitable for daylight scenarios but less adaptable.

The smaller max aperture on W810 at the telephoto end (f/6.5) means more limited light gathering when zoomed, hurting shutter speeds and ISO performance. H55’s f/5.5 there is slightly better but still modest compared to prosumer cameras.

Also, H55 supports fairly close focusing at 5 cm for macro, giving a creative edge absent or unlisted with the W810.

In image sharpness tests, H55’s lens holds up well in the center across most zoom ranges, with some edge softness at max zoom - a typical tradeoff. W810 lens is softer overall and exhibits more chromatic aberration.

Battery Life and Storage Options: All Day Shoots or Early Shutdown?

Despite four years separating their release dates, Sony’s battery choices for these two cams tell their own stories:

• H55 uses the NP-BG1 battery, but official battery life is unspecified - from experience, expect about ~200 shots per charge.
• W810 uses the NP-BN battery, with Sony rating about 200 shots per charge.

Real-world testing aligns with these numbers, though usually, the smaller W810’s efficient processor and simpler features eke slightly longer usage if you stick to basic snapshots.

Both accept Memory Stick Duo/Pro Duo and SD/SDHC cards, but W810 also takes microSD variants for extra flexibility in tiny memory cards, a nice touch for travel.

None of these cameras have an external charger, so you’ll charge batteries inside via USB or dedicated charger.

Connectivity and Extras: No Wi-Fi, No NFC, Just the Basics

Neither camera sports wireless connectivity, Bluetooth, or GPS, so forget any geotagging or seamless smartphone transfers. Both have USB 2.0 for wired data transfer, with no HDMI output or external microphone jacks - no surprises here in entry-level compacts.

Both do offer some basic scene modes, face detection (only on W810), and limited exposure adjustments through auto and program modes. No manual or semi-manual controls - if you crave creative control, these are not your cameras.

Performance in Different Photography Disciplines

Now, let's talk about where these little Sony Cyber-shots fit within specific photography genres.

Portrait Photography

Effective portraits require pleasing skin tones, good bokeh, and accurate eye detection for focus. Both cameras lack advanced face/eye autofocus performance, but W810 includes basic face detection, which is helpful for beginners.

The relatively small sensors and slow lenses limit smooth bokeh, and neither camera offers aperture priority or manual aperture control to manipulate depth of field. Still, at widest apertures (f/3.5), you can get some subject isolation on the H55’s longer zoom.

Skin tones come out natural on the H55 with slightly richer colors, while W810 tends to over-process JPEGs causing mildly unnatural saturation especially in bright light.

Advantages:

• H55 offers better control over framing and zoom for portraits.
• W810 aids beginners with face-detection AF.

Limitations: Both cameras cannot produce creamy backgrounds typical of larger sensor cameras.

Landscape Photography

Here, resolution, dynamic range, and weather sealing matter.

Both cameras have no weather-sealing or rugged features, ruling out serious outdoor work in inclement weather.

H55’s 14MP sensor offers better dynamic range than W810’s higher-res but noisier sensor, which struggles to retain shadow detail. The wider 25mm equivalent lens on the H55 also gives more expansive wide-angle views than the W810’s 27mm start.

In daylight, both produce acceptable landscape images at base ISO (80), but expect visible detail loss and softness at higher ISO.

Tripod use is recommended due to limited ISO performance and minimum shutter speeds.

Wildlife and Sports Photography

This is where the cameras' limitations truly surface.

H55’s autofocus is single-point only with no tracking, while W810 adds rudimentary tracking but much slower AF speed overall.

Neither has fast continuous AF or burst rates fit for action photography. H55's 10 fps burst is decent on paper but limited by no autofocus during bursts.

Lenses' telephoto reach favors H55 with a 250mm equivalent reach compared to W810’s 162mm - critical when you can’t get physically close.

Neither camera is ideal for wildlife or sports, but if you insist, H55’s longer zoom and faster burst modes make it the lesser of two evils.

Street Photography

For street shooters valuing discretion, portability, and spontaneous captures:

W810 shines due to its ultracompact, lightweight form factor; you can slip it into any pocket. The modest lens zoom aids quick framing in urban environments.

H55 is noticeably bulkier and noisier in operation, drawing more attention.

However, W810's slower autofocus and lower burst rate may cause you to miss the split-second expression shots.

Macro Photography

H55 supports macro focusing down to 5 cm, allowing decent close-up shots with some detail.

W810's macro abilities are undocumented and likely limited by lens construction.

Neither offers focus stacking or manual focus aids, so achieving tack-sharp close-ups demands patience.

Night and Astrophotography

Despite both having ISO up to 3200, noise performance on these small sensors is poor at high ISOs.

Long exposures up to 30 seconds are only possible on the H55; W810 maxes out at 2 seconds shutter speed, severely limiting night photography scope.

No manual exposure controls or bulb modes restrict astrophotography use.

Video Capabilities

Both offer 720p HD video at 30 fps - standard definition by today’s standards.

Video quality is basic, with no stabilization beyond optical image stabilization (OIS) and no external mic input, limiting audio quality.

W810 records in H.264, a more efficient codec than H55’s MPEG-4 format, potentially offering slightly better compression.

Neither is suited for serious videography but can handle casual family or travel clips.

Travel Photography

Travel demands versatility, battery life, portability, and reliable operation.

W810 is the clear winner here due to its compact form and usable zoom lens, despite lower image quality.

H55 is bulkier but offers better zoom reach and longer exposure times, useful in varied lighting conditions at destinations.

Battery life is similar, but carrying spares is advisable for both.

Professional Work and Workflow Integration

With no RAW support, minimal control options, and consumer-grade sensors, neither camera is fit for professional assignments other than casual backup or documentation.

Compatibility with editing workflows is limited to JPEG edits, and lack of connectivity hampers rapid data transfers.

Build Quality and Durability

Neither camera offers environmental sealing, dust, shock, or waterproofing. They’re budget compacts designed for gentle use.

Price-to-Performance Ratio

If you’re a cheapskate (no offense!), the W810 offers quick snaps and ease at a very attractive price point.

For those with slightly more budget and desire for zoom flexibility and better image quality, the H55 is a better investment.

Final Scores and Verdict

The numbers don’t lie: The H55 consistently outperforms the W810 across critical performance categories, especially in autofocus speed, zoom versatility, and image quality - albeit at a higher price and larger size. The W810 leans heavily on portability and simplicity.

Sample Image Gallery

Pay close attention to these sample images side-by-side to evaluate sharpness, noise, and color.

Sony H55 front Sony H55 screen back Sony W810 front Sony W810 screen back

Summary: Which Sony Compact Should You Buy?

Closing Thoughts from the Field

Both the Sony DSC-H55 and DSC-W810 are undeniably dated and basic compacts but remain relevant to photography newcomers, budget buyers, or those wanting simple point-and-shoot convenience. Having used these in real shoots, I can confidently say the H55 offers a bit more breathing room to experiment thanks to a longer zoom, larger screen, and faster shooting capabilities, at the cost of portability and price. The W810 is your no-frills, throw-it-in-your-pocket buddy for casual family snaps with decent image quality if you don’t mind slower AF and limited zoom.

If you’re eyeing these cameras today, consider what matters most: your desire for zoom reach, image quality, and control versus your need for lightness and cost. Either way, Sony’s Cyber-shot line remains a solid entry point - just temper expectations for low-light and speed-critical shooting.

Feel free to drop your questions or share your experience with either camera below. Happy shooting!