Sony H55 digital camera tests and review

Camera Sony H55: its five arguments to the magnifying

Available for few time, the H55 combines for 250 euros, five techs sometimes brilliant, sometimes oversold.

Panorama mode scanning. And so, to create a very large image (eg to take a snapshot covering a city from a terrace overhanging) you enough to hold the device in hands and gently make a horizontal scan? No need a tripod or editing software, panorama mode for Cyber-shot H55 handles everything itself. Appearing with WX1 (the compact revolutionary 2009), we were so confident with its simplicity and effectiveness. A real plus!

Ultra-wide angle 25mm. A few years ago, and still today some Kodak cameras, Casio or the angle of view was 35 mm (equivalent to silver). A narrower field of view than the human eye and, ultimately, lead to stereotypes that seem confined. The trend is now to 28 mm (ie wide angle) or even 26 mm or below (or the ultra-wide angle). Going down to 25, Sony offers an extremely wide field of view, ideal for photographs, for example, a massive monument with very little recoil. But beware of the deformations of lines!

10x zoom. The race to zoom is a classic! The focal range of H55, of 25-250 mm (a ratio of 1 to 10), is very tempting, especially at this price. Even if it does not compete with the remarkable x12 zoom of the excellent TZ8 Panasonic (25-300 mm focal range), which officially costs about fifty euros more but that is dug up on the web at the same price as the H55.

Dual antiflou. The excellent optical image stabilization system Steady Shot Sony prevents the device shake, particularly when the zoom is out. A strong argument. The climb to 3 200 ISO also provides a very short time of exposure, even in low light, and thus avoid camera shake. But beware: mount ISO promotes the development of noise, these little red and blue spots that pollute the dark areas. And there, between the blur and noise, is the plague or cholera.

Megapixel CCD sensor 14. Traditionally, beyond 10 Mpix – except with a high performance processor or sensor SLR – a compact camera loses sensitivity and thus image quality. Suspicion, therefore, for this 14 megapixel! Too bad he does not, like his elders, the Xmore R, called somewhat improperly illuminated sensor: its inverted design provides a true increase in sensitivity, that the admirable HX5 The same manufacturer, has until recently proved.

At 250 euros, the H55 has real advantages in weight, but the sensor could play tricks on him.

PRO

• Substantial arguments
• The techie who have proven
• A competitive price
• And there is the HD video!

CONS

• The 14-megapixel sensor
• 3 200 ISO, noise Station

Specifications