Kodak PIXPRO FZ55 Black 2021

The FZ55's stabilization ranks at the 76th percentile, which is the one genuinely impressive thing about this camera. Everything else is mediocre to bad: the sensor sits at the 11th percentile, build quality is dead last at the 0th, and video is capped at 1080p. At USD 140 it's a decent travel beater, but at USD 348 it's a ripoff.

The FZ55's stabilization is the one spec that genuinely impresses. At the 76th percentile, it's well above average for a camera in this class, and that IBIS helps squeeze more out of the modest 5x optical zoom. The 28mm wide angle is fine for group shots and tight indoor spaces, but the 16MP 1/2.3-inch sensor is a weak spot, landing at the 11th percentile. You'll get usable photos in good light, but don't expect much when the sun goes down.

Video tops out at 1080p, which puts it at the 23rd percentile. That's fine for casual clips and travel memories, but it's not going to impress anyone who's used to 4K from even a midrange phone. Autofocus ranks at the 34th percentile and burst shooting at the 32nd, so this is not a camera for action. The 2.7-inch touch display is middle of the pack at the 60th percentile, and battery life sits at the 46th percentile, which means you'll probably want to charge it every night on a trip.

Against the Sony ZV-1F, the FZ55 gets absolutely smoked on sensor quality and video capability. The Sony is a vlogging-focused camera with a much larger sensor and better autofocus, though it costs significantly more. The DJI Osmo Pocket 3 is in a different league entirely for video, with a gimbal and 4K recording, but it's also not a traditional point-and-shoot. The Panasonic Lumix G DMC-G85MK is a proper mirrorless camera with interchangeable lenses, so it's not really a fair fight. The Minolta MNF10Z-BK and Aboobu DC226 are closer competitors in the budget compact space, but the FZ55's stabilization at the 76th percentile gives it an edge for handheld shooting. Where the FZ55 wins is pure simplicity and pocketability. It's 105 grams and fits in a wallet-sized pouch. None of the serious competitors can say that.

The price spread on this thing is genuinely confusing. US listings range from USD 140 to USD 348, which is a USD 208 gap for the exact same camera. At the low end, you're getting a decent travel companion for less than a nice dinner out. At the high end, you're paying nearly two and a half times more for the same 16MP sensor and 1080p video. Shop around before you buy. The EUR 143 to EUR 150 range in Europe is much tighter, and CAD 230 to CAD 250 in Canada is reasonable. But if you're in the US, do not pay more than USD 200 for this thing. The value proposition falls apart fast above that.

The Kodak PIXPRO FZ55 is a wallet-sized point-and-shoot that costs between USD 140 and USD 348 depending on where you look. That's a wild spread for a camera with a 16MP 1/2.3-inch CMOS sensor, 5x optical zoom, and a 28mm wide angle lens. It weighs 105 grams, which is less than most smartphones, and it's clearly aimed at people who want a dedicated camera without lugging around anything serious.

But let's be real about what this is. The sensor ranks in the 11th percentile in our database, build quality is dead last at the 0th percentile, and video sits at the 23rd percentile. The stabilization is actually decent at the 76th percentile, which is a nice surprise for a budget compact. Customer ratings are solid at 4.6 out of 5 from 20 reviews, so people who buy this thing seem to know what they're getting into and are happy with it.

Skip this if you care about build quality or low-light performance. The 0th percentile build ranking means this thing feels cheap and probably won't survive much abuse. The 11th percentile sensor means indoor and evening shots will be noisy and soft. If you shoot video, the 1080p cap at the 23rd percentile is a dealbreaker in 2024. And if you need reliable autofocus for kids, pets, or any kind of action, the 34th percentile AF performance will frustrate you. Anyone who already owns a decent smartphone from the last few years will likely see zero image quality benefit from this camera.

The Kodak PIXPRO FZ55 is a fine camera if you want something cheap, tiny, and dead simple for travel snapshots. The stabilization is genuinely good for the price, and the 4.6/5 rating from owners suggests it delivers on its modest promises. But the build quality ranking at the 0th percentile is a red flag, and the 11th percentile sensor means your phone probably takes better photos in most situations. Buy it if you want a dedicated camera for situations where you don't want to risk your phone, like concerts or remote travel. Just don't pay more than USD 200 for it.