Kodak PIXPRO FZ55 Black

The Kodak PIXPRO FZ55 is a simple, pocketable point-and-shoot with a 5x optical zoom, 28mm wide-angle lens, and surprisingly decent stabilization. Image quality and autofocus are weak, and connectivity is nearly nonexistent. At $170 to $180 USD or the low end of the EUR range, it's a reasonable starter camera or gift. At the high end of the EUR spread, it's overpriced. Buy it for simplicity, not for image quality.

The FZ55's strongest metric in our database is stabilization, landing in the 76th percentile. That's genuinely surprising for a budget compact, and it means handheld shots at the long end of that 5x zoom won't be a blurry mess. The IBIS does real work here, especially for a camera this small. But that's where the good news mostly ends. The sensor sits in the 28th percentile, which translates to middling image quality, especially in anything but bright daylight. Low light is going to be rough.

Autofocus lands in the 34th percentile, and burst shooting is even lower at the 32nd. So this isn't a camera for action. Kids running around a birthday party? You'll get some keepers, but you'll miss plenty too. The 1080p video is fine for casual clips, but it's in the 23rd percentile for video overall, so don't expect cinematic footage. The fixed display is also a limitation, no tilting or flipping for selfies or awkward angles. For a camera marketed partly on its simplicity, the performance is consistent with the price. It's fine, not fast, not fancy.

Stacked against the competition, the FZ55 is in a completely different league, and that's okay. The Nikon Z50 and Canon EOS M50 are interchangeable lens cameras with APS-C sensors that absolutely demolish the FZ55 in image quality, autofocus, and video. But they also cost several times more and require buying lenses. The Sony ZV-1F is a closer comparison, it's a compact point-and-shoot aimed at vloggers, but it has a larger 1-inch sensor and much better video features. The FZ55 can't touch it on image quality, but it's also cheaper and simpler.

The Panasonic Lumix DMC-G85 is a Micro Four Thirds camera with a viewfinder, weather sealing, and 4K video. Again, no contest on specs. The Leica Q2 Monochrom is in a different universe entirely, a fixed-lens full-frame camera that costs thousands. The FZ55's real competition isn't any of these. It's your smartphone. And against a modern phone, the FZ55's only real advantages are the optical zoom, the dedicated camera feel, and the fact that it doesn't buzz with notifications while you're trying to take a picture.

Pricing on the FZ55 is all over the map depending on where you shop. In the US, you're looking at $170 to $180, which feels about right for what you get. But in Europe, the spread is wild. EUR listings range from EUR 163 to EUR 292, and that's a massive gap for the same camera. If you're buying in Germany or France, shop around. The EUR 163 listing is a genuinely decent deal for a starter camera with a memory card included. The EUR 292 listing? That's a hard pass, you're paying nearly double for the same thing.

The CAD 380 and GBP 386 prices are harder to judge without knowing local market conditions, but they feel steep for a camera with this spec sheet. At the low end of the EUR range and the US price, the FZ55 is a reasonable impulse buy or gift. At the high end, you're better off saving a bit more for something with a better sensor and autofocus.

The Kodak PIXPRO FZ55 is a throwback in the best and worst ways. It's a slim point-and-shoot that remembers when cameras were simple, you turned them on, pointed, and pressed a button. No lens swapping, no menu diving through forty autofocus modes, just a 5x optical zoom and a 28mm wide-angle lens in a pocketable body. For a certain kind of buyer, that simplicity is the whole appeal. For everyone else, well, the spec sheet tells a different story.

This thing sits in a weird spot in 2025. Your phone probably shoots better photos, has better stabilization, and definitely has better connectivity. But the FZ55 isn't trying to beat your phone on specs. It's trying to be a dedicated camera for people who want a dedicated camera, whether that's a kid learning photography, a grandparent who hates touchscreens, or someone who just wants to leave their phone in the bag at a family event. The bundle includes a 32GB Class 10 SD card, so you can start shooting out of the box.

Our database puts the FZ55 at 26.9 out of 100 overall, which sounds brutal until you remember what it's competing against. This isn't a camera for pixel peepers or video creators. It's a camera for people who want something simple, cheap, and functional. And on that front, it does the job, mostly.

Skip the FZ55 if you care about image quality, low-light performance, or fast autofocus. The sensor is near the bottom of our database, and the AF will frustrate anyone trying to shoot moving subjects. If you're a parent trying to capture kids playing sports or running around, this camera will miss more shots than it gets. Your phone is probably better for that.

Also skip it if you want wireless photo transfer or modern connectivity. The 16th percentile connectivity score means you'll be dealing with cables and card readers. And if you're buying in Europe, avoid the high-end listings. At EUR 292, this camera is a bad deal. Look at a used Sony ZV-1F or a higher-end compact instead. The FZ55 only makes sense at the low end of its price range.

If you're buying this for a kid who wants their first real camera, or a parent who just wants something simple for family snapshots, the FZ55 is a fine choice at the right price. The 5x optical zoom is genuinely useful, the wide-angle lens is nice for group shots, and the stabilization punches above its weight. The included SD card means you're ready to go immediately. Just keep expectations in check, this is a budget compact, not a miracle worker.

But if you're an enthusiast looking for a compact that can keep up with your phone, or someone who cares about image quality, look elsewhere. The sensor and autofocus are simply too weak. A used Sony ZV-1F or even a higher-end phone will serve you better. The FZ55 is a camera for people who want a camera, not for people who want great photos. There's a difference.