KODAK PIXPRO FZ55
A Truly Pocketable Digicam
KODAK PIXPRO FZ55
FZ55 - Vivid Color, Cloudy WB
I recently picked up the Kodak FZ55 before leaving for a family trip to Disney World and I'm really glad I did because it was so nice to have the small Kodak FZ55 around to grab quick shots. While I had an expensive full frame camera with me it was a lot of fun and less hassle to take photos with the FZ55, especially since the full frame camera had to be pulled out of a sling bag and if flash was needed that had to be placed on the hot shoe ect. Sometimes simplicity and usability is more appropriate than the ultimate image quality.
The Kodak FZ55 has become a viral hit for many reasons. Phone cameras more or less produce the same boring photos and they don't come equipped with a flash that is really all that usable. There has also been a movement back to dedicated devices, an entire generation has missed out on the experience of falling in love with tech that is great at a particular thing, and great can include quirky and inefficient. There is excitement in the anticipation of seeing your photos on your computer, joy in tactility, and fun in limitations. There is nothing nostalgic or emotionally compelling about a do it all device that constantly distracts you with endless notifications and apps vying for your attention.
One day I accidentally left my phone in the hotel and my initial panic soon turned into a sense of freedom once I realized I didn't need it anyway. The number of people I saw looking at screens while with their families made me really appreciate only having a camera capable of taking photos. The point of a camera is to capture the moment, not take you out of it.
Like the Canon G7X, a major draw to the FZ55 is the built in flash. I saw plenty of families on this trip trying to take backlit shots or shots after dark with their phones and I know the phone flash was not helping at all. Direct flash shots also have a certain look that immediately takes me back to the early 2000s and my first digital cameras. It's worth carrying around a camera like this just for these types of shots. I have a tiny flash for my full frame cameras and even though those cameras have much better image quality there is something incredibly satisfying about pulling the FZ55 out of your pocket and using the flash for a backlit sunset portrait or dark indoor scene.
FZ55 - Normal Color, Auto WB, Flash On
FZ55 - Vivid Color, Cloudy WB, Flash On
FZ55 - Normal Color, Auto WB, Macro, Flash On
The boot up time, lens extension and overall time to take an image is fast, much snappier than a lot of my older digicams. Once you become familiar with where the power button is, when you reach for the camera and push the power button while pulling this out of your pocket or a bag, the camera is ready by the time you have it in position for a photo. While the autofocus is nothing special or really all that improved over older compact digital cameras it's good enough in single shot and I haven't missed that many shots with this camera. Just know that with most cameras of this size and price point you're not going to be reliably capturing a lot of action.
Another big selling point for the Kodak FZ55 and one that it has over the Canon G7X series is true pocketability. This is much bigger of a deal than I like to admit and after spending some time with the FZ55 I can say that this is a camera that can easily fit into your everyday carry items, with its size you can pretty much find a place for it in any pocket or bag you might be carrying. During my time with this camera I found myself reaching for it constantly and typically carrying it in the palm of my hand. I don't always like to be seen carrying a big camera around and this is about as inconspicuous as you can get with a dedicated camera.
Let's run through the set up because while the options are limited I’ve found a few settings that worked better than others.
One of the most popular ways I've seen people set up this camera is Program mode, Vivid color and Cloudy white balance. This can look great especially for sunny outdoor scenes or direct flash shots and looks particularly good with darker skin tones. I find myself switching between Normal and Vivid color depending on the scene because Vivid can get too saturated and while I also prefer Cloudy white balance for most photos, I will switch this to auto white balance (AWB) when the sun goes down or if I’m in mixed indoor lighting. You'll know when it's time to switch if your photos start getting too warm and everything looks like a shade of orange.
FZ55 - Normal Color, AWB
FZ55 - Normal Color, Cloudy WB
The main drawback for me is no RAW shooting, I much prefer the ability to get the most information off the sensor as possible but I know that a lot of people looking at this camera aren't Lightroom users and just want a look straight out of camera. This camera tends to shift reds toward pink and blues toward teal and is usually pretty contrasty, I’m personally ok with this and prefer a bit of a “look” rather than true to life color. For a camera that shoots .jpg only with very few color options in the menus I think the output of this camera can look really nice.
One thing I can't recommend is the HDR mode in this camera, for two reasons, it halves the resolution of the final image and the processing is very slow, about 8 seconds between pressing the shutter and being able to take another picture. However in playback mode it can be worth trying the HDR internal post processing if you want to try to recover some shadows, I like trying this out on images I feel like could use a bit less contrast. It’s not the same as shooting in HDR mode in real time but it's fun to play around with and you can try this out when you're not actively shooting.
FZ55 - BEFORE HDR Internal Post Processing
FZ55 - AFTER HDR Internal Post Processing
While in Program mode the camera tends to prefer slower shutter speeds, this can make moving subjects look blurry. I really wish there was an option to set a range. Some compromises are to be expected but I think Kodak can do a little better with auto exposure and maybe we'll get an update that addresses this. Just be mindful of moving subjects, you may have to switch to Manual mode if you really need faster shutter speeds.
I've had loads of digicams, I still actively search for them on eBay and anytime I pop into a thrift store but deals are becoming rare to come across. The Kodak PIXPRO FZ55 stands out against older digicams because of its compactness, snappy on / off time, easy menus, unique color and built in flash that doesn't need to pop up, and the rising costs of older, slower compact cameras only makes the FZ55 even more appealing.
What I appreciated most about the FZ55 was how easily it fit into the trip. It was there when I wanted a photo, slipped back into my pocket when I didn’t, and made taking pictures fun. Despite its limitations, that’s a pretty good reason to keep carrying it.
If the FZ55 sounds like your kind of camera, you can check current pricing and availability on Amazon below.
Check the Kodak FZ55 on Amazon
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Kodak FZ55 Sample Image Gallery
