November 30, 2025
After both of my 12 MP Canon Powershop ELPHs failed in 2025 - both with CHDK allowing bracketing - I was looking around for a pocket camera to replace those stellar performers, but the ubiquitous presence of usable cameras on smartphones has dealt a death blow to small, pocketable digital cameras like those dearly beloved ELPHs, both the SD780 and especially the superb 330 HS with its 24mm wide end and 10x zoom.
As we like to say: the best camera is the one you have with you.
Now, after some initial disappointment with the clunky menu system, I've spent a little time shooting some test images with the KODAK FZ55 to figure out a workflow to squeeze the best image quality from the little Kodak, and it's starting to shape up as a worthy replacement for the two dead Canons..
I've got the camera set to take 3-shot HDRs by default, on the "fine" setting - which apparently sets the ISO to 100 - and it's doing a pretty decent job with some adjustments in post-processing to level, saturation and sharpness.
The 28 mm wide end is nice and leaving the camera set to HDR by default makes the camera ready for action within about 2 seconds of powering up, but there is about an 8 second delay while the camera processes the HDR, and before it is ready to shoot again. I have the Pentax K-S2, Q, and Canon EOS T7 for action photography, but none of those will fit in my pocket.
Finally, a good pocket camera is also a good pocket duplicating machine for copying print articles, documents and such that many of us once did on the familiar Xerox copiers that were a common feature in libraries and offices back when.
November 30, 2025
After both of my 12 MP Canon Powershop ELPHs failed in 2025 - both with CHDK allowing bracketing - I was looking around for a pocket camera to replace those stellar performers, but the ubiquitous presence of usable cameras on smartphones has dealt a death blow to small, pocketable digital cameras like those dearly beloved ELPHs, both the SD780 and especially the superb 330 HS with its 24mm wide end and 10x zoom.
As we like to say: the best camera is the one you have with you.
Now, after some initial disappointment with the clunky menu system, I've spent a little time shooting some test images with the KODAK FZ55 to figure out a workflow to squeeze the best image quality from the little Kodak, and it's starting to shape up as a worthy replacement for the two dead Canons..
I've got the camera set to take 3-shot HDRs by default, on the "fine" setting - which apparently sets the ISO to 100 - and it's doing a pretty decent job with some adjustments in post-processing to level, saturation and sharpness.
The 28 mm wide end is nice and leaving the camera set to HDR by default makes the camera ready for action within about 2 seconds of powering up, but there is about an 8 second delay while the camera processes the HDR, and before it is ready to shoot again. I have the Pentax K-S2, Q, and Canon EOS T7 for action photography, but none of those will fit in my pocket.
Finally, a good pocket camera is also a good pocket duplicating machine for copying print articles, documents and such that many of us once did on the familiar Xerox copiers that were a common feature in libraries and offices back when.