Canon 200D vs Sony HX400V

The Canon EOS 200D (called Canon SL2 in some regions) and the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX400V are two digital cameras that were officially introduced, respectively, in June 2017 and February 2014. The 200D is a DSLR, while the HX400V is a fixed lens compact. The cameras are based on an APS-C (200D) and a 1/2.3-inch (HX400V) sensor. The Canon has a resolution of 24 megapixels, whereas the Sony provides 20.2 MP.

Below is an overview of the main specs of the two cameras as a starting point for the comparison.

Headline Specifications

Canon 200D		Sony HX400V
Digital single lens reflex		Fixed lens compact camera
Canon EF mount lenses		24-1200mm f/2.8-6.3
24 MP, APS-C Sensor		20.2 MP, 1/2.3" Sensor
1080/60p Video		1080/60p Video
ISO 100-25600 (100-51200)		ISO 80-3200 (80-12800)
Optical viewfinder		Electronic viewfinder (210k dots)
3.0" LCD, 1040k dots		3.0" LCD, 921k dots
Swivel touchscreen		Tilting screen (not touch-sensitive)
5 shutter flaps per second		10 shutter flaps per second
650 shots per battery charge		300 shots per battery charge
122 x 93 x 70 mm, 453 g		130 x 93 x 103 mm, 660 g

Going beyond this snapshot of core features and characteristics, what are the differences between the Canon EOS 200D and the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX400V? Which one should you buy? Read on to find out how these two cameras compare with respect to their body size, their imaging sensors, their shooting features, their input-output connections, and their reception by expert reviewers.

Body comparison

The side-by-side display below illustrates the physical size and weight of the Canon 200D and the Sony HX400V. The two cameras are presented according to their relative size. Three consecutive views from the front, the top, and the rear side are shown. All width, height and depth measures are rounded to the nearest millimeter.

The 200D can be obtained in two different colors (black, white), while the HX400V is only available in black.

If the front view area (width x height) of the cameras is taken as an aggregate measure of their size, the Sony HX400V is notably larger (7 percent) than the Canon 200D. In this context, it is worth noting that neither the 200D nor the HX400V are weather-sealed.

The above size and weight comparisons are to some extent incomplete and possibly misleading, as the HX400V has a lens built in, whereas the 200D is an interchangeable lens camera that requires a separate lens. Attaching the latter will add extra weight and bulk to the setup. You can compare the optics available for the 200D and their specifications in the Canon EF Lens Catalog.

Concerning battery life, the 200D gets 650 shots out of its LP-E17 battery, while the HX400V can take 300 images on a single charge of its NP-BX1 power pack.

The table below summarizes the key physical specs of the two cameras alongside a broader set of comparators. In case you want to display and compare another camera duo, just click on the right or left arrow next to the camera that you would like to inspect. Alternatively, you can also use the CAM-parator to select your camera combination among a larger number of options.

Camera Body Specifications

	Camera Model	Camera Width	Camera Height	Camera Depth	Camera Weight	Battery Life (CIPA)	Weather Sealing (yes/no)	Camera Launch (announced)	Launch Price (USD)	Street Price (USD)	Used Price (USD)	Camera Model
	Canon 200D»	122 mm	93 mm	70 mm	453 g	650	n	Jun 2017	549	-		Canon 200D
	Sony HX400V«	130 mm	93 mm	103 mm	660 g	300	n	Feb 2014	499			Sony HX400V
	Canon 250D« »	122 mm	93 mm	70 mm	449 g	1070	n	Apr 2019	599			Canon 250D
	Canon 2000D« »	129 mm	101 mm	78 mm	475 g	500	n	Feb 2018	449			Canon 2000D
	Canon 77D« »	131 mm	100 mm	76 mm	540 g	600	n	Feb 2017	899			Canon 77D
	Canon 800D« »	131 mm	100 mm	76 mm	532 g	600	n	Feb 2017	749			Canon 800D
	Canon G9 X Mark II« »	98 mm	58 mm	31 mm	206 g	235	n	Jan 2017	529			Canon G9 X Mark II
	Canon M100« »	108 mm	67 mm	35 mm	302 g	295	n	Aug 2017	499			Canon M100
	Canon M5« »	116 mm	89 mm	61 mm	427 g	295	n	Sep 2016	979			Canon M5
	Canon 760D« »	132 mm	101 mm	78 mm	565 g	440	n	Feb 2015	649	-		Canon 760D
	Canon 100D« »	117 mm	91 mm	69 mm	407 g	380	n	Mar 2013	549	-		Canon 100D
	Nikon D3400« »	124 mm	98 mm	76 mm	445 g	1200	n	Aug 2016	499	-		Nikon D3400
	Sony HX350« »	130 mm	93 mm	103 mm	652 g	300	n	Dec 2016	449			Sony HX350
	Sony RX100 IV« »	102 mm	58 mm	41 mm	298 g	280	n	Jun 2015	999	-		Sony RX100 IV
	Sony HX90V« »	102 mm	58 mm	36 mm	245 g	360	n	Apr 2015	429			Sony HX90V
	Sony H400« »	130 mm	95 mm	122 mm	628 g	300	n	Feb 2014	319			Sony H400
	Sony H300« »	128 mm	89 mm	92 mm	590 g	350	n	Feb 2014	219			Sony H300
Convert to Imperial
Note: Measurements and pricing do not include easily detachable parts, such as interchangeable lenses or optional viewfinders.

Any camera decision will obviously take relative prices into account. The listed launch prices provide an indication of the market segment that the manufacturer of the cameras have been targeting. The HX400V was launched at a lower price than the 200D, despite having a lens built in. Usually, retail prices stay at first close to the launch price, but after several months, discounts become available. Later in the product cycle and, in particular, when the replacement model is about to appear, further discounting and stock clearance sales often push the camera price considerably down.

Sensor comparison

The imaging sensor is at the core of digital cameras and its size is one of the main determining factors of image quality. A large sensor will tend to have larger individual pixels that provide better low-light sensitivity, wider dynamic range, and richer color-depth than smaller pixel-units in a sensor of the same technological generation. Furthermore, a large sensor camera will give the photographer more possibilities to use shallow depth-of-field in order to isolate a subject from the background. On the downside, larger sensors tend to be more expensive and lead to bigger and heavier cameras and lenses.

Of the two cameras under consideration, the Canon 200D features an APS-C sensor and the Sony HX400V a 1/2.3-inch sensor. The sensor area in the HX400V is 92 percent smaller. As a result of these sensor size differences, the cameras have a format factor of, respectively, 1.6 and 5.6. The sensor in the 200D has a native 3:2 aspect ratio, while the one in the HX400V offers a 4:3 aspect.

With 24MP, the 200D offers a higher resolution than the HX400V (20.2MP), but the 200D nevertheless has larger individual pixels (pixel pitch of 3.72μm versus 1.18μm for the HX400V) due to its larger sensor. Moreover, the 200D is a much more recent model (by 3 years and 4 months) than the HX400V, and its sensor will have benefitted from technological advances during this time that further enhance the light gathering capacity of its pixels. Coming back to sensor resolution, it should be mentioned that the HX400V has no anti-alias filter installed, so that it can capture all the detail its sensor resolves.

The resolution advantage of the Canon 200D implies greater flexibility for cropping images or the possibility to print larger pictures. The maximum print size of the 200D for good quality output (200 dots per inch) amounts to 30 x 20 inch or 76.2 x 50.8 cm, for very good quality (250 dpi) 24 x 16 inch or 61 x 40.6 cm, and for excellent quality (300 dpi) 20 x 13.3 inch or 50.8 x 33.9 cm. The corresponding values for the Sony HX400V are 25.9 x 19.4 inch or 65.8 x 49.4 cm for good quality, 20.7 x 15.6 inch or 52.7 x 39.5 cm for very good quality, and 17.3 x 13 inch or 43.9 x 32.9 cm for excellent quality prints.

The 200D has on-sensor phase detect pixels, which results in fast and reliable autofocus acquisition even during live view operation.

The Canon EOS 200D has a native sensitivity range from ISO 100 to ISO 25600, which can be extended to ISO 100-51200. The corresponding ISO settings for the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX400V are ISO 80 to ISO 3200, with the possibility to increase the ISO range to 80-12800.

Consistent information on actual sensor performance is available from DXO Mark for many cameras. This service determines an overall sensor rating, as well as sub-scores for low-light sensitivity ("DXO Sports"), dynamic range ("DXO Landscape"), and color depth ("DXO Portrait"). The table below summarizes the physical sensor characteristics and sensor quality findings and compares them across a set of similar cameras.

Many modern cameras cannot only take still pictures, but also record videos. Both cameras under consideration have a sensor with sufficiently fast read-out times for moving pictures, and both provide the same movie specifications (1080/60p).

Feature comparison

Apart from body and sensor, cameras can and do differ across a variety of features. For example, the HX400V has an electronic viewfinder (210k dots), while the 200D has an optical one. Both systems have their advantages, with the electronic viewfinder making it possible to project supplementary shooting information into the framing view, whereas the optical viewfinder offers lag-free viewing and a very clear framing image. The following table reports on some other key feature differences and similarities of the Canon 200D, the Sony HX400V, and comparable cameras.

One differentiating feature between the two cameras concerns the touch sensitivity of the rear screen. The 200D has a touchscreen, while the HX400V has a conventional panel. Touch control can be particularly helpful, for example, for setting the focus point.

The 200D writes its imaging data to SDXC cards, while the HX400V uses SDXC or Memory Stick PRO Duo cards. The 200D supports UHS-I cards (Ultra High Speed data transfer of up to 104 MB/s), while the HX400V cannot take advantage of Ultra High Speed SD cards.

Connectivity comparison

For some imaging applications, the extent to which a camera can communicate with its environment can be an important aspect in the camera decision process. The table below provides an overview of the connectivity of the Canon EOS 200D and Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX400V and, in particular, the interfaces the cameras (and selected comparators) provide for accessory control and data transfer.

It is notable that the 200D has a microphone port, which is missing on the HX400V. Such an external microphone input can help to substantially improve the quality of audio recordings when a good external microphone is used.

Travel and landscape photographers will find it useful that the HX400V has an internal geolocalization sensor and can record GPS coordinates in its EXIF data.

The HX400V is a recent model that features in the current product line-up of Sony. In contrast, the 200D has been discontinued (but it can be found pre-owned on eBay). As a replacement in the same line of cameras, the 200D was succeeded by the Canon 250D. Further information on the two cameras (e.g. user guides, manuals), as well as related accessories, can be found on the official Canon and Sony websites.

Review summary

So how do things add up? Which of the two cameras – the Canon 200D or the Sony HX400V – has the upper hand? Is one clearly better than the other? The listing below highlights the relative strengths of the two models.

Reasons to prefer the Canon EOS 200D:

• More detail: Offers more megapixels (24 vs 20.2MP) with a 11% higher linear resolution.
• Better moiré control: Has an anti-alias filter to avoid artificial patterns to appear in images.
• Better image quality: Features a larger and more technologically advanced imaging sensor.
• Richer colors: The sensor size advantage translates into images with better, more accurate colors.
• More dynamic range: Larger sensor captures a wider spectrum of light and dark details.
• Better low-light sensitivity: Larger sensor produces good images even in poorly lit environments.
• Better live-view autofocus: Features on-sensor phase-detection for more confident autofocus.
• Better sound: Can connect to an external microphone for higher quality sound recording.
• Brighter framing: Features an optical viewfinder for clear, lag-free composition.
• More detailed LCD: Has a higher resolution rear screen (1040k vs 921k dots).
• More flexible LCD: Has a swivel screen for odd-angle shots in portrait or landscape orientation.
• Fewer buttons to press: Is equipped with a touch-sensitive rear screen to facilitate handling.
• More selfie-friendly: Has an articulated screen that can be turned to be front-facing.
• More flexible: Can take a variety of interchangeable lenses, including specialty optics.
• Longer lasting: Can take more shots (650 versus 300) on a single battery charge.
• Easier wireless transfer: Supports Bluetooth for image sharing without cables.
• Faster buffer clearing: Has an SD card interface that supports the UHS-I standard.
• More modern: Reflects 3 years and 4 months of technical progress since the HX400V launch.

Arguments in favor of the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX400V:

• Maximized detail: Lacks an anti-alias filter to exploit the sensor's full resolution potential.
• More framing info: Has an electronic viewfinder that displays shooting data.
• Faster burst: Shoots at higher frequency (10 vs 5 flaps/sec) to capture the decisive moment.
• Ready to shoot: Comes with an integrated lens, while the 200D requires a separate lens.
• Sharper images: Has stabilization technology built-in to reduce the impact of hand-shake.
• Easier geotagging: Features an internal GPS sensor to log localization data.
• More affordable: Was introduced at a lower price, despite coming with a built-in lens.
• More heavily discounted: Has been around for much longer (launched in February 2014).

If the count of individual advantages (bullet points above) is taken as a guide, the 200D is the clear winner of the match-up (18 : 8 points). However, the pertinence of the various camera strengths will differ across photographers, so that you might want to weigh individual camera traits according to their importance for your own imaging needs before making a camera decision. A professional wildlife photographer will view the differences between cameras in a way that diverges from the perspective of a family photog, and a person interested in architecture has distinct needs from a sports shooter. Hence, the decision which camera is best and worth buying is often a very personal one.

How about other alternatives? Do the specifications of the Canon 200D and the Sony HX400V place the cameras among the top in their class? Find out in the latest Best DSLR Camera and Best Superzoom Camera listings whether the two cameras rank among the cream of the crop.

In any case, while the comparison of technical specifications can provide a useful overview of the capabilities of different cameras, it says little about, for example, the shooting experience and imaging performance of the 200D and the HX400V in practical situations. User reviews, such as those found at amazon, can sometimes inform about these issues, but such feedback is often incomplete, inconsistent, and biased.

Expert reviews

This is where reviews by experts come in. The following table reports the overall ratings of the cameras as published by some of the major camera review sites (cameralabs, dpreview, ephotozine, imaging-resource, and photographyblog). As can be seen, the professional reviewers agree in many cases on the quality of different cameras, but sometimes their assessments diverge, reinforcing the earlier point that a camera decision is often a very personal choice.

Review Scores

	Camera Model						Camera Launch (announced)	Launch Price (USD)	Street Price (USD)	Used Price (USD)	Camera Model
	Canon 200D»	+ +	78/100	4.5/5	4.5/5	4.5/5	Jun 2017	549	-		Canon 200D
	Sony HX400V«	+ +	-	4/5	-	4/5	Feb 2014	499			Sony HX400V
	Canon 250D« »	o	79/100	4/5	-	4/5	Apr 2019	599			Canon 250D
	Canon 2000D« »	o	-	3.5/5	-	3.5/5	Feb 2018	449			Canon 2000D
	Canon 77D« »	-	82/100	4.5/5	4.5/5	4/5	Feb 2017	899			Canon 77D
	Canon 800D« »	-	80/100	4.5/5	4/5	4/5	Feb 2017	749			Canon 800D
	Canon G9 X Mark II« »	-	75/100	4.5/5	4.5/5	4.5/5	Jan 2017	529			Canon G9 X Mark II
	Canon M100« »	+	-	4/5	-	3.5/5	Aug 2017	499			Canon M100
	Canon M5« »	+	82/100	4/5	4.5/5	4/5	Sep 2016	979			Canon M5
	Canon 760D« »	+	77/100	4.5/5	4.5/5	4.5/5	Feb 2015	649	-		Canon 760D
	Canon 100D« »	+	78/100	4/5	4/5	4/5	Mar 2013	549	-		Canon 100D
	Nikon D3400« »	+	76/100	4/5	4.5/5	4.5/5	Aug 2016	499	-		Nikon D3400
	Sony HX350« »	-	-	-	-	4/5	Dec 2016	449			Sony HX350
	Sony RX100 IV« »	+ +	85/100	4/5	4.5/5	4.5/5	Jun 2015	999	-		Sony RX100 IV
	Sony HX90V« »	+ +	-	4/5	-	4.5/5	Apr 2015	429			Sony HX90V
	Sony H400« »	o	-	3.5/5	-	3.5/5	Feb 2014	319			Sony H400
	Sony H300« »	+	-	4.5/5	-	4/5	Feb 2014	219			Sony H300
Notes: (+ +) highly recommended; (+) recommended; (o) reviewed; (-) not available.

The review scores listed above should be treated with care, though. The ratings were established in reference to similarly priced cameras that were available in the market at the time of the review. Thus, a score needs to be put into the context of the launch date and the launch price of the camera, and comparisons of ratings among very different cameras or across long time periods have little meaning. Also, kindly note that some of the listed sites have over time developped their review approaches and their reporting style.

Other camera comparisons

Did this review help to inform your camera decision process? If you would like to see a different side-by-side camera review, just make a corresponding selection in the search boxes below. As an alternative, you can also directly jump to any one of the listed comparisons that were previously generated by the CAM-parator tool.

Specifications: Canon 200D vs Sony HX400V

Below is a side-by-side comparison of the specs of the two cameras to facilitate a quick review of their differences and common features.

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