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Kodak AZ901 vs Sony H400

The Kodak PixPro AZ901 and the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H400 are two digital cameras that were officially introduced, respectively, in January 2016 and February 2014. Both the AZ901 and the H400 are fixed lens compact cameras that are equipped with a 1/2.3-inch sensor. The Kodak has a resolution of 20.2 megapixels, whereas the Sony provides 19.9 MP.

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

Headline Specifications
Kodak AZ901
versus
Sony H400
Kodak AZ901   Sony H400
Fixed lens compact camera Fixed lens compact camera
22-1980mm f/3.1-6.8 24.5-1550mm f/3.4-6.5
20.2 MP – 1/2.3" sensor 19.9 MP – 1/2.3" sensor
1080/30p Video 720/30p Video
ISO 100-3,200 ISO 80-3,200
Electronic viewfinder (202k dots) Electronic viewfinder (210k dots)
3.0" LCD – 920k dots 3.0" LCD – 460k dots
Swivel screen (not touch-sensitive) Fixed screen (not touch-sensitive)
5 shutter flaps per second 0.7 shutter flaps per second
400 shots per battery charge300 shots per battery charge
139 x 104 x 119 mm, 777 g 130 x 95 x 122 mm, 628 g
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Going beyond this snapshot of core features and characteristics, what are the differences between the Kodak PixPro AZ901 and the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H400? 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.

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Body comparison

The side-by-side display below illustrates the physical size and weight of the Kodak AZ901 and the Sony H400. The two cameras are presented according to their relative size. Three successive views from the front, the top, and the rear are shown. All size dimensions are rounded to the nearest millimeter.

Size Kodak AZ901 vs Sony H400
Compare AZ901 versus H400 top
Comparison AZ901 or H400 rear

If the front view area (width x height) of the cameras is taken as an aggregate measure of their size, the Sony H400 is notably smaller (15 percent) than the Kodak AZ901. Moreover, the H400 is markedly lighter (19 percent) than the AZ901. In this context, it is worth noting that neither the AZ901 nor the H400 are weather-sealed.

Concerning battery life, the AZ901 gets 400 shots out of its Kodak LB-070 battery, while the H400 can take 300 images on a single charge of its Sony NP-BX1 power pack.

The table below summarizes the key physical specs of the two cameras alongside a broader set of comparators. If you would like to visualize and compare a different camera combination, you can navigate to the CAM-parator app and make your selection from a broad list of cameras there.

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Body Specifications
# image Camera
Model
Camera
Width
Camera
Height
Camera
Depth
Camera
Weight
Battery
Life
Weather
Sealing
Camera
Launch
Launch
Price (USD)
Street
Price
1.
 
Kodak AZ901 139 mm 104 mm 119 mm 777 g 400 n Jan 2016 499 amazon.com
2.
 
Sony H400 130 mm 95 mm 122 mm 628 g 300 n Feb 2014 319ebay.com
3.
 
Canon G9 X Mark II 98 mm 58 mm 31 mm 206 g 235 n Jan 2017 529ebay.com
4.
 
Canon G9 X 98 mm 58 mm 31 mm 209 g 220 n Oct 2015 529ebay.com
5.
 
Canon SX410 104 mm 69 mm 85 mm 325 g 185 n Feb 2015 279ebay.com
6.
 
Canon SX710 113 mm 66 mm 35 mm 269 g 230 n Jan 2015 349ebay.com
7.
 
Leica Q Typ 116 130 mm 80 mm 93 mm 640 g 300 n Jun 2015 4,249ebay.com
8.
 
Nikon B700 125 mm 85 mm 107 mm 565 g 350 n Feb 2016 499ebay.com
9.
 
Nikon P900 140 mm 103 mm 137 mm 899 g 360 n Mar 2015 599ebay.com
10.
 
Panasonic ZS70 112 mm 67 mm 41 mm 322 g 380 n Apr 2017 449ebay.com
11.
 
Panasonic FZ2500 138 mm 102 mm 135 mm 915 g 350 n Sep 2016 1,199 amazon.com
12.
 
Sony HX350 130 mm 93 mm 103 mm 652 g 300 n Dec 2016 449ebay.com
13.
 
Sony HX90V 102 mm 58 mm 36 mm 245 g 360 n Apr 2015 429ebay.com
14.
 
Sony HX400V 130 mm 93 mm 103 mm 660 g 300 n Feb 2014 499ebay.com
15.
 
Sony H300 128 mm 89 mm 92 mm 590 g 350 n Feb 2014 219ebay.com
16.
 
Sony H200 123 mm 83 mm 87 mm 530 g 240 n Jan 2013 249ebay.com
Note: Measurements and pricing do not include easily detachable parts, such as add-on or interchangeable lenses or optional viewfinders.
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Any camera decision will obviously take relative prices into account. The retail prices at the time of the camera’s release place the model in the market relative to other models in the producer’s line-up and the competition. The H400 was launched at a markedly lower price (by 36 percent) than the AZ901, which puts it into a different market segment. 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 size of the sensor inside a digital camera is one of the key determinants 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. Moreover, a large sensor camera will give the photographer more control over depth-of-field in the image and, thus, the ability to better 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.

Both cameras under consideration feature a 1/2.3-inch sensor and have a format factor (sometimes also referred to as "crop factor") of 5.6. Within the spectrum of camera sensors, this places the review cameras among the smaller-sensor digicams that favor affordability and compact design. Both cameras feature a native aspect ratio (sensor width to sensor height) of 4:3.

Kodak AZ901 and Sony H400 sensor measures

While the two cameras under review share the same sensor size, the AZ901 offers a slightly higher resolution of 20.2 megapixels, compared with 19.9 MP of the H400. This megapixels advantage translates into a 0.59999999999999 percent gain in linear resolution. On the other hand, these sensor specs imply that the AZ901 has a higher pixel density and a smaller size of the individual pixel (with a pixel pitch of 1.18μm versus 1.19μm for the H400). In this context, it should be noted, however, that the AZ901 is a somewhat more recent model (by 1 year and 10 months) than the H400, and its sensor might have benefitted from technological advances during this time that at least partly compensate for the smaller pixel size. Coming back to sensor resolution, it should be mentioned that the H400 has no anti-alias filter installed, so that it can capture all the detail its sensor resolves.

The Kodak PixPro AZ901 has a native sensitivity range from ISO 100 to ISO 3200. The corresponding ISO settings for the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H400 are ISO 80 to ISO 3200 (no boost).

In terms of underlying technology, the AZ901 is build around a BSI-CMOS sensor, while the H400 uses a CCD imager. Both cameras use a Bayer filter for capturing RGB colors on a square grid of photosensors. This arrangement is found in most digital cameras.

AZ901 versus H400 MP

Consistent information on actual sensor performance is available from DXO Mark for many cameras. This service assesses and scores the color depth ("DXO Portrait"), dynamic range ("DXO Landscape"), and low-light sensitivity ("DXO Sports") of camera sensors, and also publishes an overall camera score. The following table provides an overview of the physical sensor characteristics, as well as the sensor quality measurements for a selection of comparators.

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Sensor Characteristics
# image Camera
Model
Sensor
Class
Resolution
(MP)
Horiz.
Pixels
Vert.
Pixels
Video
Format
DXO
Portrait
DXO
Landscape
DXO
Sports
DXO
Overall
1.
 
Kodak AZ901 1/2.3 20.2 5184 38881080/30p20.311.780648
2.
 
Sony H400 1/2.3 19.9 5152 3864720/30p20.111.463045
3.
 
Canon G9 X Mark II 1-inch 20.0 5472 36481080/60p21.912.552265
4.
 
Canon G9 X 1-inch 20.0 5472 36481080/60p21.512.349563
5.
 
Canon SX410 1/2.3 19.9 5152 3864720/30p20.211.672047
6.
 
Canon SX710 1/2.3 20.2 5184 38881080/60p20.211.671247
7.
 
Leica Q Typ 116 Full Frame 24.0 6000 40001080/60p24.312.7222185
8.
 
Nikon B700 1/2.3 20.2 5184 38884K/30p20.411.881848
9.
 
Nikon P900 1/2.3 15.9 4608 34561080/60p20.211.672747
10.
 
Panasonic ZS70 1/2.3 20.2 5184 38884K/30p19.110.610636
11.
 
Panasonic FZ2500 1-inch 20.0 5472 36484K/30p23.012.653870
12.
 
Sony HX350 1/2.3 19.9 5152 38641080/60p20.511.989649
13.
 
Sony HX90V 1/2.3 18.0 4896 36721080/60p20.211.673847
14.
 
Sony HX400V 1/2.3 20.2 5184 38881080/60p20.111.462945
15.
 
Sony H300 1/2.3 19.9 5152 3864720/30p20.111.463045
16.
 
Sony H200 1/2.3 15.2 5184 2930720/30p19.911.252944
Note: DXO values in italics represent estimates based on sensor size and age.
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Many modern cameras are not only capable of taking still images, but can also record movies. Both cameras under consideration have a sensor with sufficiently fast read-out times for moving pictures, but the AZ901 provides a higher video resolution than the H400. It can shoot video footage at 1080/30p, while the Sony is limited to 720/30p.

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Feature comparison

Apart from body and sensor, cameras can and do differ across a variety of features. The two cameras under review are similar with respect to both having an electronic viewfinder. However, the one in the H400 offers a slightly higher resolution than the one in the AZ901 (210k vs 202k dots). The adjacent table lists some of the other core features of the Kodak AZ901 and Sony H400 along with similar information for a selection of comparators.

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Core Features
# image Camera
Model
Viewfinder
(Type or
000 dots)
Control
Panel
(yes/no)
LCD
Specifications
(inch/000 dots)
LCD
Attach-
ment
Touch
Screen
(yes/no)
Max
Shutter
Speed *
Max
Shutter
Flaps *
Built-in
Flash
(yes/no)
Built-in
Image
Stab
1.
 
Kodak AZ901202 n3.0 / 920 swivel n 1/2000s 5.0/s Y Y
2.
 
Sony H400210 n3.0 / 460 fixed n 1/2000s 0.7/s Y Y
3.
 
Canon G9 X Mark IInone n3.0 / 1040 fixed Y 1/2000s 8.2/s Y Y
4.
 
Canon G9 Xnone n3.0 / 1040 fixed Y 1/2000s 6.0/s Y Y
5.
 
Canon SX410none n3.0 / 230 fixed n 1/4000s 0.5/s Y Y
6.
 
Canon SX710none n3.0 / 922 fixed n 1/3200s 6.0/s Y Y
7.
 
Leica Q Typ 1163680 n3.0 / 1040 fixed Y 1/2000s 10.0/s n Y
8.
 
Nikon B700921 n3.0 / 921 swivel n 1/4000s 5.0/s Y Y
9.
 
Nikon P900921 n3.0 / 921 swivel n 1/4000s 7.0/s Y Y
10.
 
Panasonic ZS701166 n3.0 / 1040 tilting Y 1/2000s 10.0/s Y Y
11.
 
Panasonic FZ25002360 n3.0 / 1040 swivel Y 1/4000s 12.0/s Y Y
12.
 
Sony HX350202 n3.0 / 922 tilting n 1/4000s 10.0/s Y Y
13.
 
Sony HX90V638 n3.0 / 921 tilting n 1/2000s 10.0/s Y Y
14.
 
Sony HX400V210 n3.0 / 921 tilting n 1/4000s 10.0/s Y Y
15.
 
Sony H300none n3.0 / 460 fixed n 1/1500s 0.8/s Y Y
16.
 
Sony H200none n3.0 / 460 fixed n 1/1500s 0.8/s Y Y
Note: *) Information refers to the mechanical shutter, unless the camera only has an electronic one.
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The AZ901 has an articulated LCD that can be turned to be front-facing. This characteristic will be appreciated by vloggers and photographers who are interested in snapping selfies. In contrast, the H400 does not have a selfie-screen.

Both the AZ901 and the H400 have zoom lenses built in. The AZ901 has a 22-1980mm f/3.1-6.8 optic and the H400 offers a 24.5-1550mm f/3.4-6.5 (focal lengths in full frame equivalent terms). Hence, the Kodak provides a wider angle of view at the short end, as well as more tele-photo reach at the long end than the Sony. The AZ901 offers the faster maximum aperture.

The AZ901 writes its imaging data to SDXC cards, while the H400 uses SDXC or Memory Stick PRO Duo cards.

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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 Kodak PixPro AZ901 and Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H400 and, in particular, the interfaces the cameras (and selected comparators) provide for accessory control and data transfer.

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Input-Output Connections
# image Camera
Model
Hotshoe
Port
Internal
Mic / Speaker
Microphone
Port
Headphone
Port
HDMI
Port
USB
Port
WiFi
Support
NFC
Support
Bluetooth
Support
1.
 
Kodak AZ901-stereo / mono--micro2.0Y--
2.
 
Sony H400-mono / mono--micro2.0Y--
3.
 
Canon G9 X Mark II-stereo / mono--micro2.0YYY
4.
 
Canon G9 X-stereo / mono--micro2.0YY-
5.
 
Canon SX410-stereo / mono---2.0---
6.
 
Canon SX710-stereo / mono--micro2.0YY-
7.
 
Leica Q Typ 116Ystereo / mono--micro2.0YY-
8.
 
Nikon B700-stereo / mono--micro2.0YYY
9.
 
Nikon P900-stereo / mono--micro2.0YY-
10.
 
Panasonic ZS70-stereo / mono--micro2.0Y--
11.
 
Panasonic FZ2500Ystereo / monoYYmicro2.0Y--
12.
 
Sony HX350-stereo / mono--micro2.0---
13.
 
Sony HX90V-stereo / mono--micro2.0YY-
14.
 
Sony HX400VYstereo / mono--micro2.0YY-
15.
 
Sony H300-mono / mono--micro2.0Y--
16.
 
Sony H200-mono / mono---2.0---
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The AZ901 is a recent model that features in the current product line-up of Kodak. In contrast, the H400 has been discontinued (but can be found pre-owned on ebay). There has not been a direct replacement model for the H400 from Sony. Further information on the features and operation of the AZ901 and H400 can be found, respectively, in the Kodak AZ901 Manual (free pdf) or the online Sony H400 Manual.

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Review summary

So what conclusions can be drawn? Is there a clear favorite between the Kodak AZ901 and the Sony H400? Which camera is better? Below is a summary of the relative strengths of each of the two contestants.

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Advantages of the Kodak PixPro AZ901:

  • Better moiré control: Has an anti-alias filter to avoid artificial patterns to appear in images.
  • Better video: Provides higher definition movie capture (1080/30p vs 720/30p).
  • More detailed LCD: Has a higher resolution rear screen (920k vs 460k dots).
  • More flexible LCD: Has a swivel screen for odd-angle shots in portrait or landscape orientation.
  • More selfie-friendly: Has an articulated screen that can be turned to be front-facing.
  • Faster burst: Shoots at higher frequency (5 vs 0.7 flaps/sec) to capture the decisive moment.
  • Better light gathering: Has a lens with a wider maximum aperture (f/3.1 vs f/3.4).
  • Wider view: Has a wider-angle lens that facilitates landscape or interior shots.
  • More tele-reach: Has a longer tele-lens for perspective compression and subject magnification.
  • Longer lasting: Can take more shots (400 versus 300) on a single battery charge.
  • More modern: Is somewhat more recent (announced 1 year and 10 months after the H400).

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Arguments in favor of the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H400:

  • Maximized detail: Lacks an anti-alias filter to exploit the sensor's full resolution potential.
  • More compact: Is smaller (130x95mm vs 139x104mm) and will fit more readily into a bag.
  • Less heavy: Has a lower weight (by 149g or 19 percent) and is thus easier to take along.
  • More affordable: Was introduced into a lower priced category (36 percent cheaper at launch).
  • More heavily discounted: Has been on the market for longer (launched in February 2014).

If the number of relative strengths (bullet points above) is taken as a guide, the AZ901 is the clear winner of the match-up (11 : 5 points). However, the relative importance of the various individual camera aspects will vary according to personal preferences and needs, so that you might like to apply corresponding weights to the particular features before making a decision on a new camera. 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.

AZ901 11:05 H400

How about other alternatives? Do the specifications of the Kodak AZ901 and the Sony H400 place the cameras among the top in their class? Find out in the latest Best Superzoom Camera listing 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 remains partial and cannot reveal, for example, the shooting experience and imaging performance when actually working with the AZ901 or the H400. User reviews that are available, for instance, at amazon can sometimes shed light on these issues, but such feedback is all too often partial, inconsistent, and inaccurate.

Expert reviews

This is where reviews by experts come in. The adjacent summary-table relays the overall verdicts of several of the most popular camera review sites (amateurphotographer [AP], cameralabs [CL], digitalcameraworld [DCW], dpreview [DPR], ephotozine [EPZ], photographyblog [PB]). 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.

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Expert Camera Reviews
# image  Camera 
 Model 
 AP 
 score 
 CL 
 score 
 DCW 
 score 
 DPR 
 score 
 EPZ 
 score 
 PB 
 score 
Camera
Launch
Launch
Price (USD)
Street
Price
1.
 
Kodak AZ901........3.5/53/5 Jan 2016 499 amazon.com
2.
 
Sony H400..o....3.5/53.5/5 Feb 2014 319ebay.com
3.
 
Canon G9 X Mark II4/5..4/575/1004.5/54.5/5 Jan 2017 529ebay.com
4.
 
Canon G9 X3.5/5+ +....4.5/54.5/5 Oct 2015 529ebay.com
5.
 
Canon SX410..o........ Feb 2015 279ebay.com
6.
 
Canon SX710..+....4/53.5/5 Jan 2015 349ebay.com
7.
 
Leica Q Typ 1165/5....80/1004.5/54.5/5 Jun 2015 4,249ebay.com
8.
 
Nikon B700..+....4/54/5 Feb 2016 499ebay.com
9.
 
Nikon P900......77/1004/54/5 Mar 2015 599ebay.com
10.
 
Panasonic ZS70..+ +....4/54/5 Apr 2017 449ebay.com
11.
 
Panasonic FZ2500..+..82/1004.5/55/5 Sep 2016 1,199 amazon.com
12.
 
Sony HX350..........4/5 Dec 2016 449ebay.com
13.
 
Sony HX90V4/5+ +....4/54.5/5 Apr 2015 429ebay.com
14.
 
Sony HX400V4/5+ +....4/54/5 Feb 2014 499ebay.com
15.
 
Sony H300..+....4.5/54/5 Feb 2014 219ebay.com
16.
 
Sony H200........3.5/53.5/5 Jan 2013 249ebay.com
Note: (+ +) highly recommended; (+) recommended; (o) reviewed; (..) not available.
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The above review scores should be interpreted 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 rating-comparisons among cameras that span long time periods or concern very differently equipped models make little sense. Also, please note that some of the review sites have changed their methodology and reporting over time.

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Other camera comparisons

Did this review help to inform your camera decision process? In case you are interested in seeing how other cameras pair up, just make your choice using the following search menu. As an alternative, you can also directly jump to any one of the listed comparisons that were previously generated by the CAM-parator tool.

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    Specifications: Kodak AZ901 vs Sony H400

    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.

    Camera Specifications
    Camera Model Kodak AZ901 Sony H400
    Camera Type Fixed lens compact camera Fixed lens compact camera
    Camera Lens 22-1980mm f/3.1-6.8 24.5-1550mm f/3.4-6.5
    Launch Date January 2016 February 2014
    Launch Price USD 499 USD 319
    Sensor Specs Kodak AZ901 Sony H400
    Sensor Technology BSI-CMOS CCD
    Sensor Format 1/2.3" Sensor 1/2.3" Sensor
    Sensor Size 6.17 x 4.55 mm 6.17 x 4.55 mm
    Sensor Area 28.0735 mm2 28.0735 mm2
    Sensor Diagonal 7.7 mm 7.7 mm
    Crop Factor 5.6x 5.6x
    Sensor Resolution 20.2 Megapixels 19.9 Megapixels
    Image Resolution 5184 x 3888 pixels 5152 x 3864 pixels
    Pixel Pitch 1.18 μm 1.19 μm
    Pixel Density 71.80 MP/cm2 70.91 MP/cm2
    Moiré control Anti-Alias filter no AA filter
    Movie Capability 1080/30p Video 720/30p Video
    ISO Setting 100 - 3,200 ISO 80 - 3,200 ISO
    Screen Specs Kodak AZ901 Sony H400
    Viewfinder Type Electronic viewfinder Electronic viewfinder
    Viewfinder Field of View 100% 100%
    Viewfinder Resolution 202k dots 210k dots
    LCD Framing Live View Live View
    Rear LCD Size 3.0inch 3.0inch
    LCD Resolution 920k dots 460k dots
    LCD Attachment Swivel screen Fixed screen
    Shooting Specs Kodak AZ901 Sony H400
    Focus System Contrast-detect AF Contrast-detect AF
    Continuous Shooting 5 shutter flaps/s 0.7 shutter flaps/s
    Fill Flash Built-in Flash Built-in Flash
    Storage Medium SDXC cards MS or SDXC cards
    Single or Dual Card Slots Single card slot Single card slot
    UHS card support no no
    Connectivity Specs Kodak AZ901 Sony H400
    External Flash no Hotshoe no Hotshoe
    USB Connector USB 2.0 USB 2.0
    HDMI Port micro HDMI micro HDMI
    Wifi Support Wifi built-in Wifi built-in
    Body Specs Kodak AZ901 Sony H400
    Battery Type Kodak LB-070 Sony NP-BX1
    Battery Life (CIPA)400 shots per charge300 shots per charge
    Body Dimensions 139 x 104 x 119 mm
    (5.5 x 4.1 x 4.7 in)
    130 x 95 x 122 mm
    (5.1 x 3.7 x 4.8 in)
    Camera Weight 777 g (27.4 oz) 628 g (22.2 oz)
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