Sony A7S vs HX400V

The Sony Alpha A7S and the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX400V are two digital cameras that were officially introduced, respectively, in April 2014 and February 2014. The A7S is a mirrorless interchangeable lens camera, while the HX400V is a fixed lens compact. The cameras are based on a full frame (A7S) and a 1/2.3-inch (HX400V) sensor. The A7S has a resolution of 12 megapixels, whereas the HX400V 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

Sony A7S		Sony HX400V
Mirrorless system camera		Fixed lens compact camera
Sony E mount lenses		24-1200mm f/2.8-6.3
12 MP, Full Frame Sensor		20.2 MP, 1/2.3" Sensor
1080/60p Video		1080/60p Video
ISO 100-102,400 (50 - 409,600)		ISO 80-3,200 (80 - 12,800)
Electronic viewfinder (2400k dots)		Electronic viewfinder (210k dots)
3.0 LCD, 921k dots		3.0 LCD, 921k dots
Tilting screen (no touchscreen)		Tilting screen (not touch-sensitive)
5 shutter flaps per second		10 shutter flaps per second
Weathersealed body		not weather sealed
380 shots per battery charge		300 shots per battery charge
127 x 94 x 48 mm, 489 g		130 x 93 x 103 mm, 660 g

Going beyond this snapshot of core features and characteristics, what are the differences between the Sony Alpha A7S 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

An illustration of the physical size and weight of the Sony A7S and the Sony HX400V is provided in the side-by-side display below. 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.

If the front view area (width x height) of the cameras is taken as an aggregate measure of their size, the Sony HX400V is somewhat larger (1 percent) than the Sony A7S. It is worth mentioning in this context that the A7S is splash and dust resistant, while the HX400V does not feature any corresponding weather-sealing.

The above size and weight comparisons are to some extent incomplete and possibly misleading, as the HX400V has a lens built in, whereas the A7S 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 A7S and their specifications in the Sony FE Lens Catalog.

Concerning battery life, the A7S gets 380 shots out of its NP-FW50 battery, while the HX400V can take 300 images on a single charge of its NP-BX1 power pack. The power pack in the A7S can be charged via the USB port, so that it is not always necessary to take the battery charger along when travelling.

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.

Body Specifications

		Camera Model	Camera Width	Camera Height	Camera Depth	Camera Weight	Battery Life	Weather Sealing	Camera Launch	Launch Price (USD)	Street Price
1.		Sony A7S	127 mm	94 mm	48 mm	489 g	380	Y	Apr 2014	2,499
2.		Sony HX400V	130 mm	93 mm	103 mm	660 g	300	n	Feb 2014	499
3.		Nikon D750	141 mm	113 mm	78 mm	750 g	1230	Y	Sep 2014	2,299
4.		Nikon Df	144 mm	110 mm	67 mm	760 g	1400	Y	Nov 2013	2,749
5.		Panasonic GH4	133 mm	93 mm	84 mm	560 g	500	Y	Feb 2014	1,499
6.		Sony A6300	120 mm	67 mm	49 mm	404 g	400	Y	Feb 2016	999
7.		Sony HX350	130 mm	93 mm	103 mm	652 g	300	n	Dec 2016	449
8.		Sony A7R II	127 mm	96 mm	60 mm	625 g	290	Y	Jun 2015	3,199
9.		Sony A7S II	127 mm	96 mm	60 mm	627 g	370	Y	Sep 2015	2,999
10.		Sony RX100 IV	102 mm	58 mm	41 mm	298 g	280	n	Jun 2015	999
11.		Sony HX90V	102 mm	58 mm	36 mm	245 g	360	n	Apr 2015	429
12.		Sony A7 II	127 mm	96 mm	60 mm	599 g	350	Y	Nov 2014	1,999
13.		Sony H400	130 mm	95 mm	122 mm	628 g	300	n	Feb 2014	319
14.		Sony H300	128 mm	89 mm	92 mm	590 g	350	n	Feb 2014	219
15.		Sony A7	127 mm	94 mm	48 mm	474 g	340	Y	Oct 2013	1,699
16.		Sony A7R	127 mm	94 mm	48 mm	465 g	340	Y	Oct 2013	2,299
17.		Sony RX1R	113 mm	65 mm	70 mm	482 g	270	n	Jun 2013	2,799
Notes: Measurements and pricing do not include easily detachable parts, such as add-on or interchangeable lenses or optional viewfinders.
Convert to Imperial

Any camera decision will obviously take relative prices into account. The manufacturer’s suggested retail prices give an idea on the placement of the camera in the maker’s lineup and the broader market. The HX400V was launched at a lower price than the A7S, despite having a lens built in. Normally, street prices remain initially close to the MSRP, but after a couple of months, the first discounts appear. 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. All other things equal, a large sensor will have larger individual pixel-units that offer better low-light sensitivity, wider dynamic range, and richer color-depth than smaller pixels in a sensor of the same technological generation. Further, a large sensor camera will give the photographer additional creative options when using shallow depth-of-field to isolate a subject from its background. On the downside, larger sensors tend to be associated with larger, more expensive camera bodies and lenses.

Of the two cameras under consideration, the Sony A7S features a full frame sensor and the Sony HX400V a 1/2.3-inch sensor. The sensor area in the HX400V is 97 percent smaller. As a result of these sensor size differences, the cameras have a format factor of, respectively, 1.0 and 5.6. The sensor in the A7S has a native 3:2 aspect ratio, while the one in the HX400V offers a 4:3 aspect.

Despite having a smaller sensor, the HX400V offers a higher resolution of 20.2 megapixels, compared with 12 MP of the A7S. This megapixels advantage comes at the cost of a higher pixel density and a smaller size of the individual pixel (with a pixel pitch of 1.18μm versus 8.45μm for the A7S). It is noteworthy in this context that the two cameras were released in close succession, so that their sensors are from the same technological generation. 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 Sony HX400V implies greater flexibility for cropping images or the possibility to print larger pictures. The maximum print size of the HX400V for good quality output (200 dots per inch) amounts to 25.9 x 19.4 inches or 65.8 x 49.4 cm, for very good quality (250 dpi) 20.7 x 15.6 inches or 52.7 x 39.5 cm, and for excellent quality (300 dpi) 17.3 x 13 inches or 43.9 x 32.9 cm. The corresponding values for the Sony A7S are 21.2 x 14.2 inches or 53.8 x 36 cm for good quality, 17 x 11.3 inches or 43.1 x 28.8 cm for very good quality, and 14.1 x 9.4 inches or 35.9 x 24 cm for excellent quality prints.

The Sony Alpha A7S has a native sensitivity range from ISO 100 to ISO 102400, which can be extended to ISO 50-409600. 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.

For many cameras, data on sensor performance has been reported by DXO Mark. This service is based on lab testing and assigns an overall score to each camera sensor, as well as ratings for dynamic range ("DXO Landscape"), color depth ("DXO Portrait"), and low-light sensitivity ("DXO Sports"). The adjacent table reports on the physical sensor characteristics and the outcomes of the DXO sensor quality tests for a sample of comparator-cameras.

Sensor Characteristics

		Camera Model	Sensor Class	Resolution (MP)	Horiz. Pixels	Vert. Pixels	Video Format	DXO Portrait	DXO Landscape	DXO Sports	DXO Overall
1.		Sony A7S	Full Frame	12.0	4240	2832	1080/60p	23.9	13.2	3702	87
2.		Sony HX400V	1/2.3	20.2	5184	3888	1080/60p	..	..	..	..
3.		Nikon D750	Full Frame	24.2	6016	4016	1080/60p	24.8	14.5	2956	93
4.		Nikon Df	Full Frame	16.2	4928	3280	none	24.6	13.1	3279	89
5.		Panasonic GH4	Four Thirds	15.9	4608	3456	4K/30p	23.2	12.8	791	74
6.		Sony A6300	APS-C	24.0	6000	4000	4K/30p	24.4	13.7	1437	85
7.		Sony HX350	1/2.3	19.9	5152	3864	1080/60p	..	..	..	..
8.		Sony A7R II	Full Frame	42.2	7952	5304	4K/30p	26.0	13.9	3434	98
9.		Sony A7S II	Full Frame	12.0	4240	2832	4K/30p	23.6	13.3	2993	85
10.		Sony RX100 IV	1-inch	20.0	5472	3648	4K/30p	22.8	12.6	591	70
11.		Sony HX90V	1/2.3	18.0	4896	3672	1080/60p	..	..	..	..
12.		Sony A7 II	Full Frame	24.0	6000	4000	1080/60p	24.9	13.6	2449	90
13.		Sony H400	1/2.3	19.9	5152	3864	720/30p	..	..	..	..
14.		Sony H300	1/2.3	19.9	5152	3864	720/30p	..	..	..	..
15.		Sony A7	Full Frame	24.0	6000	4000	1080/60p	24.8	14.2	2248	90
16.		Sony A7R	Full Frame	36.2	7360	4912	1080/60p	25.6	14.1	2746	95
17.		Sony RX1R	Full Frame	24.0	6000	4000	1080/60p	25.0	13.6	2537	91

Many modern cameras cannot only take still pictures, but also record videos. The two cameras under consideration both have sensors whose read-out speed is fast enough to capture moving pictures, and both provide the same movie specifications (1080/60p).

Feature comparison

Beyond body and sensor, cameras can and do differ across a range of features. The two cameras under consideration are similar with respect to both having an electronic viewfinder. However, the one in the A7S offers a substantially higher resolution than the one in the HX400V (2400k vs 210k dots). The adjacent table lists some of the other core features of the Sony A7S and Sony HX400V along with similar information for a selection of comparators.

Core Features

		Camera Model	Viewfinder (Type or 000 dots)	Control Panel (yes/no)	LCD Size (inch)	LCD Resolution (000 dots)	LCD Attach- ment	Touch Screen (yes/no)	Mech Shutter Speed	Shutter Flaps (1/sec)	Built-in Flash (yes/no)	Built-in Image Stab
1.		Sony A7S	2400	n	3.0	921	tilting	n	1/8000s	5.0	n	n
2.		Sony HX400V	210	n	3.0	921	tilting	n	1/4000s	10.0	Y	Y
3.		Nikon D750	optical	Y	3.2	1229	tilting	n	1/4000s	6.0	Y	n
4.		Nikon Df	optical	Y	3.2	921	fixed	n	1/4000s	5.5	n	n
5.		Panasonic GH4	2359	n	3.0	1036	swivel	Y	1/8000s	12.0	Y	n
6.		Sony A6300	2359	n	3.0	922	tilting	n	1/4000s	11.0	Y	n
7.		Sony HX350	202	n	3.0	922	tilting	n	1/4000s	10.0	Y	Y
8.		Sony A7R II	2400	n	3.0	1229	tilting	n	1/8000s	5.0	n	Y
9.		Sony A7S II	2400	n	3.0	1229	tilting	n	1/8000s	5.0	n	Y
10.		Sony RX100 IV	2359	n	3.0	1228	tilting	n	1/2000s	16.0	Y	Y
11.		Sony HX90V	638	n	3.0	921	tilting	n	1/2000s	10.0	Y	Y
12.		Sony A7 II	2400	n	3.0	1230	tilting	n	1/8000s	5.0	n	Y
13.		Sony H400	210	n	3.0	460	fixed	n	1/2000s	0.7	Y	Y
14.		Sony H300	none	n	3.0	460	fixed	n	1/1500s	0.8	Y	Y
15.		Sony A7	2400	n	3.0	1230	tilting	n	1/8000s	5.0	n	n
16.		Sony A7R	2400	n	3.0	1230	tilting	n	1/8000s	4.0	n	n
17.		Sony RX1R	optional	n	3.0	1229	fixed	n	1/4000s	5.0	Y	n

One difference between the cameras concerns the presence of an on-board flash. The HX400V has one, while the A7S does not. While the built-in flash of the HX400V is not very powerful, it can at times be useful as a fill-in light.

The reported shutter speed information refers to the use of the mechanical shutter. Yet, some cameras only have an electronic shutter, while others have an electronic shutter in addition to a mechanical one. In fact, the A7S is one of those camera that have an additional electronic shutter, which makes completely silent shooting possible. However, this mode is less suitable for photographing moving objects (risk of rolling shutter) or shooting under artificial light sources (risk of flickering).

Concerning the storage of imaging data, both the A7S and the HX400V write their files to SDXC or Memory Stick PRO Duo cards. The A7S 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 Sony Alpha A7S and Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX400V and, in particular, the interfaces the cameras (and selected comparators) provide for accessory control and data transfer.

Input-Output Connections

		Camera Model	Hotshoe Port	Internal Microphone	Internal Speaker	Microphone Port	Headphone Port	HDMI Port	USB Port	WiFi Support	NFC Support	Bluetooth Support
1.		Sony A7S	Y	stereo	mono	Y	Y	micro	2.0	Y	Y	-
2.		Sony HX400V	Y	stereo	mono	-	-	micro	2.0	Y	Y	-
3.		Nikon D750	Y	stereo	mono	Y	Y	mini	2.0	Y	-	-
4.		Nikon Df	Y	-	-	-	-	mini	2.0	-	-	-
5.		Panasonic GH4	Y	stereo	mono	Y	Y	micro	2.0	Y	Y	-
6.		Sony A6300	Y	stereo	mono	Y	-	micro	2.0	Y	Y	-
7.		Sony HX350	-	stereo	mono	-	-	micro	2.0	-	-	-
8.		Sony A7R II	Y	stereo	mono	Y	Y	micro	2.0	Y	Y	-
9.		Sony A7S II	Y	stereo	mono	Y	Y	micro	2.0	Y	Y	-
10.		Sony RX100 IV	-	stereo	mono	-	-	micro	2.0	Y	Y	-
11.		Sony HX90V	-	stereo	mono	-	-	micro	2.0	Y	Y	-
12.		Sony A7 II	Y	stereo	mono	Y	Y	micro	2.0	Y	Y	-
13.		Sony H400	-	mono	mono	-	-	micro	2.0	Y	-	-
14.		Sony H300	-	mono	mono	-	-	micro	2.0	Y	-	-
15.		Sony A7	Y	stereo	mono	Y	Y	micro	2.0	Y	Y	-
16.		Sony A7R	Y	stereo	mono	Y	Y	micro	2.0	Y	Y	-
17.		Sony RX1R	Y	stereo	mono	Y	-	mini	2.0	-	-	-

It is notable that the A7S 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 A7S has been discontinued (but can be found pre-owned on eBay). As a replacement in the same line of cameras, the A7S was succeeded by the Sony A7S II. Further information on the two cameras (e.g. user guides, manuals), as well as related accessories, can be found on the official Sony website.

Review summary

So what conclusions can be drawn? Is the Sony A7S better than the Sony HX400V or vice versa? The listing below highlights the relative strengths of the two models.

Arguments in favor of the Sony Alpha A7S:

• Better moiré control: Has an anti-alias filter to avoid artificial patterns to appear in images.
• Better image quality: Features bigger pixels on a larger sensor for higher quality imaging.
• Richer colors: The pixel size advantage translates into images with better, more accurate colors.
• More dynamic range: Larger pixels capture a wider spectrum of light and dark details.
• Better low-light sensitivity: Larger pixels means good image quality even under poor lighting.
• Better sound: Can connect to an external microphone for higher quality sound recording.
• Better sound control: Has a headphone port that enables audio monitoring while recording.
• More detailed viewfinder: Has higher resolution electronic viewfinder (2400k vs 210k dots).
• Faster shutter: Has higher mechanical shutter speed (1/8000s vs 1/4000s) to freeze action.
• Less disturbing: Has an electronic shutter option for completely silent shooting.
• More flexible: Accepts interchangeable lenses, so that lens characteristics can be altered.
• Longer lasting: Can take more shots (380 versus 300) on a single battery charge.
• Easier travel charging: Can be conveniently charged via its USB port.
• Better sealing: Is weather sealed to enable shooting in dusty or wet environments.
• Faster buffer clearing: Has an SD card interface that supports the UHS-I standard.

Advantages of the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX400V:

• More detail: Has more megapixels (20.2 vs 12MP), which boosts linear resolution by 27%.
• Maximized detail: Lacks an anti-alias filter to exploit the sensor's full resolution potential.
• Faster burst: Shoots at higher frequency (10 vs 5 flaps/sec) to capture the decisive moment.
• Ready to shoot: Has an integrated lens, whereas the A7S necessitates an extra lens.
• Sharper images: Has stabilization technology built-in to reduce the impact of hand-shake.
• Easier fill-in: Has a small integrated flash to brighten shadows of backlit subjects.
• 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.

If the count of relative strengths (bullet points above) is taken as a measure, the A7S is the clear winner of the match-up (15 : 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 Sony A7S and the Sony HX400V place the cameras among the top in their class? Find out in the latest Best Mirrorless Interchangeable Lens 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 remains partial and cannot reveal, for example, the shooting experience and imaging performance when actually working with the A7S or the HX400V. 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 why expert reviews are important. The following table reports the overall ratings of the cameras as published by some of the major camera review sites (amateurphotographer [AP], cameralabs [CL], 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.

Expert Camera Reviews

		Camera   Model	AP   score	CL   score	DPR   score	EPZ   score	PB   score	Camera Launch	Launch Price (USD)	Street Price
1.		Sony A7S	4/5	..	86/100	4.5/5	5/5	Apr 2014	2,499
2.		Sony HX400V	4/5	+ +	..	4/5	4/5	Feb 2014	499
3.		Nikon D750	5/5	+ +	90/100	4.5/5	4.5/5	Sep 2014	2,299
4.		Nikon Df	4/5	..	81/100	4/5	4/5	Nov 2013	2,749
5.		Panasonic GH4	5/5	+ +	85/100	5/5	5/5	Feb 2014	1,499
6.		Sony A6300	4.5/5	+	85/100	5/5	5/5	Feb 2016	999
7.		Sony HX350	..	..	..	..	4/5	Dec 2016	449
8.		Sony A7R II	5/5	+ +	90/100	5/5	5/5	Jun 2015	3,199
9.		Sony A7S II	5/5	+	..	4.5/5	5/5	Sep 2015	2,999
10.		Sony RX100 IV	4.5/5	+ +	85/100	4/5	4.5/5	Jun 2015	999
11.		Sony HX90V	4/5	+ +	..	4/5	4.5/5	Apr 2015	429
12.		Sony A7 II	5/5	+	82/100	4.5/5	5/5	Nov 2014	1,999
13.		Sony H400	..	o	..	3.5/5	3.5/5	Feb 2014	319
14.		Sony H300	..	+	..	4.5/5	4/5	Feb 2014	219
15.		Sony A7	5/5	+ +	80/100	5/5	5/5	Oct 2013	1,699
16.		Sony A7R	5/5	+ +	82/100	4.5/5	5/5	Oct 2013	2,299
17.		Sony RX1R	5/5	..	..	4/5	4.5/5	Jun 2013	2,799
Notes: (+ +) highly recommended; (+) recommended; (o) reviewed; (..) not available.

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. Hence, a score should always be seen in the context of the camera's market launch date and its price, and comparisons of ratings among very different cameras or across long time periods have little meaning. It should also be noted that some of the review sites have over time altered the way they render their verdicts.

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 a corresponding selection in the search boxes below. There is also a set of direct links to comparison reviews that other users of the CAM-parator app explored.

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Specifications: Sony A7S 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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