Sony H400 Comparison Review

The Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H400 is a fixed lens compact camera that was officially introduced in February 2014 and is equipped with a 1/2.3-inch sensor. It offers a resolution of 19.9 megapixel.

Is the Sony H400 a good camera? The H400 has a Camera Elo of 1189. This rating puts the H400 below average of all superzoom compact cameras. In terms of its sensor size category (small sensor cameras), the H400 also ranks below average. Based on its within category standings, the camera earns a 2.5-star performance rating. – Well, the Sony H400 is more than 9 years old, and there have been many other good digital cameras released since 2014.

Read on to find out more about the camera's size, sensor, features, reception by expert reviewers, and how it compares to other digital cameras.

Body comparison with a credit card

The physical dimensions of the Sony H400 relative to a credit card are illustrated in the side-by-side display below. Three consecutive perspectives from the front, the top, and the back are presented. All width, height and depth dimensions are rounded to the nearest millimeter.

The table below summarizes the key physical specs of the Sony H400 alongside a set of similar cameras. If you want to review a particular camera pair side-by-side, just move across to the CAM-parator tool and choose from the broad selection of possible comparisons 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 H400	130 mm	95 mm	122 mm	628 g	300	n	Feb 2014	319	ebay.com
2.		Canon SX410	104 mm	69 mm	85 mm	325 g	185	n	Feb 2015	279	ebay.com
3.		Canon SX710	113 mm	66 mm	35 mm	269 g	230	n	Jan 2015	349	ebay.com
4.		Nikon L840	113 mm	78 mm	96 mm	538 g	590	n	Feb 2015	299	ebay.com
5.		Sony HX99	102 mm	58 mm	36 mm	242 g	370	n	Aug 2018	449	ebay.com
6.		Sony HX80	102 mm	58 mm	36 mm	245 g	390	n	Mar 2016	349	ebay.com
7.		Sony HX350	130 mm	93 mm	103 mm	652 g	300	n	Dec 2016	449	ebay.com
8.		Sony HX90V	102 mm	58 mm	36 mm	245 g	360	n	Apr 2015	429	ebay.com
9.		Sony HX400V	130 mm	93 mm	103 mm	660 g	300	n	Feb 2014	499	ebay.com
10.		Sony H300	128 mm	89 mm	92 mm	590 g	350	n	Feb 2014	219	ebay.com
11.		Sony H200	123 mm	83 mm	87 mm	530 g	240	n	Jan 2013	249	ebay.com
Note: Measurements and pricing do not include easily detachable parts, such as add-on or interchangeable lenses or optional viewfinders.
Convert to Imperial

The listed prices provide an indication of the market segment that the manufacturer of the cameras have been targeting. The Sony H400 was launched in the US market at a price of $319. 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. Then, after the new model is out, very good deals can frequently be found on the pre-owned market.

Check H400 offers at
ebay.com

Sensor comparison with a 35mm slide

The imaging sensor is at the core of digital cameras and its size is one of the main determining factors 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. 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 are more costly to manufacture and tent to lead to bigger and heavier cameras and lenses.

The Sony H400 features a 1/2.3-inch sensor and has a format factor (sometimes also referred to as "crop factor") of 5.6. Within the spectrum of camera sensors, this places the Sony H400 among the smaller-sensor digicams that favor affordability and compact design.

For most cameras, data on sensor performance has been reported by DXO Mark. 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 alternatives.

Sensor Characteristics

		Camera Model	Sensor Class	Resolution (MP)	Horiz. Pixels	Vert. Pixels	Video Format	DXO Portrait	DXO Landscape	DXO Sports	DXO Overall
1.		Sony H400	1/2.3	19.9	5152	3864	720/30p	20.1	11.4	630	45
2.		Canon SX410	1/2.3	19.9	5152	3864	720/30p	20.2	11.6	720	47
3.		Canon SX710	1/2.3	20.2	5184	3888	1080/60p	20.2	11.6	712	47
4.		Nikon L840	1/2.3	15.9	4608	3456	1080/60i	20.2	11.6	721	47
5.		Sony HX99	1/2.3	18.0	4896	3672	4K/30p	20.6	12.1	1058	51
6.		Sony HX80	1/2.3	18.0	4896	3672	1080/60p	20.4	11.8	822	48
7.		Sony HX350	1/2.3	19.9	5152	3864	1080/60p	20.5	11.9	896	49
8.		Sony HX90V	1/2.3	18.0	4896	3672	1080/60p	20.2	11.6	738	47
9.		Sony HX400V	1/2.3	20.2	5184	3888	1080/60p	20.1	11.4	629	45
10.		Sony H300	1/2.3	19.9	5152	3864	720/30p	20.1	11.4	630	45
11.		Sony H200	1/2.3	15.2	5184	2930	720/30p	19.9	11.2	529	44
Note: DXO values in italics represent estimates based on sensor size and age.

Many modern cameras are not only capable of taking still images, but can also record movies. The H400 indeed provides movie recording capabilities. The highest resolution format that the H400 can use is 720/30p.

Feature comparison

Apart from body and sensor, cameras can and do differ across a range of features. The tables below summarize some of the other core capabilities of the Sony H400 in connection with corresponding information for a sample of similar cameras.

Core Features

		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.		Sony H400	210	n	3.0 / 460	fixed	n	1/2000s	0.7/s	Y	Y
2.		Canon SX410	none	n	3.0 / 230	fixed	n	1/4000s	0.5/s	Y	Y
3.		Canon SX710	none	n	3.0 / 922	fixed	n	1/3200s	6.0/s	Y	Y
4.		Nikon L840	none	n	3.0 / 921	tilting	n	1/4000s	7.4/s	Y	Y
5.		Sony HX99	638	n	3.0 / 922	tilting	Y	1/2000s	10.0/s	Y	Y
6.		Sony HX80	638	n	3.0 / 922	tilting	n	1/2000s	10.0/s	Y	Y
7.		Sony HX350	202	n	3.0 / 922	tilting	n	1/4000s	10.0/s	Y	Y
8.		Sony HX90V	638	n	3.0 / 921	tilting	n	1/2000s	10.0/s	Y	Y
9.		Sony HX400V	210	n	3.0 / 921	tilting	n	1/4000s	10.0/s	Y	Y
10.		Sony H300	none	n	3.0 / 460	fixed	n	1/1500s	0.8/s	Y	Y
11.		Sony H200	none	n	3.0 / 460	fixed	n	1/1500s	0.8/s	Y	Y
Notes: *) Information refers to the mechanical shutter, unless the camera only has an electronic one.

One convenient feature of the H400 is the presence of an on-board flash. While this built-in flash is not very powerful, it can at times be useful as a fill-in light to brighten deep shadow areas.

Connection 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 Cyber-shot DSC-H400 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 Mic / Speaker	Microphone Port	Headphone Port	HDMI Port	USB Port	WiFi Support	NFC Support	Bluetooth Support
1.		Sony H400	-	mono / mono	-	-	micro	2.0	Y	-	-
2.		Canon SX410	-	stereo / mono	-	-	-	2.0	-	-	-
3.		Canon SX710	-	stereo / mono	-	-	micro	2.0	Y	Y	-
4.		Nikon L840	-	stereo / mono	-	-	micro	2.0	Y	Y	-
5.		Sony HX99	-	stereo / mono	-	-	micro	2.0	Y	Y	Y
6.		Sony HX80	-	stereo / mono	-	-	micro	2.0	Y	Y	-
7.		Sony HX350	-	stereo / mono	-	-	micro	2.0	-	-	-
8.		Sony HX90V	-	stereo / mono	-	-	micro	2.0	Y	Y	-
9.		Sony HX400V	Y	stereo / mono	-	-	micro	2.0	Y	Y	-
10.		Sony H300	-	mono / mono	-	-	micro	2.0	Y	-	-
11.		Sony H200	-	mono / mono	-	-	-	2.0	-	-	-

It is notable that the H400 offers wifi support. Wifi can be a very convenient means to transfer image data to an off-camera location.

The H400 has a zoom lens built in (4.4-277mm f/3.4-6.5), which, in full frame equivalent terms, provides a focal length range from 24.5 to 1550mm. The camera is, hence, ready to shoot, while remaining more compact in size than an interchangeable lens camera with an optic that offers similar focal length and aperture specifications.

Further information on the features and operation of the H400 can be found in the free online Sony H400 Manual or on the Sony support site.

Expert reviews

While the comparison of technical specifications can provide a useful overview of the capabilities of different cameras, it remains incomplete and does no justice, for example, to the way the H400 handle or perform in practice. At times, user reviews, such as those published at amazon, address these issues in a useful manner, but such feedback is on many occasions incomplete, inconsistent, and unreliable. This is why expert reviews are important. The table below summarizes the assessments of some of the best known camera review sites (amateurphotographer [AP], cameralabs [CL], digitalcameraworld [DCW], dpreview [DPR], ephotozine [EPZ], photographyblog [PB]).

Review Scores

		Camera   Model	AP   score	CL   score	DCW   score	DPR   score	EPZ   score	PB   score	Camera Launch	Launch Price (USD)	Street Price
1.		Sony H400	..	o	..	..	3.5/5	3.5/5	Feb 2014	319	ebay.com
2.		Canon SX410	..	o	..	..	..	..	Feb 2015	279	ebay.com
3.		Canon SX710	..	+	..	..	4/5	3.5/5	Jan 2015	349	ebay.com
4.		Nikon L840	..	+ +	..	..	3.5/5	4/5	Feb 2015	299	ebay.com
5.		Sony HX99	..	..	..	..	4/5	4.5/5	Aug 2018	449	ebay.com
6.		Sony HX80	..	..	..	..	..	..	Mar 2016	349	ebay.com
7.		Sony HX350	..	..	..	..	..	4/5	Dec 2016	449	ebay.com
8.		Sony HX90V	4/5	+ +	..	..	4/5	4.5/5	Apr 2015	429	ebay.com
9.		Sony HX400V	4/5	+ +	..	..	4/5	4/5	Feb 2014	499	ebay.com
10.		Sony H300	..	+	..	..	4.5/5	4/5	Feb 2014	219	ebay.com
11.		Sony H200	..	..	..	..	3.5/5	3.5/5	Jan 2013	249	ebay.com
Notes: (+ +) highly recommended; (+) recommended; (o) reviewed; (..) not available.

The above review scores should be interpreted with care, though. The assessments were made in relation to similar cameras of the same technological generation. Hence, a score should always be seen in the context of the camera's market launch date and its price, and comparing ratings of very distinct cameras or ones that are far apart in terms of their release date have little meaning. Also, kindly note that some of the listed sites have over time developped their review approaches and their reporting style.

Check H400 offers at
ebay.com

Camera to camera comparisons

If you would like to see a side-by-side review with another camera, just use the search menu 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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