Sony H400 vs RX0

The Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H400 and the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX0 are two digital cameras that were revealed to the public, respectively, in February 2014 and August 2017. Both the H400 and the RX0 are fixed lens compact cameras that are based on a 1/2.3-inch (H400) and an one-inch (RX0) sensor. The H400 has a resolution of 19.9 megapixels, whereas the RX0 provides 15.4 MP.

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

Headline Specifications

Sony H400		Sony RX0
Fixed lens compact camera		Fixed lens compact camera
24.5-1550mm f/3.4-6.5		24mm f/4.0
19.9 MP – 1/2.3" sensor		15.4 MP – 1" sensor
720/30p Video		1080/60p Video
ISO 80-3,200		ISO 125-12,800
Electronic viewfinder (210k dots)		No viewfinder, LCD framing
3.0" LCD – 460k dots		1.5" LCD – 230k dots
Fixed screen (not touch-sensitive)		Fixed screen (not touch-sensitive)
0.7 shutter flaps per second		5.5 shutter flaps per second
not weather sealed		Waterproof body (10m)
300 shots per battery charge		240 shots per battery charge
130 x 95 x 122 mm, 628 g		59 x 41 x 30 mm, 110 g

Check H400 offers at
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Check RX0 offers at
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Going beyond this snapshot of core features and characteristics, what are the differences between the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H400 and the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX0? 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 Sony H400 and the Sony RX0. The two cameras are presented according to their relative size. Three consecutive perspectives from the front, the top, and the back are available. All width, height and depth measures 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 RX0 is considerably smaller (80 percent) than the Sony H400. Moreover, the RX0 is substantially lighter (82 percent) than the H400. It is noteworthy in this context that the RX0 is splash and dust-proof, while the H400 does not feature any corresponding weather-sealing. More than that, the RX0 is water-proof up to 10m and can, thus, be used for underwater photography.

Concerning battery life, the H400 gets 300 shots out of its Sony NP-BX1 battery, while the RX0 can take 240 images on a single charge of its Sony NP-BJ1 power pack. The power pack in the RX0 can be charged via the USB port, which can be very convenient when travelling.

The table below summarizes the key physical specs of the two cameras alongside a broader set of comparators. If you want to switch the focus of the display and review another camera pair, you can move across to the CAM-parator tool and choose from the broad selection of possible camera 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.		Sony RX0	59 mm	41 mm	30 mm	110 g	240	Y	Aug 2017	699	ebay.com
3.		Canon SX410	104 mm	69 mm	85 mm	325 g	185	n	Feb 2015	279	ebay.com
4.		Canon SX710	113 mm	66 mm	35 mm	269 g	230	n	Jan 2015	349	ebay.com
5.		Nikon L840	113 mm	78 mm	96 mm	538 g	590	n	Feb 2015	299	ebay.com
6.		Sony RX0 II	59 mm	41 mm	35 mm	132 g	240	Y	Mar 2019	699	amazon.com
7.		Sony HX99	102 mm	58 mm	36 mm	242 g	370	n	Aug 2018	449	ebay.com
8.		Sony RX10 IV	133 mm	94 mm	145 mm	1095 g	400	Y	Sep 2017	1,699	amazon.com
9.		Sony RX10 III	133 mm	94 mm	127 mm	1051 g	420	Y	Mar 2016	1,499	ebay.com
10.		Sony HX80	102 mm	58 mm	36 mm	245 g	390	n	Mar 2016	349	ebay.com
11.		Sony HX350	130 mm	93 mm	103 mm	652 g	300	n	Dec 2016	449	ebay.com
12.		Sony RX10 II	129 mm	88 mm	102 mm	813 g	400	Y	Jun 2015	1,299	ebay.com
13.		Sony HX90V	102 mm	58 mm	36 mm	245 g	360	n	Apr 2015	429	ebay.com
14.		Sony HX400V	130 mm	93 mm	103 mm	660 g	300	n	Feb 2014	499	ebay.com
15.		Sony H300	128 mm	89 mm	92 mm	590 g	350	n	Feb 2014	219	ebay.com
16.		Sony RX10	129 mm	88 mm	102 mm	813 g	420	Y	Oct 2013	1,299	ebay.com
17.		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

Any camera decision will naturally be influenced heavily by the price. 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 54 percent) than the RX0, which puts it into a different market segment. 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. Then, after the new model is out, very good deals can frequently be found on the pre-owned market.

Sensor comparison

The size of the sensor inside a digital camera is one of the key determinants of image quality. A large sensor will generally have larger individual pixels that offer better low-light sensitivity, provide wider dynamic range, and have 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 tend to be associated with larger, more expensive camera bodies and lenses.

Of the two cameras under consideration, the Sony H400 features a 1/2.3-inch sensor and the Sony RX0 an one-inch sensor. The sensor area in the RX0 is 314 percent bigger. As a result of these sensor size differences, the cameras have a format factor of, respectively, 5.6 and 2.7. The sensor in the H400 has a native 4:3 aspect ratio, while the one in the RX0 offers a 3:2 aspect.

Technology-wise, the RX0 uses a more advanced image processing engine (BIONZ X) than the H400 (BIONZ), with benefits for noise reduction, color accuracy, and processing speed.

Despite having a smaller sensor, the Sony H400 offers a higher resolution of 19.9 megapixels, compared with 15.4 MP of the Sony RX0. 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 1.19μm versus 2.74μm for the RX0). Moreover, it should be noted that the RX0 is much more recent (by 3 years and 6 months) than the H400, and its sensor will have benefitted from technological advances during this time that further enhance the light gathering capacity of its pixel-units. 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 resolution advantage of the Sony H400 implies greater flexibility for cropping images or the possibility to print larger pictures. The maximum print size of the H400 for good quality output (200 dots per inch) amounts to 25.8 x 19.3 inches or 65.4 x 49.1 cm, for very good quality (250 dpi) 20.6 x 15.5 inches or 52.3 x 39.3 cm, and for excellent quality (300 dpi) 17.2 x 12.9 inches or 43.6 x 32.7 cm. The corresponding values for the Sony RX0 are 24 x 16 inches or 61 x 40.6 cm for good quality, 19.2 x 12.8 inches or 48.8 x 32.5 cm for very good quality, and 16 x 10.7 inches or 40.6 x 27.1 cm for excellent quality prints.

The Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H400 has a native sensitivity range from ISO 80 to ISO 3200. The corresponding ISO settings for the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX0 are ISO 125 to ISO 12800 (no boost).

In terms of underlying technology, the H400 is build around a CCD sensor, while the RX0 uses a CMOS 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.

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 following table provides an overview of the physical sensor characteristics, as well as the sensor quality measurements for a selection of comparators.

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.		Sony RX0	1-inch	15.4	4800	3200	1080/60p	22.4	12.4	548	68
3.		Canon SX410	1/2.3	19.9	5152	3864	720/30p	20.2	11.6	720	47
4.		Canon SX710	1/2.3	20.2	5184	3888	1080/60p	20.2	11.6	712	47
5.		Nikon L840	1/2.3	15.9	4608	3456	1080/60i	20.2	11.6	721	47
6.		Sony RX0 II	1-inch	15.4	4800	3200	4K/30p	22.1	12.4	555	65
7.		Sony HX99	1/2.3	18.0	4896	3672	4K/30p	20.6	12.1	1058	51
8.		Sony RX10 IV	1-inch	20.0	5472	3648	4K/30p	22.0	12.2	408	63
9.		Sony RX10 III	1-inch	20.0	5472	3648	4K/30p	23.1	12.6	472	70
10.		Sony HX80	1/2.3	18.0	4896	3672	1080/60p	20.4	11.8	822	48
11.		Sony HX350	1/2.3	19.9	5152	3864	1080/60p	20.5	11.9	896	49
12.		Sony RX10 II	1-inch	20.0	5472	3648	4K/30p	23.0	12.6	531	70
13.		Sony HX90V	1/2.3	18.0	4896	3672	1080/60p	20.2	11.6	738	47
14.		Sony HX400V	1/2.3	20.2	5184	3888	1080/60p	20.1	11.4	629	45
15.		Sony H300	1/2.3	19.9	5152	3864	720/30p	20.1	11.4	630	45
16.		Sony RX10	1-inch	20.0	5472	3648	1080/60p	22.9	12.6	474	69
17.		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 also of capturing video footage. The two cameras under consideration both have sensors whose read-out speed is fast enough to capture moving pictures, but the RX0 provides a better video resolution than the H400. It can shoot movie footage at 1080/60p, while the H400 is limited to 720/30p.

Feature comparison

Apart from body and sensor, cameras can and do differ across a variety of features. For example, the H400 has an electronic viewfinder (210k dots), which can be very helpful when shooting in bright sunlight. In contrast, the RX0 relies on live view and the rear LCD for framing. The table below summarizes some of the other core capabilities of the Sony H400 and Sony RX0 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.		Sony RX0	none	n	1.5 / 230	fixed	n	..	5.5/s	n	n
3.		Canon SX410	none	n	3.0 / 230	fixed	n	1/4000s	0.5/s	Y	Y
4.		Canon SX710	none	n	3.0 / 922	fixed	n	1/3200s	6.0/s	Y	Y
5.		Nikon L840	none	n	3.0 / 921	tilting	n	1/4000s	7.4/s	Y	Y
6.		Sony RX0 II	none	n	1.5 / 230	tilting	n	..	5.5/s	n	n
7.		Sony HX99	638	n	3.0 / 922	tilting	Y	1/2000s	10.0/s	Y	Y
8.		Sony RX10 IV	2359	Y	3.0 / 1440	tilting	Y	1/2000s	24.0/s	Y	Y
9.		Sony RX10 III	2359	Y	3.0 / 1229	tilting	n	1/2000s	14.0/s	Y	Y
10.		Sony HX80	638	n	3.0 / 922	tilting	n	1/2000s	10.0/s	Y	Y
11.		Sony HX350	202	n	3.0 / 922	tilting	n	1/4000s	10.0/s	Y	Y
12.		Sony RX10 II	2359	Y	3.0 / 1229	tilting	n	1/3200s	14.0/s	Y	Y
13.		Sony HX90V	638	n	3.0 / 921	tilting	n	1/2000s	10.0/s	Y	Y
14.		Sony HX400V	210	n	3.0 / 921	tilting	n	1/4000s	10.0/s	Y	Y
15.		Sony H300	none	n	3.0 / 460	fixed	n	1/1500s	0.8/s	Y	Y
16.		Sony RX10	1440	Y	3.0 / 1229	tilting	n	1/3200s	10.0/s	Y	Y
17.		Sony H200	none	n	3.0 / 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.

One difference between the cameras concerns the presence of an on-board flash. The H400 has one, while the RX0 does not. While the built-in flash of the H400 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 RX0 only has 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).

The H400 is equipped with a zoom lens, while the RX0 comes with a built-in prime. The H400 has a 24.5-1550mm f/3.4-6.5 optic and the RX0 offers a 24mm f/4.0 (focal lengths in full frame equivalent terms). Hence, the RX0 provides a wider angle of view at the short end than the H400, but less tele-photo reach at the long end. The H400 offers the faster maximum aperture.

The H400 writes its imaging data to SDXC or Memory Stick PRO Duo cards, while the RX0 uses micro SDXC or Memory Stick Micro cards. The RX0 supports UHS-I cards (Ultra High Speed data transfer of up to 104 MB/s), while the H400 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 Cyber-shot DSC-H400 and Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX0 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.		Sony RX0	-	stereo / mono	Y	-	micro	2.0	Y	-	Y
3.		Canon SX410	-	stereo / mono	-	-	-	2.0	-	-	-
4.		Canon SX710	-	stereo / mono	-	-	micro	2.0	Y	Y	-
5.		Nikon L840	-	stereo / mono	-	-	micro	2.0	Y	Y	-
6.		Sony RX0 II	-	stereo / mono	Y	-	micro	2.0	Y	-	Y
7.		Sony HX99	-	stereo / mono	-	-	micro	2.0	Y	Y	Y
8.		Sony RX10 IV	Y	stereo / mono	Y	Y	micro	2.0	Y	Y	-
9.		Sony RX10 III	Y	stereo / mono	Y	Y	micro	2.0	Y	Y	-
10.		Sony HX80	-	stereo / mono	-	-	micro	2.0	Y	Y	-
11.		Sony HX350	-	stereo / mono	-	-	micro	2.0	-	-	-
12.		Sony RX10 II	Y	stereo / mono	Y	Y	micro	2.0	Y	Y	-
13.		Sony HX90V	-	stereo / mono	-	-	micro	2.0	Y	Y	-
14.		Sony HX400V	Y	stereo / mono	-	-	micro	2.0	Y	Y	-
15.		Sony H300	-	mono / mono	-	-	micro	2.0	Y	-	-
16.		Sony RX10	Y	stereo / mono	Y	Y	micro	2.0	Y	Y	-
17.		Sony H200	-	mono / mono	-	-	-	2.0	-	-	-

It is notable that the RX0 has a microphone port, which can help to improve the quality of audio recordings by attaching an external microphone. The H400 does not feature such a mic input.

Both the H400 and the RX0 have been discontinued, but can regularly be found used on ebay. The RX0 was replaced by the Sony RX0 II, while the H400 does not have a direct successor. Further information on the features and operation of the H400 and RX0 can be found, respectively, in the Sony H400 Manual (free pdf) or the online Sony RX0 Manual.

Review summary

So what is the bottom line? Is there a clear favorite between the Sony H400 and the Sony RX0? Which camera is better? The listing below highlights the relative strengths of the two models.

Reasons to prefer the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H400:

• More detail: Offers more megapixels (19.9 vs 15.4MP) with a 12% higher linear resolution.
• Maximized detail: Lacks an anti-alias filter to exploit the sensor's full resolution potential.
• Easier framing: Has an electronic viewfinder for image composition and settings control.
• Larger screen: Has a bigger rear LCD (3.0" vs 1.5") for image review and settings control.
• More detailed LCD: Has a higher resolution rear screen (460k vs 230k dots).
• Better light gathering: Has a lens with a wider maximum aperture (f/3.4 vs f/4.0).
• Longer lasting: Can take more shots (300 versus 240) on a single battery charge.
• Sharper images: Has hand-shake reducing image stabilization built-in.
• Easier fill-in: Is equipped with a small onboard flash to brighten deep shadow areas.
• More affordable: Was introduced into a lower priced category (54 percent cheaper at launch).
• More heavily discounted: Has been available for much longer (launched in February 2014).

Advantages of the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX0:

• Better moiré control: Has an anti-alias filter to avoid artificial patterns to appear in images.
• Better image quality: Is equipped with a larger and more technologically advanced 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 jpgs: Has a more modern image processing engine (BIONZ X vs BIONZ).
• Better video: Provides higher definition movie capture (1080/60p vs 720/30p).
• Better sound: Can connect to an external microphone for higher quality sound recording.
• Faster burst: Shoots at higher frequency (5.5 vs 0.7 flaps/sec) to capture the decisive moment.
• Less disturbing: Has an electronic shutter option for completely silent shooting.
• Wider view: Has a wider-angle lens that facilitates landscape or interior shots.
• More compact: Is smaller (59x41mm vs 130x95mm) and will fit more readily into a bag.
• Less heavy: Has a lower weight (by 518g or 82 percent) and is thus easier to take along.
• Easier travel charging: Can be conveniently charged via its USB port.
• Better sealing: Is splash and dust sealed for shooting in inclement weather conditions.
• Water-proof: Is rugged and sealed and can thus be used for underwater photography (up to 10m).
• 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 6 months of technical progress since the H400 launch.

If the number of relative strengths (bullet points above) is taken as a guide, the RX0 is the clear winner of the contest (19 : 11 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 wedding photographer will view the differences between cameras in a way that diverges from the perspective of a travel photog, and a person interested in cityscapes has distinct needs from a macro 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 H400 and the Sony RX0 place the cameras among the top in their class? Find out in the latest Best Superzoom Camera and Best Prime Lens Compact 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 H400 and the RX0 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 why hands-on reviews by experts are important. The table below provides a synthesis of the camera assessments of some of the best known photo-gear 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.

Expert Camera Reviews

#		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.		Sony RX0	..	..	..	..	3.5/5	4/5	Aug 2017	699	ebay.com
3.		Canon SX410	..	o	..	..	..	..	Feb 2015	279	ebay.com
4.		Canon SX710	..	+	..	..	4/5	3.5/5	Jan 2015	349	ebay.com
5.		Nikon L840	..	+ +	..	..	3.5/5	4/5	Feb 2015	299	ebay.com
6.		Sony RX0 II	..	..	..	..	3.5/5	4/5	Mar 2019	699	amazon.com
7.		Sony HX99	..	..	..	..	4/5	4.5/5	Aug 2018	449	ebay.com
8.		Sony RX10 IV	5/5	+	3.5/5	84/100	4.5/5	5/5	Sep 2017	1,699	amazon.com
9.		Sony RX10 III	5/5	+	..	84/100	4.5/5	4.5/5	Mar 2016	1,499	ebay.com
10.		Sony HX80	..	..	..	..	..	..	Mar 2016	349	ebay.com
11.		Sony HX350	..	..	..	..	..	4/5	Dec 2016	449	ebay.com
12.		Sony RX10 II	5/5	+ +	..	82/100	4.5/5	4/5	Jun 2015	1,299	ebay.com
13.		Sony HX90V	4/5	+ +	..	..	4/5	4.5/5	Apr 2015	429	ebay.com
14.		Sony HX400V	4/5	+ +	..	..	4/5	4/5	Feb 2014	499	ebay.com
15.		Sony H300	..	+	..	..	4.5/5	4/5	Feb 2014	219	ebay.com
16.		Sony RX10	5/5	+	..	80/100	4.5/5	4.5/5	Oct 2013	1,299	ebay.com
17.		Sony H200	..	..	..	..	3.5/5	3.5/5	Jan 2013	249	ebay.com
Note: (+ +) 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. A score, therefore, has to be seen in close connection to the price and market introduction time of the camera, and rating-comparisons among cameras that span long time periods or concern very differently equipped models make little sense. It should also be noted that some of the review sites have over time altered the way they render their verdicts.

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Other camera comparisons

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