Cyber-shot DSC-H400

Released 2014

A 20.1-megapixel bridge camera with a stabilised 24.5–1550 mm equivalent lens, an electronic viewfinder and manual exposure controls.

Type: Bridge
Sensor: 1/2.3-type
Megapixels: 20.1
Lens: 24.5–1550 mm equivalent
Video: 1280 × 720 at 30 fps
Body weight: 628 g

What reviewers say

Reviewers praised the long zoom and stabilisation, but criticised slow telephoto focus, a small viewfinder and detail loss at higher ISO settings. Photography Blog liked the grip but judged low-light results poor; ePHOTOzine was more positive about value. Camera Labs highlighted movie streaking near bright reflections and awkward access to settings.

From photographyblog.com, ephotozine.com, cameralabs.com, cameralabs.com and cameralabs.com

Product links

Specifications

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Image and sensor

Camera type: Bridge
Sensor format: 1/2.3-type
Sensor type: Super HAD CCD
Effective resolution: 20.1 MP
Largest image: 5152 × 3864
RAW recording: No
Standard ISO range: 80–3200
Sensor detail: 1/2.3-type CCD with 20.4 million total photosites; optical format is not a physical dimension
Image formats: JPEG (DCF, Exif and MPF Baseline); Sweep Panorama stitches multiple exposures separately from sensor resolution

Lens and shooting

Built-in lens: 24.5–1550 mm equivalent
Maximum aperture: f/3.4–6.5
Optical zoom: 63×
Stabilisation: Optical lens stabilisation
Maximum continuous burst: 0.71 fps
Lens detail: Sony lens, actual 4.4–277 mm; 24.5–1550 mm equivalent for stills. Movie equivalents 32.1–2029 mm at 16:9 or 29.2–1849 mm at 4:3. 55 mm filter diameter; not a ZEISS lens
Autofocus: Multi-point, centre, spot, tracking and face-tracking autofocus; AF illuminator. Published minimum distance approximately 1 cm wide or 3.5 m telephoto
Shutter: Intelligent Auto 2–1/2000 second, Program 1–1/2000, Manual 30–1/2000
Burst detail: Approximately 0.71 fps at maximum still resolution, up to 100 frames
Stabilisation detail: Optical SteadyShot; optical zoom available during movie recording
Flash: Built-in pop-up flash; ISO Auto range approximately 0.4–8.8 m wide or 3.5–4.6 m telephoto. Advanced Flash increases sensitivity; no external flash connection
Exposure controls: Intelligent Auto, Easy, Program, aperture priority, shutter priority, Manual, Sweep Panorama, scene selection and picture effects; ±2 EV in 1/3 EV steps; manual exposure offers F3.4 or F8.1 at maximum wide angle, F6.5 or F8.0 at maximum telephoto, rather than a continuous aperture range

Video

Highest video resolution: 1280 × 720 at 30 fps
Video detail: MP4 MPEG-4 AVC/H.264, 1280×720 at 30 progressive fps in Fine or Standard quality; VGA at 30 fps. No 1080p recording; Fine approximately 9 Mbps, Standard 6 Mbps, VGA 3 Mbps. General continuous recording limit approximately 29 minutes; 720p Fine approximately 15 minutes due to 2 GB file limit. HD movies require a memory card
Audio: Built-in monaural microphone and speaker; exact Sony operating instructions distinguish these from incorrect stereo descriptions in some reviews

Screen and viewfinder

Viewfinder: Electronic
Screen size: 3″
Screen dots: 460,800
Touchscreen: No
Tilting screen: No
Display detail: Fixed 3-inch TFT LCD with 460800 colour-subpixel dots and five brightness settings
Viewfinder detail: 0.2-type electronic viewfinder with approximately 201600 equivalent dots, 100% coverage and dioptre adjustment; manual screen/viewfinder switching

Connections and design

Wi-Fi: No
Battery life (maker's claim): 300 photographs
Body weight: 628 g
Release detail: Sony announced planned March 2014 US and April 2014 UK availability; April reviews describe the sold camera. Earliest worldwide actual first-sale month remains unresolved, so year precision retained
Recording media: Approximately 55 MB internal memory; Memory Stick Duo/PRO Duo/PRO-HG Duo/XC-HG Duo, Memory Stick Micro, SD/SDHC/SDXC and microSD/microSDHC/microSDXC, using appropriate adapters
Ports: USB / A/V OUT jack for USB 2.0 and standard-definition analogue video/audio output; no HDMI
Battery life detail: NP-BX1 lithium-ion battery, nominal 3.6 V, 1240 mAh / 4.5 Wh. CIPA approximately 300 stills/150 minutes using LCD or 320 stills/160 minutes using viewfinder. Typical movie shooting approximately 60/75 minutes LCD/viewfinder; continuous movies approximately 120/135 minutes
Charging: In-camera USB charging with supplied AC-UB10C adapter or a computer; camera switched off. Approximately 230 minutes for a full charge using supplied adapter; supplied adapter supports playback power but not shooting power. Shooting mains power requires separately sold AC-UD10 or region-dependent AC-UD11
Dimensions: 129.6×95.0×122.3 mm width×height×depth (CIPA)
Weight detail: Approximately 628 g body only; approximately 655 g with NP-BX1 battery and Memory Stick PRO Duo under CIPA conditions
Materials: Sony states the camera is not dust-proof, splash-proof or waterproof
Colours: Black
In the box: NP-BX1 battery, AC-UB10C adapter, dedicated USB cable, shoulder strap, lens cap and instructions; mains lead supplied outside USA, Canada and China

Pros and cons

Pros

24.5–1550 mm equivalent lens with optical stabilisation
Electronic viewfinder with dioptre adjustment
Aperture priority, shutter priority and manual exposure

Cons

No RAW recording
Approximately 0.71 fps continuous shooting
Video limited to 720p

Closest rivals

Model	Type	Sensor	Megapixels	Lens	Video	Body weight	Released
SonyCyber-shot DSC-HX400V	Bridge	1/2.3-type	20.4	24–1200 mm equivalent	1920 × 1080 at 60 fps	633 g	Mar 2014
SonyCyber-shot DSC-H200	Bridge	1/2.3-type	20.1	22.3–580 mm equivalent	1280 × 720 at 30 fps	430 g	2013
SonyCyber-shot DSC-HX300	Bridge	1/2.3-type	20.4	24–1200 mm equivalent	1920 × 1080 at 60 fps	623 g	Mar 2013

Sources

Photo: Sony-supplied Sony DSC-H400 black front-oblique view; explicitly credited to Sony by digitalkamera.de; complete supplied canvas retained

Sony DSC-H400 black rear view: Sony-supplied Sony DSC-H400 black rear view; explicitly credited to Sony by digitalkamera.de; complete supplied canvas retained
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H400 rear-oblique view: Sony-supplied product photograph, explicitly credited to Sony / Divulgação by Terra; complete supplied canvas and background retained
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H400 top controls and extended zoom lens: Sony-supplied product photograph, explicitly credited to Sony / Divulgação by Terra; complete supplied canvas and background retained
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H400 rear view held in a hand: Sony-supplied product photograph, explicitly credited to Sony / Divulgação by Terra; complete supplied canvas and background retained
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H400 front-oblique view from the opposite side: Sony-supplied product photograph, explicitly credited to Sony / Divulgação by Terra; complete supplied canvas and background retained

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