Request a product

Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H20 vs Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX400V

Every spec side by side, from each maker's published figures.

Better figure, where one is clearly better

SonyCyber-shot DSC-H20SonyCyber-shot DSC-HX400V
Overview
Released2009March 2014
Image and sensor
Camera typeCompactBridge
Sensor formatOther1/2.3-type
Sensor typeSuper HAD CCDBack-illuminated Exmor R CMOS
Effective resolution10.1 MP20.4 MP
Largest image3648 × 27365184 × 3888
RAW recordingNoNo
Standard ISO range80–320080–3200
Sensor detail1/2.3-type colour Super HAD CCD, approximately 12.4 million total and 10.1 million effective photosites; optical sensor format does not establish physical sensor dimensions1/2.3-type progressive-scan Exmor R CMOS, approximately 21.1 million total and 20.4 million effective photosites; optical format is distinct from physical dimensions
Image formatsJPEG still images; no RAW recording. Exif 2.21 and DPOF supportedJPEG still images; no RAW. Sweep Panorama produces stitched output distinct from single-frame resolution
ISO detail–Ordinary single-frame ISO 80–3200; ISO 6400 and 12800 use multi-shot noise reduction and image compositing
Image processorBIONZ imaging processor; Dynamic Range Optimizer, Intelligent Scene Recognition, face detection and Smile ShutterBIONZ X
Lens and shooting
Built-in lens38–380 mm equivalent24–1200 mm equivalent
Maximum aperturef/3.5–4.4f/2.8–6.3
Optical zoom10×50×
StabilisationOptical lens stabilisationOptical lens stabilisation
Maximum continuous burst–10 fps
Lens detailCarl Zeiss Vario-Tessar 10× optical zoom, physical 6.3–63 mm, equivalent 38–380 mm, f/3.5 wide to f/4.4 telephoto in exact UK specifications and English manual. Hong Kong launch table has conflicting f/3.3–5.2 text but its manual-mode row confirms f/3.5/f/4.4; exact UK/manual values retained. 58 mm filters require optional lens adapterZEISS Vario-Sonnar T*, actual 4.3–215 mm; 15 elements in 10 groups including one Super ED, two ED and three aspherical elements, seven-blade iris. Equivalent 24–1200 mm applies to full-resolution 4:3 stills; other aspect ratios and movie stabilisation modes have different crops. Clear Image Zoom and digital zoom are distinct from 50× optical zoom
AutofocusNine-point multi-area, centre and spot AF, face detection and discrete distance presets rather than continuous manual focus. Maker focus range approximately 2 cm wide or 90 cm telephoto to infinitySingle AF, DMF and manual focus; continuous AF in Advanced Sports and movie modes. Nine-point Wide, Centre and flexible spot S/M/L with Lock-on AF. Minimum AF distance from lens front approximately 1 cm wide or 240 cm telephoto
ShutterHong Kong exact table: Auto 1/4–1/1600 second, Program 1–1/1600, Manual 30–1/2000; operating conditions affect availabilityMechanical shutter; manual and shutter priority 30–1/4000 second, aperture priority 8–1/2000, Program 1–1/4000 and Intelligent Auto 4–1/4000
Burst detailUK maker lists approximately 0.57-second burst intervals and up to 100 frames; no reciprocal conversion into headline fpsApproximately 10 fps at maximum resolution for up to ten images; flash and shooting mode affect speed
Stabilisation detailOptical SteadyShot lens stabilisation; UK table explicitly excludes NightShot and NightFramingOptical SteadyShot for stills; Intelligent Active movie mode combines optical and electronic correction including rotation, with a different field of view
FlashBuilt-in pop-up flash; Hong Kong maker specifies approximately 0.2–7 m wide or 0.9–5.5 m telephoto at ISO Auto. ISO3200 distance claims use different conditionsBuilt-in flash; Multi Interface Shoe supports compatible optional flash. ISO Auto range approximately 0.5–8.5 m wide or 2.4–3.5 m telephoto
Exposure controlsIntelligent Auto, Easy, Program Auto, Manual and scene selections. No aperture-priority or shutter-priority mode. Manual offers f/3.5 or f/8 at wide angle and f/4.4 or f/10 at telephoto; PhotographyBlog explains these use an ND filter rather than changing depth of field. Exposure compensation ±2 EV in 1/3 EV steps; exposure bracketing; One Push custom white balance in exact instructionsProgram, aperture priority, shutter priority, Manual and memory recall; multi-pattern, centre-weighted and spot metering, ±2 EV in 1/3 EV steps
Video
Highest video resolution1280 × 720 at 30 fps1920 × 1080 at 60 fps
Video detailMPEG-4 Visual movies with monaural audio, maximum 1280×720 at approximately 30 fps. Optical zoom operates while filming; exact manual warns that lens/button sounds may be recorded. 720 Fine 9 Mbps, Standard 6 Mbps or VGA 3 Mbps. Exact instructions limit continuous clips to approximately 29 minutes depending on conditions; 720 modes require Memory Stick PRO Duo. Frame-rate submode entries conflict in Hong Kong launch table, so lower-mode fps omittedAVCHD 2.0 Full HD 1920 × 1080 at 60p in Japan, 28 Mbps; regional versions also use 50p. 60i/50i interlaced modes count fields rather than progressive frames. MP4 up to 1440 × 1080 at 30 fps on the Japanese version, or 25 fps on the UK version. Optical zoom operates during movies; 4K output is for still photographs, not 4K movie recording; maker single-clip limit approximately 29 minutes, with MP4 12M limited to approximately 15 minutes by its 2 GB file limit
AudioBuilt-in monaural microphone and monaural speaker, confirmed by exact instructionsBuilt-in stereo microphone; AVCHD Dolby Digital stereo or MP4 AAC stereo; optional compatible microphones connect through the Multi Interface Shoe
Screen and viewfinder
ViewfinderNoneElectronic
Screen size3″3″
Screen dots230,400921,600
TouchscreenNoNo
Tilting screenNoYes
Display detailFixed 3-type TFT LCD, 230400 dots in exact English manual; maker tables round to 230000. No viewfinder3.0-type Xtra Fine TFT LCD, 921600 dots on Sony UK's specification (Sony Japan rounds to approximately 921000); tilts approximately 90° up and 60° down
Viewfinder detail–0.2-type electronic finder with approximately 201000-dot equivalent resolution, dioptre adjustment, 100% coverage and automatic eye sensor
Connections and design
Wi-Fi–Yes
BluetoothNo–
Battery life (maker's claim)290 photographs300 photographs
Body weight250 g633 g
Release detailContemporary Sony US announcement republished by Photoxels on 17 February 2009 planned April purchase availability; Hong Kong 3 March announcement planned mid-April. Full independent May/June tests establish retail generation 2009, but earliest actual sale month unconfirmed, so year precision retainedSony Hong Kong's 27 March 2014 release says the exact HX400V is already available. March precision retained; Sony Japan's earlier announcement sets its regional sale for 4 April 2014, not the worldwide first day
Recording mediaApproximately 11 MB internal memory; Memory Stick Duo, PRO Duo and PRO-HG Duo supported, with no PRO-HG speed advantage. Memory card not suppliedMemory Stick Duo, PRO Duo, PRO-HG Duo and XC-HG Duo plus SD/SDHC/SDXC; micro versions require separate adapters
PortsType2b multi-use terminal carries Hi-Speed USB 2.0 and SD/HD analogue AV output. Optional HD output adapter cable is separately sold; this is not an HDMI terminal.Multi/Micro USB terminal with Hi-Speed USB 2.0, micro HDMI and Multi Interface Shoe
Wireless connectionsUK exact specifications explicitly list no BluetoothIEEE 802.11b/g/n Wi-Fi at 2.4 GHz, NFC and GPS; maker launch includes GPS route logging. Original PlayMemories Mobile sharing/remote control and downloadable Camera Apps support are launch-era features, not a promise of current service availability
Battery life detailSupplied NP-BG1 lithium-ion battery, nominal 3.6 V, typical 3.4 Wh/960 mAh and minimum 3.3 Wh/910 mAh. Approximately 290 photographs/145 minutes under CIPA still-test conditions. Playback 6400 images/320 minutes is a separate test; optional NP-FG1 supportedNP-BX1; maker CIPA approximately 300 photographs with LCD or 380 with EVF. Actual movie shooting approximately 50/55 minutes or continuous movie shooting approximately 85/95 minutes for LCD/EVF respectively; these are battery claims rather than single-clip limits
ChargingExternal BC-CSGD/BC-CSGE charger in exact English instructions; regional supplied components vary. Approximately 330 minutes full charge or 270 minutes normal charge from depleted battery at 25°CUSB charging; maker specifies USB power supply only with optional AC-UD10 adapter
DimensionsApproximately 107.3 × 68.7 × 47.1 mm width × height × depth excluding protrusionsApproximately 129.6 × 93.2 × 114.8 mm width × height × depth from lens front to viewfinder; depth to rear monitor is 103.2 mm
Weight detailApproximately 250 g excluding battery and recording media in UK/Hong Kong maker specifications; 279 g including NP-BG1 battery and Memory Stick Duo in exact instructionsApproximately 633 g body only, or 660 g including NP-BX1 and Memory Stick Duo
Colours–Black
In the boxNP-BG1 battery, external charger, multi-connector USB/AV cable, wrist strap, lens cap and software disc; memory card and HD output adapter cable separately sold, regional charger fittings varyNP-BX1 battery, AC-UB10C/UB10D adapter, micro USB cable, shoulder strap, shoe cap, lens cap and instructions; regional mains fittings vary

More comparisons