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Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H400 vs Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S50

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

Better figure, where one is clearly better

SonyCyber-shot DSC-H400SonyCyber-shot DSC-S50
Overview
Released20142000
Image and sensor
Camera typeBridgeCompact
Sensor format1/2.3-type1/2.7-type
Sensor typeSuper HAD CCDSuper HAD CCD
Effective resolution20.1 MP2.02 MP
Largest image5152 × 38641600 × 1200
RAW recordingNoNo
Standard ISO range80–3200–
Sensor detail1/2.3-type CCD with 20.4 million total photosites; optical format is not a physical dimensionOptical 1/2.7-type Super HAD colour CCD with approximately 2.11 million total / 2.02 million effective photosites in exact Sony Japanese announcement. Maximum output 1600×1200 contains 1.92 million image pixels; contemporary review output-pixel figures are not transferred as maker sensor count. Optical format is not physical dimensions
Image formatsJPEG (DCF, Exif and MPF Baseline); Sweep Panorama stitches multiple exposures separately from sensor resolutionJPEG, uncompressed TIFF plus simultaneous JPEG, or black-and-white GIF Text mode. Maximum 1600×1200, also 1600×1072 (3:2), 1024×768 and 640×480. Email mode adds a 320×240 JPEG. No RAW. Supplied 4 MB Memory Stick is too small for TIFF; exact guide lists approximately two full-resolution TIFF/JPEG pairs on 16 MB
Lens and shooting
Built-in lens24.5–1550 mm equivalent39–117 mm equivalent
Maximum aperturef/3.4–6.5f/2.8–2.9
Optical zoom63×3×
StabilisationOptical lens stabilisationNone
Maximum continuous burst0.71 fps–
Lens detailSony 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 lensSony 3× zoom, physical 6.1–18.3 mm F2.8–2.9; 35 mm equivalent 39–117 mm. Normal autofocus approximately 25 cm wide / 60 cm telephoto; macro approximately 3 cm wide / 60 cm telephoto. Digital processing beyond 3× extends total zoom to 6×, not an additional 6× optical range
AutofocusMulti-point, centre, spot, tracking and face-tracking autofocus; AF illuminator. Published minimum distance approximately 1 cm wide or 3.5 m telephotoAutofocus and macro autofocus, plus approximate preset manual distances 0.5 m, 1 m, 3 m, 7 m and infinity. Half-press locks autofocus and automatic exposure
ShutterIntelligent Auto 2–1/2000 second, Program 1–1/2000, Manual 30–1/2000Sony exact announcement: Auto 1/30–1/725 second; shutter priority 8–1/725 second. Exact operating instruction confirms still shutter-priority range
Burst detailApproximately 0.71 fps at maximum still resolution, up to 100 frames–
Stabilisation detailOptical SteadyShot; optical zoom available during movie recordingNo optical lens or sensor-shift stabilisation. Orientation sensor controls vertical-image playback, not camera-shake correction
FlashBuilt-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 connectionBuilt-in flash, recommended range 0.3–2.5 m, Auto/red-eye Auto/forced on/off with High/Normal/Low flash level. No external flash terminal; S70 external-flash feature does not apply
Exposure controlsIntelligent 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 rangeAutomatic exposure plus seven Program AE settings: aperture priority, shutter priority, twilight, twilight plus, landscape, panfocus and spot metering. Aperture-priority selection across nine steps F2.8–F11, with telephoto restrictions; shutter-priority 18 still-image steps 8–1/725 second, or 12 movie steps 1/8–1/725. ±2 EV in 1/3 EV steps. White balance Auto, Indoor, Outdoor or Hold; five sharpness levels; solarise, monochrome, sepia and negative-art effects. ISO control not published in exact instruction
Video
Highest video resolution1280 × 720 at 30 fps320 × 240
Video detailMP4 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 cardMPEG-1 movies with monaural audio at 320×240, maximum 15 seconds per clip; 160×112 video-mail mode up to 60 seconds. Exact frame rate not stated in read maker sources and left unpublished. Separate Voice mode attaches 5–40 seconds of audio to a still photograph. S30 has no movie/audio recording; S70 higher-quality MPEG mode is separate
AudioBuilt-in monaural microphone and speaker; exact Sony operating instructions distinguish these from incorrect stereo descriptions in some reviews–
Screen and viewfinder
ViewfinderElectronicNone
Screen size3″2″
Screen dots460,800123,200
TouchscreenNoNo
Tilting screenNoYes
Display detailFixed 3-inch TFT LCD with 460800 colour-subpixel dots and five brightness settingsFree-angle 2-inch TFT, 123,200 component dots (560×220); dots are not image pixels. Screen rotates for face-to-face/self-portrait and high/low-angle shooting, with normal/bright backlight. No touchscreen or separate optical/electronic eyepiece
Viewfinder detail0.2-type electronic viewfinder with approximately 201600 equivalent dots, 100% coverage and dioptre adjustment; manual screen/viewfinder switching–
Connections and design
Wi-FiNo–
Battery life (maker's claim)300 photographs–
Body weight628 g–
Release detailSony 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 retainedConservative actual-sale year 2000 supported by contemporary Digicamera June 2000 news describing current DSC-S50 retail prices in Shinjuku. Sony announcement of 2 February 2000 planned Japanese sale on 15 April; that plan alone does not establish actual first-sale day/month. No exact official predecessor relationship inferred
Recording mediaApproximately 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 adaptersFull-size Memory Stick, supplied 4 MB. No SD slot. JPEG, TIFF and movie capacities depend on image size; approximately four 1600×1200 JPEGs on supplied card. No internal image storage published
PortsUSB / A/V OUT jack for USB 2.0 and standard-definition analogue video/audio output; no HDMIUSB digital I/O, monaural A/V OUT minijack with NTSC/PAL selection, and DC IN for AC-L10 adapter. Built-in microphone and speaker. No HDMI or external-flash terminal
Battery life detailNP-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 minutesNP-FM50 InfoLITHIUM rechargeable lithium-ion pack: nominal 7.2 V, 1180 mAh / 8.5 Wh. Exact pre-CIPA instruction claims approximately 2500 VGA photographs / 150 minutes at 25°C, normal LCD, fully charged battery, about five-second intervals and replacement Memory Sticks; normally charged pack 2300 / 140 minutes. This rapid single-frame test is not CIPA or a continuous burst. Separate playback and low-resolution movie runtime are not still-shooting endurance; no unqualified shot headline
ChargingIn-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-UD11In-camera charging with supplied AC-L10 adapter through DC IN, camera switched off. Approximately 90 minutes normal charge or 150 minutes full charge for completely discharged NP-FM50. No USB charging claimed
Dimensions129.6×95.0×122.3 mm width×height×depth (CIPA)Exact operating instruction maximum dimensions 113×68×69 mm width×height×depth. Early Japanese announcement gives 113.1×67.8×68.8 mm excluding maximum projections
Weight detailApproximately 628 g body only; approximately 655 g with NP-BX1 battery and Memory Stick PRO Duo under CIPA conditionsExact operating instruction approximately 370 g including NP-FM50, Memory Stick, wrist strap and lens cap. Early Japanese release prints 315.6 g body / 423 g loaded in shared S50/S30 table, conflicting with later instruction loaded weight; optional body-only headline omitted rather than infer a subtraction
MaterialsSony states the camera is not dust-proof, splash-proof or waterproof–
ColoursBlack–
In the boxNP-BX1 battery, AC-UB10C adapter, dedicated USB cable, shoulder strap, lens cap and instructions; mains lead supplied outside USA, Canada and ChinaNP-FM50 battery, AC-L10 AC adapter and power cord, USB cable, A/V cable, lens cap and cap strap, wrist strap, 4 MB Memory Stick, CD-ROM/software and operating instructions; exact shared manual distinguishes S30 video-only cable

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