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Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H400 vs Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S500

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

Better figure, where one is clearly better

SonyCyber-shot DSC-H400SonyCyber-shot DSC-S500
Overview
Released20142006
Image and sensor
Camera typeBridgeCompact
Sensor format1/2.3-typeOther
Sensor typeSuper HAD CCDSuper HAD CCD
Effective resolution20.1 MP6 MP
Largest image5152 × 38642816 × 2112
RAW recordingNoNo
Standard ISO range80–320080–400
Sensor detail1/2.3-type CCD with 20.4 million total photosites; optical format is not a physical dimensionOptical 1/2.5-type Super HAD CCD; optical format is not a physical dimension. Exact instruction manual gives approximately 6,003,000 effective / 6,183,000 total pixels; Singapore archive different effective count is not used
Image formatsJPEG (DCF, Exif and MPF Baseline); Sweep Panorama stitches multiple exposures separately from sensor resolutionJPEG/Exif 2.21, Fine or Standard quality; maximum 2816×2112, with 3:2 2816×1872, 3M, 2M and VGA settings. No RAW recording
Lens and shooting
Built-in lens24.5–1550 mm equivalent32–96 mm equivalent
Maximum aperturef/3.4–6.5f/2.8–4.8
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 5.4–16.2 mm F2.8–4.8. Macro approximately 5 cm wide / 35 cm telephoto; normal focus approximately 50 cm in maker archive. Singapore Carl Zeiss branding conflicts with actual Sony lens nameplate and UK table
AutofocusMulti-point, centre, spot, tracking and face-tracking autofocus; AF illuminator. Published minimum distance approximately 1 cm wide or 3.5 m telephotoSingle autofocus; no manually adjustable focus or distance presets. UK archive lists no AF illuminator and exact manual labels the front lamp only as self-timer lamp; Singapore affirmative entry conflicts
ShutterIntelligent Auto 2–1/2000 second, Program 1–1/2000, Manual 30–1/2000Maker archive gives Auto 1/8–1/2000 second; Singapore table additionally gives Program auto 1–1/2000 second
Burst detailApproximately 0.71 fps at maximum still resolution, up to 100 framesExact handbook: maximum three frames at all supported sizes/qualities, flash off, approximately 2-second recording interval. Singapore maker table separately qualifies approximately 2 seconds at 6M Fine / 1 second at VGA Standard; UK unqualified 1-second entry not used as a sustained full-resolution rate
Stabilisation detailOptical SteadyShot; optical zoom available during movie recording–
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 connectionExact instruction manual Auto ISO range approximately 0.5–2.5 m wide / 0.5–2.0 m telephoto; red-eye reduction pre-flash available
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 rangeAuto, Program auto and six scene modes: Twilight, Twilight Portrait, Soft Snap, Landscape, Beach and Candle. No manual or aperture/shutter-priority exposure. ±2 EV in 1/3 EV steps; multi-pattern or spot metering. ISO Auto, 80, 100, 200 and 400
Video
Highest video resolution1280 × 720 at 30 fps320 × 240 at 30 fps
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 cardAVI Motion JPEG, 320×240 at 30 fps with recorded sound. No movie-sound playback through the camera buzzer; sound plays on TV or computer. UK archive 640×480 template entry conflicts with exact handbook
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″2.4″
Screen dots460,800110,000
TouchscreenNoNo
Tilting screenNoNo
Display detailFixed 3-inch TFT LCD with 460800 colour-subpixel dots and five brightness settingsFixed 2.4-inch TFT, maker states 110,000 dots in exact instruction manual and UK archive; dots are not captured image pixels. No touchscreen or tilting
Viewfinder detail0.2-type electronic viewfinder with approximately 201600 equivalent dots, 100% coverage and dioptre adjustment; manual screen/viewfinder switchingNo separate viewfinder; composition uses rear LCD
Connections and design
Bluetooth–No
Wi-FiNo–
Battery life (maker's claim)300 photographs60 photographs
Body weight628 g146 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 retainedImaging Resource exact-model specification database records Date Available August 4 2006. Year 2006 retained conservatively because the precise first-sale day is not independently corroborated. Contemporary Sony US reporting planned August shipment; Sony China announced its regional model November 22 2006. No predecessor inferred from the maker calling it a new S-series member after S600.
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 adaptersApproximately 25 MB internal memory; Memory Stick Duo and Memory Stick PRO Duo, including MagicGate variants. No card supplied
PortsUSB / A/V OUT jack for USB 2.0 and standard-definition analogue video/audio output; no HDMISeparate USB mini-B (Full-Speed USB 2.0) and A/V OUT mini-jack; NTSC/PAL composite video and audio. Exact manual Full-Speed specification overrides Singapore Hi-Speed heading
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 minutesTwo supplied LR6 alkaline AA cells: approximately 60 shots / 30 minutes CIPA. Optional NH-AA-DB NiMH pair: approximately 350 shots / 170 minutes, not supplied. Alkaline values vary by brand, settings and conditions; supplied cells described as trial-use batteries
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-UD11Supplied alkaline batteries cannot be recharged. Optional compatible NiMH cells require an external charger; no charger supplied. Optional AC-LS5K mains adaptor separate
Dimensions129.6×95.0×122.3 mm width×height×depth (CIPA)92.4×62.3×31.2 mm width×height×depth in UK archive; exact instruction manual rounds to 92×62×31 mm excluding protrusions
Weight detailApproximately 628 g body only; approximately 655 g with NP-BX1 battery and Memory Stick PRO Duo under CIPA conditions146 g body only in UK archive; approximately 198 g including two batteries and wrist strap, etc. in exact instruction manual. Plastic body in Singapore maker table
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 ChinaTwo AA alkaline batteries, dedicated USB cable, A/V cable, wrist strap, software/handbook CD and instruction manual; rechargeable cells, charger and Memory Stick Duo excluded

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