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Kodak Z981 vs Sony HX400V

Portability
66
Imaging
37
Features
37
Overall
37
Kodak EasyShare Z981 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX400V front
Portability
62
Imaging
45
Features
60
Overall
51

Kodak Z981 vs Sony HX400V Key Specs

Kodak Z981
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 64 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 26-676mm (F2.8-5.0) lens
  • 540g - 124 x 85 x 105mm
  • Introduced July 2010
Sony HX400V
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 80 - 12800
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-1200mm (F2.8-6.3) lens
  • 660g - 130 x 93 x 103mm
  • Revealed February 2014
  • Replaced the Sony HX300
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Kodak Z981 vs Sony HX400V Overview

Its time to take a closer look at the Kodak Z981 vs Sony HX400V, both Small Sensor Superzoom cameras by brands Kodak and Sony. There exists a substantial gap among the resolutions of the Z981 (14MP) and HX400V (20MP) but they feature the same exact sensor dimensions (1/2.3").

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The Z981 was unveiled 4 years before the HX400V which is a fairly big difference as far as camera technology is concerned. Both the cameras offer the identical body type (SLR-like (bridge)).

Before we go straight into a in-depth comparison, below is a quick highlight of how the Z981 matches up vs the HX400V when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Kodak Z981 over the Sony HX400V

 Z981 HX400V 

Reasons to pick Sony HX400V over the Kodak Z981

 HX400V Z981 
RevealedFebruary 2014July 2010Newer by 43 months
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen resolution921k201kSharper screen (+720k dot)

Common features in the Kodak Z981 and Sony HX400V

 Z981 HX400V 
Focus manually More accurate focus
Screen sizing3"3"Equivalent screen sizing
Selfie screen No selfie screen
Touch friendly screen No Touch friendly screen

Kodak Z981 vs Sony HX400V Physical Comparison

For those who are aiming to travel with your camera regularly, you're going to have to consider its weight and proportions. The Kodak Z981 has got outer measurements of 124mm x 85mm x 105mm (4.9" x 3.3" x 4.1") having a weight of 540 grams (1.19 lbs) whilst the Sony HX400V has measurements of 130mm x 93mm x 103mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 4.1") and a weight of 660 grams (1.46 lbs).

Analyze the Kodak Z981 vs Sony HX400V in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an ILC will differ based on the lens you are utilising at that moment. Below is the front view proportions comparison of the Z981 compared to the HX400V.

Kodak Z981 vs Sony HX400V size comparison

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability score of the Z981 and HX400V is 66 and 62 respectively.

Kodak Z981 vs Sony HX400V top view buttons comparison

Kodak Z981 vs Sony HX400V Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, it is very difficult to picture the contrast in sensor dimensions simply by researching a spec sheet. The image here will help provide you a clearer sense of the sensor sizing in the Z981 and HX400V.

As you can see, both of those cameras offer the same exact sensor sizing albeit different megapixels. You can expect the Sony HX400V to render more detail having an extra 6MP. Higher resolution can also make it easier to crop photographs a little more aggressively. The more aged Z981 will be behind with regard to sensor innovation.

Kodak Z981 vs Sony HX400V sensor size comparison

Kodak Z981 vs Sony HX400V Screen and ViewFinder

Kodak Z981 vs Sony HX400V Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Kodak Z981 Portrait photography factors
Sony HX400V Portrait photography factors
46
you can focus manually
MP count decent (14 megapixels)
saves RAW files
cannot use external flash
small sensor size (1/2.3")
51
focusing manually
good resolution (20MP)
provides face detection focus
small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
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Street Comparison

Kodak Z981 as a Street photography camera
Sony HX400V as a Street photography camera
50
built in image stabilization (Optical)
saves RAW files
no articulating screen
small sensor size (1/2.3")
more heavy than competition in class (540 grams)
50
screen tilts
has image stabilization (Optical)
small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
heavier than others in class (660 grams)
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Kodak Z981
Sports photography with Sony HX400V
43
great zoom range (26-676mm 26.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
MP count decent (14MP)
very slow continuous shooting (1.0 frames per second)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect auto focus
55
great zoom range (24-1200mm 50.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
good resolution (20MP)
provides tracking autofocus
small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Kodak Z981 as a Travel photography camera
Sony HX400V as a Travel photography camera
53
MP count decent (14MP)
has built in flash
really wide (26mm)
very long zoom (676mm)
doesn't have Timelapse recording
more heavy than competition in class (540g)
screen isn't selfie friendly
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
53
good resolution (20MP)
has built in flash
quite wide (24mm)
great reach (1200mm)
no Time Lapse mode
heavier than others in class (660g)
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Kodak Z981 as a Landscape photography camera
Sony HX400V as a Landscape photography camera
51
you can focus manually
really wide (26mm)
screen size is good (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
MP count decent (14MP)
saves RAW files
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have Timelapse recording
49
focusing manually
quite wide (24mm)
screen size is good (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Optical)
good resolution (20 megapixels)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
no Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Kodak Z981 Vlogging features
Sony HX400V Vlogging features
22
really wide (26mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
screen isn't selfie friendly
low quality video (1280 x 720 pixels)
doesn't have external microphone port
more heavy than competition in class (540g)
29
quite wide (24mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
provides face detection focus
video res high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
comes with external mic support
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
heavier than others in class (660g)
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Kodak Z981 vs Sony HX400V Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Kodak Z981 and Sony HX400V
 Kodak EasyShare Z981Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX400V
General Information
Brand Name Kodak Sony
Model type Kodak EasyShare Z981 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX400V
Class Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Superzoom
Introduced 2010-07-06 2014-02-12
Physical type SLR-like (bridge) SLR-like (bridge)
Sensor Information
Powered by - Bionz X
Sensor type CCD BSI-CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 6.08 x 4.56mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 27.7mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 14MP 20MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 4288 x 3216 5184 x 3888
Max native ISO 6400 12800
Lowest native ISO 64 80
RAW images
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
AF continuous
AF single
AF tracking
Selective AF
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Total focus points - 9
Lens
Lens support fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 26-676mm (26.0x) 24-1200mm (50.0x)
Highest aperture f/2.8-5.0 f/2.8-6.3
Macro focusing distance 10cm 1cm
Focal length multiplier 5.9 5.8
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Tilting
Display size 3" 3"
Resolution of display 201 thousand dots 921 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic Electronic
Viewfinder coverage - 100%
Features
Lowest shutter speed 16s 30s
Highest shutter speed 1/2000s 1/4000s
Continuous shooting rate 1.0fps 10.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 6.20 m 8.50 m (ISO Auto)
Flash options Auto, Fill-in, Red-Eye reduction, Off Flash Off / Autoflash / Fill-flash / Slow Sync. / Advanced Flash / Rear Sync. / Wireless (with optional compliant flash)
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60p, 60i, 24p), 1440 x 1080 (30p), 640 x 480 (30p)
Max video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video file format H.264 MPEG-4, AVCHD
Mic support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless None Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None BuiltIn
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 540 grams (1.19 lbs) 660 grams (1.46 lbs)
Dimensions 124 x 85 x 105mm (4.9" x 3.3" x 4.1") 130 x 93 x 103mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 4.1")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth rating not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested not tested
DXO Low light rating not tested not tested
Other
Battery life - 300 images
Battery style - Battery Pack
Battery ID 4 x AA NP-BX1
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec, portrait)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC card, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick Duo/Memory Stick Pro Duo, Memory Stick Pro-HG Duo
Card slots One One
Pricing at launch $299 $448