Olympus E-PM2 vs Sony H400: An Expert’s Dive Into Two Distinct Cameras for Different Photographers

As someone who’s spent the last 15+ years testing hundreds upon hundreds of cameras - from cutting-edge pro bodies to entry-level shooters - I often encounter pairs of cameras serving entirely different purposes but attracting curious buyers trying to pick “the best.” Today, I’m diving deep into just such a duo: the Olympus PEN E-PM2 mirrorless camera and the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H400 bridge superzoom. They come from different families - one a Micro Four Thirds mirrorless, the other a fixed-lens superzoom - yet both are approachable, budget-friendly options favored by photographers starting out or seeking versatile second bodies.

I’ll walk you through how these cameras perform in real-world scenarios across popular photography genres, entwining my hands-on experience with technical analysis and practical usability. By the end, you’ll understand each camera’s strengths, compromises, and most suitable uses - helping you make an informed choice tailored to your style and budget.

Different Cameras for Different Visions: Size, Build, and Handling

Understanding a camera starts with how it feels in your hands, its portability, and control layout. Here, the Olympus E-PM2 shines as a true compact mirrorless, while the Sony H400 leans heavier and bulkier to accommodate its massive fixed superzoom lens.

The Olympus E-PM2 measures a compact 110 x 64 x 34 mm and weighs only 269 grams. This slim, rangefinder-style body fits easily in a small bag or even a deep coat pocket - perfect for those who prioritize light travel or easy carry. Despite its diminutive size, the grip is decent, and the overall build has a precise, quality feel typical of Olympus designs. The camera's 3-inch touchscreen, while modest in resolution, is intuitive and handy for fast settings tweaks and focus selection.

Compare this to the Sony H400, which is much larger and heavier at 130 x 95 x 122 mm and tipping the scales at 628 grams. Its SLR-like shape emphasizes a large, rubber-gripped handhold to steady the long zoom, but it’s no pocketable device. The fixed 25-1550mm equivalent lens drives this size, demanding a bigger body for optical components and image stabilization systems. The Sony’s back panel screen is identical in size (3 inches, 460K dots) but lacks touchscreen capability - a downside for quick, tactile adjustments.

Viewing control layouts through the top panels reveals the Olympus sophistication with dedicated dials for exposure compensation and shooting modes, lending it a more professional grip on complexity despite the entry-level tag.

In short: The E-PM2 is the nimble option for those who want a lightweight, pocketable camera with manual controls and interchangeable lenses. The H400 is tailor-made for superzoom enthusiasts who value extreme focal reach and don’t mind heft.

Sensor Tech & Image Quality: Where Size Makes a World of Difference

Sensor size and type fundamentally shape image quality, dynamic range, noise performance, and depth of field control. This is the battleground where the Olympus and Sony diverge sharply.

The Olympus E-PM2 uses a larger Four Thirds CMOS sensor measuring 17.3 x 13 mm with a 16MP resolution. This sensor size vastly outperforms the Sony H400’s tiny 1/2.3” CCD sensor of just 6.17 x 4.55 mm and 20MP resolution. Despite the lower megapixel count, the Olympus sensor’s larger photosites and modern CMOS design deliver better color depth (22.7 bits vs. Sony’s unreported, but lower CCD capability), higher dynamic range (12.2 vs. untested but known to be limited), and far superior low light performance (ISO up to 25600 native on Olympus, 3200 max on Sony). Olympus scores 72 points on DxOMark’s comprehensive sensor test, reflecting solid photographic quality - a benchmark the Sony does not even appear to be tested on officially.

Practically, this means Olympus images retain cleaner shadows, richer tones, and less noise at higher ISOs. For landscapes and portraits, this translates to better gradations in skies, textiles, and skin tones. Small sensor cameras like the Sony bridge model tend to struggle more with noise and suffer from narrower dynamic range - leading to flatter colors and fewer details in tough lighting.

One interesting nuance: The Sony uses a CCD sensor, an older technology that historically produces vibrant colors but at the expense of slower read speeds and noisier images at higher ISOs. The Olympus CMOS sensor also enables faster readouts that benefit video and autofocus performance.

LCD & Viewfinder: How You See Your Image Matters

Both cameras offer electronic viewfinders and rear LCDs but differ in implementation and comfort.

The Sony H400 offers an electronic viewfinder (EVF) with 201K dots resolution and 100% coverage - while modest, any EVF beats having no finder at all. The EVF is useful for stable framing especially at long zooms where camera shake is magnified. The rear LCD on the Sony is a 3-inch, 460K-dot Clear Photo LCD but not touchscreen. Without touch capabilities, navigation through menus and focus point selection can feel more sluggish and less direct.

On the other hand, the Olympus E-PM2 opts for a touchscreen-only interface with no built-in EVF, although it supports an optional external EVF attachment. Its 3-inch, 460K-dot touchscreen lets you tap-to-focus, swipe menus, and control exposure settings quickly. This interface is intuitive and excellent for users who prefer live view shooting.

For those who traditionally rely on a viewfinder - especially in bright outdoor conditions - the Sony’s built-in EVF might be more practical. Meanwhile, the Olympus’s touchscreen provides more modern interface benefits, albeit requiring holding the camera at arm’s length for composition.

Autofocus & Speed: Tracking, Burst Rates, and Focus Accuracy

Autofocus systems vary significantly between these cameras. Here, Olympus takes a clear lead.

The E-PM2 features a 35-point contrast-detection autofocus system with touch AF support, face detection, and continuous AF. It offers 8fps continuous shooting speed - solid for an entry-level mirrorless. The fast burst combined with accurate tracking makes it practical for capturing moving subjects in sports and wildlife to some extent, although it isn’t a professional-grade performer in these areas.

In contrast, the Sony H400 employs a more basic autofocus system with no dedicated contrast or phase-detection points reported and only single-shot AF with tracking. Continuous AF and burst shooting are absent, with a sluggish single frame per second shooting speed. This is a big limitation for dynamic subjects but understandable considering the fixed-lens bridge design aimed at casual superzoom uses.

In my experience, the Olympus’s fast, reliable AF with face detection is a huge advantage for portraiture and street photography, while the Sony’s more limited AF is fine for still subjects or casual snaps from a distance.

Lens Flexibility and Focal Lengths: Interchangeables vs. Superzoom

Lens choice is a massive deciding factor for photographers. Olympus’s Micro Four Thirds mount supports over 100 lenses - fast primes, zooms, macros, and specialized glass from Olympus, Panasonic, and third parties.

The Sony H400’s 25-1550mm (63.3x zoom) fixed lens is a marvel of engineering, letting you zoom from moderate wide-angle to insane super-telephoto reach without carrying a separate lens. Its aperture ranges from f/3.4 at wide angle to f/6.5 at the long end, which is relatively slow at telephoto but expected for compact superzooms.

I tested the Sony’s zoom in various scenarios - its reach is unrivaled in this price category. The optical image stabilization does a decent job compensating for shake but with very long focal lengths, a tripod is advisable.

Meanwhile, Olympus users can swap lenses to optimize image quality for their genre - from sharp 45mm f/1.8 portraits with creamy bokeh to ultra-wide landscapes or dedicated macro lenses. This flexibility also means you can adapt as your skill and style evolve.

Real-World Performance Across Photography Genres

To put these cameras through their paces, I’ve evaluated them in multiple photography disciplines. Here’s how they stack up:

Portrait Photography

The Olympus E-PM2’s larger sensor and fast lenses offer richer skin tone rendering and smoother bokeh. Its face detection AF nails sharp eyes reliably, critical for compelling portraits. The Micro Four Thirds ecosystem includes many fast primes that excel for portraits.

The Sony’s small sensor struggles with shallow depth of field and noise in indoor or low light portraits. Bokeh is limited, and facial detail doesn’t pop as much. However, at outdoor bright light with long zoom, it can isolate subjects reasonably well.

Landscape Photography

Olympus’s dynamic range advantage shines here - it preserves detail in shadows and highlights. The relatively high resolution (16MP) along with sharp wide-angle lenses delivers excellent landscape photos.

Sony delivers slightly higher megapixels (20MP), but the tiny sensor yields images with less tonal subtlety and more pronounced noise at base ISO in shadow recovery.

Neither camera is weather sealed, limiting challenging outdoor conditions. Olympus’s smaller, weather-resistent options may be better for traveling landscapes if paired with sealed lenses.

Wildlife Photography

Here, Sony’s insanely long zoom (25-1550mm equivalent) lets you capture distant animals without bulky telephotos. However, slow AF, lack of burst, and noisy images in low light restrict effectiveness. The feel is more of a casual wildlife snapshot camera.

Olympus’s faster AF and more sensitive sensor produce cleaner results, but you’ll need to invest in telephoto lenses and carry more gear.

Sports Photography

Olympus’s 8fps burst and continuous AF come in handy for moderate action sports. Tracking subjects is smoother than Sony’s single-shot system.

Sony’s 1fps limits action capture severely. This camera is more suited to static scenes or slow-moving subjects.

Street Photography

Olympus is a clear winner with its pocketable size, discreet operation, and reliable AF. The touchscreen helps compose fast candid shots.

Sony’s bulk and zoom lens are less stealthy and more cumbersome for the street - but if you want a zoom from wide to super-telephoto for street candids, it’s an option.

Macro Photography

Olympus users can tap into excellent macro lenses with precise AF, while Sony’s fixed zoom offers no macro mode or focusing closer than about a meter effectively.

Night & Astro Photography

Higher max ISO on Olympus and better noise control allow superior night photography. Although neither is specialized for astro, Olympus’s sensor and bulb shutter mode give it the edge.

Video Capabilities

Olympus records Full HD 1080p video at 30fps with sensor stabilization and touch focus. Audio input is limited with no mic or headphone ports.

Sony maxes out at 720p HD, which is dated and less versatile. It does have a microphone input, however.

Neither camera supports 4K or advanced video features, so both are best for casual video.

Travel Photography

The Olympus E-PM2 balances portability, versatility, and quality well for travel photographers. Lightweight with interchangeable lenses and solid battery life, it’s easy to recommend.

The Sony H400’s considerable zoom range could appeal to travelers who want one camera for everything without lens changes - but the bulk and image compromises are tradeoffs.

Professional Work

Neither is geared for intense professional workflows. Olympus supports raw capture, a boon for editing, while Sony lacks raw support entirely. Both cameras lack environmental sealing and robust build needed for heavy duty use.

Construction, Battery Life, and Connectivity

Both cameras are primarily plastic-bodied with no weather sealing, so caution is advised in adverse conditions.

Battery life is comparable, with Olympus rated at 360 shots per charge, Sony at 300 shots. Neither will excel for long shooting days without extra batteries.

Connectivity-wise, Olympus supports Eye-Fi wireless cards, enabling Wi-Fi transfer - handy for quick sharing. Sony has no wireless options but HDMI and USB 2.0 for wired connections.

Price-Performance and Who Should Buy Which?

When evaluating value, the Olympus E-PM2 retails higher (around $448 new) but delivers stronger image quality, faster autofocus, raw support, and more versatility. The Sony H400 is very affordable (~$268), but compromises sensor quality and speed significantly.

Who Should Consider the Olympus E-PM2?

• Enthusiasts stepping into mirrorless with budget-conscious yet quality gear
• Travelers wanting a lightweight camera system they can grow with
• Portrait, landscape, street, and general photography where image quality and flexibility matter
• Users who want manual controls, raw files, and interchangeable lenses

Who Might Opt for the Sony H400?

• Casual shooters who crave massive zoom capability in one device
• Those prioritizing reach over image quality or speed
• Hobbyists wanting a no-fuss grab-and-shoot superzoom for wildlife and travel snapshots
• Budget buyers who don’t want to invest in multiple lenses

Final Thoughts

Having tested these two cameras extensively, I can say the Olympus E-PM2 is a step up in photographic quality, speed, and creative potential rooted in its larger Four Thirds sensor and mirrorless design. It rewards learning photographers and enthusiasts who want real control and image excellence compacted into a neat body.

Meanwhile, the Sony H400 holds niche appeal for those chasing the longest zooms without swapping lenses or heft. Its ease and reach can be tempting but come with compromise in image quality, performance, and flexibility.

In the end, both cameras can serve specific purposes well - the key is aligning your photography goals with their inherent strengths and trade-offs. Hope my insights, grounded in hands-on evaluations, help you pick the camera that will inspire your next creative journey.

Visual Inspirations from Both Cameras

To close, enjoy this curated gallery where I juxtaposed sample images from both cameras, showcasing their typical output and style nuances.

Olympus E PM2 front Olympus E PM2 screen back Sony H400 front Sony H400 screen back

This review was conducted independently and reflects my honest, experienced perspective based on extensive camera testing. If you have questions or want further comparisons tailored to your shooting style, feel free to engage!

Happy shooting!