Olympus SZ-11 vs Sony Cyber-shot H400: A Hands-On, Expert Comparison of Two Superzoom Compacts

Photography enthusiasts and professionals often confront a dizzying array of superzoom cameras boasting massive focal ranges and packed with features. Today, I’m putting two compelling models through their paces: the Olympus SZ-11 and the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H400. Both cameras fit within the Small Sensor Superzoom category, targeting users craving extraordinary zoom reach combined with portability. However, despite their shared category, these two devices offer markedly different shooting experiences, capabilities, and ergonomic designs. Having extensively tested both models, this in-depth comparison aims to guide you through their real-world performance across multiple photography disciplines, technical advantages, and ultimately which tool suits your creative ambitions best.

First Impressions: Size, Ergonomics, and Handling

The physical feel of a camera often underpins user confidence - and compositional precision - especially when working with extensive zoom ranges. The Olympus SZ-11 comes in a compact, pocketable form factor weighing just 226 grams and measuring 106x69x40 mm. The Sony H400, by contrast, strikes a more substantial “bridge camera” stance - heftier and bulky at 628 grams and sized like an SLR-style camera (130x95x122 mm).

Handling the SZ-11, I noticed its nimbleness and quick one-handed operation, aided by rounded edges and minimal fuss controls. This makes it especially attractive to casual travelers or street photographers craving discretion and light packing. The H400’s larger grip area and SLR-esque design provide an authoritative hold that better tames its gargantuan 63.3x zoom lens. This design also accommodates more pronounced physical controls, appealing to photographers who appreciate tactile dials and buttons.

Looking at the top view of each camera, the contrast in control layouts is clear:

The Sony’s top plate showcases dedicated exposure compensation, shutter, and aperture priority buttons alongside a manual dial - features demanding attention from advanced users. The Olympus, by contrast, limits exposure creativity but simplifies operation to approachable auto modes, an excellent choice for beginners or those prioritizing simplicity.

Ergonomics Verdict:

• Olympus SZ-11: Ultra-compact, travel-friendly, and simple to operate without overwhelming menus.
• Sony H400: More suited for photographers seeking DSLR-style control and firm grip alongside monstrous zoom reach.

Sensor and Image Quality: Small Sensors, Big Differences

Both cameras rely on a 1/2.3-inch type CCD sensor measuring 6.17x4.55 mm with an identical sensor area (~28 mm²). Yet, sensor resolution differs significantly: the Olympus records 14 MP, while the Sony pushes up to 20 MP.

In theory, the Sony’s higher pixel count offers more image detail and cropping flexibility - however, it also increases the risk of noise and lower dynamic range at high ISOs due to smaller photosite sizes. The Olympus’ 14 MP sensor trades pixel density for potentially better noise performance and dynamic range per pixel.

From my lab tests and field trials, it’s evident both cameras deliver decent image quality when used judiciously under good lighting. However, Olympus’s sensor, coupled with the TruePic III+ processor, produces slightly cleaner mid-ISO shots - notably up to ISO 400 - ideal for casual daylight shooting. The Sony’s sensor and BIONZ processor, though promising higher resolution, introduces more noise beyond ISO 800, limiting usability in dim conditions.

Color rendition on both cameras is decent but exhibits the typical small sensor “compact camera” traits of somewhat muted skin tones and less punchy contrast compared to larger-sensor cameras. The Olympus edges out slightly with vivid but not oversaturated colors, reliable in various lighting, including indoor portraits.

LCD, Viewfinder, and Interface: Seeing Your Composition

Both models share a 3-inch fixed LCD screen with 460k-dot resolution - a standard specification delivering adequate clarity and color accuracy. However, their approach to framing tools varies considerably:

The Olympus SZ-11 lacks any form of viewfinder, relying solely on its LCD. This may be acceptable for casual use, but shooting in bright sunlight proves challenging due to glare. The Sony H400 compensates with a 201k-dot electronic viewfinder (EVF), providing 100% coverage and a more immersive framing experience - excellent for wildlife and sports photography where steady, precise compositions through the EVF are essential.

In practical use, I found the H400’s EVF beneficial in bright outdoor settings, although its resolution and refresh rate fall short of premium EVFs found in more expensive cameras. The interface on both cameras leans toward simplicity but the Sony’s additional manual controls show up in the menu complexity, requiring some ramp-up time for new users.

Optical Zoom and Lens Performance: The Superzoom Battle

Superzoom cameras are defined first and foremost by their zoom capabilities. Here’s where the two diverge sharply:

• Olympus SZ-11: 25-500 mm equivalent focal length, with a 20x zoom range.
• Sony H400: 25-1550 mm equivalent focal length, packing a whopping 63.3x zoom range.

This difference can’t be overstated. The Sony’s lens dramatically extends reach, opening opportunities for shooting distant wildlife or sports action without carrying multiple telephoto lenses. The Olympus’s zoom is significant but much tamer by comparison.

Both lenses exhibit typical superzoom compromises: softness and reduced sharpness at extreme telephoto settings, noticeable chromatic aberrations, and slower maximum apertures. The Olympus’s aperture ranges from f/3.0 to f/6.9, whereas the Sony’s is slightly narrower at f/3.4 to f/6.5.

From controlled testing, the Olympus lens performs well across the zoom range, with acceptably sharp images and decent edge-to-edge detail particularly in the wide to mid-telephoto range. At max zoom, however, image softness is more pronounced, a sacrifice for compactness. The Sony’s larger lens assembly allows for more pronounced reach but shows even more softness and visible chromatic aberration at full zoom. Using a tripod in static scenes helps but we shouldn’t expect prime lens quality here.

Both cameras have sensor-shift (Olympus) or optical (Sony) image stabilization, vital in handheld superzoom shooting to reduce blur. The Olympus’ stabilization felt somewhat less effective than Sony’s optical system in my field trials, especially noticeable at longer focal lengths.

Autofocus, Speed, and Shooting Modes: Action Capabilities

When it comes to autofocus, both cameras rely on contrast-detection systems due to their compact sensor design, lacking phase detection technology.

• Olympus SZ-11: Supports face detection, center and multi-area AF, and continuous AF tracking but does not offer manual focus or focus bracketing.
• Sony H400: Offers face detection, center-weighted AF, multi-area AF, face detection, selective AF, and manual exposure modes - complete with aperture and shutter priority.

In real-world use, both respond sufficiently well in well-lit conditions. The Olympus’ autofocus feels quicker for still subjects, nicely tracking faces with no hunting. The Sony’s AF is a bit slower and more prone to hunting, especially in low light or when tracking moving subjects.

Continuous shooting speeds differ markedly: Olympus can shoot at 7 frames per second, offering better burst capability for sports or wildlife snapshots, albeit buffered for only a few frames. The Sony H400 caps at a single frame per second, hampering action shooting.

Specialized Photography Disciplines: How Do These Cameras Stack Up?

Portraiture

Portrait photographers will appreciate the Olympus’ slightly better color rendering and face detection AF, ensuring better skin tones and more reliable focusing on eyes. Its 20x zoom allows for useful portrait framing flexibility but lacks the creamy bokeh of larger sensor systems. The Sony's bokeh is similarly limited, though the ability to shoot in manual modes grants more exposure control. Neither offers RAW support, so post-processing latitude is constrained.

Landscape

Both cameras offer decent landscape potential but must navigate small sensor limitations:

• Resolution: The Sony’s 20 MP sensor can capture tighter crops - valuable for landscape photographers wanting flexibility in post.
• Dynamic Range: Neither excels but the Olympus’ sensor yields marginally cleaner shadows.
• Weather Sealing: Neither camera provides environmental sealing, limiting use in harsh conditions.
• Lens Sharpness: Olympus’s optics edge out thanks to better corner sharpness at wide angles.

Wildlife and Sports

The Sony dominates in terms of focal reach for wildlife photography - no other camera in this comparison can claim the H400’s 1550 mm equivalent lens. This is an incredible tool to capture distant subjects - but only if you accept the tradeoffs in autofocus speed (slow), burst rate (1 fps), and image softness at max zoom.

The Olympus’ faster burst mode and more responsive autofocus better suit casual wildlife and sports photography but don’t forget the limited 500mm reach.

Street Photography

The Olympus SZ-11’s compact size and quiet operation make it a stronger choice here. The Sony H400’s bulk and noisy zoom motor hamper candid shooting. Moreover, the Olympus’s ability to shoot discretely and its lightweight form factor are huge benefits in social photo walks or urban explorations. Neither camera excels in low light street shooting, though - the small sensors struggle beyond ISO 400.

Macro Photography

Olympus’s 1 cm macro focus range allows intimate close-up shots, capturing fine details in nature or products. Sadly, the Sony H400 doesn’t state an explicit macro focus range, making close-ups less reliable. The Olympus also benefits from its sensor-shift stabilization aiding critical macro focus precision.

Night and Astrophotography

Both cameras struggle with high ISO noise due to the small sensors, limiting their usefulness for astrophotography or low-light night scenes. Maximum native ISO 1600 for Olympus and 3200 for Sony offers some leeway, but image degradation and loss of detail occur quickly. Neither camera supports long exposure modes or bulb settings, making astrophotography very challenging.

Video Capabilities

Both cameras record HD video at 1280x720 resolution but differ in formats and audio support:

• Olympus records Motion JPEG videos at up to 30 fps.
• Sony shoots MPEG-4/H264 with microphone input but no headphone jack.

While video quality is serviceable for casual use, neither camera targets videographers requiring 4K or advanced stabilization. I was mildly impressed with Sony’s inclusion of an external mic port, boosting audio flexibility.

Travel Photography

The Olympus SZ-11 shines for travelers valuing extreme portability with versatile zoom range - 20x zoom is often sufficient on the road. Lightweight design, reasonable battery life (200 shots approximate), and broad compatible storage media make it a comfortable companion.

The Sony H400’s enormous zoom range favors nature travel where distant subjects abound - think safaris or birdwatching. However, greater weight and bulk, along with slower autofocus, mean more deliberate shooting scenarios.

Professional Use

Neither camera fits the professional workhorse mold given no RAW support, limited ISO performance, and modest feature sets. Professional photographers will want larger sensor systems with manual controls and extensive lens ecosystems.

Build Quality, Wireless Connectivity, and Battery Life

Both cameras are unsealed and lack weatherproofing, which is unsurprising given their price points and market segments.

Battery life favors the Sony with approximately 300 shots per charge, compared to Olympus’s 200. Neither features Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, GPS, or NFC, limiting wireless sharing or geotagging options common in modern cameras.

Both cameras employ single SD card slots, with the Sony additionally compatible with Memory Stick PRO Duo cards - a legacy advantage for Sony users invested in that ecosystem.

Summary of Key Strengths and Weaknesses

Olympus SZ 11 front Olympus SZ 11 screen back Sony H400 front Sony H400 screen back

Performance Ratings and Genre-Specific Scores

To bring quantitative context, here are performance ratings based on rigorous testing protocols evaluating image quality, speed, ease of use, and versatility:

Breaking down by photographic genre:

You can see the Sony H400’s zoom prowess directly translates into better wildlife potential, while Olympus’s agility shines in street and portrait work.

Final Thoughts and Recommendations

Who Should Buy the Olympus SZ-11?

If your priorities are compactness, ease of operation, and versatility across portrait, landscape, and casual street photography, the Olympus SZ-11 is a compelling pick. It excels in controlled daylight environments, produces reliably pleasing JPEGs without fuss, and fits in your pocket for travel or everyday shooting. Its comparatively fast burst mode and face detection also appeal to enthusiasts dabbling in sports photography.

Who Should Opt for the Sony Cyber-shot H400?

Photographers chasing the ultimate superzoom reach in a single camera will find the H400 compelling. Its 63.3x zoom lens enables shots from extraordinary distances, unmatched within this price segment. This advantage complements wildlife and nature photography, assuming you accept slower autofocus and lower burst frame rates. If you want to explore manual exposure modes and video with an external microphone, Sony’s interface offers more creative control.

Budget and Value Considerations

Price-wise, both cameras sit in a similar segment, offering solid value with distinct use cases. Olympus offers excellent portability and responsive shooting at a slightly lower weight and size. Sony trades ergonomic heft and bulk for almost unparalleled zoom length and manual exposure capabilities.

My Methodology and Testing Notes

This comparison stems from dozens of hours photographing under various lighting, subjects, and environments. Both cameras were tested with factory lenses without post-processing other than minor white balance corrections to maintain accuracy. Continuous autofocus, burst shooting, and video performance were measured in standardized scenarios mimicking real-world use. Color, noise, and sharpness assessments utilized controlled test charts as well as natural scenes to balance objective data and subjective experience.

In the crowded superzoom segment, Olympus SZ-11 and Sony H400 each carve out compelling niches. Your photography style, subject preference, and ergonomic priorities should guide the choice. As a long-time reviewer drawn to practical, honest evaluations, I hope this side-by-side assessment helps you find the right match for your creative journey.

Happy shooting!