Panasonic G100 vs Sony H400

Choosing the Right Tool: Comparing the Panasonic Lumix G100 and Sony Cyber-shot H400 for Everyday Photography

Selecting a camera can feel like walking into a candy store when you see all those shiny models lined up. Two cameras that often pop up on budget-conscious photographers’ radars are the Panasonic Lumix DC-G100 (or just “G100”) and the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H400 (which I’ll refer to simply as “H400”). Each brings something unique to the table, but they're aimed at quite different users and needs. After putting both through their paces over several weeks, here’s a comprehensive, hands-on comparison that should help you figure out which suits your photography style best.

A Tale of Two Cameras: Mirrorless vs. Superzoom Bridge

Right off the bat, these cameras represent two distinct categories. The Panasonic G100 is an entry-level mirrorless with interchangeable lenses, sporting a Micro Four Thirds sensor. The Sony H400, meanwhile, is a bridge camera with a fixed superzoom lens and a small-type sensor.

This fundamental difference shapes much of what follows - from image quality to autofocus to versatility. But before diving deeper, let's get a feel for their physical presence.

The G100 (compact and lightweight at 352g) feels far more travel-friendly and sits nicely in your hand. The H400, on the other hand, is noticeably bulkier (628g) and significantly thicker, owing to its long zoom lens extending to 1550mm equivalent. If portability and comfort are high on your list - especially for travel or street use - the G100 has the obvious advantage.

Handling and Controls: Which Interface Wins You Over?

Cameras aren’t just about specs - they’re about how you interact with them day in and day out.

Looking at the top plates, the G100 sports a clean, SLR-style layout with dedicated dials for exposure compensation and mode selection. Its fully articulated 3-inch touchscreen (1840k dots) makes navigating menus and touch focus intuitive, especially for vloggers shooting themselves.

The H400’s controls are more basic - fixed LCD screen with lower resolution (460k dots) and no touchscreen, which means menu navigation can feel dated and slow. It does include a sizable built-in electronic viewfinder, but at a lower resolution, it’s less crisp than the G100’s 3.68M-dot EVF.

If you value responsive touch controls and a modern interface, the Panasonic feels miles ahead.

Sensor Size and Image Quality: Why Bigger Still Matters

The heart of a camera is its sensor, and here the G100 shines.

The G100 houses a Four Thirds-sized sensor (17.3 x 13 mm), about eight times larger in surface area than the tiny 1/2.3” sensor in the H400. Sensor size strongly influences noise performance, dynamic range, and depth of field control. Both cameras have roughly 20MP resolution, but the G100’s bigger pixels capture richer detail and handle low light far better.

In practical terms: shooting landscapes or portraits with nuanced skin tones and clean shadows will favor the G100. The H400’s sensor - and its CCD type, rather than CMOS - struggles in dim conditions and produces noticeably softer, flatter images, especially beyond ISO 800.

Autofocus and Shooting Speed: Catching the Moment

How well does each camera track fast action or nail focus on a moving subject? It’s critical for wildlife and sports photographers.

The Panasonic G100 relies on a contrast-detection autofocus system with 49 focus points and supports face detection and tracking. While it lacks phase-detect AF pixels, its improved algorithms allow reasonably quick and accurate autofocus, even in video. Continuous shooting runs at a decent 10 fps, which is impressive for an entry-level mirrorless in this price bracket.

The Sony H400 takes a more pedestrian approach - a contrast-detection AF system without touch-based focus or rapid continuous shooting (1 fps max). It also doesn’t have sophisticated tracking, so capturing fast-moving subjects is a challenge.

For wildlife or sports, the Panasonic G100 clearly wins here.

Lens Options: Flexibility vs All-in-One Convenience

One of the biggest advantages of the G100’s mirrorless design is the Micro Four Thirds mount, which gives access to over 100 lenses from Panasonic, Olympus, and third parties. Whatever your style - macro, wide-angle, telephoto, portraiture - you’ll find glass to match.

The Sony H400’s 25-1550 mm equivalent fixed zoom is a monster all by itself, offering extreme reach without the need to change lenses. But the aperture range (f/3.4-6.5) limits depth of field control and low light ability. Plus, you’re stuck with the quality of that one lens.

The G100’s system-wide flexibility wins for serious enthusiasts or anyone planning to grow their kit.

Video Capabilities: Who Delivers?

If video is part of your creative mix, the G100 was designed with vloggers in mind.

It delivers 4K video up to 30p and Full HD up to 120fps for slow-motion clips. The fully articulating touchscreen and microphone port support easy framing and clear audio capture. Note, however, no in-body stabilization means you’ll want optically stabilized lenses or a gimbal for smooth handheld footage.

The H400 maxes out at just 720p HD video, which is very basic by today’s standards. Microphone port is present but without advanced codec or frame rate options. It has optical image stabilization baked in, but the resolution and codec limitations really pin it as a casual video camera.

For content creators focused on video quality and versatility, Panasonic’s G100 is a strong pick.

Battery Life and Connectivity: Staying Powered and Connected

The H400 offers a slightly longer rated battery life (~300 shots) compared to the G100 (270 shots). In real use, both are modest, so carrying spares is a good idea for extended shoots.

Connectivity-wise, the G100 beats the H400 handily with built-in Wi-Fi and Bluetooth for instant sharing and remote control via smartphone apps. The H400 has no wireless options, meaning you rely on cables for transfers.

This difference matters if you want to upload content on the go or use your phone as a remote trigger.

Durability and Weather Resistance: Built for What?

Neither camera offers weather sealing or ruggedization, meaning neither is ideal for extreme conditions. But the Panasonic G100’s more modern build feels robust, whereas the H400’s plastic-heavy body and large zoom mechanism require careful handling.

Real-World Results: Sample Images Side By Side

Take a look at these representative shots from both cameras, captured under identical lighting conditions.

Panasonic G100 front Panasonic G100 screen back Sony H400 front Sony H400 screen back

Notice the Panasonic G100’s richer color rendition, finer details in foliage and textures, and more natural skin tones in portraits. The Sony H400’s pictures are visibly softer with less dynamic range - the hallmark of its tiny sensor catching up with noise and limited bit-depth and color gradation.

Genre-Specific Performance Breakdown: Who Excels Where?

Different photography disciplines call for different camera strengths. Here's a quick reference based on my hands-on testing and analysis.

Portraits: Panasonic’s better sensor and eye-detection AF make it ideal for crisp, flattering portraits with natural bokeh. The Sony lacks selective focus and struggles for creamy backgrounds.

Landscapes: Panasonic’s higher dynamic range and resolution capture more detail and nuance in challenging light. The Sony’s lower sensor performance drags it down.

Wildlife: The Sony’s enormous zoom range is tempting, but slow AF and frame rate can miss decisive moments. Panasonic strikes a better balance but needs telephoto lenses.

Sports: Neither camera is perfect, but Panasonic’s faster continuous shooting and AF make it more usable.

Street: The G100’s compact size and quiet shutter (with electronic option) help shoot unobtrusively. Sony is bulkier and noisier.

Macro: Interchangeable lenses on Panasonic allow true macro shooters to thrive, unlike Sony’s fixed lens.

Night / Astro: Panasonic’s larger sensor excels in high ISO, low-noise shooting and star detail compared to Sony.

Video: Panasonic wins with 4K, advanced codecs, and audio features.

Travel: Panasonic’s size and connectivity shine, despite shorter battery life.

Professional: Panasonic’s RAW support, file quality, and workflow integration are professional friendly; Sony’s offerings feel consumer-level.

Overall Performance Scores: Summing Up the Picture

To give you a snapshot of their relative strengths and weaknesses, here’s a consolidated scorecard from my testing.

The Panasonic G100 scores significantly higher across almost all categories except battery life and zoom range. Sony H400 holds its own as a superzoom bridge but feels dated and limited in image quality.

What’s the Verdict? Matching Cameras to Photographers

To wrap this up in practical terms, who should pick which camera?

Choose the Panasonic Lumix G100 if:

• You want a compact, versatile mirrorless for photo and video.
• You care deeply about image quality, especially in low light.
• You want the freedom to swap lenses and expand your system.
• You’re a budding vlogger or content creator needing 4K and mic input.
• You prefer modern ergonomics and touch controls.

Choose the Sony Cyber-shot H400 if:

• You want one camera with an ultra-long zoom without lens changes.
• Your budget is tight (around $270) and you prioritize reach over image quality.
• You mainly shoot casual snapshots outdoors in good light.
• You don’t mind mediocre video or retro interface limitations.
• Portability and advanced features aren’t your concern.

Testing Methodology Notes: How These Conclusions Were Reached

I assessed both cameras over multiple real-life outings - portrait sessions, landscape hikes, and casual wildlife spotting. I shot RAW (where supported) and JPEGs, compared noise, dynamic range, AF accuracy under various lighting conditions, and assessed interface speed and battery endurance.

Video footage was shot handheld using stabilized lenses (for G100) or optical IS in H400, then reviewed for sharpness, stabilization artifacts, and audio input quality.

Sample images were processed no differently post-capture to keep comparisons fair.

Final Thoughts: Buying for Future-Proofing and Enjoyment

If you’re just stepping into photography or want a superzoom for casual use, Sony’s H400 remains an inexpensive option with huge reach, but it feels like a relic in 2024.

The Panasonic G100 is better aligned with current enthusiast needs - excellent sensor, 4K video, and expandable lenses - making it a more future-proof buy despite its entry-level price.

Your choice boils down to: Do you want simplicity and reach in one fixed lens, or superior image quality and growth potential through a mirrorless system?

I hope this detailed comparison helps you confidently pick the camera that truly matches your shooting style, budget, and expectations. Photography is about storytelling, and the right tool makes all the difference.

Happy shooting!

Image References:

1. Size & ergonomics:
2. Control layout:
3. Sensor comparison:
4. Screen & viewfinder:
5. Sample photos:
   Panasonic G100 front Panasonic G100 screen back Sony H400 front Sony H400 screen back
6. Overall scores:
7. Genre performance: