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Panasonic FH5 vs Sony HX400V

Portability
96
Imaging
39
Features
31
Overall
35
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH5 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX400V front
Portability
62
Imaging
45
Features
60
Overall
51

Panasonic FH5 vs Sony HX400V Key Specs

Panasonic FH5
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-112mm (F3.1-6.5) lens
  • 121g - 94 x 54 x 19mm
  • Announced January 2011
  • Other Name is Lumix DMC-FS18
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
  • Announced February 2014
  • Old Model is Sony HX300
Photography Glossary

Panasonic FH5 vs Sony HX400V Overview

On this page, we will be matching up the Panasonic FH5 and Sony HX400V, former is a Small Sensor Compact while the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom by rivals Panasonic and Sony. The sensor resolution of the FH5 (16MP) and the HX400V (20MP) is relatively close and both cameras boast the same sensor sizing (1/2.3").

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The FH5 was announced 4 years prior to the HX400V which is a fairly sizable difference as far as camera technology is concerned. Each of these cameras have different body design with the Panasonic FH5 being a Compact camera and the Sony HX400V being a SLR-like (bridge) camera.

Before going right into a detailed comparison, here is a concise introduction of how the FH5 matches up versus the HX400V with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic FH5 over the Sony HX400V

 FH5 HX400V 

Reasons to pick Sony HX400V over the Panasonic FH5

 HX400V FH5 
AnnouncedFebruary 2014January 2011More modern by 37 months
Manually focus Dial accurate focus
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen dimensions3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution921k230kCrisper screen (+691k dot)

Common features in the Panasonic FH5 and Sony HX400V

 FH5 HX400V 
Selfie screen Lacking selfie screen
Touch screen Lacking Touch screen

Panasonic FH5 vs Sony HX400V Physical Comparison

When you are planning to carry around your camera, you will have to factor in its weight and dimensions. The Panasonic FH5 comes with outer measurements of 94mm x 54mm x 19mm (3.7" x 2.1" x 0.7") having a weight of 121 grams (0.27 lbs) while the Sony HX400V has dimensions of 130mm x 93mm x 103mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 4.1") having a weight of 660 grams (1.46 lbs).

Examine the Panasonic FH5 and Sony HX400V in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an ILC will differ dependant on the lens you are using at that time. Below is a front view scale comparison of the FH5 compared to the HX400V.

Panasonic FH5 vs Sony HX400V size comparison

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability score of the FH5 and HX400V is 96 and 62 respectively.

Panasonic FH5 vs Sony HX400V top view buttons comparison

Panasonic FH5 vs Sony HX400V Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it can be hard to see the gap in sensor sizes just by viewing technical specs. The pic here might provide you a clearer sense of the sensor measurements in the FH5 and HX400V.

As you have seen, both the cameras have the same sensor dimensions albeit not the same megapixels. You can count on the Sony HX400V to render more detail with its extra 4 Megapixels. Higher resolution can also make it easier to crop photographs a bit more aggressively. The more aged FH5 will be disadvantaged in sensor tech.

Panasonic FH5 vs Sony HX400V sensor size comparison

Panasonic FH5 vs Sony HX400V Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic FH5 vs Sony HX400V Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic FH5 Portrait photography highlights
Sony HX400V Portrait photography highlights
34
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
has face detection autofocus
manual focus not available
no manual mode
cannot use external flash
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
51
has manual focus
resolution is good (20 megapixels)
features face detect autofocus
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
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Street Comparison

Panasonic FH5 Street photography information
Sony HX400V Street photography information
67
has image stabilization (Optical)
offers touch focus
lighter than competition in class (121 grams)
screen is fixed
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
50
tilting screen
image stabilization (Optical)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
more heavy than average in class (660g)
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic FH5 Sports photography highlights
Sony HX400V Sports photography highlights
40
has image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
has tracking autofocus
max frames per second low (4.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority mode
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect autofocus
55
long zoom range (24-1200mm 50.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
resolution is good (20MP)
features tracking focus
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
has no phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic FH5 Travel photography details
Sony HX400V Travel photography details
71
lighter than competition in class (121 grams)
offers touch focus
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
built-in flash
pretty wide (28mm)
lack of Time Lapse recording
doesn't have selfie friendly screen
sluggish max aperture (f3.1)
53
resolution is good (20 megapixels)
has built in flash
quite wide (24mm)
very long reach (1200mm)
lack of Timelapse function
more heavy than average in class (660g)
does not offer selfie friendly display
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic FH5 Landscape photography factors
Sony HX400V Landscape photography factors
38
pretty wide (28mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count decent (16MP)
manual focus not available
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.1)
small screen (2.7 inch)
no manual mode
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
lack of Time Lapse recording
49
has manual focus
quite wide (24mm)
screen size is good (3")
image stabilization (Optical)
resolution is good (20 megapixels)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
lack of Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Panasonic FH5
Vlogging with Sony HX400V
33
pretty wide (28mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
has face detection autofocus
lighter than competition in class (121 grams)
sluggish max aperture (f3.1)
doesn't have selfie friendly screen
video quality not great (1280 x 720 pxls)
lack of external mic port
29
quite wide (24mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
features face detect autofocus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
has microphone support
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
does not offer selfie friendly display
more heavy than average in class (660g)
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Panasonic FH5 vs Sony HX400V Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic FH5 and Sony HX400V
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH5Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX400V
General Information
Brand Name Panasonic Sony
Model type Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH5 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX400V
Otherwise known as Lumix DMC-FS18 -
Category Small Sensor Compact Small Sensor Superzoom
Announced 2011-01-05 2014-02-12
Physical type Compact SLR-like (bridge)
Sensor Information
Processor Chip Venus Engine IV Bionz X
Sensor type CCD BSI-CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 6.08 x 4.56mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 27.7mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixels 20 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 4608 x 3456 5184 x 3888
Maximum native ISO 6400 12800
Lowest native ISO 100 80
RAW images
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch to focus
Continuous AF
Single AF
Tracking AF
Selective AF
AF center weighted
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Total focus points 11 9
Lens
Lens support fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 28-112mm (4.0x) 24-1200mm (50.0x)
Maximum aperture f/3.1-6.5 f/2.8-6.3
Macro focusing distance 5cm 1cm
Crop factor 5.9 5.8
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Tilting
Display size 2.7 inches 3 inches
Resolution of display 230 thousand dots 921 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Electronic
Viewfinder coverage - 100%
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60 seconds 30 seconds
Fastest shutter speed 1/1600 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shutter rate 4.0fps 10.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation - Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 3.30 m 8.50 m (ISO Auto)
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction Flash Off / Autoflash / Fill-flash / Slow Sync. / Advanced Flash / Rear Sync. / Wireless (with optional compliant flash)
External flash
AEB
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported 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)
Maximum video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video data format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD
Microphone 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
Environment sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 121g (0.27 lb) 660g (1.46 lb)
Physical dimensions 94 x 54 x 19mm (3.7" x 2.1" x 0.7") 130 x 93 x 103mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 4.1")
DXO scores
DXO Overall 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 260 photos 300 photos
Form of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID - NP-BX1
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec, portrait)
Time lapse feature
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick Duo/Memory Stick Pro Duo, Memory Stick Pro-HG Duo
Card slots 1 1
Pricing at release $169 $448