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Panasonic FS15 vs Sony HX400V

Portability
95
Imaging
34
Features
17
Overall
27
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS15 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX400V front
Portability
62
Imaging
45
Features
60
Overall
51

Panasonic FS15 vs Sony HX400V Key Specs

Panasonic FS15
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 1600 (Expand to 6400)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 640 x 480 video
  • 29-145mm (F3.3-5.9) lens
  • 136g - 97 x 54 x 22mm
  • Introduced January 2009
Sony HX400V
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • 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
  • Earlier Model is Sony HX300
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Panasonic FS15 vs Sony HX400V Overview

In this article, we are matching up the Panasonic FS15 vs Sony HX400V, one being a Ultracompact and the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom by manufacturers Panasonic and Sony. There is a significant difference among the resolutions of the FS15 (12MP) and HX400V (20MP) but they come with the same exact sensor size (1/2.3").

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The FS15 was introduced 6 years earlier than the HX400V and that is a fairly sizable gap as far as camera tech is concerned. Both of the cameras offer different body type with the Panasonic FS15 being a Ultracompact camera and the Sony HX400V being a SLR-like (bridge) camera.

Before diving in to a thorough comparison, below is a short highlight of how the FS15 matches up against the HX400V in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic FS15 over the Sony HX400V

 FS15 HX400V 

Reasons to pick Sony HX400V over the Panasonic FS15

 HX400V FS15 
RevealedFebruary 2014January 2009More recent by 61 months
Focus manually Very precise focus
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display sizing3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution921k230kSharper display (+691k dot)

Common features in the Panasonic FS15 and Sony HX400V

 FS15 HX400V 
Selfie screen Neither offers selfie screen
Touch friendly display Missing Touch friendly display

Panasonic FS15 vs Sony HX400V Physical Comparison

For anyone who is intending to lug around your camera regularly, you need to take into account its weight and measurements. The Panasonic FS15 offers outer dimensions of 97mm x 54mm x 22mm (3.8" x 2.1" x 0.9") having a weight of 136 grams (0.30 lbs) whilst the Sony HX400V has proportions of 130mm x 93mm x 103mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 4.1") having a weight of 660 grams (1.46 lbs).

Check the Panasonic FS15 vs Sony HX400V in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary dependant on the lens you use at that time. Here is the front view overall size comparison of the FS15 and the HX400V.

Panasonic FS15 vs Sony HX400V size comparison

Taking into account size and weight, the portability rating of the FS15 and HX400V is 95 and 62 respectively.

Panasonic FS15 vs Sony HX400V top view buttons comparison

Panasonic FS15 vs Sony HX400V Sensor Comparison

In many cases, it's difficult to envision the contrast in sensor measurements simply by checking out specs. The photograph underneath should provide you a much better sense of the sensor sizes in the FS15 and HX400V.

All in all, both of the cameras enjoy the same exact sensor sizing but not the same resolution. You should expect to see the Sony HX400V to produce extra detail using its extra 8MP. Greater resolution will let you crop images far more aggressively. The older FS15 will be behind with regard to sensor innovation.

Panasonic FS15 vs Sony HX400V sensor size comparison

Panasonic FS15 vs Sony HX400V Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic FS15 vs Sony HX400V Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic FS15 Portrait photography highlights
Sony HX400V Portrait photography highlights
20
lack of manual focus
manual mode not available
can't use external flash
low megapixels (12MP)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
51
focusing manually
decent MP (20MP)
supports face detection focus
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
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Street Comparison

Panasonic FS15 as a Street photography camera
Sony HX400V as a Street photography camera
56
has image stabilization (Optical)
no articulating screen
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
50
has a tilting screen
has image stabilization (Optical)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
heavier than competition in class (660 grams)
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic FS15 Sports photography info
Sony HX400V Sports photography info
25
has image stabilization (Optical)
max fps very slow (2.0 fps)
lack of shutter priority mode
low megapixels (12MP)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect autofocus
55
long zoom range (24-1200mm 50.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
decent MP (20MP)
supports tracking autofocus
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic FS15 Travel photography advice
Sony HX400V Travel photography advice
51
flash built-in
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
low megapixels (12MP)
display isn't selfie friendly
wide angle not great (29mm)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
53
decent MP (20 megapixels)
has built in flash
pretty wide (24mm)
very long reach (1200mm)
missing Time Lapse function
heavier than competition in class (660g)
doesn't posses selfie friendly screen
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic FS15 Landscape photography info
Sony HX400V Landscape photography info
27
has image stabilization (Optical)
lack of manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not great (29mm)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
small screen (2.7 inches)
manual mode not available
low megapixels (12MP)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
49
focusing manually
pretty wide (24mm)
nice screen size (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Optical)
decent MP (20MP)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
missing Time Lapse function
Photography Glossary

Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic FS15 Vlogging details
Sony HX400V Vlogging details
25
has image stabilization (Optical)
wide angle not great (29mm)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
display isn't selfie friendly
video quality not great (640 x 480 resolution)
doesn't have mic socket
29
pretty wide (24mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
supports face detection focus
high res video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
has external mic support
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
doesn't posses selfie friendly screen
heavier than competition in class (660g)
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Panasonic FS15 vs Sony HX400V Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic FS15 and Sony HX400V
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS15Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX400V
General Information
Brand Name Panasonic Sony
Model type Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS15 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX400V
Category Ultracompact Small Sensor Superzoom
Introduced 2009-01-16 2014-02-12
Physical type Ultracompact 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 surface area 27.7mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 12MP 20MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 16:9, 4:3 and 3:2 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4000 x 3000 5184 x 3888
Maximum native ISO 1600 12800
Maximum boosted ISO 6400 -
Lowest native ISO 80 80
RAW images
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Total focus points 11 9
Lens
Lens support fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 29-145mm (5.0x) 24-1200mm (50.0x)
Max aperture f/3.3-5.9 f/2.8-6.3
Macro focusing range 5cm 1cm
Crop factor 5.9 5.8
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Tilting
Screen size 2.7" 3"
Screen resolution 230 thousand dots 921 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Electronic
Viewfinder coverage - 100%
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60s 30s
Highest shutter speed 1/2000s 1/4000s
Continuous shooting rate 2.0 frames/s 10.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation - Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance - 8.50 m (ISO Auto)
Flash settings Auto, Auto Red-eye Reduction, Forced On, Forced Off Flash Off / Autoflash / Fill-flash / Slow Sync. / Advanced Flash / Rear Sync. / Wireless (with optional compliant flash)
Hot shoe
AEB
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 848 x 480 (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 640x480 1920x1080
Video format Motion JPEG 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
Environment sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 136g (0.30 lbs) 660g (1.46 lbs)
Dimensions 97 x 54 x 22mm (3.8" x 2.1" x 0.9") 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 photographs
Battery style - Battery Pack
Battery ID - NP-BX1
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec, portrait)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/MMC/SDHC card, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick Duo/Memory Stick Pro Duo, Memory Stick Pro-HG Duo
Card slots 1 1
Cost at launch $180 $448