Panasonic Lumix G6 vs. Sony Cyber-shot H400: A Hands-on Comparison for Enthusiasts and Pros

Choosing a new camera in today’s crowded market isn’t easy, especially when the cameras compared sit at different segments and prioritize very different strengths. The Panasonic Lumix G6, an entry-level mirrorless camera introduced in 2013, and the Sony Cyber-shot H400, a 2014 bridge superzoom, serve distinctly different photographic missions. Yet, they both appeal to photography enthusiasts seeking versatility and value without breaking the bank.

Having put both through my usual battery of tests, ranging from lab-style technical measurements to shooting in real-world scenarios like portraiture, wildlife, and travel, I’ll lay out the factual, firsthand differences and honest assessments. If you’re hunting for your next “all-rounder” - whether the finer controls of a mirrorless system or the grab-and-go zoom reach of a superzoom suits your style - read on. By the end, you’ll know which camera is worth your hard-earned dollars.

Measuring Up: Size, Ergonomics, and Handling Comfort

Size and handling form the foundation of your shooting experience. The Panasonic G6 and Sony H400 couldn’t be more different in this respect, fundamentally because one’s a mirrorless body with interchangeable lenses, and the other a superzoom bridge camera with a mega lens built-in.

The Panasonic G6 tips the scales at a light 390 grams with a compact 122mm x 85mm x 71mm body - slick for an SLR-style mirrorless but still robust enough to feel serious in your hands. Panasonic’s design is well-thought-out, featuring a confident, textured grip that invites you to hold it all day, whether you’re shooting in portrait or landscape. The fully articulated 3" touchscreen is a bonus for creative angles and video work.

In contrast, the Sony H400 is chunkier and heavier at 628 grams and measures significantly larger at roughly 130mm x 95mm x 122mm due to the mammoth built-in 25-1550mm(63.3x) zoom lens - a behemoth you’ll definitely notice in your bag (and your wrists after long shoots). While the mimicry of an SLR shape helps grip ergonomics somewhat, it lacks the balanced feel of a mirrorless body with interchangeable lenses. The 3" fixed Clear Photo LCD is bright but doesn’t touch the G6’s articulation or touch capabilities.

Long story short: if portability and dexterity matter, the Lumix G6 is the way to go. The Sony H400 trades comfort for epic zoom reach, which could be a decisive factor depending on your shooting style.

At the Heart of the Matter: Sensor and Image Quality

No camera test is complete without closely examining sensors - the core component dictating image quality. Here the divide is obvious.

The Panasonic G6 houses a 16MP Four Thirds CMOS sensor (17.3 x 13 mm), substantially larger than the Sony H400’s 1/2.3-inch CCD sensor (6.17 x 4.55 mm). This size difference (roughly eight times more surface area on the G6!) translates directly into superior image quality under professional scrutiny.

In practical terms, the G6’s larger sensor results in cleaner images at higher ISOs, wider dynamic range (~11.5 EV versus untested but predictably limited range on the H400), and better color depth (21.3 bits). Though the Sony boasts a slightly higher megapixel count (20MP), sensor size swamps pixel quantity, making the G6’s 16MP more capable at resolving detail with less noise, especially in dimmer lighting.

The H400’s fixed lens and smaller sensor cause it to rely heavily on digital processing to handle noise, leading to mushiness and color accuracy compromises beyond ISO 800. The G6’s native ISO 160-25600 range is far more usable in real-world low light.

From a hands-on perspective, landscapes and portraits shot on the G6 show well-defined textures, smooth gradations, and natural skin tones. The Sony struggles with shadow detail and shows clear limitations if you plan to make large prints or heavily post-process.

If your priority is image quality above all else, particularly for serious landscape, portrait, and professional work, the Panasonic G6 wins hands down here.

Controls, Interface, and Usability

User interface and camera responsiveness can make or break the shooting experience, especially in fast-paced scenarios.

The Panasonic G6’s seasoned design prioritizes tactile feedback with dedicated buttons and a quick-access dial system, accommodating beginner-friendly modes but deeper manual control for enthusiasts and semi-pros. It offers multiple autofocus modes (AF-S, AF-C, touch-AF) with face detection and 23 AF points, allowing precise subject tracking. The touchscreen enhances usability, especially in live view and video modes.

The Sony H400, limited by its fixed superzoom lens design, adopts a more simplified interface with fewer physical controls, catering to users who want point-and-shoot ease rather than pro-level control. The contrast-detection AF system features decent tracking for its class but lacks continuous AF and touch focus benefits. Its single continuous shooting frame per second is painfully slow, making it unsuitable for sports or wildlife action.

Both cameras include built-in flashes, but only the G6 has external flash support, widening lighting possibilities for portraits or creative setups.

In my frequent field testing, the G6’s clubs-for-thumbs approach to controls feels like a refreshing embrace for hands-on shooters, while the H400’s simplicity works more for casual users or travel snapshots.

The Versatility Test: Lens Ecosystem and Zoom Reach

If you’re a cheapskate or a stickler for versatility, lens choice (or lack thereof) is a dealbreaker.

The Panasonic G6 uses the Micro Four Thirds mount, granting access to an expansive ecosystem of over 100 lenses from Panasonic, Olympus, and third-party manufacturers. This includes fast primes, macro lenses, ultra-wide zooms, and professional telephoto glass. I’ve personally shot everything from intimate macro florals to distant wildlife on MFT glass with superb results. Lens interchangeability empowers you to radically expand your creative horizons.

The Sony H400 packs a crazily long built-in zoom (25-1550mm equivalent focal length) that can handle everything from wide scenes to faraway birds without swapping glass. But the tradeoff is sharpness at telephoto edges and limited aperture (F3.4–6.5) that’s less friendly to low light. You’re also stuck with this single optical zoom, limiting optical quality improvements and Bokeh control compared to prime lenses.

For wildlife photographers needing reach without complicated baggage, the H400’s “one lens fits all” is useful. However, for portraiture and nuanced control over depth of field, the G6’s lens ecosystem is far superior.

Shooting in the Real World: Portraiture and Skin Tone Rendering

Portraits demand accurate skin tones, pleasing bokeh quality, and especially good eye-detection autofocus for sharpness where it counts. Here, the G6 flexes its muscles.

The Panasonic G6’s larger sensor combined with its more advanced contrast-detect AF system with face tracking produces natural, well-exposed portraits with smooth bokeh backgrounds, courtesy of interchangeable lenses with wide apertures (f/1.8, f/2.8). Its color science on skin tones is warm and faithful, avoiding unnatural tints or oversharpening.

The Sony H400, while incredibly versatile due to zoom reach, cannot replicate this - skin tones often appear washed out or plasticky, and the small sensor can’t achieve convincing background defocus. Portraits come off more as snapshots rather than professional-grade headshots.

Amateur portrait shooters or vloggers looking for flattering imagery will appreciate the ergonomics and capabilities of the Panasonic G6 here.

Landscape Wonders: Resolution, Dynamic Range, and Weather Resistance

For landscape photographers, resolution, dynamic range, and robustness in the field matter a lot. The G6’s 16MP sensor is well-suited to capture fine textures in foliage, rock faces, or cityscapes. Its wide dynamic range preserves details in bright skies and shadowed valleys, essential for shooting high contrast scenes outdoors.

Unfortunately, neither camera offers environmental sealing or weatherproofing, so protection against rain and dust depends on your bag and care. The Sony’s superzoom can be limiting on landscapes due to optical compromises at long focal lengths but is fantastic for framing distant peaks or shooting wildlife from afar without swapping lenses.

If you primarily shoot landscapes and value file flexibility, the Panasonic G6’s raw support and better sensor are key advantages.

Wildlife and Sports: Autofocus, Burst Rate, and Telephoto Performance

High-speed subjects test a camera’s autofocus (AF) tracking, burst frame rate, and telephoto prowess.

The Sony H400 packs an insane 1550mm zoom, a dream for distant wildlife or birdwatchers without fancy big lenses. However, the AF in the H400 feels sluggish - only single AF with contrast detection, no continuous AF tracking - coupled with a paltry 1 fps burst makes it challenging to nail sharp frames of fast sports action.

Conversely, the G6 offers 7 fps continuous shooting, with selective, center, and face detection autofocus modes to lock and track subjects effectively in motion. Though its maximum reach optically caps lower (depending on lens), pairing it with a telephoto MFT lens (like the 100-300mm) yields very competent wildlife images with better image quality and focusing precision.

For fast action, the Panasonic G6 has the clear edge; the H400 suits static wildlife where zoom reach trumps speed.

Street and Travel: Discreteness, Portability, and Battery Life

Street photography - and relatedly, travel - require a lightweight, quiet camera that’s easy to operate quickly and won’t attract unwanted attention.

The G6’s compact size, nearly silent electronic shutter modes, and pop-up flash enable discreet shooting compared to the bulky H400 which looks more like a clunky bridge camera, drawing stares during candid shots. The articulated touchscreen on G6 facilitates creative angles in busy street scenes.

Battery life is another factor: the G6 achieves roughly 340 shots per charge, outperforming the Sony’s 300 shots, which is respectable given its weight and sensor size.

Travel enthusiasts will appreciate the G6’s lightweight and adaptability, packing lighter lenses instead of lugging the massive H400 superzoom.

Macro and Close-Up Capabilities

The Panasonic G6’s lens choices make it the clear favorite for macro photography. A dedicated macro lens or even adapting vintage glass on the Micro Four Thirds mount creates beautiful close-up result with accurate manual focusing and focus peaking aids.

The Sony H400 does not excel in macro due to fixed lens constraints, focusing at minimum around 2cm (likely longer), and lack of focus stacking or bracketing features. Close-ups are passable but won’t satisfy macro enthusiasts.

Night and Astro: Long Exposure, High ISO Noise, and Manual Controls

Night photography demands clean high ISO, long shutter times, and precise manual control.

The G6’s ISO 25600 max and 60s shutter speed facilitate astrophotography and long exposure shots, though ISO 160-3200 are often most usable due to noise considerations.

The Sony H400 limits max shutter speed to only 2 seconds and ISO maxes at 3200, with less success on noise. A big limitation is no RAW or external control options, lowering its utility for night shooters.

Video Capabilities: Recording Specs and Stabilization

Videographers seeking 1080p Full HD have it on both cameras but with striking differences.

The G6 records 1920x1080 at 60fps (progressive) and includes microphone input, articulated touchscreen for vlogging, and manual exposure/video controls. It’s a very capable hybrid shooter for budding filmmakers, offering AVCHD and MP4 formats.

The Sony H400 caps video at 720p and 30fps, with no articulated screen or touch control. Optical steady shot (image stabilization) is active but no mic input means audio quality is limited.

Professional Work: File Formats, Workflow Integration, and Reliability

For pro shooters looking to integrate cameras into a workflow, the Panasonic G6 offers RAW support, enabling extensive post-production editing, and a wider body of compatible lenses to fine-tune images. USB 2.0 connectivity facilitates file transfers, though modern shooters may wish for USB-C speeds.

Sony’s H400 shoots only JPEG - fine for casual use but restrictive in professional contexts. It supports Memory Stick alongside SD cards for storage, which some workflows might consider outdated.

Neither camera is weather-sealed, so neither replaces professional-grade models in harsh environments, but the Panasonic’s build quality feels more solid and future-proof.

Connectivity and Wireless Features

The Panasonic G6 has built-in wireless (Wi-Fi + NFC) for instant image sharing and remote control through smartphone apps - a must-have for content creators today. Bluetooth is missing, but Wi-Fi and NFC round out the connectivity well.

Sony H400 offers none of the built-in wireless features, limiting transfer options to wired USB connections.

Price, Value, and Who Should Buy Which?

The Panasonic G6 currently commands roughly $750 new (or less used), positioning it as a serious entry-level mirrorless option. The Sony H400 is a bargain at around $270, providing extreme zoom for less but sacrificing image quality and controls.

Quick Pros and Cons:

Final Verdict: Which One Fits Your Shooting Style?

I recommend the Panasonic Lumix G6 if:

• You want superior image quality - especially for portraits, landscapes, and low-light photography.
• You crave flexibility via interchangeable lenses.
• Video recording is an important part of your workflow.
• You value responsive controls and face/eye detection autofocus.
• Portability and battery life matter.
• You want a future-proof system expandable with newer MFT gear.

Choose the Sony Cyber-shot H400 if:

• Your primary interest is extreme zoom telephoto applications (like casual wildlife or bird photography) without the expense or bulk of big lenses.
• You prefer a simple, grab-and-go point-and-shoot approach.
• Budget constraints are tight and you want a decent all-in-one camera for basic photography.
• You don’t mind sacrificing image quality for zoom reach and convenience.

Closing Thoughts

In my years testing cameras at all levels, I’ve rarely seen two frames so different in purpose yet superficially similar in category - the G6 is a genuine mirrorless enthusiast’s tool while the H400 caters to zoom nuts and convenience seekers. Understanding your priorities - image quality, control, zoom, or budget - is key.

Ultimately, the Panasonic G6’s more advanced tech, superior sensor, and lens options make it the wiser investment for quality and creative potential. But if you want wild reach on a budget in a single compact body, the Sony H400 gets points.

Your camera choice should empower your vision, not limit it. Hopefully, this comparison adds clarity to that critical decision.

Happy shooting!

Panasonic G6 front Panasonic G6 screen back Sony H400 front Sony H400 screen back