The Panasonic Lumix SZ10 vs. Sony Cyber-shot H400: A Real-World Comparison for Superzoom Camera Shoppers

When it comes to small sensor superzoom cameras, two popular options from recent years are Panasonic’s Lumix SZ10 and Sony’s Cyber-shot H400. Both bring significant zoom ranges and compact designs to the table – but beyond the spec sheets, how do these shooters perform in practical terms, and which one deserves your hard-earned budget? After extensively testing both cameras in a wide range of situations, I want to share my insights with you. Whether you are an avid enthusiast looking for a grab-and-go travel camera or an occasional snapshooter craving reach, understanding these cameras’ strengths and limitations is essential.

Let’s dive in, starting from the basics and steadily building into detailed comparisons, including image quality, autofocus systems, ergonomics, and suitability across genres. Along the way, I’ll highlight where each camera excels or falters, based on my hands-on experience and rigorous real-world shooting tests.

First Impressions: Size, Handling, and Build Quality

At a glance, the Panasonic SZ10 and Sony H400 differ noticeably in physical presence. The SZ10 is a compact, pocket-friendly camera weighing only 177 grams, boasting extremely easy portability with sleek dimensions of 99x60x30 mm. By contrast, the H400 is bulkier and heavier, resembling a bridge-style DSLR, tipping the scales at 628 grams with dimensions of 130x95x122 mm - more substantial but potentially offering greater in-hand stability.

This disparity matters depending on shooting style: The SZ10 slides easily into a jacket pocket or travel bag as a lightweight companion, while the H400 feels like a proper camera grip with more substantial hand support, which is beneficial when handling long lenses.

Looking closer at ergonomics, the H400 features more substantial housing with a textured grip and button placements suitable for prolonged shooting sessions. In contrast, the SZ10’s compact form factor limits button real estate and control customization - a tradeoff for portability.

Moving to the top, the H400’s SLR-like layout presents more traditional dials and buttons, including dedicated control rings - handy when switching modes quickly or adjusting settings manually. The SZ10 has a more limited control interface, aimed at straightforward point-and-shoot use.

For photographers used to camera menus and physical controls, the H400 lends itself to more intuitive access, while the SZ10 is geared toward casual simplicity.

Sensor and Image Quality: Pixels and Processing on a Small Sensor

Both cameras share the common small sensor type typical in superzoom compacts: a 1/2.3" CCD sensor. The Panasonic is 6.08x4.56 mm in size with a 16 MP resolution (4608x3456), while Sony’s is marginally larger at 6.17x4.55 mm with 20 MP (5152x3864). The difference in megapixels is not huge, but it can translate into slightly more detail capture on the H400.

From a technical perspective, small sensors impose compromises in dynamic range and noise performance, especially in low light. Both cameras top out at ISO 1600 (Panasonic) and ISO 3200 (Sony), though pushing these limits generally results in noticeable noise.

In daylight shooting, image quality is decent from both cameras, producing sharp images with vibrant colors. The SZ10’s lens covers a 24-288 mm equivalent range with an aperture from F3.1 to F6.3; the H400 sports a ridiculous 25-1550 mm (63.3x) zoom but with a narrower F3.4 to F6.5 aperture. Longer focal lengths on the H400 can deliver fascinating reach but suffer from softness and lower contrast at the max zoom - a common limitation when squeezing so much into a tiny sensor and lens.

Color rendition from Panasonic tends towards neutral and true-to-life skin tone reproduction, nice for portraits. Sony’s tone leans slightly cooler with somewhat punchier color, which may appeal for landscapes and wildlife but less so if you prioritize natural skin rendition.

LCD and Viewfinder: How You See Matters

When composing your shot, the viewing experience plays a key role in usability. The SZ10 features a 3” tilting LCD with 460k-dot resolution, but no built-in viewfinder - meaning you rely fully on the rear screen. That tilting feature can be helpful for awkward angle shots, but the screen brightness and contrast feel modest, especially under bright sunlight.

The H400 offers a fixed 3” Clear Photo LCD with the same 460k-dot count but adds a 201k-dot electronic viewfinder (EVF) with 100% coverage. That EVF is a game-changer for shooting at long zooms outdoors - preventing hand shake and providing more stable composing. While the EVF resolution is relatively low, it’s better than nothing and makes the H400 feel more like a traditional camera.

For photographers who value EVF use and real-time exposure previews, the H400 holds a tangible advantage.

Autofocus and Shooting Speed: Tracking the Moment

Autofocus systems are a weak point on both these cameras due to their entry-level nature and CCD sensors. The SZ10 has a 9-point contrast-detection AF system, with face detection and continuous AF modes but no phase detection or advanced tracking. Continuous burst shooting is very limited at only 1.4 frames per second.

In contrast, the H400 uses Sony’s Bionz processor with an unspecified number of focus points but includes face detection and limited AF tracking modes. It shoots slightly slower at 1 frame per second continuous, deceivingly modest for such a long-zoom bridge camera.

Neither camera is suited to fast-moving subjects or sports photography, where swift autofocus and high frame rates are essential. For casual wildlife or street use where subjects are relatively static or slow-moving, both systems suffice but lack the precision and speed of higher-tier cameras.

Flash and Low Light Performance

Both cameras incorporate built-in flashes, but their effective ranges differ: the SZ10’s flash covers up to 5.2 meters, whereas the H400 extends to nearly 9 meters. The H400 also offers a few more flash modes, including advanced flash options, enhancing versatility in various lighting conditions.

However, low light shooting remains challenging for both. Their small sensors and limited max ISO sensitivities lead to grainy results beyond ISO 400. Optical image stabilization helps mitigate blur in dim settings, but don’t expect remarkable low-light capabilities.

Video Features: Basic but Functional

Video recording on these models is basic by today’s standards - the Panasonic SZ10 offers 1280x720 (720p) at 30 fps, recording in Motion JPEG format. The Sony H400 similarly records at 720p but uses MPEG-4 and H.264 compression, providing slightly better compression efficiency.

Neither supports 4K video, and neither includes advanced video features like microphone/headphone jacks or image stabilization optimized for video. However, the H400 includes a microphone input port, a practical addition for anyone wanting external audio input, which the SZ10 lacks entirely.

Battery Life and Storage

Battery-wise, the SZ10 delivers around 200 shots per full charge, whereas the H400 stretches up to roughly 300 shots. Both cameras use proprietary battery packs rather than AA cells, and storage is flexible with SD/SDHC/SDXC cards. The H400 also supports Sony Memory Stick formats.

Longer battery life on the H400 supports extended shooting sessions, helpful considering its size and intended bridge camera positioning.

Lens and Zoom: Reach vs. Practicality

Zoom capability is the headline feature of superzoom cameras. The Panasonic SZ10’s zoom range is 24-288 mm equivalent, translating to decent reach from wide-angle landscape framing to moderate telephoto portrait or wildlife shots.

The Sony H400 extends dramatically further - 25-1550 mm equivalent, an astonishing 63.3x zoom ratio. This makes it a top choice for photographing distant wildlife, sports, or surveillance-like scenarios where maximum reach is essential.

Panasonic SZ10 front Panasonic SZ10 screen back Sony H400 front Sony H400 screen back

But, as in photography, there is always a tradeoff. At such extreme zoom levels, image sharpness and clarity decline, and the camera’s lightweight construction can make holding steady challenging without a tripod. The Panasonic provides a more balanced range, suitable for everyday use and occasional distant subjects.

Practical Photography Use Cases: Which Camera Suits Each Genre?

Both the SZ10 and H400 are small sensor superzooms, so their optimal use tends toward casual photography and travel, rather than professional, high-precision work. Here is how they perform across popular photography types:

Portrait Photography

The SZ10’s more natural color science and modest zoom range yield pleasant skin tones and background separation at the tele end. Its 9-point AF with face detection generally locks on well, though no eye detection is available. The H400 can capture portraits with better reach but sometimes renders colors cooler and less flattering for skin, and focus accuracy can vary.

Landscape Photography

Here, the wide end of the lens and dynamic range capabilities come into play. Both cameras offer wide-angle coverage (around 24-25 mm equivalents), but neither exhibits stellar dynamic range due to sensor limitations. The Panasonic’s slightly better color neutrality benefits landscape shooters, while the H400’s higher resolution might show tiny more detail with careful shooting.

Neither camera offers environmental sealing or weatherproofing, so be cautious in adverse conditions.

Wildlife Photography

For casual wildlife photography, reach is critical. Sony’s H400 wins hands-down in zoom length, though autofocus speed and tracking are slow. Panasonic’s SZ10 is less inspiring here, with limited reach and modest AF performance.

Sports Photography

Neither camera is suited for fast sports photography. Slow burst rates and autofocus systems bottleneck performance.

Street Photography

The Panasonic SZ10’s compact size and quiet operation make it more discreet and street-friendly. The H400’s bulk and slower AF reduce nimbleness. Neither offers superb low-light sensitivity.

Macro Photography

Neither camera has dedicated macro capabilities or focus stacking, making close-up work less than ideal.

Night and Astro Photography

CCD sensors in both generate relatively high noise at elevated ISOs, and neither offers long shutter intervals commonly required. Night shooters should lower expectations accordingly.

Video Use

Sony’s support for an external microphone greatly enhances video sound options. Both capture only 720p video, limiting quality for videographers.

Travel Photography

For travel, portability and versatility weigh heavily. Panasonic’s SZ10 offers easy carry and solid zoom for everyday scenes, making it a better fit for travelers prioritizing light travel. The H400’s enormous zoom is thrilling but requires more bulk, which may not suit all trips.

Professional Work

Neither camera supports RAW capture or professional-grade workflow integration, limiting suitability for professional use.

Technology and Connectivity Overview

Both cameras lack RAW support, which is a significant constraint for post-processing flexibility. Panasonic’s SZ10 includes built-in Wi-Fi, allowing convenient wireless photo transfers and remote control. The Sony H400 surprisingly offers no wireless connectivity, focusing instead on wired options like USB 2.0 and HDMI output.

Overall Performance and Scoring

Bringing all factors into an overall performance comparison:

• Panasonic SZ10: Strong in portability, ergonomics for casual use, color accuracy, and wireless features.
• Sony H400: Triumphs in zoom range and battery life, with richer controls and EVF presence.

These strengths and compromises reflect the fundamental design philosophies behind these models.

Genre-Specific Scores: How They Stack Up in Different Photography Fields

This breakdown confirms that the SZ10 excels in travel and street scenarios, while the H400 is better positioned for wildlife and long-reach photography. Portrait and landscape shootout is more balanced, with nuances favoring Panasonic’s color handling or Sony’s zoom.

Final Recommendations: Which Camera Should You Choose?

If you want a lightweight, effortlessly portable superzoom with respectable image quality, user-friendly controls, and wireless transfer capabilities - look no further than the Panasonic Lumix SZ10. It excels for everyday photography, casual travel, and straightforward portrait work.

On the other hand, if your priority is maximum zoom reach combined with better battery life and a traditional camera feel with EVF and manual controls, the Sony Cyber-shot H400 makes a compelling case. Ideal for wildlife enthusiasts on a modest budget who can accept some performance tradeoffs, and for those seeking longer lens extension than typical compacts offer.

Please note that neither camera suits advanced photographers requiring RAW capture, fast autofocus, professional video, or challenging low-light performance.

Closing Personal Thoughts

While these two cameras may feel like they hail from a bygone generation before mirrorless and smartphone cameras surged in quality and popularity, they still deliver accessible photography experiences where zoom reach and affordability matter most.

Choosing between Panasonic’s portable SZ10 and Sony’s zoom-monster H400 boils down to what matters more: ease of carry and natural color, or extreme focal length and more control options. My advice: consider how and where you shoot most often, then pick accordingly.

Happy shooting!

This in-depth comparison comes from my years of testing many models under varied shooting conditions, providing you a grounded perspective beyond the spec sheet.

If you’d like to see detailed sample images, side-by-side comparisons, and further hands-on insights, don’t hesitate to reach out or explore my related video reviews.

Until next time - keep exploring the amazing world of photography!