Panasonic ZS60 vs Sony H400

Panasonic ZS60 vs. Sony H400: An Expert Hands-on Comparison of Small Sensor Superzoom Cameras

As someone who has spent over a decade testing and dissecting compact superzooms, I know that these cameras have a unique appeal: the promise of vast focal ranges packed into relatively pocketable bodies. Whether you're a casual traveler wanting ultimate versatility, a budding wildlife enthusiast looking for reach, or a street photographer craving stealth and convenience, these cameras theoretically deliver adaptable, all-in-one solutions. Today, we pit two titans of the small sensor superzoom category head-to-head: Panasonic’s 2016 Lumix DMC-ZS60 and Sony’s 2014 Cyber-shot DSC-H400. Both target enthusiasts seeking powerful zoom ranges from compact platforms, but what exactly sets them apart? After hours testing, shooting, and benchmarking, here is a detailed evaluation that blends technical rigor with real-world usability - and practical guidance for your next camera purchase.

First Impressions: Size, Build, and Handling

Let’s talk form factor first - because how a camera feels in hand influences usage more than specs ever can. The Panasonic ZS60 is a compact, pocketable cube weighing a light 282 grams and measuring 112x64x38mm. By contrast, the Sony H400 adopts an SLR-style bridge camera body, significantly larger and bulkier at 628 grams and a hefty 130x95x122mm footprint, clearly reflecting its extended reach lens.

In practice, the ZS60's pocket-sized design is a real winner for travel and street photography where discretion and portability matter. The Sony, with its deep grip and solid heft, conjures a more traditional DSLR vibe which some shooters prefer for stability - especially when shooting super-telephoto focal lengths. Yet, the weight and bulk can deter prolonged handheld use or spontaneous street shots.

Ergonomically, Panasonic delivers a modest but efficient control layout, while the Sony’s size accommodates larger buttons and a comfortable grip more conducive to stable shooting. Both cameras sport fixed lenses, so handling largely centers around body controls and zoom operation; here, the Sony’s robust zoom ring is noticeably smoother due to the lens’s longer reach.

Control Design and User Interface

Looking under the hood of the top panel controls reveals design philosophies very much aligned with their eras - the Panasonic adopting a sleeker, modern compact style; the Sony a traditional bridge camera approach.

The ZS60 integrates a touchscreen-enabled 3-inch fixed LCD (1040k dots), a significant leap over the H400’s 3-inch LCD with just 460k dots resolution sans touchscreen. This difference impacts framing ease and menu navigation, with Panasonic’s touch interface vastly more intuitive for quick setting changes and focus point selection.

Sony’s electronic viewfinder, albeit low-res at 201 pixels, respects the bridge design norm, giving an optical-lookalike shooting experience. The Panasonic EVF improves on this with 1166-pixel resolution, providing a noticeably clearer viewfinder image which aids manual composition and shooting in bright light.

Sensor Technology and Image Quality: The Heart of the Matter

Both cameras share a 1/2.3" sensor size - a typical small sensor format for superzooms - but diverge in sensor type and resolution. The ZS60 employs a modern 18MP CMOS sensor with backside illumination, while the H400 features a 20MP CCD sensor.

From a technical standpoint, CMOS sensors tend to provide better low-light sensitivity and dynamic range than CCDs, benefiting from advancements in noise management and electronic shutter capabilities. The ZS60’s Venus Engine processor complements this with faster readout, higher ISO usability, and more effective noise reduction.

In my direct comparison, the Panasonic consistently demonstrates cleaner images at ISOs above 800 with better color depth and dynamic range - as DXOmark measurements confirm (ZS60 scoring 37 overall with 19.3 bits color depth and 10.6 EV dynamic range). The Sony H400, though higher resolution on paper, suffers from noise and color artifacts in low light, limiting its practical ISO range to 400-800 for acceptable image quality.

Autofocus Performance and Focus Precision

Autofocus speed and accuracy are critical in any camera but especially on superzooms, where telephoto reach amplifies shake and focusing challenges. The ZS60 uses a 49-point contrast-detection AF system including advanced face detection and touch focus. Sony’s H400 autofocus system is simpler, with unspecified focus points relying mainly on contrast detection.

Hands-on, the Panasonic’s autofocus feels more responsive (10fps continuous shooting supports this), with more reliable tracking and sharpness across focal lengths. The ZS60 also supports touch AF on the LCD, enabling rapid subject acquisition - a boon for fast-moving subjects or candid street shots.

In contrast, the H400’s slower single autofocus mode (continuous AF absent) occasionally hunts noticeably at longer focal lengths, limiting its utility for sports or wildlife action.

Zoom Capabilities: Reach vs. Practicality

Let’s talk zoom, the marquee feature for both cameras. Panasonic’s ZS60 offers a 30x optical zoom spanning 24-720mm equivalent, while Sony’s H400 cranks out an epic 63.3x zoom from 25mm to an astonishing 1550mm equivalent.

At first glance, Sony’s enormous zoom promise is compelling - potentially bringing distant wildlife within reach. However, real-world use tempers expectations. Beyond 1000mm equivalent, image stabilization and autofocus slow considerably, and image quality notably degrades due to the narrow aperture (f/6.5 at tele-end) and sensor limitations.

The Panasonic’s shorter telephoto range balances usability, maintaining sharper images, faster AF, and better stabilization performance, particularly handheld.

LCD Screens and Viewfinders: Composing Your Shot

The Panasonic’s higher resolution 1040k-dot touchscreen LCD offers vibrant, sharp playback and menus that translate into user confidence. The integrated electronic viewfinder (EVF) magnifies at 0.46x with 100% coverage, meaning what you see is truly what you get.

Sony’s Clear Photo LCD screen, despite being 3 inches, only boasts 460k dots and is not touch-enabled, slowing setting adjustments. The Sony EVF feels cramped and coarse, hampering accurate manual composition or shooting under bright conditions where LCD glare might be an issue.

Real-World Image Samples: Color, Detail, and Zoom Sharpness

Jumping from technical details to actual images is essential. I documented parallel shots across different scenarios: daylight landscapes, tripod-based astrophotography, and fast-moving wildlife.

Panasonic ZS60 front Panasonic ZS60 screen back Sony H400 front Sony H400 screen back

The Panasonic’s images present natural color rendition and higher detail retention, along with less noise at higher ISOs or under zoomed conditions. The H400’s images tend toward slight softness and less faithful color, especially in mixed lighting. At maximum zoom, image shake and softness are noticeable with Sony, while Panasonic’s more constrained zoom maintains usable sharpness.

Burst Shooting, Video, and Special Features: Versatility Assessment

The Panasonic ZS60 shines here - the maximum 10fps burst rate is impressive for such a compact, superzoom camera. It also supports 4K video capture at 30p, and 4K photo mode, allowing extraction of high-res stills from video. Though lacking microphone or headphone jacks, this opens doors for casual video enthusiasts wanting ultra-wide to telephoto versatility in video work.

Sony’s H400 alarms with a very slow 1fps continuous shooting speed and max video resolution limited to 720p HD, restricting creative video opportunities and fast action capture.

Battery Life and Storage Considerations

Battery life differences are modest: Panasonic rates around 320 shots per charge, Sony about 300. Not a showstopper, but ZS60’s lower power consumption CMOS sensor likely yields more playback and reviewing time.

Storage-wise, Panasonic supports SD/SDHC/SDXC cards. Sony additionally supports Memory Stick Pro Duo and Pro-HG Duo cards, a plus if you already own Sony media. Both have single card slots.

Connectivity and Additional Features

Panasonic offers built-in Wi-Fi connectivity (sans Bluetooth or NFC), handy for remote image transfer and camera control via smartphone apps. Sony H400 lacks wireless features entirely, a sign of its older design.

Both cameras have HDMI output and USB 2.0 ports for data transfer, but Panasonic edges ahead with better integration for modern workflows.

Durability and Weather Resistance

Both cameras lack specialized environmental sealing - neither are waterproof, dustproof, shockproof, or freezeproof - so treat them as indoor/clear weather daylight tools rather than rugged field equipment.

Price and Value Assessment

At press time, the Panasonic ZS60 is priced around $248, while the Sony H400 lists near $268. The roughly $20 difference is marginal, but considering Panasonic’s superior tech and control features, the ZS60 offers better value overall.

Performance Summary: Scores Across Key Categories

To provide analytical clarity, here are expert performance ratings sorted by broad usage types:

Use Case Evaluations and Recommendations

Portrait Photography:
Panasonic ZS60’s better color depth, face detection, and eye autofocus precision combine to deliver flattering skin tones and sharp eyes. The Sony’s autofocus limitations and lower resolution EVF make it less suited for quick-capture portraits.

Landscape Photography:
While both cameras have limited sensor sizes, Panasonic’s higher dynamic range and sharper lens across focal lengths produce better landscape images, especially in challenging light. Sony’s 20MP CCD falls behind here.

Wildlife Photography:
Sony’s 63.3x zoom promises distant subject capture, but slow autofocus and poor stabilization reduce practical use. Panasonic’s 30x zoom paired with 10fps continuous shooting offers better handling of wildlife action shots.

Sports Photography:
Same story - Panasonic wins with responsive AF and burst speeds. Sony struggles with slower single AF and 1fps frame rates.

Street Photography:
Panasonic’s compact size and touchscreen provide stealth and speed - essential in the street. Sony’s bulk and UI slowdowns hamper candid shooting.

Macro Photography:
Panasonic offers 3cm minimum focus distance with some postfocus capabilities. Sony’s macro range is unspecified and less versatile.

Night / Astrophotography:
The CMOS sensor in ZS60 with higher ISO headroom supports better low-light captures. The H400’s old CCD sensor limits low-light flexibility.

Video:
Panasonic’s 4K video and 4K photo modes offer clear advantages for hybrid stills-video shooters. Sony remains stuck with 720p.

Travel Photography:
Lightweight ZS60 with Wi-Fi wins here, offering versatile shooting in a pocket-friendly package. Sony’s size is a travel candidate but more of a dedicated wildlife or telephoto lens alternative.

Professional Use:
Neither are professional-grade cameras, but ZS60’s RAW capability and image quality provide workflow-friendly files; Sony's lack of RAW limits professional appeal.

The Bottom Line: Which One Should You Choose?

• Choose Panasonic Lumix ZS60 if you value:

  • Portability and pocketable size
  • Higher quality images and videos (4K)
  • Faster autofocus and burst shooting
  • Touchscreen interface and EVF clarity
  • Wi-Fi connectivity and modern features
  • Better overall versatility for travel, street, portraits

• Choose Sony Cyber-shot H400 if you:

  • Need extreme zoom reach (1550mm equivalent) for very distant subjects
  • Prefer an SLR-style grip and body handling
  • Can live without RAW shooting, fast AF, or modern video options
  • Are budget constrained but want optical magnification above all else

Final Thoughts From My Experience

After extensive side-by-side shooting, the Panasonic ZS60 emerges as the better-rounded superzoom for today’s discerning enthusiasts. It brings a balanced blend of image quality, performance speed, and user-friendly features in a compact shell. Sony’s H400, while remarkable for its zoom reach, feels dated in nearly every other dimension and best suits specific use cases where absolute zoom trumps all else.

Regardless of your choice, understand that small sensor superzooms - by their nature - incur compromises in noise levels and detail in challenging conditions. Yet, they remain remarkable companions for travel and casual photography when you need many focal lengths without juggling lenses.

If you want a powerful tool that facilitates creative exploration from wide to telephoto without breaking the bank or your back, I recommend pairing that with a solid tripod for stability at longer focal lengths and practicing your technique to compensate for sensor limitations.

Happy shooting, and may your next superzoom camera bring you closer to the moments that matter.

All specifications and pricing are accurate as of June 2024. This comparison is based on hands-on testing and independent expert analysis.