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Sony A550 vs Sony H400

Portability
63
Imaging
54
Features
65
Overall
58
Sony Alpha DSLR-A550 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H400 front
Portability
62
Imaging
45
Features
41
Overall
43

Sony A550 vs Sony H400 Key Specs

Sony A550
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 200 - 12800
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 632g - 137 x 104 x 84mm
  • Launched December 2009
  • Superseded the Sony A100
Sony H400
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-1550mm (F3.4-6.5) lens
  • 628g - 130 x 95 x 122mm
  • Launched February 2014
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Sony A550 vs Sony H400 Overview

Lets examine more in depth at the Sony A550 versus Sony H400, one is a Entry-Level DSLR and the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom and they are both created by Sony. There is a significant difference among the image resolutions of the A550 (14MP) and H400 (20MP) and the A550 (APS-C) and H400 (1/2.3") possess totally different sensor size.

Photography Glossary

The A550 was launched 5 years earlier than the H400 which is a fairly sizable gap as far as camera tech is concerned. Both of these cameras offer different body type with the Sony A550 being a Compact SLR camera and the Sony H400 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera.

Before delving through a comprehensive comparison, below is a concise view of how the A550 scores vs the H400 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Sony A550 over the Sony H400

 A550 H400 
Focus manually Dial precise focusing
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen resolution922k460kClearer screen (+462k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony H400 over the Sony A550

 H400 A550 
LaunchedFebruary 2014December 2009More modern by 50 months

Common features in the Sony A550 and Sony H400

 A550 H400 
Screen sizing3"3"Equivalent screen size
Selfie screen Neither offers selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Neither offers Touch friendly screen

Sony A550 vs Sony H400 Physical Comparison

If you are aiming to carry around your camera, you will want to take into account its weight and size. The Sony A550 offers physical measurements of 137mm x 104mm x 84mm (5.4" x 4.1" x 3.3") having a weight of 632 grams (1.39 lbs) and the Sony H400 has specifications of 130mm x 95mm x 122mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 4.8") along with a weight of 628 grams (1.38 lbs).

Look at the Sony A550 versus Sony H400 in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ dependant on the lens you are utilising during that time. The following is the front view dimension comparison of the A550 compared to the H400.

Sony A550 vs Sony H400 size comparison

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability grade of the A550 and H400 is 63 and 62 respectively.

Sony A550 vs Sony H400 top view buttons comparison

Sony A550 vs Sony H400 Sensor Comparison

Usually, it is very difficult to see the contrast in sensor sizes only by going through a spec sheet. The image here should give you a greater sense of the sensor measurements in the A550 and H400.

Clearly, both of these cameras enjoy different megapixel count and different sensor sizes. The A550 because of its bigger sensor will make achieving shallower depth of field less difficult and the Sony H400 will provide more detail utilizing its extra 6MP. Higher resolution can also make it easier to crop pictures far more aggressively. The more aged A550 will be disadvantaged in sensor tech.

Sony A550 vs Sony H400 sensor size comparison

Sony A550 vs Sony H400 Screen and ViewFinder

Sony A550 vs Sony H400 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Sony A550
Portrait photography with Sony H400
72
has manual focus
decent megapixels (14 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
supports face detect focus
exports RAW formats
40
decent MP (20 megapixels)
features face detect focusing
no manual focus
external flash not possible
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
no RAW support
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Street Comparison

Sony A550 Street photography details
Sony H400 Street photography details
74
has a tilting screen
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
43
has image stabilization (Optical)
fixed screen
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
no RAW support
more heavy than competitors in class (628g)
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Sports Comparison

Sony A550 as a Sports photography camera
Sony H400 as a Sports photography camera
67
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent megapixels (14MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
comes with phase detect auto focus
low battery power (480 shots)
51
long zoom range (25-1550mm 62.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
decent MP (20MP)
features tracking focus
very slow continuous shooting (1.0 frames per second)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
no phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Sony A550
Travel photography with Sony H400
52
decent megapixels (14MP)
flash built-in
lack of Time Lapse mode
low battery power (480 shots)
doesn't posses selfie friendly screen
53
decent MP (20MP)
built-in flash
reasonably wide (25mm)
long zoom (1550mm)
does not have Timelapse mode
more heavy than competitors in class (628g)
screen isn't selfie friendly
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.4)
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Landscape Comparison

Sony A550 Landscape photography features
Sony H400 Landscape photography features
66
has manual focus
change lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
decent sized screen (3")
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent megapixels (14MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
low battery power (480 CIPA)
lack of Time Lapse mode
44
reasonably wide (25mm)
nice screen size (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Optical)
decent MP (20 megapixels)
no manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.4)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
no RAW support
does not have Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Sony A550 as a Vlogging camera
Sony H400 as a Vlogging camera
9
no video recording
26
reasonably wide (25mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
features face detect focusing
has microphone socket
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.4)
screen isn't selfie friendly
low res video (1280 x 720 pixels)
more heavy than competitors in class (628 grams)
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Sony A550 vs Sony H400 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sony A550 and Sony H400
 Sony Alpha DSLR-A550Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H400
General Information
Make Sony Sony
Model Sony Alpha DSLR-A550 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H400
Category Entry-Level DSLR Small Sensor Superzoom
Launched 2009-12-09 2014-02-13
Physical type Compact SLR SLR-like (bridge)
Sensor Information
Processor Chip Bionz Bionz(R)
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size APS-C 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 23.4 x 15.6mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 365.0mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 14 megapixel 20 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 and 16:9 4:3 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 4592 x 3056 5152 x 3864
Maximum native ISO 12800 3200
Lowest native ISO 200 80
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch to focus
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Number of focus points 9 -
Cross focus points - -
Lens
Lens mount Sony/Minolta Alpha fixed lens
Lens focal range - 25-1550mm (62.0x)
Maximal aperture - f/3.4-6.5
Total lenses 143 -
Focal length multiplier 1.5 5.8
Screen
Screen type Tilting Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 3 inch 3 inch
Screen resolution 922 thousand dots 460 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Screen tech - Clear Photo LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentamirror) Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 201 thousand dots
Viewfinder coverage 95% 100%
Viewfinder magnification 0.53x -
Features
Minimum shutter speed 30 secs 30 secs
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/2000 secs
Continuous shutter rate 7.0 frames per second 1.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 12.00 m 8.80 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, High Speed Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless Auto, Flash On, Slow Synchro, Flash Off, Advanced Flash
External flash
AEB
WB bracketing
Fastest flash synchronize 1/160 secs -
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions - 1280 X 720
Maximum video resolution None 1280x720
Video format - MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 632 gr (1.39 lb) 628 gr (1.38 lb)
Dimensions 137 x 104 x 84mm (5.4" x 4.1" x 3.3") 130 x 95 x 122mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 4.8")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score 66 not tested
DXO Color Depth score 21.9 not tested
DXO Dynamic range score 11.8 not tested
DXO Low light score 807 not tested
Other
Battery life 480 photos 300 photos
Style of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model NP-FM500H -
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (Off, 10 sec, 2 sec, portrait1, portrait2)
Time lapse recording
Storage type SD/ SDHC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick PRO Duo/Pro-HG Duo
Card slots Single Single
Launch cost $749 $268