Sony a1 vs Sony HX400V

In this article, we are comparing the Sony a1 vs Sony HX400V, former being a Pro Mirrorless while the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom and they are both built by Sony. There is a substantial difference among the sensor resolutions of the a1 (50MP) and HX400V (20MP) and the a1 (Full frame) and HX400V (1/2.3") possess totally different sensor size.

Photography Glossary

The a1 was released 7 years later than the HX400V and that is a fairly big difference as far as camera tech is concerned. Both of these cameras offer different body type with the Sony a1 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Sony HX400V being a SLR-like (bridge) camera.

Before getting straight into a comprehensive comparison, below is a simple summary of how the a1 grades versus the HX400V with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

Following is a sample of the gallery pictures for Sony Alpha a1 & Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX400V. The complete galleries are available at Sony a1 Gallery & Sony HX400V Gallery.

If you're aiming to carry your camera often, you're going to have to take into account its weight and dimensions. The Sony a1 offers external dimensions of 129mm x 97mm x 70mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 2.8") and a weight of 737 grams (1.62 lbs) while the Sony HX400V has dimensions of 130mm x 93mm x 103mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 4.1") along with a weight of 660 grams (1.46 lbs).

Take a look at the Sony a1 vs Sony HX400V in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Take into consideration, the weight of an ILC will differ based on the lens you use at the time. Below is the front view measurement comparison of the a1 against the HX400V.

Looking at size and weight, the portability grade of the a1 and HX400V is 61 and 62 respectively.

Generally, its difficult to visualise the contrast in sensor sizing just by seeing technical specs. The visual below should offer you a much better sense of the sensor dimensions in the a1 and HX400V.

As you have seen, each of these cameras enjoy different resolutions and different sensor sizing. The a1 featuring a larger sensor will make achieving bokeh less difficult and the Sony a1 will show more detail as a result of its extra 30 Megapixels. Greater resolution will enable you to crop photos far more aggressively. The fresher a1 is going to have an advantage with regard to sensor technology.