Sony a5100 vs Sony HX400V

Following is a extended assessment of the Sony a5100 vs Sony HX400V, one is a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom and both of them are sold by Sony. The resolution of the a5100 (24MP) and the HX400V (20MP) is relatively well matched but the a5100 (APS-C) and HX400V (1/2.3") feature totally different sensor sizing.

Photography Glossary

The a5100 was launched 7 months after the HX400V and they are of a similar generation. Each of the cameras come with different body type with the Sony a5100 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Sony HX400V being a SLR-like (bridge) camera.

Before going straight into a full comparison, below is a short highlight of how the a5100 grades versus the HX400V for portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

Following is a preview of the gallery photos for Sony Alpha a5100 and Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX400V. The complete galleries are provided at Sony a5100 Gallery and Sony HX400V Gallery.

If you are aiming to carry around your camera often, you should factor in its weight and dimensions. The Sony a5100 has outer dimensions of 110mm x 63mm x 36mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.4") along with a weight of 283 grams (0.62 lbs) whilst the Sony HX400V has dimensions of 130mm x 93mm x 103mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 4.1") and a weight of 660 grams (1.46 lbs).

Compare the Sony a5100 vs Sony HX400V in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Bear in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change depending on the lens you are using at the time. Below is the front view dimension comparison of the a5100 against the HX400V.

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability score of the a5100 and HX400V is 89 and 62 respectively.

Typically, it is very difficult to visualise the difference between sensor sizes merely by checking specifications. The picture below will provide you a better sense of the sensor sizes in the a5100 and HX400V.

To sum up, each of the cameras posses different megapixel count and different sensor sizes. The a5100 featuring a bigger sensor will make shooting bokeh simpler and the Sony a5100 will give greater detail utilizing its extra 4 Megapixels. Higher resolution will help you crop photographs somewhat more aggressively. The more recent a5100 will have an advantage with regard to sensor tech.