Sony H400 vs Sony RX100

Sony H400 vs RX100: The Classic Showdown of Versatility and Image Quality

When it comes to compact cameras, Sony has consistently pushed boundaries, offering models tailored to enthusiasts who value portability, zoom power, or image quality. Today, I’m diving deep into a head-to-head comparison of two longstanding contenders: the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H400 and the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100. Both beauties come from Sony’s reputable lineup but cater to quite different photographic appetites. Having tested thousands of cameras over the years, this comparison balances technical rigor with practical, real-world shooting insights to help you decide which fits your needs best.

Right off the bat, the differences in physicality tell you a lot. The H400 is a hefty bridge camera with an SLR-like heft, while the RX100 is pocketable, sleek, and unobtrusive. But size isn’t just about portability - it influences ergonomics, handling, and stability, which we’ll explore below.

Sensor Technology and Image Quality: Size Matters More Than You Think

The debate between these two cameras often boils down to sensor size - and there’s a compelling reason for that. The Sony H400 houses a modest 1/2.3-inch CCD sensor, measuring 6.17x4.55 mm with an area of 28.07 mm², while the RX100 boasts a significantly larger 1-inch CMOS sensor (13.2x8.8 mm, 116.16 mm²), more than four times the light-absorbing surface.

From a technical perspective, that leap in sensor size translates to markedly improved image quality. The RX100’s larger sensor yields richer color depth (22.6 bits vs. the H400’s untested but relatively low depth), wider dynamic range (12.4 EV vs. unknown), and better noise performance at higher ISOs. The RX100 sports a robust maximum native ISO of 25,600 compared to H400’s capped ISO 3200, which makes the RX100 far more capable in low-light or night photography.

During my extensive testing, landscapes shot with the RX100 displayed lush gradations and retained highlight detail that the H400 simply couldn’t match. Portraits on the RX100 appeared cleaner with more subtle skin tone rendition, whereas the H400 images sometimes exhibited a bit more noise and less punch, especially beyond ISO 800.

Granted, the H400’s CCD sensor maintains respectable sharpness at base ISOs and gets a notable boost from the Bionz processor in typical lighting. However, it begins to struggle in darker scenes - where the RX100 truly shines.

Lens and Zoom: How Far and How Fast?

The H400 boasts an astonishing 63.3x optical zoom with a focal range of 25-1550 mm equivalent - an almost surreal reach for a compact-like camera. In contrast, the RX100 offers a more modest 3.6x zoom from 28-100 mm equivalent. That’s a fundamental difference.

The H400 is your ultra-telephoto companion - perfect for wildlife, sports from afar, or surveillance-like zooming where you need every millimeter of reach. Its lens aperture ranges from f/3.4-6.5, which narrows significantly at the tele end, making stabilization crucial.

Conversely, the RX100’s lens is faster, opening up to f/1.8 at wide angle and f/4.9 at telephoto, which allows for much better low-light hand-held shooting and better background separation. It’s also much sharper optically across the frame, thanks to premium optics, and you can get impressively close to subjects - down to 5 cm macro, unlike the H400, which lacks macro focus capabilities.

While I appreciated the H400’s stretch of zoom in field shooting, in practice, the smaller sensor and slower aperture limited image quality at those long telephoto distances. The RX100’s shorter zoom may seem constricted but offers superior sharpness, contrast, and overall image quality at standard focal lengths - a powerful advantage for portraits, street, and travel photography.

Autofocus and Shooting Speed: Catching the Moment

The H400 relies exclusively on contrast-detection autofocus, with basic face detection but no continuous AF or phase-detection assistance. Autofocus speed is slow - about one second in good light - and tracking moving subjects can be frustratingly inaccurate. Continuous shooting tops out at a sluggish 1 fps, so fast action is pretty much out of reach.

The RX100, on the other hand, offers a much more responsive AF system with 25 focus points and continuous autofocus that can track moving subjects with reasonable accuracy. Burst rates reach up to 10 fps, which makes it much more suitable for capturing fleeting moments in sports, wildlife, or street action.

In practice, I found the RX100’s AF far more reliable in dynamic environments. Though not a rival to flagship mirrorless systems in autofocus sophistication, it performs admirably given its compact size. The H400 occasionally missed focus on moving subjects, especially at long zoom, which can be frustrating.

Build Quality, Ergonomics, and Controls: Handling Matters

The bridge-style H400 is bulky but quite ergonomic, with a pronounced grip and an electronic viewfinder (though modest resolution at 201k dots) that aids composition in bright light. Physical buttons are straightforward but limited; no touchscreen and no articulated LCD. The 3-inch fixed Clear Photo LCD panel is serviceable but low resolution (460k dots), making menu navigation and focus confirmation less precise.

The RX100 adopts a compact, minimalist “large sensor compact” form - more pocketable, but without any viewfinder. Instead, it uses a sharp 3-inch 1229k dot WhiteMagic TFT LCD, which vastly improves playback and menu legibility, though it can be tricky to compose in bright outdoor light without a viewfinder.

Neither offers weather sealing or ruggedization, so caution is warranted outdoors in adverse conditions for both.

In real-world use, the H400’s heft lends stability, especially at full zoom, but the camera feels like a bridge between point-and-shoot convenience and DSLR bulk. The RX100 is designed for seamless carry and quick grab shots, making it a better companion for street, travel, and casual portraiture. I found myself surprisingly fast in operation with the RX100 despite the smaller size, due to quick menu access and well-designed dials.

Display and Viewfinder: Composing Your Shot

The H400’s electronic viewfinder, despite low resolution, helps in framing when bright sunlight washes out the LCD. However, its small size and somewhat laggy refresh rate don’t fully satisfy advanced users.

The RX100 lacks any viewfinder but compensates with an excellent 3-inch LCD with high pixel density, yielding crisp image review and menu interaction.

Personally, I missed an EVF when shooting outdoors with the RX100, especially during critical landscape and architectural photography. Yet, the LCD alone is crisp and responsive enough to work well in most environments.

Video Capabilities: Basic vs. Capable

Neither camera targets serious videography, yet each offers useful features.

The H400 records HD video at 1280x720p, a bit dated and limited in frame rate (typically 30 fps). It also features a microphone input, something rare in this price and category, which is great for better audio quality. However, limitations in autofocus speed affect video focusing smoothness.

The RX100 steps up with Full HD 1080p video at 60 fps, supporting smoother motion capture and better overall detail. Video formats, including AVCHD and MPEG-4, offer flexibility. Unfortunately, it lacks a microphone or headphone port, restricting advanced audio options.

Both cameras feature optical image stabilization to reduce shake during handheld shooting, but the RX100’s faster lens and larger sensor aid in yielding cleaner, less noisy video.

Battery Life, Storage, and Connectivity: Practical Considerations

The H400’s 628g weight is matched with a 300-shot battery life rating, respectable but modest given the bulk. Storage options include a single slot supporting SD cards and Sony’s Memory Stick formats.

The RX100, surprisingly, manages 330 shots per charge on a significantly smaller battery (NP-BX1). Storage compatibility is similar, though the RX100 also supports Eye-Fi wireless cards and NFC for easier image transfer, giving it a connectivity edge. The H400, in contrast, offers no native Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, or NFC, so image offload requires physical card removal or USB.

For travel photographers and those relying on quick sharing, the RX100’s connectivity options are invaluable. The H400’s omission feels aged and limiting in today’s wireless world.

Specialties Covered: How Do These Cameras Excel Across Photography Genres?

Let’s break down how these cameras fare in various genres, based on my lab tests and field experience:

Portrait Photography:
The RX100’s larger sensor combined with a relatively fast f/1.8-4.9 lens excels in skin tone reproduction, natural bokeh, and accurate eye detection autofocus. The H400’s smaller sensor and slower lens struggle to isolate subjects, resulting in flatter, less appealing portraits.

Landscape Photography:
Dynamic range and resolution favor the RX100, producing images richer in nuance and detail. However, the H400’s extensive zoom is less relevant here, and its smaller sensor limits highlight and shadow retention.

Wildlife Photography:
The H400’s 1550mm reach is undeniable and potentially a dealmaker for birders or wildlife on a budget. Yet slow autofocus and low burst speed cap success. The RX100 is a stronger all-rounder for closer wildlife or casual nature shoots but lacks the extreme telephoto reach.

Sports Photography:
RX100’s faster burst rate (10 fps), more accurate autofocus, and higher ISO range suit action photography better. The H400 falls short due to slow AF and 1 fps continuous.

Street Photography:
RX100’s compact size, discrete operation, and superior image quality make it a preferred tool for street shooters. The H400’s bulk and slower operation reduce spontaneity.

Macro Photography:
RX100’s 5 cm close focusing and better sharpness make it the better macro option. H400 lacks macro features.

Night and Astro Photography:
Strong low-light performance and noise control on RX100 allow cleaner night shots. H400’s ISO limit and smaller sensor impede night shooting.

Video:
RX100’s Full HD 60p video wins on quality, though limited audio options remain a caveat. H400’s microphone input is a plus but offset by lower resolution.

Travel Photography:
RX100’s compactness and versatility more than compensate for limited zoom; the H400’s weight and size will be a burden for many travelers.

Professional Work:
Raw support and superior image quality give RX100 the edge for professionals needing a pocketable backup or secondary camera. H400’s limitations restrict this role seriously.

Real-World Image Gallery: What You Can Expect

In practical shooting, you’ll notice the H400’s images give decent color and respectable detail at low ISOs, but softness creeps in at long zooms and higher ISOs. The RX100 delivers crisp, vibrant files that hold up to enlargement, showing better nuances in shadows and highlights.

Overall Performance and Value: Numbers Don’t Lie

Sony’s RX100 outperforms the H400 across major performance metrics - sensor accuracy, autofocus, speed, and versatility - earning higher marks in most categories. The H400’s standout is zoom range but that alone doesn’t compensate for image quality and responsiveness issues.

Wrapping Up: Which Sony Camera Wins Your Photography Heart?

To summarize:

• Choose the Sony H400 if:

  • You crave extreme telephoto zoom on a budget.
  • You prioritize reach over image quality or speed.
  • You enjoy hiking or shooting distant wildlife where portability is a secondary concern.

• Choose the Sony RX100 if:

  • You want a premium compact with large sensor image quality.
  • You value fast autofocus and higher burst rates for action or street photography.
  • You shoot in varied conditions, including low light, travel, or portraits requiring shallow depth of field.
  • Connectivity, video capabilities, and RAW shooting matter for your workflow.

Both cameras are almost a decade old now, but the RX100 remains a celebrated choice for enthusiasts wanting a no-compromise compact, while the H400 is a niche superzoom solution.

For anyone seriously considering image quality, speed, and portability, I’d recommend the RX100 hands down. Its sensor and lens deliver the kind of image fidelity that can truly inspire creative photography. The H400’s appeal is undeniable for range hunters but comes with compromises in every other area.

Sony’s lineup offers impressive diversity, but these two cameras embody the classic duality between zoom reach and sensor performance. Hopefully, this detailed comparison - with images and real-world context - gives you a clear roadmap to your next camera purchase.

Your camera choice defines your photographic journey - choose wisely, and happy shooting!

If you want to revisit the ergonomic differences one more time, don’t miss the size and control layouts here again:

And for the nerds among us, the sensor tech comparison always fascinates:

Finally, check out that rich image gallery to see how these cameras render the world:

I hope this nuanced review, developed through hands-on testing, helps you discover which Sony Cyber-shot is truly your photographic partner.