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Sony H400 vs Sony S980

Portability
62
Imaging
45
Features
41
Overall
43
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H400 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S980 front
Portability
94
Imaging
34
Features
17
Overall
27

Sony H400 vs Sony S980 Key Specs

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
  • Announced February 2014
Sony S980
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 33-132mm (F3.3-5.2) lens
  • 167g - 93 x 56 x 24mm
  • Announced February 2009
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Sony H400 vs Sony S980 Overview

Lets look more closely at the Sony H400 and Sony S980, former being a Small Sensor Superzoom while the latter is a Small Sensor Compact and both are manufactured by Sony. There exists a large gap among the resolutions of the H400 (20MP) and S980 (12MP) but they enjoy the exact same sensor sizing (1/2.3").

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The H400 was revealed 5 years later than the S980 and that is a fairly serious difference as far as camera technology is concerned. Each of these cameras come with different body type with the Sony H400 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera and the Sony S980 being a Compact camera.

Before going straight into a complete comparison, below is a simple view of how the H400 scores vs the S980 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Sony H400 over the Sony S980

 H400 S980 
AnnouncedFebruary 2014February 2009More recent by 61 months
Screen dimension3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution460k230kClearer screen (+230k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony S980 over the Sony H400

 S980 H400 
Manual focus Very exact focus

Common features in the Sony H400 and Sony S980

 H400 S980 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Neither comes with selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Missing Touch friendly screen

Sony H400 vs Sony S980 Physical Comparison

If you're looking to lug around your camera, you will have to factor in its weight and proportions. The Sony H400 comes with outside measurements of 130mm x 95mm x 122mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 4.8") accompanied by a weight of 628 grams (1.38 lbs) whilst the Sony S980 has measurements of 93mm x 56mm x 24mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.9") and a weight of 167 grams (0.37 lbs).

Take a look at the Sony H400 and Sony S980 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an ILC will change depending on the lens you have attached at that moment. Underneath is the front view overall size comparison of the H400 versus the S980.

Sony H400 vs Sony S980 size comparison

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the H400 and S980 is 62 and 94 respectively.

Sony H400 vs Sony S980 top view buttons comparison

Sony H400 vs Sony S980 Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, it is tough to see the gap in sensor measurements simply by checking out specs. The visual underneath should give you a much better sense of the sensor measurements in the H400 and S980.

All in all, both of the cameras have got the exact same sensor measurements albeit not the same MP. You can count on the Sony H400 to provide more detail because of its extra 8MP. Higher resolution can also let you crop pictures much more aggressively. The more recent H400 will have an advantage with regard to sensor technology.

Sony H400 vs Sony S980 sensor size comparison

Sony H400 vs Sony S980 Screen and ViewFinder

Sony H400 vs Sony S980 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Sony H400
Portrait photography with Sony S980
40
decent sensor resolution (20MP)
comes with face detection autofocus
no manual focus
external flash not possible
sensor is small (1/2.3")
no RAW files
27
manual focus
manual exposure not possible
can't use external flash
MP count low (12MP)
small sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Sony H400
Street photography with Sony S980
43
image stabilization (Optical)
fixed screen
sensor is small (1/2.3")
no RAW files
heavier than competition in class (628 grams)
47
screen is fixed
lack of image stabilization
small sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Sony H400 Sports photography details
Sony S980 Sports photography details
51
great zoom range (25-1550mm 62.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
decent sensor resolution (20 megapixels)
comes with tracking autofocus
continuous shooting slow (1.0 frames/s)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
no phase detect autofocus
17
painfully slow continuous shooting (1.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority
lack of image stabilization
MP count low (12 megapixels)
small sensor (1/2.3")
has no phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Sony H400 as a Travel photography camera
Sony S980 as a Travel photography camera
53
decent sensor resolution (20MP)
has built in flash
really wide (25mm)
long reach (1550mm)
does not have Time Lapse mode
heavier than competition in class (628g)
doesn't offer selfie friendly screen
sluggish max aperture (f3.4)
51
built-in flash
does not have Timelapse mode
MP count low (12 megapixels)
screen isn't selfie friendly
wide angle not great (33mm)
slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Sony H400 Landscape photography factors
Sony S980 Landscape photography factors
44
really wide (25mm)
screen is a decent size (3 inch)
image stabilization (Optical)
decent sensor resolution (20 megapixels)
no manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.4)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
no RAW files
does not have Time Lapse mode
27
manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not great (33mm)
slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
small screen (2.7 inch)
manual exposure not possible
lack of image stabilization
MP count low (12MP)
small sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
does not have Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Sony H400
Vlogging with Sony S980
26
really wide (25mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
comes with face detection autofocus
comes with external mic socket
sluggish max aperture (f3.4)
doesn't offer selfie friendly screen
low quality video (1280 x 720 resolution)
heavier than competition in class (628g)
22
wide angle not great (33mm)
slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
screen isn't selfie friendly
lack of image stabilization
video resolution low (1280 x 720 resolution)
does not have microphone socket
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Sony H400 vs Sony S980 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sony H400 and Sony S980
 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H400Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S980
General Information
Brand Name Sony Sony
Model Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H400 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S980
Class Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Compact
Announced 2014-02-13 2009-02-17
Physical type SLR-like (bridge) Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Bionz(R) -
Sensor type CCD CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 20 megapixels 12 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 5152 x 3864 4000 x 3000
Highest native ISO 3200 3200
Minimum native ISO 80 80
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
AF continuous
Single AF
AF tracking
AF selectice
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Number of focus points - 9
Cross focus points - -
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 25-1550mm (62.0x) 33-132mm (4.0x)
Maximal aperture f/3.4-6.5 f/3.3-5.2
Macro focus distance - 10cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.8
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 3" 2.7"
Screen resolution 460k dots 230k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Screen tech Clear Photo LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic None
Viewfinder resolution 201k dots -
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent -
Features
Lowest shutter speed 30 secs 2 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/2000 secs 1/1600 secs
Continuous shooting rate 1.0 frames per second 1.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes -
Set WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 8.80 m 3.50 m
Flash settings Auto, Flash On, Slow Synchro, Flash Off, Advanced Flash Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1280 X 720 1280 x 720 (30 fps) 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1280x720 1280x720
Video data format MPEG-4, H.264 Motion JPEG
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 628 gr (1.38 lbs) 167 gr (0.37 lbs)
Dimensions 130 x 95 x 122mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 4.8") 93 x 56 x 24mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.9")
DXO scores
DXO All around score not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth score not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range score not tested not tested
DXO Low light score not tested not tested
Other
Battery life 300 photos -
Battery type Battery Pack -
Self timer Yes (Off, 10 sec, 2 sec, portrait1, portrait2) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick PRO Duo/Pro-HG Duo Memory Stick Duo / Pro Duo, Internal
Card slots One One
Launch pricing $268 $300