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Sony HX400V

 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX400V front
 
  • 20MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 80 - 12800
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-1200mm (F2.8-6.3) lens
  • 660g - 130 x 93 x 103mm
  • Released February 2014
  • Succeeded the Sony HX300
  • Read full specs
  • Alternatives
  • Size Comparison
  • FAQ
Portability
62
Imaging
45
Features
60
Overall
51

Sony HX400V summary

Sony HX400V is Sony's Small Sensor Superzoom camera initially announced on February of 2014. It features a 20 MegaPixel, BSI-CMOS 1/2.3" size sensor with a max resolution of 5184 x 3888.

Sony launched this camera as a way to update the earlier Sony HX300 (Read Full Comparison)

The HX400V stands at #17 out of 244 in Small Sensor Superzoom cameras & over-all #420 out of 1465 for digital cameras in our list. You should look at our Smart camera filter to see camera listings based on your customized factors.

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The following is a graph of multiple factors used in the rating system.

Sony HX400V family

The Sony HX400V has a history of related digital cameras. Underneath, you can identify all past and current models alongside key features.

ModelVisualizeLensResolutionSensor SizeReleased
Sony-Cyber-shot-DSC-HX350 front thumbnailSony HX350
HX400V vs HX350
24-1200mm
F2.8-6.3
20MP1/2.3"2016
Sony-Cyber-shot-DSC-HX80 front thumbnailSony HX80
HX400V vs HX80
24-720mm
F3.5-6.4
18MP1/2.3"2016
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Sony-Cyber-shot-DSC-HX90V front thumbnailSony HX90V
HX400V vs HX90V
24-720mm
F3.5-6.4
18MP1/2.3"2015
Sony-Cyber-shot-DSC-H400 front thumbnailSony H400
HX400V vs H400
25-1550mm
F3.4-6.5
20MP1/2.3"2014
Sony-Cyber-shot-DSC-H300 front thumbnailSony H300
HX400V vs H300
25-875mm
F3-5.9
20MP1/2.3"2014
Sony-Cyber-shot-DSC-HX400V front thumbnailSony HX400V24-1200mm
F2.8-6.3
20MP1/2.3"2014
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Sony-Cyber-shot-DSC-HX50V front thumbnailSony HX50V
HX400V vs HX50V
24-720mm
F3.5 - 6.3
20MP1/2.3"2013
Sony-Cyber-shot-DSC-HX300 front thumbnailSony HX300
HX400V vs HX300
24-1200mm
F2.8-6.3
20MP1/2.3"2013
Sony-Cyber-shot-DSC-H200 front thumbnailSony H200
HX400V vs H200
24-633mm
F3.1-5.9
20MP1/2.3"2013
Sony-Cyber-shot-DSC-HX20V front thumbnailSony HX20V
HX400V vs HX20V
25-500mm
F3.2-5.8
18MP1/2.3"2012
Sony-Cyber-shot-DSC-HX200V front thumbnailSony HX200V
HX400V vs HX200V
27-810mm
F2.8-5.6
18MP1/2.3"2012
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Sony-Cyber-shot-DSC-H90 front thumbnailSony H90
HX400V vs H90
24-384mm
F3.3-5.9
16MP1/2.3"2012
Sony-Cyber-shot-DSC-HX10V front thumbnailSony HX10V
HX400V vs HX10V
24-400mm
F3.3-5.9
18MP1/2.3"2012
Sony-Cyber-shot-DSC-HX30V front thumbnailSony HX30V
HX400V vs HX30V
25-500mm
F3.2-5.8
18MP1/2.3"2012
Sony-Cyber-shot-DSC-HX100V front thumbnailSony HX100V
HX400V vs HX100V
27-810mm
F2.8-5.6
16MP1/2.3"2011
Sony-Cyber-shot-DSC-HX9V front thumbnailSony HX9V
HX400V vs HX9V
24-384mm
F3.3-5.9
16MP1/2.3"2011
Sony-Cyber-shot-DSC-H50 front thumbnailSony H50
HX400V vs H50
31-465mm
F2.7-4.5
9MP1/2.3"2009

Sony HX400V Pros and Cons

Here is a list of good and bad points of the Sony HX400V based on features which are generally considered important in a camera.

amazing zoom range (24-1200mm 50.0 x zoom)
built-in flash
built in image stabilization (Optical)
comes with face detect focusing
comes with tracking focus
decently wide (24mm)
does have HDMI port
does have microphone port
good MP (20MP)
high resolution screen (921 k dot)
manual focus
NFC connectivity
screen size is good (3 inches)
tilting screen
very good minimum ISO (80)
very long zoom (1200mm)
video res high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
does not have headphone port
does not have selfie friendly display
does not have Timelapse recording
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
lack of phase detect AF
lack of RAW files
max zoom aperture not good (f6.3)
more heavy than others in class (660 grams)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
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Sony HX400V Sensor features

The Sony HX400V features the Bionz X chip. The sensor spec on the Sony HX400V is 6.17mm x 4.55mm (1/2.3"). The 28 mm² sensor is able to capture 5184 x 3888 pixels using aspect ratios of 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9. The camera comes with Image Stabilization (Optical). Optical stabilization is preferable than digital stabilization since the latter might produce cropping.

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The BSI-CMOS sensor has 20MP and includes a native ISO range of 80 to 12800. Unfortunately, RAW photos are not saved so you have less room to maneuver in post.

The picture underneath illustrates the HX400V's sensor size compared to other common sizes. The HX400V sensor has a crop factor of 5.8 and is showcased in green.

Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX400V sensor size Fujifilm accuses Eastman Kodak of patent violation in new lawsuit

To get an understanding of various aspect ratios, you can refer to the visual below.

Camera sensor aspect ratios

Sony HX400V dimensions

Sony HX400V weighs about 1.46 lbs (660 grams or 23.28 oz) & has external measurements of 130mm x 93mm x 103mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 4.1"). The weight of typical Small Sensor Superzoom camera is 387 grams and the Sony HX400V is heavier as compared to other competitors.

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Down below is a shot of the Sony HX400V beside a soda so you can get a feel for its size.

Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX400V dimensions scale

The top view under will show you the button arrangement on the HX400V.

Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX400V topview buttons dials

Sony HX400V Lens features

The HX400V comes with a built-in lens offering a focal range of 24-1200mm making it a 50.0 x zoom which is exceptional and can allow you to zoom all the way in.

At it's widest 24mm, it comes with an aperture of f2.8 and that's fairly sluggish and not the best for low light occasions and you may find it hard to get good bokeh. You would also need to up your ISO causing noisy pictures. At the long end, 1200mm is excellent zoom and comes to f6.3 making it very sluggish and you would have to choose slow shutter speeds.

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Sony HX400V Connectivity

The HX400V has the following connectivity:

  • USB Yes
  • Wireless Yes
  • NFC Yes
  • HDMI Yes
  • GPS Yes

Digital cameras that feature NFC and Bluetooth connectivity are able to be used wirelessly via smartphones. You can easily transfer photos and in some cases alter camera settings without the hassle of connecting straight with the camera.

Some apps also enable a Liveview and hit the shutter when you are not close to the camera. If the camera boasts a HDMI port, it can easily be connected to an external screen. Virtually all cameras enable you to charge the battery pack using the USB socket.

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Sony HX400V Video features

The max video resolution on the Sony HX400V is 1920 x 1080 and you can record in MPEG-4 and AVCHD format. 1080p resolution gives a great balance between quality and file size but 1080p won't give you any room to downsample. While the body contains a microphone port, it is sadly missing a headphone port so you won't be able to keep an eye on your audio levels.

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Sony HX400V Weather Sealing

There is no environment proofing on the Sony HX400V so you have to be careful in wet and dusty situations.

Sony HX400V Display and Viewfinder

The Sony HX400V features a 3" tilting display screen having a resolution of 921k dots.

Please be aware that the display has no touch support.

Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX400V screen and viewfinder AI-Powered Photo Editing Tools Could Be Added to WhatsApp

The View Finder details for Sony HX400V are below:

  • ViewFinder Electronic
  • Coverage 100 percent

Viewfinders are very useful during sunny outdoor situations which may make the camera display washed out and difficult to see.

Sony HX400V Shutter features

Sony HX400V continuous shooting rate is 10.0 frames per second. The highest shutter speed is 1/4000s.

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Sony HX400V Flash and Hot shoe features

Sony HX400V comes with both inbuilt flash as well as external flash support.

Sony HX400V Autofocus features

Sony HX400V comes with only Contrast Detect AF & does not have Phase Detect AF. Phase Detection autofocusing is more faster and accurate as compared to Contrast Detect autofocusing. The camera features Face detect which can be useful for people photography.

The Sensor features 9 focus points to select from. It also boasts Tracking AF for things that move. Sony HX400V has manual focus if required during low light or you need to have more precise control on focus.

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Sony HX400V Battery life

The battery pack (NP-BX1) on the Sony HX400V is fashioned to last for 300 clicks with respect to the CIPA standards which is comparable with it's competitors. The usual Small Sensor Superzoom camera battery life is 316. Fujifilm HS35EXR comes with the maximum (600) battery life within this kind of cameras.

Here is a list of Small Sensor Superzoom cameras that have the highest battery life:

Sony HX400V for specific categories of photography

The following bar chart gives a outline of the Sony HX400V for specific categories of photography. To understand more, browse to the specific section underneath.

Sony HX400V Portrait photography details

The Sony HX400V receives a rating of 51 which is average, meaning that it is fairly acceptable to use for portraits. Photographing portraits favors heavily to sensor dimensions, RAW support & ability to use external flash.

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focusing manually
decent sensor resolution (20 megapixels)
provides face detect focus
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files

Street photography with Sony HX400V

With a reasonable points total of 50, the Sony HX400V is fairly suited to use in street photography. A very good street photography camera provides a fine balance of image quality and portability.

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tilting screen
has image stabilization (Optical)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
no RAW format
heavier than others in class (660g)

Sony HX400V as a Sports photography camera

A modest sports photography score of 55 suggests the Sony HX400V is reasonably suited for taking pictures of sports. A camera really should have good autofocus plus fast continuous shooting for sports photography.

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excellent zoom range (24-1200mm 50.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
sensor resolution is decent (20MP)
provides tracking autofocus
sensor is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect AF

Travel photography with Sony HX400V

Weight is extremely critical in getting a camera for travel. Over-all, the Sony HX400V gets a decent 53 for a travelling camera which makes it somewhat suited for your journeys.

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decent MP (20 megapixels)
has built in flash
reasonably wide (24mm)
great zoom (1200mm)
doesn't have Timelapse mode
more heavy than competitors in class (660g)
screen isn't selfie friendly
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)

Sony HX400V Landscape photography factors

If you find yourself looking to buy a camera for landscape pictures, the biggest aspect will be image quality. The Sony HX400V with it's average rating of 49 for a landscape camera is reasonably adequate in the current market.

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has manual focus
fairly wide (24mm)
nice screen size (3")
built in image stabilization (Optical)
good MP (20 megapixels)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f2.8)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
does not have Time Lapse function

Sony HX400V Vlogging details

A vlogging camera preferably should have a moving display, microphone port and if possible image stabilization. Considering all things, the Sony HX400V is simply not acceptable as a vlog camera as it receives a awful rating of 29.

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rather wide (24mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
comes with face detect autofocus
video res high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
has mic port
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
doesn't contain selfie friendly screen
heavier than average (660g)

Sony HX400V Alternatives

If you are in the market for replacements to the HX400V, here is a selection of the highest scored cameras which fall into the family of Small Sensor Superzoom.

The diagram just below gives you an overview of the HX400V compared to it's top scoring rivals mentioned above.

There are more cameras you might see as alternatives. To go through a full comparison, go to the "compare" link.

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Specifications

General Information
Brand
Sony
Model
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX400V
Class
Small Sensor Superzoom
Released
2014-02-12
Body design
SLR-like (bridge)
Sensor Information
Sensor type
BSI-CMOS
Processor Chip
Bionz X
Sensor size
1/2.3"
Sensor measurements
6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area
28.1mm²
Sensor resolution
20 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio
1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution
5184 x 3888
RAW pictures
Maximum native ISO
12800
Min native ISO
80
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Continuous AF
Single AF
AF tracking
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Number of focus points
9
Lens
Lens mount
fixed lens
Lens focal range
24-1200mm (50.0x)
Maximal aperture
f/2.8-6.3
Macro focus range
1cm
Focal length multiplier
5.8
Screen
Display type
Tilting
Display sizing
3 inches
Display resolution
921k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type
Electronic
Viewfinder coverage
100 percent
DXO scores
DXO Overall score
not tested
DXO Color Depth score
not tested
DXO Dynamic range score
not tested
DXO Low light score
not tested
Features
Min shutter speed
30 seconds
Max shutter speed
1/4000 seconds
Continuous shutter speed
10.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation
Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range
8.50 m (ISO Auto)
Flash modes
Flash Off / Autoflash / Fill-flash / Slow Sync. / Advanced Flash / Rear Sync. / Wireless (with optional compliant flash)
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions
1920 x 1080 (60p, 60i, 24p), 1440 x 1080 (30p), 640 x 480 (30p)
Maximum video resolution
1920x1080
Video data format
MPEG-4, AVCHD
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless
Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB
USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS
BuiltIn
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight
660 gr (1.46 lb)
Dimensions
130 x 93 x 103mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 4.1")
Other
Battery life
300 pictures
Type of battery
Battery Pack
Battery model
NP-BX1
Self timer
Yes (2 or 10 sec, portrait)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage
SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick Duo/Memory Stick Pro Duo, Memory Stick Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots
1
Retail pricing
$448