It should not go to the technical details of the HX400V here. There is an in-depth and unbiased product review based on a comparison to the "original model" HX100V, which has been with me for 2 years represent. The models HX200V HX300V and stay here quite disregarded by me. It is as if they had been developing steps towards HX400V who came accidentally to the market. More at the bottom.
Improvements:
Lens / Optical Zoom:
Not only that, the Zoom has grown, no, the image quality at full zoom is in direct comparison also got better - and the higher at the same magnification factor! While the HX100V the minimum focal length of 27mm to 30 times enlarged, multiplies the HX400V 24mm by a factor 50 - optical mind.
Digital makes the whole thing again to 100-fold doubling (Sony calls it "Clear Zoom") or even up to quadruple to 200-fold. The image quality suffers course in Digital zoom, it is defakto nothing but subsequently an image section, and thus each pixel to represent just bigger - that you could also do later on PC.
Overall, the Zeiss lens of the HX400V seems to have undergone some improvements. It is - at least in my subjective impression - obviously brighter. Above all, now comes in wide angle significantly more on Picture (HX100V = 27mm, 24mm HX400V =).
Although Sony has proprietary zoom lenses on offer, the HX series but always the higher quality Vario-Sonnar constructions from Carl Zeiss were used. The further term "T *" stands for a vapor-deposited anti-reflection layer.
The Image Stabilizer:
Was not bad at the HX100V, working at the HX400V but even then already perfect when the shutter button has not been pressed halfway to focus. The stabilizer is working on a movable mounting of the optical lens group, ie "real" rather than digital. Therefore, do not be surprised if something wobbles noticeably in the lens. Optical Image Stabilizer is supported according to data additionally by an electronic, to be mentioned for completeness.
Electronic Level: A position sensor enables the camera horizontally straighten, also in portrait mode. That's in landscape and architectural photography a truly meaningful assistance that was not available in older models. The spirit level is displayed as needed on the display settings.
Connectivity:
NFC and WiFi (WLAN) are a real added value. Gab's neither at the HX100V. Thus, it is now possible to use the cam remote control via mobile phone (zoom, focus, shutter) and thereby also the live image on the mobile phone or tablet screen to see. In the manual recording mode, the setting of exposure, aperture or isovalue is even possible via smartphone. So if you missed a touch function on the camera screen that gets virtually free house per app. Of particular note is the fact that on the phone screen as well as by pointing a finger an x-arbitrary point of the subject can be selected to focus.
The photos can thereby be immediately saved on your phone / tablet. Prerequisite is the Sony-app "PlayMemories Mobile" on a smartphone or tablet (iOS or Android, respectively).
A wireless remote of the photos on the TV or for storage on the PC is also possible that the connection via an HDMI cable (TV) or USB cable (PC) - at least for me - first of all, can be superfluous. The prerequisite is that the TV or the PC connected to the wireless router and is designed for this purpose.
* UPDATE * 07.09.2014 (new Firmware 2.0 for download available):
On the Sony site a firmware update is available for the camera through which remote-controlled film recordings are now available via an app! Until now, the app only supports Photography. However, there is as specified by Sony until the end of September 2014, the need to update the corresponding camera app, so the installed in the HX400V "Sony Smart Remote Control", which allows you to use this new feature to remote triggering of film recordings.
Whether the necessary mobile app "PlayMemories Mobile" an update is required to use do we see. How do you get the update to the camera, is on the Sony website [...] well explained. In any case, this is a useful extension of the functions - nice that there are still further developments. Is not so nice that Amazon the direct link to the relevant page Sony does not allow here ;-)
USB Function:
Finally, the battery can also be charged via USB. This worked so not in the HX100V. There was only the USB port to transfer the photos to the PC well. The stream had a further connection which now could naturally disappear. What I do not even really like: The HX400V invites apparently not, if you as a "mass storage" depends on the computer. Delivered Sony-sided a Micro-USB cable and an associated plug. Shop you can the Cam as per outlet or a powered USB socket on the PC or notebook. External battery chargers and travel battery there is enough cheap accessory retailers. The often criticized charging function directly on the camera adjusts for me anyway rather a plus point is the mini-USB and micro-HDMI port are right next to each other and look at pretty much the same -. That is a bit careful when plugging external cables before something here vermurkst.
Arrangement of the keys:
Recording button for video and key for the playback mode were exchanged. That was more than necessary, as you intuitively always tended to push the wrong button.
New features compared to the HX100V is that the lightning no longer automatically folds out when the camera thinks lightning would be nice. Now there is a switch, which then extends the flash when I think that is necessary. Top! The display only a recommendation, if necessary, to switch on the flash will appear.
Resolution:
has risen from 16 to 20 megapixels. An advantage brings the increase initially unlikely, since the sensor surface remains the same size. The images of the HX400V therefore have 3888 pixels with the appropriate setting for up to 5184 ×. A commercially available Full HD Monitor, however, can bring only 1980 x 1020 pixels on the screen. If you want to look at the picture as a whole therefore, helps only downscale, which of course automatically. If you want to see the true pixel count, you have an image Enlarge heavily on original - here at the latest reveals that a small compact sensor generally opposite to that of an outrageously expensive professional camera at a disadvantage. The 20 million dots are in a stamp-sized sensor so close together that they can interfere with each other, which leads to distortions such as color fringing or artifacts. But do not worry, the Sony comes with it very well clear. Even with 4K monitors you will hardly notice these intrinsic Bildfehlerchen when viewed normally. Anyway: since the overall image quality was better, also the very high resolution of 20 MP practically an added value - but this is more due to the improved lens and image processor. Also part of various test reports hardly was criticized on pixels delusion regarding the HX400V time.
Creative programs:
Here also a lot has changed. In addition various filters for image design came directly to the trigger. Among other things, the ability to highlight specific primary colors by all other colors are displayed in black and white format, or popular Miniature Effect.
Through the wireless LAN function, it is even possible to install additional programs online through the Sony-page directly into the camera. On offer are including tools that enable a subsequent image processing.
Filter thread and hot shoe:
Two things that can be a clippers to full blown camera. That these things were missing in the first version, was already more a drawback than that integration would now be regarded as progress.
Anyway, for me was the final decisive exchange the HX100V against the HX400V. Through a separate and high-top flash of small built-in flash, therefore, can not get away alone, because the light source is farther away from the lens and usually brings his own power as a rule.
The attachment of pole or gray filters (55 mm) on the lens can so spice up some lame recording and a good UV filter as a permanent lens protector can not hurt either.
And at the same proven XH100V and HX400V:
The "V" in the model name is obvious to the GPS function. The HX400V is also available without this feature. The recording of location data is quite nice, but you can also do so and save 20,00 Euro in the acquisition - if you find ever a "HX400" on the market.
The position data is the way, that is stored in the EXIF the image information of the respective pictures. Can retrieve these data then a world map in the Sony-PC program "PlayMemories Home". Here you can export the data to Google Earth as well.
Otherwise, it will remain at the high-resolution display, same size, same number of pixels (nearly 1 million to 3 inches) and vertical folding. The housing has remained grip and ergonomic, now only a bit bigger and a little heavier. Since neither the little red pencil fell victim yet verschlimmbessert something.
The video function has remained even when the newer model at least the same level: excellent. During recording, the autofocus very clear, high-quality video is fast and reliable, (1080p at 50 frames / sec) and well stabilized against camera shake. One criticism: While zooming can be heard still relatively clear the zoom motor in the recording. Remedy can also here the new hot shoe create by it, or because an external micro touches.
The processing speed of the new model is felt the same, though with a more rapid response of the new Bionz image processor X-the HX400V is advertised. Well. Could criticize, but I leave here the times, because of the higher pixel count also more data to be processed and the functionality has increased. The software runs on almost every recording again on the straight shot image, to incorporate the set optimization and / or filter. Against the backdrop of the delay is quite acceptable.
The image processing time after triggering is in some shooting settings but in fact, a game of patience and can not be improved by hyper-speed memory card. The new BionX image processor of the HX400V is felt at any rate not faster than in pre-pre-predecessor HX100V.
In the period leading up to the operational readiness recently even a little cheating is: Immediately after power is indeed shown the live image on the display - is photographed at the time but not in it. Only when all functions have initialized a trigger is possible - it takes in practice in about 5 seconds.
Like its predecessor, also here the automatic white balance works well pleasing, practically perfect. While there are a lot of settings for manual optimization of reference value "white", but somehow gets the the automatic usually immediately voiced out. Manually I would only intervene in order to specifically produce a different color mood.
Deteriorations / reductions:
No 3D shooting more. Too bad that was an interesting gimmick at the HX100V.
Although the program selector dial on the housing area still exists, but has no click function more that the "Enter" or "OK" was broadly in line and was therefore very intuitive to use.
For example, you could do the following in the manual mode: select aperture setting, adjust the wheel and confirm by pressing on the value to go through further turning on eg exposure time, select value and confirm by pressing the wheel again. This is no longer just.
Instead, now settings are retained in the manual steps (PSM). So one imagines in the stage "P" the aperture, and then switch to "M" and there select the desired exposure time.
The GPS data of the HX400V will not get any more information on the compass direction in which the camera was aimed at the reception and the altitude above sea level, only the X / Y coordinates on the map.
Price / performance ratio:
Compared to the old model, so the HX100V, the HX400V costs about 100.00 Euros more. The revaluations are total worth more than the price difference. So I would say that over 400,00 Euros (April / May 2014) is justified for a bridge camera of the caliber of the HX400V, if you had previously had prepared to invest over 300,00 Euro for the HX100V.
Overall, my hand full marks for the new model HX400V.
Here in any case the following applies: New = Better
As for the change to HX100V HX200V I can judge looked bad to HX300V. All I know is that never me think the improvements and / or changes were to upgrade.
When HX200V the only significant change was the "2" in the name HX200V, in HX300V missing for the time in any case, already the wifi function, so wireless transmission and Internet skills.
