Home > Consumer Reviews > Sony MHS-PM1 High Definition SnapShot Camcorder with 5MP Camera & 4x Digital Zoom with 1.8 inch Screen - Orange

Sony MHS-PM1 HD Snapshot camcorder.
Having been stunned at the HD capability of the Kodak Zx1 (which is slightly cheaper), I was delighted to be able to review and compare the Sony MHS-PM1.
First to the basics - inside the box is the the camera itself, battery, charging dock, wrist strap, software, instruction manual, mains lead, RGB component cable, the standard red/white/yellow video cable and finally the USB lead. All the video connector cables are exclusive to this particular camera with Sony fitting the opposite end with a unique fitting plug that will only connect to this unit.
On first inspection the unit looks very striking in its metallic orange/gold color, however I must say it feels very plastic (probably because it is), and the first thing that came to mind was that this unit will become very easily scratched if a case for is wasn't purchased.
It's extremely compact and light - comparable to a mobile phone; perhaps a bit too light. I feel this is an error on the part of the designers - a thin metallic case, as well as offering more protection for the unit would have been a great improvement on the overall feeling and handling of the unit.
The main controls are situated under the screen, photo mode, movie mode, playback and navigation. The on/off switch is on the right hand side and on the left hand side is the built in (mono) microphone, USB/AV and mains-in ports. The lens which rotates 270 degrees front to back neatly folds down into the top of the camera when not in use. There is also a tripod screw port on the underside of the camera.
No pro-duo memory card came as standard and will be a necessary additional expense. Fortunately I was able to borrow one from my sons PSP and start shoot video once I'd charge the battery. Another concern on my initial inspection was that the unit lacked a HDMI port, which to me again was a bit of a design error as the purpose of the camera is to record in HD. In fairness if your TV has HD component input (which most actually do) the lack of a HDMI port shouldn't be an issue as the supplied leads will provide you with HD playback.
Now; to the use of and results from the camera.
The camera can be turned on using either the on/off button on the right hand side or simply rotating the lens from its "sleeping" position to an "in use" position. There are several set up menus which are easily accessed to set the time and date and the video and photo quality. I set the camera to the highest quality for both - 5mp on the photo and 1080p (30 frames per second) on video. On a 4gb memory card this gives around 1500 photos or 1hr 15mins of HD video. There are various scene modes which can be set via the on screen menu including low light and sports.
Using the camera is an absolute breeze and I can't see anyone struggling to use it. To take a photo you depress the photo button, and likewise to take a video - it really is that simple. The display on the screen tells you how much recording time / how many photos you have left, as well as the quality settings of the recording/photos you are taking and there's a battery life indicator.

The Results.
Video -
I took several videos in both 720p and 1080p, both indoor and outdoor. The results were excellent. Fluid, rich colors and superb sound from the tiny on board microphone. If you're intending to playback on a large screen TV then you must set the resolution to 1080 otherwise the results will look just like standard definition. One comment I must make however is the HD images from the Sony are not as rich and luxurious as those produced by the afore mentioned Kodak Zx1. The only reson I can put this down to is that the Zx1 records at 60 frames per second and the Sony at a maximum of 30 frames per second.
Try not to zoom to often as the results (and this also applies to the Kodak) are always jittery; almost like stop motion, not at all fluent as conventionnal camcorders.
That said, the Sony has much better sound reproduction than the Kodak.
I'd also recommend using a small desk top tripod as the camera is so light it will pick up every shake in your hand whilst recording.

Photos -
I printed an A4 print taken of my son (outdoors) - there is no flash on this unit - and the result again was excellent; far superior to my Nokia N95 and as good as any other 5mp camera I've previously used.

Conclusion.
I've been extremely fortunate to be able to have had a similar machine to compare the Sony to. Had I had not my review would be a glowing five stars for the Sony. Whilst the Sony wins hands down on its compactness, looks, functionality and features, the Kodak wins this argument on the finished HD results alone. As a standalone unit the Sony is a sleek and feature packed gadget that will deliver you astoundingly good results; the Kodak delivers astoundingly amazing results.

For uploading blog videos, for nights out clubbing and for watching on your pc - go for the Sony.

For large screen viewing, I have to steer you towards the Kodak Zx1.

This small, utra-lightweight camcorder/camera is one to drop into your pocket or bag, take everywhere you go and enjoy using.

Its small size means it can be comfortably stuffed into a pocket and with its rotating head the lens is protected when not in use while also forming a sleek and secure unit to carry around. An advantage of being so small and light is that you don't need to make a conscious effort to pack a bag to take it with you - therefore you're more likely to use it to catch and record moments you might otherwise miss.

Start-up is fast - just rotate the lens with your thumb; it's easy to hold and very simple to use - even for the complete novice. It has a full 'auto' mode so all you need to do is point it at the subject and press either the generously-sized 'Movie' or 'Photo' button and let the camera work out the best settings.

Strengths
HD resolution 1440 x 1080 - beats the ultra-compact camcorder competition
Dual function - HD camcorder and 5 megapixel camera
Very lightweight - lighter than my mobile phone!
Easy to carry
Unobtrusive - handy for discreet filming
Rapid start-up
Very simple to use
Good battery life - about 90 minutes in my tests
Rotating lens - one of the best design features I've seen
Perfect lens for self-filming
Sensitive mic produces crisp sound
Good quality video footage
Accurate colour reproduction
Good white balance
Produces smooth video footage in a choice of three resolutions
MPEG-4 /AVCH.264 format produces smaller, more manageable files than other formats (eg MPEG-2)
An 8GB Memory Stick will hold nearly 3 hours of video in its highest resolution.
Good for filming your own action footage - could fasten it to bike handlebars or tuck it inside chest strap on rucksack
Easy video upload to YouTube at the press of a button
Perfect for blogging


Weaknesses
Fixed focus lens
No optical zoom (only 4x digital)
Digital zoom is jerky and virtually unusable
1.8" monitor is small (but in proportion for a very small camcorder)
Tiny lens admits little light so low-light images can be soft and noisy (a problem common to all ultra compact cameras and camcorders)
Measly 12MB internal memory
Too few settings
No option to over-ride auto white balance
No video light
No flash
Mono sound
Uses Memory Stick Duo Pro - not SD/SDHC cards
Maximum length of a video clip is limited to 25 minutes. Why?
Digital zoom button feels upside-down (pressing down to zoom in telephoto feels wrong; it should be the other way around!)
No image stabiliser
Can't take still photos while filming
Overpriced??

I've used lots of camcorders and cameras and I've always felt that Sony produce crisper, clearer images with less noise and smoother video than probably all brands of competing models in their class - and this little gem is no exception in producing very usable video footage in up to 1440 x 1080 resolution and still images with good colour reproduction at up to 5 megapixels.

The white balance is good and outperforms other ultra-compacts but it can struggle with dim flourescent lighting and produce a greenish-yellow tinge. It's clearly invalid to directly compare this MHS-PM1 with the full-size HD camcorders at more than twice the size, weight and price - it can't match these, but the general perfomance in terms of sound quality, light sensitivity, white balance and colour accuracy on the MHS-PM1 is unmatched by the other simple point-and-shoot camcorders in its class such as the 'Flip' range of camcorders.

This camera should please anyone looking for an ultra-compact camcorder capable of producing high quality, hi-definition video clips. It's an eye-catching design, sleek and functional and it's only when you use it that you realise how innovative and valuable the rotating lens is - no matter how you hold the camera, you can view the image simply by adjusting the angle of the lens and, of course, you can film yourself! This is actually one of the camera's main strengths - the lens' focal length is perfect for self-filming (and blogging) although, personally, I'd have preferred a wider-angle lens more suited to landscapes.

Due to the design and shape of the camcorder, I could visualise it being used for some active sports by strapping it to bike handlebars or even around your chest. It's also a camcorder which can be used with just one hand because unlike those with a flip-out monitor, it doesn't require a second hand to steady it.

The supplied software is adequate - it will quickly import files and the automatic correction on the still image editing facility is surprisingly good. As for video editing, this is limited to a simply cropping, cutting and dividing clips. Additional software will be needed for editing. I tested it with CyberLink DVD Suite 7 Pro (PC CD) which worked well.

Sharing video online is easy: just connect the camera to a PC, pop it into 'play' mode and at the press of the 'Sharemark' button, videos can be uploaded to YouTube or other online sharing services.

Although the photo and especially the video quality is good, it can't pretend to match that produced by full size HD camcorders but, if you're like me and just can't be bothered to lug a larger, heavier and more cumbersome (and pricey) camera around, then this could be the model for you.

In my view it is another winning design from Sony and shouldn't disappoint anyone looking for a simple point-and-shoot, compact and convenient, portable, lightweight camcorder designed to be carried around, used and enjoyed.

Small and light the Sony MHS-PM1 (ooh, catchy name) is a rather nice little gadget to hold. Unfortunately it's got a predominately plastic body and not the anodised aluminium I'd initially thought on seeing pictures of it - but it's nicely put together none the less and is quite eye-catching in metallic orange. Rotating the lens from it's parked position switches it on and if you're reasonably tech savvy you probably won't need to look at the instruction from then on.

Sound quality is good but does tend to pick up all noises - not just the subject. By default video is set to 720p and delivers good results in bright light. Poorly lit areas are grainy, as I'd expected, but not unusable. Upping the video setting to 1080p seems to add little in terms of quality, if anything the quality of panning and fast moving objects is reduced, best stick with 720p I think. The rotating lens is handy if you want to include yourself, but the digital zoom is disappointingly short and zooming while filming is also a bit jerky. As a still camera the result are merely OK - a proper digital compact camera will provide much better photos.

You'll need a Sony Memory Stick Duo card as one is not supplied and in camera memory is limited (although I wish Sony would give up on Memory Sticks and use SD cards like everyone else). Files play back quite happily on my iMac and PC and connecting the camera to my PS3 via USB meant I could access videos and pictures through the PS3 interface, which is handy for a playback on the TV - if you've got an older PS3 they'll accept the Memory Stick directly.

A proper HD camcorder would be more versatile, with a better zoom etc. but will be less convenient to carry around. Also some recent compact digital cameras do HD video and better stills, but they'll not be as straight forward to use (more expensive too). But if you're after an ultra portable, easy to use HD video camera the Sony MHS-PM1 has a lot to recommend it - just understand it's compact dimensions and simple controls do compromise it in terms of ultimate performance.

The camera as you can probably see, is very orange. The video capture takes advantage of full 1080p resolution and contains a 5 megapixel camera, both of which under the right lighting conditions look fairly impressive. The swivel lens allows you to film ahead of you, or film yourself, however the viewing angle is so narrow that the latter never really works like you'd want it to.

It comes with a lithium battery, so that you will recharge it via the mains and will be able to purchase additional packs. It requires Sony Pro Duo memory sticks, which typically cost about double the price of regular SD cards.

Overall it's a decent enough little camera, but it's quite expensive and not ideal for me. I've used better, cheaper cameras. If you're looking at the pictures and specs thinking that this camera looks quite impressive, it might be misleading you a bit. Have another look around and see what else you can find before you make your decision..

I thought this camcorder would be HD but i was very dissapointed with the final quality - it was not actually better than my current standard definition camera. Its a bit plasticky too but I kind of expected that as it was quite a good price. I am a big Sony fan and all my home entertainment is Sony but this has made me think twice for the future, I also cannot use memory stick with another other brands products