Sony MHS-PM1

Audio Features (1.25)

The built-in mic

Usually, we don't see much in the way of audio features on these ultra-compact budget camcorders. The Sony MHS-PM1 continues this trend by including only the most basic of audio options—a built-in mono microphone. The microphone is placed on the front of the camcorder, just the right of the lens. This tiny mic won't get you much in the way of crisp, clean audio, but it is serviceable for picking up the voice of your subject. If you plan on uploading your video to YouTube, you probably won't care too much about sound quality anyway.

There are no connectivity options for attaching an external mic, nor is there a headphone jack on the MHS-PM1. The Flip UltraHD includes a built-in stereo microphone, which is something that sets it apart from the competition.

Other Features (2.0)

Webcam
The MHS-PM1 can be used as a webcam, but you need to have compatible software installed on the computer you are connecting it to. In the camcorder's set-up menu, you can switch the USB output from Mass Storage to Webcam, which will enable the camcorder to be used as a webcam. We're not sure if this feature will work on Macintosh computers and even on PCs you'll need to have special software installed that can utilise the camcorder as a webcam.

PAL/NTSC output
The MHS-PM1 can be switched from normal NTSC to PAL output in its set-up menu. This doesn't change the way the camcorder records footage, however. All it does is switch the output so it can be read by a PAL television. This is a useful feature if you're planning on travelling overseas to Europe or any country that uses the PAL signal.