Sony MHS-PM1

Ease of Use (6.0)

Compared to a traditional camcorder, the MHS-PM1 is very simple to use. It records video in an entirely automated manner, it doesn't have too many complicated buttons or special controls, and it fits easily in the palm of your hand. When it comes to making a camcorder for the masses, however, it needs to be truly idiot-proof and simple and this is where the MHS-PM1 fails.
It almost seems as if Sony wanted to keep everything off of the MHS-PM1, but just couldn't help themselves. Instead, they opted for scene modes, strange options like flicker reduction, and a complicated set-up menu that is too much for beginners. If Sony had left just half of these miscellaneous features off, the MHS-PM1 would have come much closer to being an idiot-proof device.

Now, if you're someone who knows how to use a camcorder or is comfortable with modern technology, the MHS-PM1 will feel like an extremely basic product. In that realm, the camcorder is easier to use than most. It is the Luddites, technophobes, and beginners that these products are meant to be designed for, however, and the MHS-PM1 doesn't do very well with that crowd. Its provided editing software is particularly frustrating, and the button implementation and design lacks an intuitive structure. Overall, the Flip series of camcorders, as well as the Kodak Zx1, are easier to work with in nearly every aspect.

Handling (6.0)

Compared to more traditional camcorders, the MHS-PM1 is a lot smaller. Overall, the MHS-PM1 feels a lot like the Flip UltraHD. The two camcorders are about the same size, although the PM1 is a bit thinner. We also didn't like the grip on the PM1 all that much. Its surface is too smooth and slippery to really get a good handle on. This, coupled with the fact that the camcorder doesn't have a hand strap, makes it very prone to drops and falls. The MHS-PM1 does ship with a basic wrist strap that attaches to the base of the camcorder and can be helpful for avoiding drops.

The MHS-PM1 should easily fit in your pocket.

The MHS-PM1's rotating lens is its most unique and interesting feature. The rotating lens is a good addition for the most part, as it allows you to shoot at high angles or point the lens at yourself for a little 'self-recording.' The movable lens really expands the versatility of the camcorder and it makes the stationary LCD screen less of a nuisance. Having the rotating lens is just about as good as having a tiltable LCD, like on most traditional camcorders.

The buttons on the back don't line up too well with your fingertips.

The MHS-PM1 feels mostly durable, but it has its weak components. The port cover on the left side is thin and easily breakable, and the button design throughout the camcorder is poor. Most of the buttons are difficult to press and don't line-up with your thumb very well when you hold the camcorder in your palm. The zoom toggle is a cheap bit of plastic that doesn't respond with much accuracy. We wonder if Sony ever contemplated using a touchscreen on the MHS-PM1, just like it does for its mid-range and high-end consumer camcorders. Perhaps the PM1 would have been better suited with a large touchscreen on its back side, which would make the way for a larger viewing area and less clunky buttons.

Stabilization (0.0)

The MHS-PM1 has no image stabilization system, which is the case for most ultra-compact budget camcorders. The Sanyo VPC-CG10 has digital image stabilisation, which tends to be far less effective than optical image stabilisation. It also can cause some loss of image quality. (More on how we test stabilization.)

Portability (11.2)

The MHS-PM1 is one of the lightest camcorders on the market. Since it utilises a compact, upright design the camcorder is roughly 60 grams lighter than the Sanyo VPC-CG10. The PM1 is also lighter than both the Kodak Zx1 and Flip UltraHD, although not by a huge margin. The MHS-PM1 fits easily in a pocket, but, since the camcorder automatically turns on when the lens is rotated upwards, we found the device sometimes accidentally turned on when we carried it around in a loose pocket.

The only limiting portability factor of the MHS-PM1 is the fact that it doesn't have any usable internal memory (only 12MB). The Flip UltraHD has 8GB of internal flash, which is enough to hold multiple hours of footage before you have to dump it onto a computer. So, when you bring the PM1 out on the town, you have to remember to pack a couple of Memory Stick Pro Duo media cards along with it. For this reason, the UltraHD has a slight edge in portability over the thinner, smaller MHS-PM1.

Battery Life (5.75)

In our test, the MHS-PM1 recorded video for 115 minutes straight on a fully-charged battery. While this is a decent battery life for an ultra-compact camcorder, there are other issues with the PM1's battery system that are very frustrating. First of all, the camcorder has an enclosed battery compartment, which means you can't upgrade to a larger battery pack if you want longer performance. (More on how we test battery life.)

Battery Life Comparisons

The PM1 does use a rechargeable battery, and can be recharged inside the camcorder or with the provided wall-plug charger. Interestingly Sony doesn't provide the power cord in the USA, so you have to take the battery out to recharge it. Fortunately Sony decided to ship the cable in Europe. That makes recording a little more flexible, as you can just continue recording, even if your battery is low.
 

The removable lithium-ion battery loads at the base of the camcorder.

LCD & Viewfinder (5.9)

The MHS-PM1 has a stationary, 1.8-inch LCD screen on its back side. This is a significantly smaller screen than what's found on the Sanyo VPC-CG10 (3-inch LCD), the Flip UltraHD (2-inch), and Kodak Zx1 (also 2-inches). The PM1's LCD is a bit larger than the Flip MinoHD's, however, which has measly 1.5-inch screen. So, if you are at all concerned about having a large LCD, don't go with the MHS-PM1. On a positive note, the PM1's screen does have a decent resolution of 230,000-pixels.

The 1.8-inch LCD is smaller than most.

Even though the screen doesn't rotate on the MHS-PM1, its rotating lens feature provides nearly the same function. Most people will rotate an LCD so they can film themselves, shoot at odd angles, or hold the camcorder in a more comfortable manner. The movable lens gives you all these options—including easy access to self-shooting by rotating the lens all the way around until it is pointing at yourself. The lens also helps the camcorder conserve space, as tiltable LCDs can take up a lot of room.

As is the case with all ultra-compact camcorders, the MHS-PM1 does not have an electronic viewfinder.

Menus (4.5)

The menu system on the MHS-PM1 is simpler than most camcorders, but it is still far more complex than what you'll find on a Flip camcorder or the Kodak Zx1. The Sony PM1 has two separate menus—one for controlling image size and another for setting scene modes and accessing the camcorder's set-up controls. Because settings are spread across two different menus, and due to the fact that their layout and design are a bit jumbled, the menus themselves can be somewhat difficult to navigate.

The Main Menu houses scene modes and set-up options.

Of course, the reason for these lengthier menus is because the MHS-PM1 offers more settings and features than its competitors. Neither the Flip UltraHD nor the Kodak Zx1 offer any scene modes or photo size options (the Flip doesn't even capture photos at all), while the MHS-PM1 has a variety to choose from. Only the Sanyo VPC-CG10 offers more settings and features—and its menu is quite convoluted and not pretty to look at. The PM1's set-up menu, which includes options like flicker cancel, language settings, and video output options, feels a bit too complex for a camcorder that is designed for beginners. Still, the menus and options are nowhere near as intricate as they are on a traditional mid-range or high-end camcorder.

The movie and photo size menus

While Sony implements a touchscreen LCD on all its Handycam camcorders, the MHS-PM1 instead uses a navigation joystick. The joystick feels a bit cheap and unresponsive, which makes traversing the menus a bit frustrating. There is also a strange issue with the way you select options on the camcorder. The natural feeling is that you push in with the joystick to select a highlighted setting (like a scene mode). When you do this, however, nothing actually gets selected. All you have to do to select an option is highlight it and then exit the menu. This can be very confusing and often leaves the user wondering whether the correct setting has been activated at all.