Sony MHS-CM1 Product Specs
With the instability of today's economy, it's perhaps fortuitous that Sony decided to push more heavily into the ultra-budget camcorder market in 2009. This year's Consumer Electronics Show saw the introduction of the Sony Webbie HD MHS-CM1, a traditional horizontal camcorder with a low price tag, easy high definition recording, and simple uploading to sites like YouTube.
But with the market already inundated by similar products, including the extremely successful Pure Digital Flip Mino HD, Sony needs to create a stellar product in order to carve out its own niche. While the MHS-CM1 had overall video performance to rival the competition, it couldn't stand up to low light conditions and, perhaps more importantly in this category, it wasn't nearly as easy to use as models from Pure Digital or RCA. Plagued with complicated software installation, inconsistent menu operation, and a bland aesthetic, the Sony MHS-CM1 won't be enough to dethrone the Flip king.
*Update: The Flip UltraHD was ultimately selected as our 2009 Ultracompact Camcorder of the Year. To see why we selected it and read about our other awards, "check out the 2009 CamcorderInfo.com Select Awards":http://www.camcorderinfo.com/content/Camcorderinfo-com-Select-Awards-2009-37268.htm.*
| Sony MHS-CM1- Specs | |
|---|---|
| Original Price | 199 |
| Year | 2009 |
| Format | Flash Memory |
| Class | Consumer |
| HD | Yes |
| General Type | Ultracompact, Basic Budget |
| Image Stabilization | None |
| 3D Capable | No |
| HD Video Format | MPEG-4 AVC/H.264 |
| SD Video Format | MPEG-4 AVC/H.264 |
| Frame Rate(s) | 30P |
| Secondary Audio Format | AAC |
| Primary Media | Memory Card |
| Secondary Media | Internal Flash Memory |
| Memory Card Type | Memory Stick PRO Duo |
| Included Media Capacity | 12MB Internal Flash Memory |
| Recording Quality Option(s) | 1080/30P, 720/30P, 480/30P |
| Included Software | Picture Motion Browser |
| Zoom Control Type(s) | Toggle |
| Optical Zoom | 5 x |
| Digital Zoom | 10 x |
| Manual Focus | No |
| Focus Assist / Peaking | No |
| Manual Exposure | No |
| Manual Aperture | No |
| Minimum Aperture (f/) | 0.00 f/ |
| Maximum Aperture (f/) | 0.00 f/ |
| Manual Shutter Speed | No |
| Manual White Balance | No |
| Manual Gain | No |
| Manual Noise Reduction | No |
| Audio Dubbing | No |
| Auto / Easy Mode | No |
| Face Detection | No |
| Still-Video Hybrid | Yes |
| Still Image Resolution(s) | 2592x1944 |
| Flash | No |
| Simultaneous Video / Still Recording | No |
| Self Timer | Yes |
| Manual ISO | No |
| Continuous Shot | No |
| Bracketing | No |
| Still Media | MemoryStick PRO Duo / Internal Flash Memory |
| Still Media Included | 12MB Flash Memory |
| Body Type | Horizontal |
| Weight (with battery pack) | 210.00 g |
| Width (mm) | 43.00 mm |
| Height (mm) | 61.00 mm |
| Length (mm) | 105.00 mm |
| Body Color(s) | Orange, Eggplant, Black |
| LCD Size (inches) | 2.50 in. |
| Touch Screen | No |
| Viewfinder | No |
| Video Light | Yes |
| Waterproof | No |
| Composite (RCA) output | Yes |
| Composite (RCA) input | No |
| FireWire | No |
| Audio-only AV input | No |
| S-Video | No |
| USB | Yes |
| Component output | Yes |
| Component input | No |
| HDMI | No |
| Headphone output | No |
| External Microphone input | No |
| LANC / Control L | No |
| Accessory Shoe (Cold) | No |
| Accessory Shoe (Hot) | No |
| Included Wireless Remote | No |
| WiFi | No |
| GPS | No |
| DC Power | Yes |
| Docking Station | No |
| Card Slot 1 | Memory Stick PRO Duo |
| Included Battery | Internal, Non-Removable |
| Sony MHS-CM1 Scores | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Rating | Score | Weighting | |
| Color Score | 7.04 | 2.0 | |
| Noise Score | 8.97 | 1.0 | |
| Wide Angle Score | 7.40 | 0.8 | |
| Motion Score | 4.66 | 1.0 | |
| Video Sharpness Score | 11.66 | 4.0 | |
| Low Light Color Score | 7.03 | 1.25 | |
| Low Light Sensitivity Score | 0.45 | 1.5 | |
| Low Light Noise Score | 9.02 | 1.25 | |
| Compression Score | 7.50 | 1.0 | |
| Media Score | 5.10 | 1.5 | |
| Editing Score | 6.00 | 0.75 | |
| Auto Mode Score | 6.51 | 0.5 | |
| Zoom Score | 6.00 | 0.75 | |
| Zoom Ratio Score | 2.55 | 0.5 | |
| Focus Score | 0.00 | 0.7 | |
| Exposure Score | 0.00 | 0.65 | |
| Aperture Score | 0.00 | 0.65 | |
| Shutter Speed Score | 0.00 | 0.6 | |
| White Balance Score | 0.00 | 0.55 | |
| Gain Score | 0.00 | 0.5 | |
| Color & Image Controls Score | 0.00 | 0.5 | |
| Other Manual Controls Score | 0.50 | 0.5 | |
| Still Features Score | 7.61 | 0.8 | |
| Ease of Use Score | 6.00 | 1.25 | |
| Handling Score | 5.00 | 1.25 | |
| Stabilization Score | 0.00 | 1.0 | |
| Portability Score | 10.47 | 0.8 | |
| Battery Life Score | 6.20 | 1.0 | |
| LCD & Viewfinder Score | 6.99 | 0.6 | |
| Menus Score | 4.50 | 1.0 | |
| Playback Score | 3.25 | 0.3 | |
| Connectivity Score | 1.25 | 0.8 | |
| Audio Features Score | 1.25 | 1.0 | |
| Other Features Score | 3.50 | 0.5 | |
| Total: | 178 | ||
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