Several people complained on various internet review boards about how this camera does not deliver very high quality video, etc. I'm a technology enthusiast, computer specialist, amateur photographer and have about 7 or 8 different cameras so I feel qualified to give a good review.
This is a camcorder meant for internet uploads/sharing, quick shots, etc. This is not what you want to film your wedding with. So don't expect broadcast quality.
Having said that I think the image quality is VERY good for its size. One huge advantage over Flip/etc... is the swiveling lens. This was the main attraction for me. I'm always embarassed waving a big camera in public. Just don't like when people stare at me for filming something. This is why Sony bloggie is a great product. You can turn the lens to an angle you like and hold the device like your cellphone. People will actually think you are just playing with your phone.
Let's get done with my complaints list quickly:
-CMOS sensor means you get the rolling shutter a.k.a jello effect when panning too fast with the camera (vertical objects appear skewed)
-Smaller lens angle when using 1080p mode. (i.e. picture is too "tele")... you get a nicer wide angle if using 720p.
That's about it, image quality -especially in daylightis very very good for such a camera. I actually prefer to record in 720p 60fps mode, the high frame rate gives it a very smooth motion.
FYI, it's compatible with Apple's iMovie. Will take some time to import your videos but once it's done, editing is super easy!
I hesitated for a long time before buying this camera but I'm glad to say I don't regret it at all! Very satisfied with my purchase.
My actual rating is 3.5 stars but I've rounded up for now.
First, I read the specs of this before I ordered it so I knew what I was getting myself into. I did not buy this for great recording capabilities and did not expect that. I bought this device to have a easily portable recording device for cheap and it delivers.
The negatives for me so far has been the awful sound recording and the lighting. I did not expect a great mic but the quality of sound recording is far below my expectations. Combine this with the inability to attach an external mic (let me know if there's a way that I don't know of) makes this device subpar. The lighting recorded fluctuates quite a bit. Sometimes I would have to set the setting a couple times to get video to appear versus a dark/black screen. Let me note that I was recording in the evenings indoors without much light in the first place. Yes, this isn't ideal but if it is not able to handle that lighting, setting the device's settings a couple times should not magically "fix" the issue.
The overall design works well and the navigation is a breeze, similar to other Sony cameras. You can also easily pull this device out of your pocket and start shooting either in camera mode or camcorder mode within seconds. I do feel that they could have utilized the screen space much better; video is displayed on the top of the screen and the bottom of the screen is basically wasted IMO. There are no exposed ports so the unit is nice and sleek. The area that goes over the USB doesn't completely move out of the way so depending on the USB port you are connecting to you might not be able to plug it in. No worries though, a USB extension is included. Oh, and you can use both SD and the memory stick, yay!
Buy Sony MHS-PM5 bloggie HD Video Camera (White) Now
I was really excited to see the next generation of pocket camcorders come out for 2010 and the Bloggie is the first I know of. It has a larger, updated optical sensor and presumably updated firmware and hardware to render better video quality. I bought it as soon as I found out it was available.
My initial impressions are less about the Bloggie and more about what an achievement the Flip cameras are. Here's why:
The Sony Bloggie seems brighter but is more sensitive to movement than the MinoHD. I go over my videos frame by frame to get screen captures and the majority of the frames the Bloggie seems lost on the action and repeats the same bad exposure for many more frames before it adjusts to get the best exposure. The MinoHD on the other hand, even though it is over a year old, is much quicker at correcting exposure, frame by frame, focus and light, to provide overall better video resolution. This is in spite of the fact that the Sony Bloggie has a bigger optical sensor and the newest hardware. Flip just seems way ahead of every pocket camcorder (haven't tested the Kodaks) in its internal intelligence in detecting focus and exposure. This is what truly gives it the edge.
The Bloggie does have a removable battery or memory card unlike the Flip. But I can't wonder if it's even necessary. I've never needed more memory or another battery in my Flip. Also it presents open compartments that will no doubt gather dirt in the electronics and buttons, unlike the Flip which is mostly sealed.
Playback mode? I'm a software developer so I'm not afraid of complicated stuff but I found the playback controls on this frustrating over and over. There are 6 or 7 different buttons you can push on playback to pause, ff, rw, etc and I kept finding myself pressing the wrong one and getting kicked out of play mode. Yes, the Flip had this right and so simple! I actually feel like I have taken the Flip's playback for granted thinking it was just without features. But for the same functionsplayback, pause ff, rw, the Bloggie feels like it is many times more complex and mysterious even though it's attempting to do exactly what the Flip does so effortlessly, mindlessly. As for uploading to Youtube, etc., like it is featured to do, I guess that's like programming your VCRpossible if you really want to learn it but more like a punchline than useful.
The Bloggie has still image, movable lens, and other bells and whistles the flip doesn't have, but is an order more complicated to use than the Flip. In the end the video, even at 1080p, is still not as sharp and clean compared to the smooth 720p of the Flip MinoHD.
Other features such as an external mic input are not available on either the Bloggie or the Flip MinoHD but are available on others such as the Kodak Zi8 etc. But this wasn't a factor for me.
I will also ad that looking at the instructions made me understand why this has the stupid name of Bloggieit is a uniquely Japanese product rushed to market without alot of careful insight into the aesthetic of the American consumer (If I may, nothing against Japanese products, usually I think them superior.) The instructions are pretty poor considering some of the dummy proof large font easy-to-read stuff I've gotten used to from places like Ikea and yes, Flip. These look like they were put together by a technical person in a tight deadline who doesn't speak English well...
Keep trying Sony, some good ideas here but mostly I think you need to improve on that smooth auto exposure algorithm!
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Here are the PRACTICAL reasons I bought this camera ...
1) I love having an SD card ... and "unlimited" video memory space
2) I love having a replaceable battery ... that can be charged either in the camera or in a charger
3) I love the fact that it is small, and compact and easy to use
4) I love the included USB extension cord, so that the USB doesn't block my other cords
4) I especially love the swivel lens ... you can set it down and aim it anywhere.
I will mostly be using this camera (as an adult) for videotaping family, but no matter how old you get, you never lose your imagination.
I keep thinking how great it would be to be a child again ... playing spy. I would sneak videos over the fence of my neighbors yard. I would set it in the corner of the porch and record my friends and me just hanging out. It would go up in the tree house with me, and I'd peek it over the edge and video what was going on below. Gosh, if I were a boy with imagination, I'd find a way to use it to sneak a few shots of my sister and her friends.
Just a quick suggestion, if you are into really fun features, you might want to pay a few extra dollars and get the Sony bloggie MHS-PM5 Camera Kit Camcorder High Definition widescreen 5.0 Mpix supported memory: MS Duo, SD, MS PRO Duo, SDHC flash card white which has the 360 degree lens included!
There is photo software included if you want to install it ... but if you don't need it, it's on a disk and you can leave it off.
I have used the Flip, the Aiptek pen camera, but of all of them, this is the most fun, and for sheer flexibility of things I can do the most practical. I purchased it with an 8G memory card, and will be purchasing an external charger for trips.
***Edited***
I used the camera on vacation and have further reporting
1) I recorded both indoors and outdoors and the quality of recording was very adequate under both lighting conditions.
2) The mike recorded well indoors and picked up a lot of ambient sound when recording outdoors.
3) The one difficulty that I had was in being able to clearly see the screen under very sunny conditions.
4) It was extra super to not have to change between video and camera click one button it is camera the other and you are videotaping.
5) The battery charge lasted for the full week I recorded a number of small clips rather than a single large event.
As I anticipated, having the SD card was super I simply popped it out, handed it to my daughter and she copied the videos and pictures on her computer before I left so we both have our own copies.
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I bought the Sony Bloggie from Amazon along with a high speed Sony Memory Stick PRO-HG Duo HX 8 GB Flash Memory Card with USB Reader MSHX8G for a 3 week trip to Bermuda. The camera is very compact so it was easy to carry in my pocket in an old cell phone case. It's actually smaller than an iPhone or a G1.
It was easy to quickly take a photo or a video. The built-in software also makes it simple to upload videos and photos to the Internet. There are several sites programmed into the software but I just used Picasa for photos and YouTube for videos.
I shot all my videos in 720p and was very pleased with the quality of the video and sound. I only took a dozen or so photos with the Bloggie but they were acceptable. It was so much fun and so easy to take videos that I didn't even think about taking photos.
The Bloggie is not without its drawbacks. A jack for an external microphone would have been a nice feature but I found the built-in mic to be fine. Oddly the most irritating thing about the Bloggie is sliding the USB connector back into the camera. I always felt like either it would never go back in or that it might break. The USB extender cord that comes with the Bloggie is about 6.5" long; a longer one would have been more convenient. The screen is way too reflective and washes out in daylight so an anti-glare screen protector will be my next purchase for this camera. Documentation, once you have set the camera up is pretty much non-existent, so it's a learning experience as you use the camera. The will be some shake to your videos if you aren't firmly holding the camera or not using a tripod but that is true of all video cameras regardless of size unless one has a Steadicam or other camera stabilizer.
My bottom line is I really love this camera. It met all of my expectations; not too cold, not too hot but just right. I highly recommend it and would buy it again without hesitation.
Addendum: Took it on a cruise to Mexico and, well CURSE swimsuits with large pockets! I hopped into a hot tub with it in my pocket on the last day of the cruise! The camera died BUT the good news is that the Sony memory card survived with all my videos intact. Whew!
Now considering purchasing the Sony MHS-CM5 bloggie HD Video Camera (Violet) NEWEST MODEL with the 5x optical as a replacement.
MY D7000 kit arrived at the perfrect time for an adventure tour in Costa Rica and the results are amazing. Total flexibility in my upgrade from a D80 that survived 5 years of tropical conditions, sand, sun, salt, dust and rugged travel. The D7000 was needed to continue the adventure ohotography and with the video option is the complete package. The 18-200 is a magic lens and I rarely need to swap over to the 50mm 1.4.
