Ask Cameras

The bloggie camera offers simple, high quality MP4 video and still photo shooting, as well as easy web sharing capabilities.

With the Sony bloggie MHS-CM5 and MHS-PM5 bloggie cameras that capture everyday moments in full high definition 1920×1080 MP4 video and 5-megapixel still photos, Sony offers innovative and stylish pocket devices. Once captured, the content can be easily uploaded online via the device’s embedded software and built-in USB arm.

The MHS-CM5 camera sports a pistol-grip vertical design for more comfortable shooting, with a large flip-out 2.5″ (measured diagonally) LCD screen. It also has 5x optical zoom to get you closer to the action. The bloggie camera even features an HDMI output, letting you enjoy photos and high definition clips on your HDTV.

The ultra-compact, lightweight MHS-PM5 camera slips easily into a pocket or purse so it can be taken anywhere to catch special moments on-the-go. This design is offered in four fashionable colors — dark purple, blue, pink, and white — and features a rotating lens that swivels 270 degrees to capture life from any angle: get down low, aim high or record yourself. The bloggie camera has 4x digital zoom and SteadyShot image stabilization (cannot be used in 1920×1080/30p and 1280×720/60p recording modes) to reduce shake for smoother footage that can be viewed on a crisp 2.4″ (measured diagonally) LCD with full-screen, horizontal playback in landscape format.

Both cameras also feature Face Detection technology to recognize and enhance faces by automatically correcting exposure. Eliminating the need to hunt for cables, they can be quickly charged with the USB arm and record video and still images directly to Memory Stick PRO Duo, Secure Digital (SD), or SDHC media (sold separately).

Sony is also offering the MHS-PM5K, which is a bundled kit option that includes a lens to let you experience incredible 360 Video. After attaching the lens, the bloggie camera captures 360-degree footage that can be viewed on a computer with the supplied PMB (Picture Motion Browser) software. It’s a completely new way of seeing the world.

Features include

* 4x digital zoom

* Video Resolution : 1920 x 1080

* Still picture: 5 MP

* SteadyShot® image stabilization (cannot be used in 1920×1080/30p and 1280×720/60p recording modes)

* 2.4″ LCD display

* Memory Stick PRO Duo slot

* SD and SDHC slot

* Face Detection

Rating: 5 / 5

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 functions- playback, 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 VCR- possible 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 Bloggie- it 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!

Rating: 3 / 5