Product Description

Record HD MP4 video and 5MP images then easily upload them directly to the Web with the SonyWebbie HD camera. The ultra-compact Webbie HD camera also features a unique lens system that can swivel up to 270 degrees, allowing for easy self-shooting if you like to post videos of yourself on your blog.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #351 in Camera & Photo
• Color: Silver
• Brand: Sony
• Model: MHSPM1
• Released on: 2009-03-20
• Dimensions: 3.00" h x 7.80" w x 7.80" l, 1.80 pounds
• Display size: 1.8

Features

• HD MP4 1440 x 1080 video resolution; 5-megapixel still photos
• Vertical form factor
• Unique swivel lens; 4x digital zoom
• 1.8-inch LCD screen
• 12 MB internal memory; Memory Stick PRO Duo media recording

From the Manufacturer

Everything you love about the Webbie HD camera in a unique, vertical form. Same bold colors and capture-everything attitude, this Webbie features a swiveling lens system that puts a fresh spin on self-recording. Record HD MP4 video and 5-megapixel images then easily upload them directly to the web with the MHC-PM1 Webbie HD camera.

Webbie Camcorder Highlights

Take 5-megapixel still image and record video in High Definition MP4 format (H.264)
The Webbie HD camera lets you record your favorite moments in High Definition MP4 (H.264) format and features a 5-megapixel CMOS sensor that lets you take crisp 5 MP still images. MP4 is a popular multimedia format that compresses the size of your audio and video, making your media files small enough to easily transfer to your compatible PC or Mac. MP4 is also highly compatible with the Web, so you can effortlessly upload your media to popular photo or video-sharing websites like Photobucket or YouTube. (Compatible PC with internet capability required).

Unique Swivel Lens
The Webbie HD camera features a unique lens that swivels up to 270 degrees and, when rotated, instantly powers on the camera so you can start recording video or taking still shots immediately.

Individual "Movie" and "Still" buttons and dual capture
Enjoy the convenience of individual "Movie" and "Still" buttons that allow you to seamlessly switch from video recording to still photo capture with the simple press of a button.

Picture Motion Browser (PMB) Portable Software
With Sharemark and pre-installed Picture Motion Browser (PMB) Portable software, the Webbie HD camera makes it easy to pre-select videos and images in the camera and conveniently upload them from the camera to a compatible PC and popular Internet sharing sites, without the need for any additional software. While Webbie HD cameras are PC- and Mac-compatible, the pre-installed version of PMB Portable software is only PC-compatible.  A Mac-compatible version of PMB Portable is available for download at http://esupport.sony.com/US/perl/swu-download.pl?upd_id=4613.


Compact size
Approximately 0.9 inches thick and 2.2 inches wide, the Webbie HD is ultra-compact and easy to carry with you in your bag or pocket.

Memory Stick PRO Duo media slot
Record video and still images directly to Memory Stick PRO Duo media (sold separately), for easy transfer to a compatible PC or Mac for e-mailing, printing, or sharing with other Memory Stick PRO Duo compatible devices (sold separately).

Video Resolution
With the Webbie HD camera you can enjoy the flexibility of choosing to record and playback in either High Definition (1440x1080/30p, 1280x720/30p) or Standard Definition (640x480/30p) format.

5 Different scene selection modes
Choose between 5 unique scene selection modes like "Lowlight" or "Landscape" to capture still images and record high-quality video or in different setting or lighting environments.

4x Digital Zoom
The Webbie HD camera boasts 4x Digital zoom that lets you move in close and capture the action in crisp detail.

1.8-inch LCD screen
The Webbie HD camera features a 1.8-inch LCD that lets you clearly and instantly see what you're filming. Combined with the unique swiveling lens, the LCD screen also makes "self-shooting" easy if you like to post videos on your blog.

5-megapixel CMOS image sensor
The integrated 5-megapixel CMOS sensor enables the Webbie HD camera lets you to take sharp 5 MP still images in addition to HD MP4 video.

Integrated Sony Lithium Ion battery
Sony's long lasting rechargeable Lithium Ion batteries allow you record up to 100 minutes and are not subjected to a life shortening "Memory Effect," so you’re free to charge the battery at any time.

USB 2.0
USB 2.0 interface provides an easy way to connect your camera to a compatible PC or Mac for fast transfer of video and still images for editing. (USB cable included).

Multi-AV terminal
A Multi-AV terminal (cable included) allows you to connect your Webbie HD camera to devices like your compatible PC or television for easy playback.

Tripod mount compatible
The Webbie HD camera can also be mounted a tripods (sold separately) for added stability when capturing video or still images.

What's in the Box

• Rechargeable Battery Pack (NP-BK1)
• Charger (BC-CSK or CSKA)
• Component A/V Cable
• A/V Connecting Cable
• Application Software / USB Driver / (CD-ROM)
• USB Cable

Customer Reviews

It's ok.
I currently own a Flip Mino HD and was looking for something with a bit more features. I bought this because of its expandable memory and removable battery. I didn't want to be limited to the Flip's 60 min shooting time and 2 hour battery life. The unique swivel lens is pretty awesome! It made turning the camera on and off really easy and shooting video at all angles also easy -- especially if you're taking self videos, just turn the lens on yourself! Taking 5MP photos is a plus. You don't have to bring an extra digital camera!

With that said, I ultimately returned the camera. The features over the Flip are really great, but I was pretty disappointed in the video quality compared to the Flip. Low light video is not great -- indoor and night shooting was pretty dark. I know there's a video setting for low light, but that didn't really help the quality much. It picks up audio really well but if you swivel the lens you can hear it, and it also picks up wind easily. I mostly take snowboarding video, and do a lot of indoor and night shooting. Also, the digital zoom is choppy. If video quality is important, may I suggest searching for video samples/tests/comparisons. If you will mainly be using this outdoors during the day, this might be for you.

Cany-bar format Sony Webbie HD
This camera is basically the original Sony Webbie HD (MHS-CM1) camera shaped into a candy-bar format to more directly compete with the Flip Mino HD. In doing so you lose the optical zoom and the LED light. If you discount comments about the optical zoom (including complaints about motor noise) and the usefulness of the LED light, the rest of the features are pretty much the same and you can use the reviews for the original Webbie HD. I knew going in that this would be mainly an outdoor-only camera, but thats exactly what I wanted a smaller second camera for. I have a Canon HV20 HDV camera for indoor and more demanding use, but wanted something similar to a Flip to keep in my pocket when doing activities outside (walking the dogs, going to a bar-b-que, etc. where I am not consciously thinking of taping the event but something comes up that is worth capturing) that has a removable battery and flash memory. I've either been at work or the weather has been grey since getting this so I can't put it through its paces where it will really shine, but have taken some indoor 720p footage and stills. Enough to verify the camera is natively supported in iLife '09 (iMovie and iPhoto) and that other's comments about it being kind of weak in low light and when panning shots around are right. It isn't totally unusable, but you can see a yellowing of footage that can be compensated somewhat through iMovie or iPhoto in dark shots and you have to pan slower than even what is needed when using a consumer full-sized HD camera. Would I sell my Canon HDV camera and use only this? no. Will I keep this for on the spot captures in settings that match up to its strengths? yes.

Rotating Lense Makes It Ideal For Hobbyists
This is the only mini HD video camera on the market at present with a rotating head and that's the reason I use it. If you don't need the rotating head, there are better mini cams on the market and I recommend you seek them out.

I knocked off a star because during continuous recording, you have to re-press the record button every 25 minutes - that's the max clip length. Non of the other so called drawbacks concerned me: no on-board battery charging, slightly soft 1080i, the fact that you need to buy a memory card, lousy low light recording, etc etc etc. It is what it is folks - a fairly inexpensive high definition recorder.

For all you hobbyists out there, I've been using this for about a month now and I've got to say, for the price it's a keeper. I've attached it to an rc helicopter and sent it up a couple of hundred feet, strapped it to the handlebars of a bike and velrco'd it to the bill of my baseball hat. In each of these situations, the rotating head allows the lense to be pointed correctly regardless of mounting constraints.

The camera has no image stabilization (not unusual for a mini) so I shoot in "sports" mode which gives a little faster shutter speed (no good for indoors, though) and then run it through the anti-shake filter (set on low) in Cyberlink Power Director 7. I shoot in 720P mode and the quality is somewhere between dvd and blue ray when played back on a decent set.

Hope that helps you make up your mind!