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Sony DSC-M1: Good Video, Disappointing Pictures

 by Stephen Caston on June 20, 2005 12:05 AM EST
21 Comments | Add A Comment
21 Comments

Index

The DSC-M1 is a dual-function digicam from Sony that promises extended video functionality through the use of MPEG-4 compression in addition to a 5-megapixel still image mode. The camera has a unique vertical design with a flip-out LCD that can be rotated 270º. The M1 features several still recording modes ranging from Auto, Program, and 9 different preset modes. The camera offers some advanced exposure controls such as exposure compensation, white balance adjustment, and ISO control. The video mode uses MPEG-4 compression to record stereo audio and video with a resolution of 640x480 at 30 fps.


Click image to enlarge.

In our review of the Sony DSC-M1, we discovered that although the camera has quite a bit going for it, the camera falls short in the end because of the quality of its still images. For example, the camera does very well in terms of startup time, cycle times without the flash, and auto-focus/shutter lag times. The video mode is exceptional, offering the use of the optical zoom during recording as well as a few image adjustment options. The true downfall of the M1 is in its mediocre still image quality. In our sample images, virtually every image suffers from soft/fuzzy details. We were also surprised to find JPEG artifacts in a number of images from the M1. In general, the images were also much noisier than they should have been (even at ISO 100). For all the details, read on for our full review of the Sony DSC-M1.

Product Sample provided by Newegg.com.
Sony DSC-M1 Specifications
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  • Gatak - Monday, June 20, 2005 - link

    The video is 29.97 FPS. This seem to be rather odd to me. Is it the raw video or did someone convert it? Why would a camera record at 29.94 instead of 30? Makes no sense at all. It would also be nice if it was possible to choose FPS from 1 per x minute up to 30fps. That could make it really useful.

  • yacoub - Monday, June 20, 2005 - link

    It's amazing how obnoxious society is becoming. Just use a phone as a phone, or a communication device as a communication device (phone, email, txt msg'ing). All this camera and video stuff is ugh.

  • PrinceGaz - Monday, June 20, 2005 - link

    #7- I think some people just look at the pictures and don't bother reading the article.

    Personally I like products that use AA batteries because you don't have to buy an expensive proprietary battery as a backup or when the included one fails. NiMH AA cells have capacities of as much as 2300mAh so battery life isn't a problem-- if anything products using AA cells normally have a longer battery life than those using small proprietary batteries (such as the 680mAh capacity of the DSC-M1's battery). The other advantage of AA cells is that in an emergency you can always buy a couple of alkalines and use them, though that should only be as a last resort.

    I think the main problem of the DSC-M1 is it uses Sony's Memory Stick for storage rather than the cheap and industry standard SD cards. Stupid Sony.

  • sxr7171 - Monday, June 20, 2005 - link

    Far from me to defend an all in one Sony product but has anyone actually read the article or looked at some of the pictures at least? The AA battery was just for size comparison, it uses a Li-Ion battery. I knew this thing was a piece of crap regardless of "Carl-Zeiss" being written on the lens. It's all a stupid marketing gimmick like having a so-called Mark Levinson stereo in your car. Most Mark Levinson systems cost more than the stupid Toyota.

  • stephencaston - Monday, June 20, 2005 - link

    Thanks for the comments guys. I think I've fixed the link problems.

  • Johnmcl7 - Monday, June 20, 2005 - link

    Yeah, the image links are messed up, they include the paragraphs below.

    Interesting read, I'm not much of a video fanatic but I do like to recored the occasional clip, I'm currently using a Fuji S7000 which records at 640x480 and 30 frames per second, but as mentioned in the article it's mpeg-1 so it takes vast amounts of space, something like a meg per second, giving me only 15 minutes recording on a 1GB card. I look forward to mpeg4 recording becoming standard.

    I use the camera attachment for my Archos AV340 which records straight to mpeg4, more than happy with the quality and there's plenty of room for the recorded movie. Unfortunately the device is in for repair, very much missing this ability on my digital cameras.

    John

  • JustAnAverageGuy - Monday, June 20, 2005 - link

    Kind of messed up the image links on the first, second, and ninth pages. No?

  • sprockkets - Monday, June 20, 2005 - link

    either that or use proprietary batteries. At least you can use ni-mh but they won't last long probably in digital cameras.

  • Locut0s - Monday, June 20, 2005 - link

    I'm always wary of products that try to be all things to all people, or simply integrate a number of different functions together. More often than not you end up with a product that does everything OK but no one thing great. Or does one thing great but the rest of the stuff feels like an afterthought. I also dislike products that use AA batteries, my experience is that they eat them for lunch. I also hate wasting them.

    Still I suppose there is a place for these types of products for those for whom owning an ALL-IN-ONE product trumps quality issues.

  • Boonesmi - Monday, June 20, 2005 - link

    i want one
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