Sony DCMM1 Digital Camcorder with Builtin Digital Still Mode

by Sony

Product Details

Product Manual [3.44mb PDF]

• Item Weight: 1.8 pounds
• Shipping Weight: 6 pounds
• Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S.
• ASIN: B00004WZQO
• Item model number: DCMM1
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #58,318 in Camera & Photo (See Top 100 in Camera & Photo)
• Discontinued by manufacturer: Yes
• Date first available at Amazon.com: September 4, 1973

Product Description

Amazon.com Product Description

Sony's DCM-M1 digital camcorder is unique in several ways: for starters, it uses discs instead of tapes as its recording medium. Sony calls these proprietary discs MiniDisc Data2 Media or MD View Discs. Though they're the same size as traditional minidiscs (approximately 3 inches), the new format holds 650 MB of memory--the same as a standard CD. At the highest image quality, each disc holds 10 minutes of footage.

To maximize recording time, Sony records the audio and video to the disc with a pair of advanced compression algorithms. For video, the camera records in MPEG-2 (the same format used on DVD discs), and ATRAC (the algorithm used for MiniDisc audio units) is used to capture sound. Sony refers to this audio-video combination as the Video MD format.

In another departure from digital video standards, there's no IEEE 1394 (FireWire) interface to allow you to transfer your footage to your computer. Instead, the camera's AC adapter has a built-in Ethernet connection, which effectively lets your camera function as a computer on your network. To transfer images to and from the camera, you use a Web browser (both Internet Explorer and Netscape Navigator work). Stills are imported to your computer as JPEG files and movies appear in QuickTime format. In addition, traditional analog audio- and video-out plugs let you view your films on a TV or record them on a VCR.

With the DCM-M1, there's no need for video editing software or hardware--extensive video editing can be done within the camera itself. In edit mode, you can move, copy, trim, erase, divide, or group any video scenes. Because the DCM-M1 is based on a random-access (nonlinear) recording format, you can jump to scenes without rewinding or forwarding, and rearranging scenes is a snap.

The camera can also record stills--up to 4,500 images at 640 x 480 resolution fit on a single MD View Disc. It can also record up to 260 minutes of audio in the ATRAC format, as well as play recorded or prerecorded audio MiniDiscs.

Like most digital camcorders, the camera features both a traditional eyepiece viewfinder and a 3.5-inch swivel-mounted color LCD monitor. In an unusual twist, the LCD is touch-sensitive, serving as a simple and intuitive interface for video editing, and also allowing users to add hand-drawn annotations to films and stills.

The optics and special effects are similar to those of other Sony digital camcorders. One notable feature: to steady images, Sony has included optical image stabilization, which uses sensors to monitor camera motion and then minutely moves the optics to compensate. Unlike the less-expensive digital image stabilization found on many other camcorders, optical image stabilization does not degrade the quality of the recording. The lens features a 10x optical and 40x total zoom, numerous special effects (black-and-white and sepia, for example), plus many different types of fades and wipes. Power is provided by a Sony InfoLithium battery (included). Also included with the camcorder are a charger, AC cable, AV cable, and a blank MD View Disc.

This camera has so many unique features that it has no real competition. If you're looking for a camcorder that will give you extended recording time on a single tape, or if you're planning to edit your images extensively on a FireWire-equipped computer, then you're better off with a traditional Mini DV camcorder. If, on the other hand, you want a camcorder that allows extensive in-camera editing, and you plan to create brief (10 minutes or less) videos that you can easily share with your friends--or you just love really neat gadgets--this may be the perfect camcorder for you.

Pros:

• Images are recorded on random-access discs instead of linear tapes
• Touchscreen and built-in effects allow extensive in-camera editing
• Ethernet port provides a nearly universal method for transferring images

Cons:

• Each disc holds only 10 minutes of video at highest quality, and good luck finding a blank disc when you're on vacation
• No FireWire port or frame-by-frame image transfer

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

76 of 78 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Sony's DCMM1 Mini Disc camcorder, October 17, 2000

By 

Fred Littell (Seattle, WA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Sony DCMM1 Digital Camcorder with Builtin Digital Still Mode (Electronics)

The resolution is excellent and there is absolutely no need to hook it up to a computer, as all of the editing can be done easily on the camera itself. You will need to link to the computer to download any stills taken. The instructions for connecting to a computer via ethernet were not easy, and keep in mind, a cross cable is needed. This mini-disks are a tad expensive and it can be a challenge in smaller cities and towns to locate them. These are not the mini-disks that are used on the home minidisk player.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Cool stuff!!!, September 24, 2001

By 

jessie (Singapore) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Sony DCMM1 Digital Camcorder with Builtin Digital Still Mode (Electronics)

I'm impressed of the design. I like the ideal of using disc instead of tape form. Waste no time for rewind/forward. Of course, the function r veri limited. Perhaps Sony should seriously re-evaluate the next disc cam in the near future. Hope that they launch 2nd generation mini-disc cam have IEEE or usb support, lower the price of the mini disc. Current disc data allow only 20mins of visual recording r really short. I am convince the disc can be compressed to higher grade. Depending on Ethernet port r not a veri ideal. Feature r great but concept r still veri conventional. Despite of this, this set has the x-factor. Great for taking lots of still pictures..

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Sony's Mini-Disc Cam, August 22, 2002

By 

Chris Wilson (Würzburg, Germany) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Sony DCMM1 Digital Camcorder with Builtin Digital Still Mode (Electronics)

This is an excellent video camera, ahead of it's time in some aspects. However, it has some downsides.

short recording time per disk
disks available only in few online outlets
no USB capability (has ethernet connection, but it's slow)
uses "quicktime" output for video clips
no "nightshot" capability
unable to move files from one disk to another (I believe Sony offered a patch for this, but I was unable to find it)

just to name a few

here's some of the good sides of it...

good resolution for video mode
seemless and static free slow motion
color viewfinder & large display screen
touch screen interface with video editor
ability to control each "track" as a file in moving it around in sequence
S-video output
compact size

I'm believe at the time this camera was designed, it was outstanding, but today and a few years later, there have been some advancements in video cameras. I certainly hope Sony follows up this camera with another that records on disk or mini-disc, I'm not a fan of video tape. Though it is superior in capacity. Sony had the right idea on this, they just need to catch up with some better options on new models. I don't think people mind sacrificing a little bit on size as long as it has the options we want.