Sony MHS-PM5 bloggie HD Video Camera (Violet)

by Sony

Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 6.7 x 5.5 x 2.3 inches ; 12.8 ounces
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S.
• ASIN: B0031RGKVC
• Item model number: MHS-PM5/V
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (63 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #684 in Camera & Photo (See Top 100 in Camera & Photo)
  • #93 in Camera & Photo > Camcorders
• Date first available at Amazon.com: January 6, 2010

Product Description

Color: Violet

From the Manufacturer

1920x1080 HD recording w/5MP still images
The bloggie camera lets you record your favorite moments in High Definition MP4 (H.264) format and features a 5MP CMOS sensor that lets you take crisp 5MP still images. MP4 is a popular format for high definition video 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 Web sites like Photobucket or YouTube. (Compatible PC with internet capability required).

2.4" LCD (230k pixels) with full-screen playback
The bloggie camera’s horizontal playback feature lets you record video while holding the camcorder in it’s natural, upright position, and when you want to play back your movies, simply rotate the camera into a landscape (horizontal) position to take full advantage of the 2.4” LCD display.

Build-in USB arm for upload/charge
A built-in USB arm lets you connect your camera directly to your compatible PC/Mac to upload video and/or charge your battery without having to hunt for cables. Built-in PMB Portable software for easy upload to web With the pre-installed Picture Motion Browser (PMB) Portable software, the bloggie 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.

Convenient, 270 degree Rotating Lens System
The bloggie 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.

4.5oz lightweight, pocketable design
Approximately 0.75" thick and 2.25" wide, the bloggie is ultra-compact and easy to carry with you in your bag or pocket.

SteadyShot image stabilization
SteadyShot image stabilization helps reduce blur caused by camera shake.

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

Face Detection
Face Detection technology recognizes faces and optimizes camera settings for both video and still images, so faces are captured more clearly and skin tones look more natural.

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).

SD Card Functionality
Sony SD memory cards are the perfect solution for storing and sharing your digital content such as high-quality photos, videos, music, and more.

1/2.5" CMOS sensor
The integrated 5MP CMOS sensor enables the bloggie camera lets you to take sharp 5MP still images in addition to HD MP4 video.

Product Description

Capture HD MP4 video and 5MP images and upload them directly to the Web with the Sony® bloggie™ camera. The pocketable bloggie camera also features a unique swivel lens that rotates up to 270 degrees, making it easy to self-record a video clip.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

262 of 269 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Stop complaining, this is a good product, May 1, 2010

By 

Greg G. - See all my reviews

This review is from: Sony MHS-PM5 bloggie HD Video Camera (Violet) (Electronics)

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 daylight- is 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.

167 of 170 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful Camera, May 15, 2010

By 

George Strayline "W2GSS" (Villas, NJ) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Sony MHS-PM5 bloggie HD Video Camera (Violet) (Electronics)

Length:: 1:05 Mins

When I received the Bloggie I was not expecting anything great and my assumption was based mostly on the reviews I read here on Amazon. Well, I have got to say, "I was blown away by this camera"! I really love it! I was attracted to the Bloggie for various reasons. It has a slide out USB connector, a rotating lens system which not only protects the lens but this feature also gives the user different angles for holding the camera. The Bloggie also uses the standard .MP4 file format which is a whole bunch easier to work with for uploading and storing on your PC. The Bloggie also uses a standard SDHC card or you can use Sony's own memory stick. The Bloggie also has software built in so you can use it on any PC. The SDHC card you install can also function as a drive while it's loaded in the camera. The Bloggie also gives the user the option of using it's built in software to handle video files or you can simply use drag and drop file handling. If needed, file conversion from MP4 to FLV, WMV and other formats is a snap. The Bloggie's actual video recording format is-(MP4 H-264 AAC). The Bloggie is extremely versatile in every way. Something worth noting, Sony has a much better reputation when it comes to customer and technical support and that was another deciding factor for me. The Bloggie comes supplied with a USB extension cable, video and audio cables, software, hand-strap, manuals and Li-on battery.

As much as I dislike doing comparison reviews, I thought doing so might be important for someone looking to buy a new camera. Anyway, In addition to the Bloggie I also purchased the new Kodak Playsport. In Retrospect, I rated the Kodak Playsport 5 stars two weeks before I received the Bloggie. In comparison to the Kodak the Bloggie is a far better camera. The Bloggie's color rendition is richer and the video itself looks so much sharper than the Kodak. The Bloggie does not seem to have that annoying gelatin effect when you pan the camera wereas the Kodak gelatin effect is very pronounced. The battery in the Bloggie also lasts longer. I get about 1.5 hours recording time with the Kodak but the Bloggie has given me 6 hours thus far without a charge. I only purchased the Kodak to use outdoors during inclement weather. One of my hobbies is related to monitoring and recording severe storms and so the Kodak seemed fitting since it's waterproof, other then that, I'll be using the Bloggie full time. There are so many more reasons why I like the Bloggie, more-so than the Kodak but I'll spare you the long read.

I've read one star reviews were folks have complained about the Bloggie's audio being poor quality. Mine sounds great! I've also read one star reviews about folks not being able to see the display in bright sunlight, well I've never known of any product that can be viewed optimally in those conditions. There was another one star review concerning the software, it's not the software! Boy-O-Boy, The Sony Bloggie deserves a better review, it's just a great camera!

In a nutshell, I'll be recommending the Bloggie to my friends and family. The uploaded video was hot in 720/60 and I then converted the .MP4 to an .FLV using a freeware program. I hope it helps.

46 of 47 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Budget camera/camcorder, February 19, 2010

By 

mia (SF Bay) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Sony MHS-PM5 bloggie HD Video Camera (Violet) (Electronics)

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!

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