Sony bloggie HD Video Cameras – MHS-PM5 / MHS-PM5K/V

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I had a chance to get my hands on the new Sony bloggie HD Video Camera
recently. This is Sony’s entry into the pocket video camera space made popular by the Flip Mino. Like that popular camera it fits in a pocket and has a built in USB plug so that you can plug it directly into your computer. Unlike most other entries in this space it does have a camera lens that swivels. The camera takes 1080p video at 30 frames per second or 720p at 60 frames per second. (1080p is progressive vs 1080i which is interlaced like a traditional TV picture where the camera skips lines. Always look for 1080p or 720p instead of 1080i or 720i as the later will “tear” when you take video of scenes with motion).

This is a solid product but it is missing an external microphone or a stereo microphone so I still prefer the Kodak Zi8 which does have an external microphone jack for bloggers (or the Kodak Playsport Waterproof Video Camera if you need underwater video).

Sony does have one interesting trick up their sleeve (or in their pocket) with the other camera in the blogger line which is the Sony MHS-PM5K/V bloggie. This camera has an odd mirror attachment (optional) which you can put on the lens. You pivot up this lens until it points straight up and then put on this mirror and the camera will take panorama 360 degree video. This video is no longer HD because of how this is created. You do need  the included Picture Motion Browser (PMB) Portable software to turn the video that is shot into something you can use. Check out the video below:

Both versions of the Bloggie take either the Sony memory stick or the more popular SD cards for memory.