A picture may say a thousand words, but with Sony’s futuristic new Cyber-shot DSC-M1 digital camera and its extraordinary video features, it’s what happens before and after the picture is taken that says the most.
Enter, the Cyber-shot DSC-M1, a 5.1-megapixel digital still camera that also pays particular attention to the role moving images play in preserving memories, and even more attention to making it easy to use. The camera, a slim, matte-black device about the size of a deck of cards, is held vertically, and its 2.5-inch articulated LCD swivels upward and rotates a full 270 degrees. This new shooting orientation provides more surface area to access both the menu navigation buttons and two “hot” buttons for direct access to recording stills and video.
The outer edge of the LCD also has buttons serving two functions. While the LCD is extended and the camera is in record mode, the buttons can be used to record, and toggle back and forth between stills and video. When the LCD is facing outward, but flush with the camera’s body, the buttons can be used to playback stills and video, turning the camera into a personal media viewer.
A new hybrid record mode makes the most of the scene being captured by automatically recording five seconds of QVGA video before and three seconds after the still image is snapped, creating a more complete record of the sights and sounds of the moment. The video and still images are stored as two separate files, but played back as one in the camera.
The Cyber-shot DSC-M1 camera’s enhanced video functions include recording with the new MPEGMovie 4TV feature, the MPEG-4 compression format that significantly increases picture quality and resolution while dramatically reducing file size. Employing a reduced bit rate (from 11Mpbs to 2.5 Mpbs), MPEGMovie 4TV mode enables the recording of up to 27 minutes of VGA-resolution, 30-frames-per-second video with stereo sound on an optional 512 MB Memory Stick PRO Duo media card, or up to 54 minutes with the optional 1GB card, available soon.
The camera uses a Carl Zeiss Vario-Tessar 3X optical zoom lens, and the zoom operates even while capturing video. The M1 model also uses Sony’s Real Imaging Processor circuit, an ultra-fast processor that enables quick start-up and rapid shot-to-shot times. It also enhances the speed of advanced features that help the user get the picture right the first time, including sophisticated auto-exposure, auto-white balance and five-area, multi-point auto-focus features.
The M1 camera operates using Sony’s InfoLithium rechargeable battery system, displaying approximate to-the-minute remaining battery life on the LCD. It comes bundled with a custom-sized Cyber-shot Station USB cradle for keeping the battery charged and the camera connected to your PC for easy downloading. The Cyber-shot Station also connects to a TV for playing back videos and stills on the big screen.
Product Specification :
Megapixels :5.1 Megapixels
Optical Zoom :3 X
Digital Zoom :2 X
LCD Screen Size :2.5 in
Recording Method :Memory Stick Duo, Memory Stick PRO Duo
Product Line :Cyber-shot
Camera Type 
igital camera
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September 4th, 2009 at 6:25 pm
The biggest letdown about this camera is the flash power.
Under normal lighting conditions indoors, it can only take near distance (about 5 feet) quality photos.
If not for this drawback, the camera would be excellent.
Pro : Neat fashionable camera with MPEG4 Video shooting
Con : Flash strength is only good for about 5 feet indoors
September 4th, 2009 at 7:10 pm
Excellent video and still picture combo camera in a small package (it can even fit in a pocket). Still picture quality is average to above average depending on your lighting condition. The quality is better than the T1 but not as good as the W1. MP4 really reduces the size of your movie clip. And the resolution and quality is very good providing you have a decent light source. Unfortunately, you have to use the enclosed software to view it or have your own mp4 viewer. There is no conversion function in the enclosed package to convert mp4 to avi. Media player & real player cannot play the mp4 clips, only quicktime can, which is an inconvenience for normal computer users. Overall, it is an excellent camera to carry around.
Pro : Great movie capturing with zoom capability
Con : No manual control for video capturing
September 4th, 2009 at 7:46 pm
This is a great camera for those looking for something that has all the basic requirements plus a few added features. I personally found it a joy to carry around and you'll get your fair share of ooohs and ahhhs from people around you.
Although it looks complicated, I managed to familiarize myself with most of the functions within an hour. The buttons are laid out very nicely (although a left handed friend commented that he found it a little awkward because of the placement of the LCD screen).
I was also pretty surprised with the battery life and found it more than adequate for my use. Having said that, if you intend to take loads of movies, it might be wise to carry a spare battery.
Overall, I love it! True, the flash could be better and image quality under certain lighting conditions are suprisingly average, but on the whole, this is an amazing camera and you won't be disappointed with it!
Pro : Smooth video capture, good quality stills, great design
Con : Small memory card supplied, can be daunting at first
September 4th, 2009 at 8:16 pm
Most cameras are equipped with a feature to use a timer in order to allow everyone to get in the image, and although this camera has this feature, its layout doesn't allow for its use. The way in which the camera screen flips out makes it unable to sit sideways and use the timer feature.
Pro : Size, weight, features, look, feel, layout, quality
Con : No ability to use the timer picture feature
September 4th, 2009 at 8:59 pm
We got this camera in Dec. 2004 when it was just launched in the market at $600 retail price. In most part, I am very satisfied with the fact that I can take clear. good quality photos and videos with this light, real easy to carry camera. As long as you have good lighting condition, you'll enjoy this camera. Flash is not reliable in a few situation but the multiple scene feature can make up for it most of the time. Now that this is priced much lower, and if you need a compact hybrid to take to your travels I recommend this product. I also recommend knowing repair cost before buying or considering extended warranty. I dropped this camera several times and still worked fine until I broke the flash bulb. I am paying a serious hefty price for the replacement
Pro : Very easy to use, camera is well protected while not in use, pretty good photos and video under very good lighting situation
Con : Haven't figured out how to play the videos thru windows XP, Videos taken indoors especially at night are usually poor
September 4th, 2009 at 9:42 pm
Love it for videos-doesn't scare the babies with size. Easy to carry everywhere. Bought it in Japan when first released for more than you can buy it now in US-still love it. Easy to charge.
Pro : Easy to use, carry either video or still
Con : Understanding white balance to use?
September 4th, 2009 at 10:25 pm
cybershot M1 is very good for capturing Video, MPEG4, and also pictures. However, it's not compact or small at all. a little heavier than it looks. Also, takes a little seconds to flip to take pictures.
Pro : good video captures
Con : not compact
September 4th, 2009 at 10:41 pm
This is a really cool camera, it caught my attention the first time I saw it and I just had to have it. It takes excellent pictures and though the video is not great it is certainly very good especially as I learned that you have to be as still as you can when shooting. I got a 1gig memory duo stick as soon as I got mine so I could take longer videos…really cool.
Pro : Snazzy, small size, great features, good design
Con : Duo Memory can be expensive
September 4th, 2009 at 11:11 pm
I loved it. It was so amazing that i cried. I want one so bad, but i dont have enough money.
Pro : everything
Con : none!
September 4th, 2009 at 11:58 pm
this camera is off the hook, i think every should buy this
Pro : Quality Pictures
Con : Less Memories