First Look review posted for Sony DSC-M1! (UPDATED)
By
Dave Etchells
(Thursday, September 9, 2004 - 00:06 EDT)
We're clearly seeing at least some signs of "convergence" between still and video photography taking place in the digicam market, with the "movie" capabilities of digicams becoming more capable every year.
While they appear to be loathe to use the word "convergence" in their own messaging, Sony has clearly been one of the leaders in this trend, with virtually their entire line of digicams boasting market-leading video capabilities. Now, they're taking things a step further, in the form of the DSC-M1, a 5-megapixel digicam that seeks to merge and integrate the still and video functions even further. (The key feature seems to be a "hybrid" recording mode that will record a full-resolution still image and several seconds of video before and after it with a single press of the shutter button.)
News Editor Mike Tomkins took a look at this intriguing device, and recorded his observations in a First Look review of it. (As a First Look, there are no sample photos or video to share at this point in time.) Mike's opinions largely mirrored those of the rest of us who've played with the M1 here at IR - It's an intriguing mix of features and capabilities packaged inside a sleek case, but with some of the most awkward ergonomics and user interface design any of us have yet seen in a digicam.
Still, an intriguing device for those who want to mix still photos and moving images to a previously unprecedented extent. Check it out!
UPDATED 2004-09-09 00:06ET: Our friends at a couple of the other major digicam websites have also posted first looks of the DSC-M1. Visit the links below for a second opinion:
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