Comparison of Sony MHS-CM1 and Flip Video Ultra

a quick video comparison of video shot with the new Sony MHS-CM-1 at 720p and the older Flip Video Ultra at standard NTSC. both videos were pulled into FCP as a 720p sequence (so FCP did the scaling of the Flip image) and then i converted the resulting .mov file to an h.264 sequence with an upper limit of 10Mbps. the sony clearly has higher resolution, but seems to hunt for focus, making it seem soft much of the time... the flip has a fixed focus lens, so doesn't suffer the same issues... the sony doesn't seem to be a replacement for a 'real' HD camcorder (or even a 'real' DV camcorder) and is bulkier than the Flip, though only about 1.5 ounces heavier. as another reviewer has said, i like the 'idea' of the sony, but i'm not sure the implementation is quite there (or worth keeping for $200)

note: at 'regular' YT quality it all looks the same... the real/useful comparison is only at HD

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• Sony
• Flip
• Video
• Ultra
• 720p
• MHS-CM1
• MHS
• CM1
• comparison
• test

[weward]

what does that upper limit of 10 mbps does?

i see it on sony vegas when im about to render the video..pls explain more about it.thanks.^^

[schnauzerlogic]

when you convert video from one format to another, you have to re-compress it in the new codec format - the Mbps is a measure of how many bits per second are used to capture/render a frame of video... the same image at 20Mbps will have more information in it (and therefore possibly appear sharper with less 'smear' than a video coded at 10Mbps - but in no case can you get more info -out- than was originally put in. in short higher is better but there are tradeoffs

[tytig94]

I have a budget of $250 for a camcorder what is the best I could get for the price?

[schnauzerlogic]

i recently purchased a Panasonic DMC-ZS3 (DMC-TZ7) that supports both Motion JPEG and AVCHD Lite (720p HD), has a 12x optical zoom, image stabilization, stereo mics plus a 3" screen... its a bit heavier than a Flip Mino HD, but the images are amazing... i love it and its going for just about $240-260 here in the US... check it out and check out my other videos to see sample video...

[schnauzerlogic]

(in case i wasn't clear, click on the youtube HD button and you'll be able to see the video in high-def... i mastered it in HD, so the full 720p resolution will be available... you're definitely be able to tell which is which!

cheers

[schnauzerlogic]

excellent question! its obvious in HD, but not in STD...

the image on the Left is the Sony "Webby" and the image on the Right is the Flip Ultra. (the Webby shoots in a 16:9 widescreen ratio while the Flip shoots in standard 4:3)

i returned the Webby since at $200 it was too expensive a 'toy'...

(re: split screen... tried this originally, but because of the different aspect ratios and cameras being side-by-side, there was enough parallax error to make the result not that useful

[DECIFERTHIS09]

what is on the right

[AllroundTuts]

what is at the left ?

[lianpalima]

gonna buy the webbie

[j0rdankid93]

Great video. My Flip Ultra recently broke and i think instead of getting a new one im gonna shell out the extra couple of bucks and get the webbie. What do you think?

[mattd28]

sony wins hands down

[iDigitalWab]

i think the "webby" is better