Sony HDR-MV1 Music Video Recorder (Black)

The media could not be loaded. (Edit: UGHH...The video looks terrible uploaded here!)NOTE: This isn't really a video review. This is my first time uploading video for viewers to see. So this is just a sample video displaying the quality.This little thing has surprised me with the quality when shooting outside. That was my last test to see whether I was going to return it or not. It needs good lighting to product crisp clean video. I used it to record my son in side and wasn't really pleased with the quality in low light. The footage looked weird on the computer, a bit washed out, but when I streamed to the footage straight to my Samsung 55inch LED 240Hz TV it would be warmer, but still not as pleasing as i'd want it. I figured it's a "you got what you paid for" kind of product. I bumped up the light in the house and notice gains in quality. That's when I got curious to shoot in daylight. Pointed it outside my window just to get some footage, then took it to the PC to stream to the TV. I was THEN surprised. My initial reaction was "S*** look at that, oh so clean and clear" I guess I was making noises because my wife started teasing me, haha.So in all, for just under $300, this lil guy has exceeded my expectations in quality and easy of use. The file format it produces is an MP4, which can easily be uploaded anywhere and played on your PC, iPhone & iPad without a hiccup. You don't really need a manual because it's pretty simple to use. You turn it on, press the start/stop record button, then shoot. A lot of folks don't like that there is a side view, I can understand why because I too would like to see what i'm shooting. However, if you have it on a tripod, standing at the side while rotating it is best. The mics are very sensitive. If you have it on the table and tried to turn it to shoot something else, you will hear it. So a tripod is best or sitting it down pointing in the direction you need. I say try it, if you don't like it, return it. Amazon is great with returns.I gave it 5 starts due to how compact it is, how easy it is to transport, how easy it is to get the footage off of the device. The increased quality in good lighting, how clear the audio is. You can get pretty creative with this. I would take .5 off for not being able to see from the back making it a 4.5 star product.

I just got the product, and so far I'm impressed. I'm a musician, and it looks like a perfect fit for recording gigs. Unlike the original user review, my product DID come with a user guide. It's minimal, but sufficient.The product is small and seems sturdy, but lighter then I expected. People reviewing the release pictures of the product were worried about the microphones being easily damaged. The arms protecting the mics feel sturdy enough. I'm am concerned about wind however. The mics are exposed, and I don't see a great way to cover them with a wind shield, sense any wind shield could obstruct the camera view. Anyone who has recorded gigs outside knows that mics need a wind shield. We'll see. I plan to go to Guitar Center and see if they have anything usable. Worst case I'll hang a napkin around the mics.The video looks great. It is a wide angle fixed lens, so you don't have to be far away at all in order to capture the state. If I had to estimate, it looks like the width of the image is double the distance. So if I go back 5 feet, I can capture a 10 foot state. There are no controls for zooming. And focus is also fixed. Anything from 3 inches away to infinity is in focus. I played around with it with very low lighting conditions, and the image looked better then I expected it to. The image didn't get grainy.One thing I didn't know about the product before getting it, is it's ability to remotely monitor and operate through the use of the smart phone. I have an iPhone 5s. I downloaded the free app PlayMemories Mobile (from Sony) to my phone. With iPhone you connect your phone to the camera using the WIFI connection provided by the camera. If you have an Android, you can use NFC for an even easier setup. Once paired, the smartphone app displays a LIVE feed from the camera, and allows you to start and stop recording. This is perfect for being on stage, seeing that the camera view is good, and controlling recording sessions. It's a really good solution for live musicians. Others have talked about the fixed view screen on the camera being a huge issue because it is side mounted and fixed. The remote view capability on a smartphone is so much better then anything you could use with a screen being on the camera.I've yet to use this at a gig. I'll post an update once I do. So far I think it's great!UPDATE 12/23/2013Here is a sample from when I first used the camera. As you can see it has a bit of a fish-eye effect. Because of it though, you can get much of the stage without being far away. I'm about 15 feet in front of the guitarist here. Also, the band isn't lit in any way. The camera did great in low light conditions. I'm happy with audio as well. The room was audibly bright. Brick walls and concrete floors. Still the audio sounds great for a live performance.http://youtu.be/u6aaf-pOHj0