Sony Webbie HD MHS-CM1 Camcorder Review

Color & Noise Performance Summary
• Vivid, saturated colors aren't quite on par with most high definition camcorders, but are better than other inexpensive "YouTube" models • Accurate colors, thanks in large part to a good automatic white balance • Noise levels can't really compete with full-featured camcorders, but the picture is as clear as—if not clearer than—the competition
	Product Tour	(Page 3 of 17)	Motion & Resolution Performance

Color (7.04)

The Sony MHS-CM1 produced a very good image in our bright light color testing, especially when compared to other inexpensive web camcorders. The colors are relatively vivid and accurate—a credit to the camcorder's automatic white balance. According to Imatest, the color error was 4.97 and the saturation level 91.59%. We have yet to test other high definition consumer camcorders this year, but this is a good score compared to last year's YouTube camcorders like the Pure Digital Flip Mino HD and the Kodak Zi6. (More on how we test color.)

Note: CCI is using a new color error formula this year for our new 2009-2010 rubric, so the numbers won't match up with the results from most camcorders we reviewed in 2008 and before. The new system uses the CIEDE2000 formula, which is the most accurate equation for determining color error, and will be in place on all our reviews as of 2009. The color error for the three comparison models below has been recalculated using the new formula.

Color Accuracy Performance
Color Chart with Error Chart to the right
The Sony MHS-CM1 produced a color error of 4.97 and a saturation level of 91.59 in our bright light color testing. (The map on the right is a diagram of the color error. The length and direction of each line indicates how the camcorder processed each particular color.)

Sony MHS-CM1 Color Modes
Auto	100% Crop

As you can see from looking at the side-by-side comparisons below, the biggest problem plaguing these budget cams is the inadequacy of the manual white balance. In most indoor lighting conditions, white balance plays an important role in conveying accurate colors. When your camcorder is incapable of performing a manual white balance, the result is usually a bluish or yellowish tone. To the Sony's credit, the automatic white balance performed admirably; the consumer is rewarded with vivid and accurate colors.

Sony MHS-CM1 Color Comparisons
Sony MHS-CM1	Flip Mino HD
Kodak Zi6	Flip Mino

	Close-Up Color Comparisons
	Ideal	Sony MHS-CM1	Flip Mino HD	Kodak Zi6	Flip Mino
Red
	Ideal	Sony MHS-CM1	Flip Mino HD	Kodak Zi6	Flip Mino
Green
	Ideal	Sony MHS-CM1	Flip Mino HD	Kodak Zi6	Flip Mino
Blue
	Ideal	Sony MHS-CM1	Flip Mino HD	Kodak Zi6	Flip Mino
Skin Tone 1			No data available	No data available	No data available
	Ideal	Sony MHS-CM1	Flip Mino HD	Kodak Zi6	Flip Mino
Skin Tone 2			No data available	No data available	No data available

Color Performance Scores

* Scores for these models were recalculated using the new 2009-2010 rubric.

Noise (8.97)

Noise levels on the Sony MHS-CM1 are relatively low, even for a high definition camcorder. They can't quite compete with the upper echelon of consumer HD models, but they are a slight improvement on most of the YouTube camcorder market. According to Imatest, the noise percentage was 0.6725%. (More on how we test noise.)

Noise Comparisons
Sony MHS-CM1 100% Crop	Flip Mino HD 100% Crop	Kodak Zi6 100% Crop	Flip Mino 100% Crop

In the competition, noise often comes in the form of chunky, blurry distortion like what you see in the Kodak Zi6. The Sony's noise level is of a much finer grain—finer even than what we saw on the Pure Digital Flip Mino HD.