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One of the hottest digital cameras at this year's Consumer Electronics Show, the 5-megapixel Sony DSC M-1 not only offers high-resolution still and video capture, but it's wrapped in one of the most radically designed bodies we've ever seen.
The M-1's brushed charcoal body is compact with a sleek, sexy look. It's only when you swivel open the large and bright 2.5" swivel LCD to an L-shape that the controls are revealed.
You'll need to spend a little time with the manual to get beyond the M-1's basic pointand- shoot capabilities and get used to holding the camera a little differently than usual (its hand strap is a little awkwardly placed, as well). After that, it's smooth sailing. One of the M-1's unique features is a hybrid photo record, where you can capture a still picture in the middle of an eightsecond video clip (five seconds before; three seconds after). This feature is like insurance if your timing is off—if you miss the moment, you probably have captured it in video.
The other impressive feature is its high-resolution video capture (up to 640x480 at 30fps) in movie mode with stereo sound. At high resolution played back on a 12" iBook, the video was clear and crisp. Although the sound was a little tinny, it was above average for a camera movie mode. The M-1 comes with only a 32MB Memory Stick Duo card, so budget for a larger card. On the plus side, Sony includes a "station" that charges the proprietary battery and hooks up to your Mac or a TV for viewing.
Notwithstanding the video capability, the M-1 is a bit pricey compared to other 5-megapixel cameras, and we've seen better still-image quality elsewhere. We're also waiting to try out the new 5-megapixel Casio EX-P505, which offers still and highresolution video capture for $100 less. However, we think that the M-1 will more than satisfy photographers for whom video fusion is key.
–THEANO NIKITAS
DSC-M1: 
Sony | www.sony.com | 800-836-8580 | $600
Pros: The coolest-looking fusion camera on the market, high resolution movie mode with stereo sound capture, unique hybrid still/video-in-one capture mode, good point-and-shoot feature set, comes with charge/ transfer station.
Cons: Pricey, slight learning curve, tiny flash with short reach, average still-image quality.
Requires: USB port, OS 9.1 or higher, OS X
macHOME recommends: Larger Memory Stick Duo card
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