The Sony Bloggie Duo is a compact camera which takes both still photos and video. It comes in several nice colors and has dual display screens.What's in the Box?
* The Bloggie with self-contained memory and battery, and a one year warranty.
* Wrist strap
* USB cable
* Typical consumer electronics paperwork (warranty info, Sony ad, etc.)
The box does not include a hardcopy user manual. When you plug in the Bloggi for the first time, you will be prompted to install the Bloggie software. You will see that the user manual (called the Handbook) is stored on the device. It can be accessed as needed, printed, downloaded, etc. It is about 40 double-sided printed pages.
If you are giving this as a gift, once you remove the outer box, you will find that the inner Sony box is handsome and will look nice to the recipient. It is a black cardboard type box with the Sony logo on top. It hinges open to reveal the Bloggie in a velveteen type compartment.
The Bloggie is very compact, yet carries a lot of features in its small footprint. At 4 ¼" long, a little over 2 ¼" wide and about ½" thick it is about as small as you can get for an HD camera/video recorder. It weighs about 4.9 ounces. The Bloggie is `smart' and knows its orientation, so the display and soft menus will switch between landscape and portrait on the fly as you change how you hold the device.
The menu and keys are intuitive. The main control is a `joystick' type which houses the main `Enter' button and up/down/ left/right controls for various options. Above this are three buttons. From top to bottom, if holding the Bloggie landscape (or right to left if holding the device "portrait"), these buttons are: The menu button, followed by the middle button, which toggles the front display on/off, and last is the button to switch between recording/playback modes.
The 2.7" screen on the rear is the main screen. You would use the front screen (2") primarily for self-portraits, etc.; when on, it will mirror the main display. This is also nice if you want to watch something and share it with someone standing opposite you. Yes, you can use dual screen mode both during recording and playback! Both screens have excellent color and contrast, even in bright sunlight. The Bloggie also has an LED flash/backlight. These function well, especially considering the device's small size. On the top is the On/Off button and shutter button, as well as the speaker and microphone; you need to avoid covering the latter when recording audio. On the bottom is the min-HDMI port and USB connector. I did not call it a USB port, because it actually unfolds from within the Duo's body to form a built-in USB connector! All ports are completely hidden when not in use.
This brings me to the product's one design flaw. This is NOT a serious defect, but worth mentioning. The built-in USB connector is meant to plug directly into the port on a PC, etc. In many cases, you should be able to plug in the built-in USB connector. However, if you can't because, for example, you have a desktop PC with a recessed USB layout or ports without easy access, then you need to use the provided cable. The USB cable included by Sony is just 6 7/8" long from end to end. If you use a laptop, you should be fine either way, as the camera can sit on the table next to your laptop, etc. But if you need to use the cable and aren't at a table or you use a desktop PC/tower and can't use the built-in connector, then the cable is a headache. You would have to let the camera dangle (not good!) or place it on something to raise it to keep it supported. Again, this is NOT a serious defect, but could impact someone if they have limited flexibility in accessing their USB ports or moving their PC. In those cases the cable is just way too short. Sony sells a longer one as an accessory. You can probably find a USB extender cheaper.
As for the Bloggie's performance, you can select several photo options depending on what you want. It offers 0.4MP, 3MP, and 5MP still photos. 0.4MB would be for something where you want to save space, load files very quickly, but where quality is not a huge concern. 3MB is good for use on a PC or the internet, and the 5MB for prints. 0.4MP and 3MP use a 16:9 screen ratio, while the 5MP setting uses 4:3.
Storage-wise the Bloggie has 4GB of resident storage, which is not upgradeable. If storage is a concern, Sony also sells an 8GB Bloggie, but that model is not dual screen at this time. For the 4GB model reviewed here, it will hold slightly over 1,300 photos at 5MP. Like most cameras, the display will indicate the number of photos left.
For video, the settings are: 270 at 30fps, HD 720 at 30 fps, HD 720 at 60 fps (more suitable for sports and other fast action), and full HD 1080 at 30 fps. Files are recorded in MP4 format. Storage space for video recording will vary. For 480x270 (listed as `270' on the Bloggie), you can store up to 8 hours of video. At 720/30 fps this drops to 2 hours, at 720/60 fps 1 hour, or 40 minutes for 1080 mode. What it amounts to is you can record in the lowest HD mode for up to 2 hours. Also, the Bloggie will allow a half hour of continuous recording for any one movie file.
The Zoom is 4x digital. In 35mm camera terms the lens would equate to a 47mm focal length. The sensor is a ¼" CMOS. The Duo has built in image stabalization. Battery life is decent and the typical considerations apply. If you use the backlight, the battery drains faster. It will typically hold out for a couple of hours.
Playback quality on the camera itself is what you might expect. Very good video, somewhat muffled audio. Playback on a PC has excellent video and audio. Through HDMI, the video and sound are both awesome. Like most electronics, the Bloggie does not come with an HDMI cable and you will need to buy an HDMI to HDMI-mini cable. At the time I got my Bloggie, Amazon was offering a cable free with a Bloggie purchase.
The software on the Bloggie is nice. You can certainly use software included with your Windows or Mac OS to manage the recordings on your Bloggie, but the software is worth a look. It gives you an interface to push your photos and video to Facebook, Youtube, etc. and also walks you through the registration for a free Sony Personal Space account which can help you easily share photos and video with family and friends through groups, notifications, etc. Obviously there are many ways to do this, but this one is included with the Bloggie if you want to give it a spin.
So, what's the bottom line? I would not replace my higher end video recorder or digital camera with the Bloggie. For higher end recording, I need the features, flexibility, and zoom capability that a full size device provides. However, for a camera on the run, with plenty of features, the Bloggie Duo is fantastic. It is very small so you can stick it in a pocket or purse and carry it around all the time. Then you will be ready to video the kids, family, friends etc. on all those occasions where you always said "We should have brought the camcorder!" It really fits the bill for a conveniently sized, easy to use, reasonably priced camera/video recorder.
As a still photo camera, the Bloggie isn't quite as useful. Still photos have been dark and grainy most of the times that I've used it. Low-light makes it worse, I've never been able to get any particularly good photos out of it. It's decent enough to take some snapshots here and there, but this won't be replacing your dedicated still camera.
The hardware itself feels solid, although a textured surface might have been a better choice than the smooth, shiny finish. The only part I don't feel comfortable about is the pop-out USB connector. You'll probably want to use a USB extension cable with this (a very short one is included with the Bloggie, although if you're plugging it directly into a laptop sitting on a surface, it works, although it takes a good bit of pull to get it out of the USB port). It's convenient, but doesn't feel particularly durable.
As for the much touted software that makes using your Bloggie easier, I have to ask why it's even necessary. Was it really so hard to copy and paste your photos into folders or to upload them to whatever photo services you use? The Bloggie software is a bit bloated for what it is and doesn't perform particularly well (and needs to update itself as soon as you install it). I've never been a fan of Sony's software for its PC peripherals, and the Bloggie software doesn't change that. It does what it's supposed to do, but a lot of its touted functionality are in features I'll never use. I might be an old fogey that doesn't "get" the new "social media," but I still don't want to leave the management and uploading of my photos and videos up to an application, especially with Sony's penchant for changing and removing features in their software packages.
Overall, I like the camera. It feels solid and takes decent video. The software is a take-it-or-leave-it affair, and I guess I should be thankful that Sony at least left me the option to still be able to navigate to the photo and video folders and be able to copy, cut, paste and delete as I see fit.
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I love this camera! I just got it yesterday and it only took about an hour to master the set up and charging. I used the online product guide for more detailed instructions since what came in the box didn't really explain things all that well. Every thing about the camera is pretty idiot proof, meaning that I could use it straight out of the box with out too much online help. The online guide is easy to sort through as well and I know this can probably do a lot more than what I plan on using the camera for.The camera has a nice white finish and is easy to wipe off, it is pretty light and will easily slip into a pocket. I like the carrying strap provided although it doesn't make a big fashion statement in ugly industrial gray. The still pictures are amazingly clear and once I figured out the flash part for lighting, I was equally impressed. I didn't even need the instructions to figure that out. It connects directly to your computer through a dongle or direct USB connection and loads to your preset Windows' picture file. The USB port is really cool since it just pops out after pushing a button. There are setting to allow you to load directly to You Tube or a variety or other sites, but I haven't tried that yet but it looks easy.
Taking short movie clips is where this camera really shines and it does really well both in low light and bright sunshine. I wanted this to capture some dog film and some short interviews and the definition is really amazing. The sound is in mono but extremely clear and records at the perfect level. I ran the camera and hour and half before the battery died. I also didn't use the light function that much since I think that really drains the battery. Overall, if you are looking to take short videos and a few still pictures, this is a great camera to own.
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I've been using the Duo for a few months now and I've notice some faults with it and how to avoid them. I've notice when I first got the Duo that the 1080p recording setting seemed to have video skipping issues. When I switched to 720p @ 60 fps it didn't happen for a long time. But then there would be cases that I'd have the video skip/freeze and I finally figured out the problem. When the Duo gets warm from the light being turned on, held in hand for long period of time, or just in a hot climate (95-100 degrees), the recording function can't keep up with the intense recording process. So basically while in 1080p mode or in 720p @ 60 fps mode you'll have faulty recording if the Duo gets hot. Though I did find out that if I set it to 720p @ 30 fps mode I didn't have any video freezing/skipping issues. Though I think if you got the Duo hot enough it would even have problems with that, say in Iraq during the middle of the day during the Summer.So basically don't expect to shot 1080p unless your outside and it's like 40 degrees or less I suspect. Even at room temperature if you have the light on while holding the Duo the video will start to freeze/skip after 10 mins or so. And you can definitely feel when it gets to hot. It's amazing how much heat this little camera is capable of putting out which is the big problem. Any time you heat up an electronic device it will slow down it's processing speed and potentially cook it self dead.
Other than the skipping problem I think it's a great little pocket video camera to take youtube videos with while on the go or at home with a tripod. You get what you pay for and honestly is a great for amateur video recording. 720p @ 30 fps is actually a very nice setting and I don't notice the difference in the 60 fps setting if I'm just walking and talking. Though when in a car and shotting video outside while going fast does show a difference. But honestly not too many cases where you need 60 fps of video footage anyways.
As far as software goes I use Linux so I didn't use any of the software that came with it. I use OpenShot Video Editor and haven't had any issues with the Duo not working with Linux or the my video editor.
Overall I'd still recommend this camera, just know it does have some faults. Hopefully they'll fix the over heating problem in the next version. Then it would be perfect!
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I REALLY like this camera. Its biggest selling point is its simplicity. If you want something fancy with long battery life, this is not the camera for you.I did a little self-test: I tried using the Duo without referring to the manual. Although I am not a "techie" type person, I was actually able to figure out quite a bit without it. This is how a point and shoot video/photo camera should be.
The second thing I absolutely love is that the software is contained within the camera. In lieu of full disclosure, I did have trouble accessing the user's manual (contained in the camera software). My computer was unable to "read" it. With a quick Google search I was able to easily access the manual from the Sony site. It doesn't get any better than this.
The third feature that impressed me is the fact that I don't have to pull out a memory card to transfer videos and photos to the computer. I just plugged it in with the built-in USB arm. This is awesome. No extra equipment needed.
The video and photo quality is comparable to that of the previous point and shoot type cameras I've owned and passed along. I don't see a huge difference in the "HD" quality as of yet. Maybe with more outdoor use I will see it.
All in all, this is a practical and versatile little camera, even for those who don't use Twitter, YouTube, or social networking site. But for those who do, the Bloggie Duo is a perfect fit.
Note: The Bloggie Duo does not come with a case. I think it would have been nice if Sony had included a simple case. Fortunately, I had a little Case Logic "UP-2 Universal Pockets Medium" case on hand. It works perfectly with the Duo. I found the case on Amazon for five dollars.
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