Sony NSC-GC1 Camcorder for YouTube
The Sony NSC-GC1 camcorder is geared towards YouTube video makers. It offers the following features:
* 5 megapixel sensor, filming MPEG-4 at 15fps QVGA or 30fps VGA resolutions
* ability to pre-format footage and easily publish content to sites like YouTube
* a built-in flash
* 4x digital zoom
* a 2.4-inch color LCD
* rechargeable Li-ion battery
Check price and availability at Amazon.
Check below for great deals on the Sony NSC-GC1 on eBay. Don’t have an eBay account yet? Click here to register - it’s fast and it’s free!
Sony NSC-GC1 News Release
Sony is responding to the rise of user-generated content on the Internet with its new, pocket-sized Net-sharing CAM, designed for social networkers and video bloggers who frequently upload video and images to the web.
With more than 230 million videos viewed online and more than 150,000 uploaded daily, according to YouTube™, video sharing is fast becoming as popular as photo sharing.
Sony’s Net-sharing CAM seamlessly uploads short video clips to the web, and snaps print-quality, 5-megapixel digital still photos. Weighing just about five ounces, the model has ultra-portable dimensions (1 3/16-inches wide by 4 1/8-inches tall by 2 1/4-inches deep).It can record about five hours of web-ready video footage on a Memory Stick™ PRO Duo media card, when recording with the default settings on a 2GB media card.
“People who upload videos frequently are looking for solutions to easily get their personal content online in a few simple steps, so we developed the Net-Sharing CAM to be intuitive,” said Kelly Davis, director of product marketing at Sony Electronics. “It can be used as an everyday communication device, which can also be personalized to quickly share short video clips and photos online.”
Ready to Shoot and Share
The device shoots video in the “web-ready” MPEG-4 recording format, with selectable picture qualities ranging from QVGA/15 frames per second to VGA/30 frames per second, which can be viewed on televisions. It sports a distinctive “sharemark” button so users can easily “tag” or select video and photos they want to upload.
The Net-sharing CAM is pre-loaded with PMB Portable software. This user-friendly application automatically runs when the device is connected to a compatible PC via the supplied USB cable, and will recognize “tagged” videos and photos. Because the unit pre-formats videos for popular web-sharing sites, it is easy to access them and post videos, without having to down-convert or manipulate the footage beforehand.
For the ultimate in ease of upload, the PMB Portable pre-loaded software has pre-programmed menu buttons for direct publishing to web sharing sites, such as Crackle™. The built-in software can also be programmed for web sites of your choice or even your own personal blog or “vlog.”
Picture Motion Browser™ software is also supplied for those who would prefer an extended version of the application to run directly from a personal computer. Additionally, this version makes it possible to quickly edit and store footage, based on preferences. Bundled driver software is also included so the device can double as a live web cam.
Designed to be sleek and intuitive, the Net-sharing CAM sports separate buttons for movies and photos, eliminating the need to select specific modes before shooting. It has a built-in flash, 4x digital zoom and a 2.4-inch color LCD screen. Powered with rechargeable Lithium Ion technology, the model has a battery life of about 90 minutes (depending on recording conditions).
The Sony Net-sharing CAM will be available in September for about $200
Check price and availability at Amazon.
Sony NSC-GC1 Reviews
Camcorderinfo gives us their first impressions of the Sony NSC-GC1 and they write, “A new type of camcorder is on the rise. Anyone who has stepped into a big-name pharmacy in the last few years could tell you that. They’re small (very small), they’re cheap (as low as $99), and for once, they’re not trying to convince you of their video quality. The talking point here is their ability to sync up with online video sharing sites. The phrase “YouTube” springs forth from a PR person’s mouth more times than you would believe. Sony is no stranger to trends, having created quite a few on their own. Hence, last week they delivered the new NSC-GC1 ($199 MSRP), an unbelievably light camcorder that has virtually no manual controls and poor handling. This is as stripped down as a camcorder gets. Nevertheless, it delivers on a simple promise: instant recording and uploading to online video sharing sites. If Sony can do that well, they will have a winner on their hands.” Link.
CNET UK reviews the Sony NSC-GC1 and writes, “With a price tag higher than competing pocket camcorders and equal or slightly higher than far more feature-rich budget digital cameras like the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W55, we simply can’t recommend this awkwardly designed, low-quality pocket camcorder…If you want to pop up YouTube videos easily and not do much else, the RCA EZ105 remains your best bet. If you want a solid camera that can also shoot YouTube-worthy video clips, choose a dedicated digital camera instead. If you do choose the digital camera route and already own a decent sized SD card, you might want to try the Canon Digital IXUS 70, which costs a little more than this Sony, but is just barely larger in size and delivers comparable video and 7-megapixel stills.” Link.
CNET reviews the Sony NSC-GC1 and writes, “The Sony NSC-GC1 certainly looks stylish, but looks alone can’t save it. With a price tag $50 to $100 higher than competing pocket camcorders and equal or slightly higher than far more feature-rich budget digital cameras like the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W55, I simply can’t recommend this awkwardly designed, low-quality pocket camcorder. If you want to pop up YouTube videos easily and not do much else, the RCA Small Wonder remains your best bet. If you want a solid camera that can also shoot YouTube-worthy video clips, choose a dedicated digital camera instead. If you do choose the digital camera route and already own a decent-size SD card, you might want to try the Canon SD1000, which costs more than this Sony, but is just barely larger in size and delivers comparable video and 7-megapixel stills.” Link.
InfoSync reviews the Sony NSC-G1C and writes, “The GC1 is certainly a jack-of-all trades, and manages to pack a lot of standard features from more expensive point-and-shoots into its funky-looking package. It scored well in most of our categories, but the image quality suffers from an extremely low-quality lens, and being the most important aspect of a digital camera, it suffered. The GC1 is great for a child or teenager unconcerned with excellent image quality, given its versatile nature. But for even the most casual photographer, it doesn’t make the cut. As a camcorder it faired slightly better, but as a “Net-Sharing Cam,” the only convenience it offered over a standard camera was that its software finds the URL of the video you want to share, falling well short of competitors like Casio’s YouTube uploader. As a webcam, it did what it said it would, but the quality was just average. Ultimately, it did a lot of things, it just didn’t do any of them particularly well.” Link.
