ZDNet is previewing the Sony DSC-M1, set to be announced on Thursday.
The upcoming camera will have expanded video capabilities, using MPEG-4 video compression to record up to an hour of high-quality video on a 1 GB Memory Stick. The camera will also feature a "hybrid" capture mode that grabs both video and still shots at the same time, capturing a still photo in the middle of an 8-second video clip.
Sony doesn't seem to intend the DSC-M1 as a replacement for a dedicated video camcorder, but merely to give photographers more options in the field. The $600 5 megapixel digital camera will have a 3x zoom and a 2.5 inch flip-out viewing screen. The DSC-M1 should be available in time for Christmas.
