 "Jittery audio and choppy video" | 2009-11-09 |
| - Reviewed By jawahs |
Some of the videos I recorded had very bad jittery audio. It didn't matter whether there was ambient noise or not. I returned this unit and Amazon lived up to its name once again by doing a full refund.
Good:
Photo mode - not the best, but is there! Pictures look like a paused video.
External memory
Rechargeable, removable batteries
Self-portrait mirror
720p does look fantastic when played on HDTV
Mac support - can use regular iMovie '08
Bad:
Jittery audio - made it useless for me - my kids' voices came out broken
Poor video refresh - yes 720p looks great, but the zi6 videos look very choppy. I guess the technical term is frame rate(?) Underwhelming when you shoot while moving - e.g. walking, panning, following my kids.
Flimsy - body is very flimsy. I'm 100% sure it can't take even one drop to the floor. With kids it is inevitable.
Overall, a great alternative to the Flip series, but the audio issue killed my enthusiasm. Wanted to get the zi8 after returning this, but decided against it after reading 'high pitched audio' issue with it. Seems like Kodak couldn't figure out audio yet!
What did I settle for now - iPod nano w/ video. Read my review on that if interested. |
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 "The camcorder SHOWDOWN: I've done the product comparisons for you" | 2009-11-07 |
| - Reviewed By User: A17V9XL4CWTQ6G |
If I'm going to spend more than a hundred bucks on an item or somewhere around there, I do extensive research first to know I got the best bang-for-the-buck and, consequently, dodge any potential future buyer's remorse.
I've realized that the time I spend doing my product comparisons is often time that others don't have so I may as well share what I can.
I'll start by saying that you'll see my "Verified Amazon Purchase" on the Flip HD Ultra Camcorder review because, obviously, that's the one I wound up buying and I'll share with you why. But what I like in a camcorder may not suit your own needs so I'll break it down and let you decide what's best for you via what I found out:
Here are the pocket camcorders I compared:
Flip UltraHD (will be referred to as "F")
Flip Mino HD 2nd generation(Will be referred to as "M")
Creative Labs Vado HD 8 GB 2nd generation (Will be referred to as "CL")
Kodak Zi6 Pocket HD (Will be referred to as "K")
Why HD cameras only? Brighter colors and better images, wider images
HD SHOOTING TIME:
F: 120 minutes.
M: 120 minutes
CL:120 minutes
K: 25 minutes with batteries they included, 120 minutes if you buy an SD card
MEMORY:
F: 8 GB
M:8 GB
CL: 8 GB
K: internally only 30 MB recording space but it has 32 GB expandable SD/SDHC card slot. Because it comes with such small recording space you really need to buy an SD or SDHC card to maximize its potential, but the potential is really good and this will increase your ability to shoot longer.
RESOLUTION:
All 720p which is excellent, just one step below the top 1080p format.
SOUND:
F:Premier AAC audio. Best sound quality but still not great in winds
M:Premier AAC audio. Best sound quality but still not great in winds.
CL:Poor sound quality; had issues with sound and picture not being in sync.
K:Poor sound quality
ZOOM:
F: 2x
M:2x
CL:2x
K: poor quality zoom on the one I tried but I still think it's 2x. It has a great macro focus for very close-up objects if, for example, you see a bumble bee and want to shoot it on a leaf a few inches away! Kinda cool.
SIZE AND WEIGHT:
F: 6.2 x 3.1 x 3.1 inches ; 11.2 ounces
M: 2 x 0.7 x 3.9 inches ; 1 pound
CL: 3.3 x 7.9 x 6.3 inches ; 11.2 ounces
K: 4x 5x 2.5" 2.4 lbs
TECHNICAL DETAILS:
F: USB cable pops out of the back so you don't need to keep up with a separate cable. Comes with Flip Video rechargeable AA battery pack (recharges when connected to USB); also supported by standard AA batteries. Note: Some sets come with the HDMi mini included and others come with the rechargeable battery pack on Amazon. Looks like one or the other but of course if you need both you can buy the other.
M: USB cable pops out of the back on this one as well. Has child safe button to prevent accidental deletion of videos. Internal lithium ion battery recharges through built-in USB arm
CL: USB cable in camera. Included in box are HDMI cable, USB extension cable, silicon skin & rechargeable battery.
K: Included in box are HD and AV cables and wrist strap and rechargeable batteries and battery charger. Has built in USB arm.
SPEED:
F: 30 frames per second.
M: 30 frames per second
CL: 30 frames per second
K: choice of 30 frames per second or 60 frames per second.
VIEWING SCREEN: All 2" except the Kodak was the largest at 2.4"
IMPORTANT NOTES:
F: Best low-light performance for the mini cameras (though not perfect at all) and least amount of blurring and dropped frames in my opinion. You can get an underwater case for this one! Though that may sound crazy for a Texan, we use the camera non-stop on vacations and even when we aren't IN the water, we are around the water...on boats, in the sand with sea mist, etc. Then we can dive in and record the fish. Comes preloaded with flipshare software...just plug in to computer and it pops up.
M: Colors don't appear as good on the Mino as the other cameras. Thinnest camera. Make sure you get the one that only comes in the color aluminum or brushed metal. If it comes in any other colors it is the 1st generation MinoHD and they improved upon that one in the newer models. Great audio. Better shooting in low light than most mini cameras. Camera comes preloaded with FlipShare software. Can get still images through flipshare software.
CL: Decent filming in low light. Software is preloaded in camcorder.
K: The only camera in my list without image stabilization which results in very shaky filming. The others have built-in image stabilization to help correct it. What appears to be metal in picture is actually a chrome colored plastic. That said, this had the largest viewing screen of all of them. 2.4" Very poor in low light and seemed to have far more shaking and blurring due to lack of image stabilization. It also takes still pictures but they are really really poor quality...same as a lesser-quality cell phone pictures but good in a pinch if you want a still shot and have no cell or camera I s'pose. Heaviest for a pocket camera but that's not good if you want to tote it in your purse daily or during travels. Software is not preloaded in camcorder but a cd comes with it.
And, finally, the reviews of the Flip from experts swayed me quite a bit:
Fast Company: "Flip Ultra HD is Pure Digital's "Best Pocket Camcorder Yet." 6-09
USA Today: "New Flip Ultra Video Cameras Might Flip Your Switch" 4-09
Business Week: How do you Invigorate a Recession? Look to i-phone, Flip, Kindle, and Zip Car For Answers
There were lootttts more I came across when researching the Flip Ultra HD but those are some of my favorites.
CONCLUSION: Clearest picture and sound was important to me, expert reviews that pointed to the Flip UltraHD as well and I liked the built in software and the case I can get to shoot underwater. It is the number one selling camcorder as well. So that was my personal decision-making process. However, keep in mind that if you need reading glasses none of that will matter if the 2" screen is too small for your viewing the shots easily for playback in which case you may wish to get the Kodak if that's important to you..
Also: No matter which one you get, you will probably want a mini tripod if you ever want to be in the shot yourself do don't forget those.
Also note: It's confusing because when these manufacturers make changes in the camcorders, they do not change the names on the new versions, nor do they change the names if it's an HD version or a non-HD version so be sure you look for the "HD" after the brand name and look for "2nd generation" or "newer version" on the Mino and Vado if you like one of those better so you don't get the older models.
Hope my obsessive comparing and contrasting for my own purchasing assistance helped you as well even if what you wanted in a camera was different from me. :-)
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| "good" | 2009-11-04 |
| - Reviewed By User: A1XEEB4DOSWAM4 |
| one of those things i bought and never use. poor sound quality and picture is shaky but that is expected in a product with no internal stabilization. doesn't do too well with darkness either. overall it was a definite good buy for the price but left me limp and wanting more |
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| "A disappointment" | 2009-10-22 |
| - Reviewed By dmverlen |
I wanted a quick and easy video camera to take with me for those "unexpected" Kodak moments. I looked up the reviews for this and went with the positives. I would have done better to have paid attention to the negatives.
First the camera has a nice viewing screen. You can see what you are recording with very little eye strain. It is easy to insert the batteries, the S/D card, and to access the USB port. Unlike many reviewers I don't find the picture that shakey or the quality that poor.
One huge negative if you are using it while traveling or over a weekend is the battery charging time. Twelve hours. The batteries do run down rather quickly too. A positive though (if you can call it that)--the unit comes with a battery charger so you can purchase additional rechargeable batteries to take with you on your jaunt! However, rechargeable batteries aren't cheap and I'm not sure the camera price warrants the purchase of several more if you aren't pleased with the end use videos.
Another negative for me at least--the booklet about the camera contains very little information. I had a symbol come up while filming which I assume was telling me something was wrong and the book had no listings of any type of symbols. Actually the booklet referred me to a Website for additional information. However, I was out at a pumpkin farm amidst what seemed like thousands of kids--Website perusal wasn't an option! I couldn't get the symbol to disappear until I deleted some video, so I assume I had used up the memory.
And that is a third negative--the memory of the camera itself. I could only record about 28 seconds until the memory ran out. I had forgotten the S/D card and had hoped to get about two to three minutes of video, but the camera maxed out at around 28 seconds.
The picture quality is a bit poorer than the promotional materials leads one to believe, but I found the sound to be totally awful. It is mono, but very tinny.
Summary? If I had to do it over again, I would probably not purchase this product. It doesn't seem to work any better for short videos than my digital camera's recording function. In fact, my digital camera was cheaper and I'd say the picture and the sound is much better! |
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 "No continous playback on TV" | 2009-10-21 |
| - Reviewed By albertkwong20002 |
I purchased a refurbished Zi6 from New Harbor. I have been using camcorders since my daughter was born many many years ago, and this is my first HD unit. I just want to find out what HD is all about before I throw away money at more expansive unit.
I only have a XT to view the videos. It's choppy (to be expected due to slower PC) but the videos were good with adequate lighting. It's acceptable in flourescent lighting and a half dim living room. It's very bad in dawn just before the sunrise while driving.
The key to using Zi6 is to remind myself that "It is a camera" and without optical stabilization or SuperSteady Shot - minimize jumping or walking around while recording, holding and Locking my arms close to body while taking the videos, taking video in a rock solid position while at night or dawn. And I will not be disappointed.
The battery life is an hour or more with a set of brand new Sony 2500 mAh NiMH. The recording time is excellent as compare to half hour(ish) with W290 and ZS3. It's pointless to complaint about the included freebie as no camera manufacturers will give you an adequate one for free.
The only issue that I have with Zi6 is the lack of continuous playback on my analog TV. I need to play each videos manually. It's very tiring after a while. If I know about it sooner, I would not buy it. |
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 "Great Buy and I Highly Recommend It" | 2009-10-06 |
| - Reviewed By User: A26BX7MQBWHYCB |
| The Kodak Zi6 is easy to operate and takes excellent High Definition movies. The only problem I have had is that I neglected to turn it off and filled up my 4 GB memory card. Even though I left it on, the batteries are still in good shape and I have not had to recharge them yet. I would highly recommend this camera. |
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Expedited Available
