Flip HD's

[thefeedski]

I'm looking for buy a flip HD for my youtube videos. (I think it would be easier for vlogs, etc. rather than the whole firewire with my HV40). I was wondering if anyone had any suggestions on a good flip HD I should look into. Thanks.

[Khufu1969]

Flip UltraHD. Great little camera. USB connections.

[askclifford]

I would look into the Aiptek Action HD GVS or Kodak Zi8. They have 1080p Image Quality, Image Stabilization, a decent built in mic,as well as a mic input. My friend owns the Aiptek. Loves it!

[thefeedski]

I would look into the Aiptek Action HD GVS or Kodak Zi8. They have 1080p Image Quality, Image Stabilization, a decent built in mic,as well as a mic input. My friend owns the Aiptek. Loves it!

Does this one have a USB connection? Or rechargeable battery do you know?

[Khufu1969]

Does this one have a USB connection? Or rechargeable battery do you know?

Flip UltraHD has the rechargeable battery AND it takes 2 aa's if that runs out on you and you need power in a pinch. Pretty dang handy!

[askclifford]

The Aiptek ($159) and Zi8 ($115) have a rechargeable battery.
They also have very good battery life.

The Kodak has a USB Arm just like the flip! It also has the option of taking a SD Card.

http://www.amazon.com/Kodak-Pocket-Video-Camera-Black/dp/B002HOPUPC/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1284086527&sr=8-1

The Aiptek takes a SD Card. You can take a USB Cord and plug it right into the computer.

http://www.amazon.com/Aiptek-Action-HD-GVS-Definition/dp/B001GXR03U

A nice thing about the Aiptek is that you can screw a Wide Angle lens onto it.

[thefeedski]

And what exactly does a mic input do? Can you plug a mic into it or something? I'm so cautious about buying a camera (because I'm broke.) This is why I am asking all these questions. :P I read one bad review on each camera and then I feel like I shouldn't buy it anymore. :\

[Janke]

And what exactly does a mic input do? Can you plug a mic into it or something?

Well, what does it sound like? Mic input = put in mic... ;)

[thefeedski]

Well, what does it sound like? Mic input = put in mic... ;)

Better safe than sorry. :)

[askclifford]

Also, check out image quality on YouTube!

Comparison: Zi8 vs. Flip
http://www.hightechdad.com/2009/09/30/the-portable-hd-video-recorder-smackdown-flip-ultrahd-vs-kodak-zi8/

[thefeedski]

I actually just came back from Target and I bought the Zi8. Thanks for all the help guys!

[askclifford]

Congratz Man!

[zephyrnoid]

I actually just came back from Target and I bought the Zi8. Thanks for all the help guys!

Looks like I'm a tad too late to input, so I'll be gentle and keep this a sticky for the future.

I like to think of myself as something of an expert in this niche.

I'll start by mentioning that a lot of new PocketHD entries are hitting the market as I write this and I'm on a path to getting most of them for review. Check back in December for my fuller feedback.

INTRODUCTION
Video in still cameras is an old concept. I had 320X240 SD in my2002 Coolpix 5000 but I'm sure it's been around longer than that.
Around 5 years ago, Flip Video introduced the first dedicated pocket video camera for supposedly goof proof turnkey video directed at youths, Moms etc. It was crap. Here's the camera (attached). I lied when I wrote it was "Goof Proof".
A year later, Flip introduced the Flip Ultra. That was the turn around product. That's the one that worked in a goof proof manner. The rest of the genealogy was:
Flip Ultra HD> Mino HD 60> Mino HD120 >Flip Slide.
As a point of reference: Flip DO NOT promise that the newer models improve on former models. In fact, Flip Mino HD 60 has better chromatic abberation correction in highlights than my personal favorite, the Flip Mino HD 120. Pressing the development team, they admitted to changing the CODEC in order to eek out better performance and disk space, at the expense of the spectral highlights.
- We tested both Mino HD's to the Ultra HD and came up with mixed results. Because the lenses have different close focus characteristics and angles of view, it's never an Apples to Apples comparison with Flip to Flip cameras.
A lot of people prefer to forgo compactness for battery interchangeability and I respect that when you consider that LiIon batteries eventually die, making your all-in-one pocket HD a disposable after about 1000 recharge cycles. Sad but true.
- We recently tested the Kodak Zi8 (
http://vimeo.com/7384644) against my flip (missing video sorry) and while the Kodak was a lot of bang for the buck and offers, 60fps and 30fps, the removable battery, a better codec for gain and a close-focus setting, it didn't stack up to the Mino HD in two key areas: Normal and Bright illumination (esp outdoors) and... Audio. The Flip's really shine in this aspect and has better live zooming. AND the flips seem to exhibit the best of all the pocket HD overall image quality (sharpness, tonal gradation(longer scale), color pleas-ability and white balance correction.
- I have been disappointed by the Flip Slide as it subtracted a lot of features and improvements from earlier models, while adding a kid friendly bells and whistles touchscreen and they killed correct framing. I sent it back, refused to review it and I wish Cisco better luck next time.
- We also recently did a quick side by side between the Flip Mino HD 120 and a couple of Sanyo cameras.
http://vimeo.com/12805600
Judge the results for yourselves but to me, the Flip beats them out and 1080P be damned on these cameras– it 'aint worth the bother... yet.

A note about accessories. So far, none of the manufacturing players have considered doing what I and some other pocketHD junkies have done- accommodate add on accessories.

http://www.gearninja.com/ADS/Mino_Maxd.html
http://www.gearninja.com/ADS/CafeBag4Mino.html
SONY however, must have picked up on our tom foolery as the nex series really look like hobbled Pocket HD modifications. Good for you Sony!

So I have my wish list for these cameras but you know, Manufacturers are slow to catch on. In the meantime The Flip Mino HD is it for me... for now.

The Kodak Playsport is a Killer in harsh environments and really goes under water with aplomb. It's still not nearly as nice an image as the Mino HD 120, but like I said.These cameras all trade off features and have different niches
http://www.gearninja.com/ADS/Playsport.html
(hunt for the 'Easter Egg' :)

As always, YMMV:hv20-smilie24: