Review: Flip Video UltraHD Camcorder

January 25th, 2010

highdefinition

Editorial Reviews From the Manufacturer

Easy-to-use, pocket-sized HD camcorder featuring one-touch recording and digital zoom Simple user interface lets you start capturing HD video just seconds after powering on Captures 120 minutes of HD video on 8 GB of built-in memory; no tapes or additional memory cards required Convenient flip-out USB arm plugs directly into your PC or Mac to launch FlipShare software Pre-installed FlipShare software lets you easily email videos, edit individual clips, make custom movies, capture still photos from video, and even upload video to sharing sites like YouTube and MySpace FlipShare’s advanced compression technology allows for quick and easy sharing of high-resolution HD video in compact-sized files (via email or publishing online)
Comes with Flip Video rechargeable AA battery pack (recharges when connected to USB); also supported by standard AA batteries Large 2-inch anti-glare color LCD screen to play back and delete videos
HDMI output (mini-HDMI connector) makes it simple to watch video on your HDTV
Video: 16:9 widescreen, HD 720p (1280 x 720) at 30 frames per second (fps) progressive scan; recorded as MP4 files Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews:

Originally I went in to Best Buy to pick up a Mino HD so I could record studio and location “behind the scenes” photography shoots for my business. The employee I spoke to handed this to me saying “it doesn’t come out for another week, but its cheaper than the Mino that is on sale”. It was a no-brainer for me to pick up.

Its a nice little unit; compact, fits in my back pocket if needed, and the controls are very basic – click da big red button to record. Click da big red button again to stop. Simplicity at its finest.

I love that the unit has a USB built right in, but I still use a USB extension because I’m using an iMac, and since it ends up hanging upside down, I don’t want to add stress to the USB prong.

I haven’t used the built-in editing software, as I’m importing my files into iMovie and editing from that.

Quality wise, I’d say is pretty darn good considering its about the size of a box of Necco valentine sweet-hearts candy. However, I must insist that it is to be used as a stationary “fixed” lens, and not to use the digital zoom. Once that digital zoom is used, the quality, like *any* digital zoom, suffers greatly. To circumvent this, I’ve super-glued a step-down ring to the front of my Ultra HD so I can screw on a wide angle and a telephoto lens. If you don’t mind Frankenstein-ing your Ultra HD, then go for it.

I haven’t done much low-light shooting with it, but I have a feeling that it could get somewhat noisy and grainy. I’ll see more results soon when I start using this inside the studio.

I’ll be mainly using my Ultra HD on a tripod to record behind-the-scenes footage of my photography sessions, so I’ll have a way of keeping the camcorder static and not moving around a lot.

Overall, I feel this is greatly worth the $199 I paid. You have to remember that this is a dinky little device with a tiny sensor in it, so the quality won’t be as good as a larger dedicated video camera, or one of the newer DSLR’s with the built in high-def. Apples to Oranges.

With a little extra cash and some super-glue, you can get more reach and wide angle out of the unit.

[...] Great little unit. Don’t come in to this expecting a goose that lays golden eggs. For what it is, it does well. Recommended.

By Albert H. Ceaser Jr.”Sid Ceaser” (Nashua, NH USA)

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