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New York, 4:44 PM
Wed Dec 2
75 posts in the last 24 hours

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    Dsmvwl  Admin  Promote to frontpage Approve user Ban user ×
    Image of 32ndnote 32ndnote
    12/01/09

    In reply to iPod Dock 8-Way Battlemodo
    I'm somewhat into audio (was going to go to school as an audio engineer back in the day... don't know what happened to that, but alas, I am where I am) and randomly decided to plug my ipod into all of the docks at Best Buy.

    I hadn't read this article, but found, regardless of price, the JBL was by far the best sounding.
     Reply
    32ndnote was starred 32ndnote was unstarred
    Image of Christopher Powers Christopher Powers
    11/18/09

    In reply to Ultimate Pocket Camcorder Comparison
    Nice you did the Nano in there but you left out the iPhone 3Gs...
     Reply
    Christopher Powers was starred Christopher Powers was unstarred
    Image of Ryno29 Ryno29
    11/18/09

    @Christopher Powers: If you're gonna do the Iphone, then you have to do all the other phones with video cameras in them.

    Some people like not having a contract with their camera.
     Reply
    Don Nguyen approved this comment Ryno29 was starred Ryno29 was unstarred
    Image of iomatic, hey, I'm an idiot, but I'll comment anyway iomatic, hey, I'm an idiot, but I'll comment anyway
    11/18/09

    In reply to Ultimate Pocket Camcorder Comparison
    Uh, just a minor point re: the Nano; VGA resolution would not explain color saturation ("dull" and "lifeless"), though it would explain lack of detail.

    Thanks for the homework; I'm sure this will help many a holiday buyer.
     Reply
    Don Nguyen promoted this comment iomatic, hey, I'm an idiot, but I'll comment anyway was starred iomatic, hey, I'm an idiot, but I'll comment anyway was unstarred
    Image of ifteetylatun ifteetylatun
    11/17/09

    In reply to Ultimate Pocket Camcorder Comparison
    Key to the Kodak is an audio in jack to provide an external mic, can't be said how valuable this can be!
     Reply
    Don Nguyen approved this comment ifteetylatun was starred ifteetylatun was unstarred
    Image of Ebichuman - イカせてみせます、今夜こそ！ Ebichuman - イカせてみせます、今夜こそ！
    11/17/09

    In reply to Ultimate Pocket Camcorder Comparison
    I own a JVC Picsio, and I can concur on its crappiness.
    (Disclaimer : I got it with BicCamera gift cards, and that's the only mini cam they have).
    The feeling is awful, buttons are indeed very confusing and unpractical, making the interface nothing short of crap-tastic.
    Besides, any shot in darker than daylight conditions is barely watchable.

    It does the job somehow, but there is so much better out there (...unless by out there you mean Japan. The mini cam market is inexistant here) #pocketcamcorderbattlemodo
     Reply
    Don Nguyen promoted this comment Ebichuman - イカせてみせます、今夜こそ！ was starred Ebichuman - イカせてみせます、今夜こそ！ was unstarred
    Image of NotSoSiniSter NotSoSiniSter
    11/17/09

    In reply to Ultimate Pocket Camcorder Comparison
    do skulls mean "deadful"? #pocketcamcorderbattlemodo
     Reply
    NotSoSiniSter was starred NotSoSiniSter was unstarred
    Image of NotSoSiniSter NotSoSiniSter
    11/17/09

    @NotSoSiniSter: i meant dreadful. lol deadful. pun. :D #pocketcamcorderbattlemodo
     Reply
    Don Nguyen promoted this comment NotSoSiniSter was starred NotSoSiniSter was unstarred
    Image of Angelo Perera Angelo Perera
    11/17/09

    In reply to Ultimate Pocket Camcorder Comparison
    I looked at all these cameras at a Best Buy store in minnesota and decided on buying the Zi8 simply due to the fact that it was the highest resolution camera with an actual SD slot.

    As cool as the flips are, they were premium priced and only had integrated memory. I like flipping cards in and out, having the flexibility instead of always having to download files to a computer (usually huge files) before you can shoot again. #pocketcamcorderbattlemodo
     Reply
    Don Nguyen promoted this comment Angelo Perera was starred Angelo Perera was unstarred
    Image of billwilljr billwilljr
    11/17/09

    In reply to Ultimate Pocket Camcorder Comparison
    I wish someone made a pocket video camera with an OPTICAL zoom, and auto focus. That alone has kept me from buying one. #pocketcamcorderbattlemodo
     Reply
    Don Nguyen promoted this comment billwilljr was starred billwilljr was unstarred
    Image of Ebichuman - イカせてみせます、今夜こそ！ Ebichuman - イカせてみせます、今夜こそ！
    11/17/09

    @billwilljr: Seconded (although I did buy one, which was a letdown)
    You might want to look at cameras with a different form factor (think Sanyo Xacti with 5x optical zoom), which are not that much pricier and much more feature-rich. #pocketcamcorderbattlemodo
     Reply
    Don Nguyen promoted this comment Ebichuman - イカせてみせます、今夜こそ！ was starred Ebichuman - イカせてみせます、今夜こそ！ was unstarred
    Image of fate47 - Meh. fate47 - Meh.
    11/17/09

    In reply to Ultimate Pocket Camcorder Comparison
    I bought the Kodak Zi8 after the earlier review by Gizmodo.

    I bought it from Newegg (it's currently on sale at Target for $150) and a 16GB SDHC card.

    I normally record at 720P/60FPS with image stabilization and face tracking on. The battery lasts for about 40-45min at a time. That length of video on the stated resolution takes up just over 2GB of video. (I've not yet recorded one big video. I've been meaning to hit record and let it go until the battery runs out to see the limits.) If you purchase the Kodak Zi8, you shouldn't need more than a 4GB card (to have a little extra space).

    The video quality, while watching it on my MBP, looks OK. The color reproduction looks nice and it runs smooth (60FPS). When I attach it to either my HDTV or my parents LDTV, the video looks great. The built-in mic isn't the best, but, as stated in other comments, you can plug in an external mic (I'm using the mic from my Singstar game on my PS3). #pocketcamcorderbattlemodo
     Reply
    Brian Lam promoted this comment fate47 - Meh. was starred fate47 - Meh. was unstarred
    Image of redman042 redman042
    11/17/09

    In reply to Ultimate Pocket Camcorder Comparison
    I'd really like to hear your take on the iPhone 3GS capabilities compared to these other devices. My wife and I already owned an SD Flip camcorder but once we upgraded from the iPhone 3G to the 3GS, we stopped using the Flip and now take our video with the 3GS. We own a Canon HD-20 camcorder for occasional high-end shooting, but the 3GS allows us to capture video of our daughter anywhere and everywhere. We're pretty happy with the video quality compared to the Flip. #pocketcamcorderbattlemodo
     Reply
    Brian Lam promoted this comment redman042 was starred redman042 was unstarred
    Image of Monty Monty
    11/17/09

    @redman042: I agree that it would be nice to see a smart phone competition in this regard between iPhone, BlackBerry, Android, Pre and any other systems that want to play at the video smart phone party. The Nano really should have been included in that convergence competition rather than comparing it against dedicated video devices, though it was surprising it did that well. #pocketcamcorderbattlemodo
     Reply
    Monty was starred Monty was unstarred
    Image of ripfire ripfire
    11/17/09

    @redman042: I'm curious: What happens when you get a call while recording? #pocketcamcorderbattlemodo
     Reply
    ripfire was starred ripfire was unstarred
    Image of redman042 redman042
    11/17/09

    @ripfire: I'm sure the video recording stops to give priority to the call, but the truth is I've never actually had it happen. I don't get a huge number of phone calls throughout the day, but if I was someone that did, then I might be a lot more inclined to carry a Flip. #pocketcamcorderbattlemodo
     Reply
    redman042 was starred redman042 was unstarred
    Image of macpatrik macpatrik
    11/17/09

    In reply to Ultimate Pocket Camcorder Comparison
    I have owned both the Zi8 and the Flip Ultra HD. And I can say your review is spot on.

    I do most of my shooting outdoor during the day and sometimes at night. And most of my video is of action sports like wake boarding, skiing, motocross, stuff like that. The Zi8 does perform better in perfect lighting conditions but the image is soooo shaky, almost making the video unwatchable. The funny thing is, I think it has an image stabilizer. #pocketcamcorderbattlemodo
     Reply
    macpatrik was starred macpatrik was unstarred
    Image of vladdybear vladdybear
    11/17/09

    In reply to Ultimate Pocket Camcorder Comparison
    I don't even know why Apple stepped into the game with such crappy camera. #pocketcamcorderbattlemodo
     Reply
    vladdybear was starred vladdybear was unstarred
    Image of €hЯ!§ €hЯ!§
    11/17/09

    @vladdybear: I hope you don't honestly think Apple was trying to compete in the best camcorder category. The camera on the iPod nano is a nice addition to a good MP3 player. It was never meant to replace high-end camcorders, and it never will with it's size. Well, not for a long time anyway. #pocketcamcorderbattlemodo
     Reply
    Monty promoted this comment €hЯ!§ was starred €hЯ!§ was unstarred
    Image of ninjagin ninjagin
    11/17/09

    In reply to Ultimate Pocket Camcorder Comparison
    Nice review. I only have one point of contention: these packet camcorders will be around for a long time. There seems to be this assumption that convergent devices like smartphones will drive everyone away from a device category such as this. I disagree. There is a significant portion of consumers that don't want convergent devices either because they're overly complex, or there's no need for a device that does everything. The nice thing about a separate device is that you can give it to members of the family or friends or tape it to your dog's collar and let them use it without taking away your phone, and if anything happens to it (gets dropped/dunked/buried/falls overboard or into a snow drift) you're not risking your phone. It's a type of device that's a lot more innocuous than the traditional camcorder, too. The quality, I think, will also improve over time. #pocketcamcorderbattlemodo
     Reply
    ninjagin was starred ninjagin was unstarred
    Image of Gearhead_42 - Nibbles ate my garage! Gearhead_42 - Nibbles ate my garage!
    11/17/09

    In reply to Ultimate Pocket Camcorder Comparison
    Any thoughts on the best wide angle performer? That's a spec that's tough to find listed anywhere... #pocketcamcorderbattlemodo
     Reply
    Gearhead_42 - Nibbles ate my garage! was starred Gearhead_42 - Nibbles ate my garage! was unstarred
    Image of josho2001001 josho2001001
    11/17/09

    @Gearhead_42 - Nibbles ate my garage!: The Creative Vado HD has the best wide angle, you seem to almost double the area you can capture over the Flip HD.
     Reply
    FigNinja promoted this comment josho2001001 was starred josho2001001 was unstarred
    Image of Ninety-9 Ninety-9
    11/17/09

    In reply to Ultimate Pocket Camcorder Comparison
    There is a misprint in the graph. Zi8 won the outdoor, but the graph shows indoor. I also don't see how the nano fits into the group.

    Aside from that. The Zi8 seems to top the charts in all of the performance tests. As far as size is concerned, I like large and slim over short and fat. By far, the Zi8 appears to have the largest screen, not to mention, it fits flat in my pocket, like a cell phone. It's a good shape, IMO.

    The Zi8 is extremely light and plasticy. It *feels* very cheap in your hand because you expect a good gadget to be heavy and dense. Despite that, I still think it leads the entire category, it's brilliant, IMO.

    2 more things: It currently goes for $149.99 everywhere I looked, including my local CompUSA, which makes it an extremely good value, and it has a microphone input which makes up for the internal speaker. #pocketcamcorderbattlemodo
     Reply
    FigNinja promoted this comment Ninety-9 was starred Ninety-9 was unstarred
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