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Chris Jacob
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.
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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
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
@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
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
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
@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
@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
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
@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
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
@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.
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
I own the Zi8. Personally, I really like it but be sure to get the latest Firmware (1.06 I believe now). It solved a lot of problems the Zi8 had when introduced including stuttering zoom etc. I do almost ALL of my recording indoors and for live music. I bought a Sony stereo mic and an elbow adaptor to get the best out of it. So far, the mic has not been blown out as you can adjust audio levels. I mostly use 720P at 60 frames and I'm pleased with that outcome. The thing is the battery. It lasts about 45 minutes (good for a set of music) so I'll have to either buy a second battery or find a way to plug in for longer sets. Comes with a HDMI cable and an analog audio/video cable but mostly I just use it to capture then place on the computer. It's been totally reliable so far and no issues. #pocketcamcorderbattlemodo
11/18/09
11/18/09
Some people like not having a contract with their camera.
11/18/09
Thanks for the homework; I'm sure this will help many a holiday buyer.
11/17/09
11/17/09
(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
11/17/09
11/17/09
11/17/09
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
11/17/09
11/17/09
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
11/17/09
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
11/17/09
11/17/09
11/17/09
11/17/09
11/17/09
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
11/17/09
11/17/09
11/17/09
11/17/09
11/17/09
11/17/09
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
11/17/09