Reviews Archive

Kodak Zi8 Camcorder Review

– August 30, 2010Posted in: Reviews

Specs And Features

Dimension 2.4 x 0.9 x 4.4 inches (Width x Depth x Height)
Weight 0.24 pounds
Max Resolution 1080p
Frame Rate 30 fps at 1080p, 60fps at 720p
Video format H.264 video compression, AAC audio compression
Electronic Image Stabilization Yes
Internal Memory 128 MB Flash Memory
External Memory SD/SDHC card expansion slot (support up to 32GB), Memory card not included
Display Size 2.5 inches
Optical Zoom No
Digital Zoom 4X
Battery Type Rechargeable Lithium Ion
External Mic Jack Yes
HDMI Out Yes
Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) $179.00 (Check out lower price at Amazon)

Pros & Cons

Pros:

  • Maximum resolution up to 1080p
  • One of the few pocket camcorder to feature Electronic Image Stabilization
  • Good video quality for a pocket camcorder
  • SD card slot let users expand memory up to 32GB
  • Rechargeable and removable battery
  • External mic jack available
  • Bundled composite and HDMI cables
  • Macro focus mode
  • Competitive price

Cons:

  • Does not come with external memory card – need to purchase separately
  • Bundled software isn’t Mac compatible but necessary for smooth playback of 1080p video

Review Summary

The Kodak Zi8 measuring 2.4 x 0.9 x 4.4 inches is a portable camcorder which easily fits into compact spaces like large pockets and bags. Available in 3 colors (black, Aqua Blue, Raspberry Red), the design of this camcorder is simple, and intended to be easy to use. It’s powered by a lithium ion rechargeable battery instead of the AA NiMH rechargeables that ship with its predecessor, the Zi6. As a result, the Zi8 is slimmer and more portable, but you can no longer swap it with alkaline batteries should you run out of juice on the road.

The Zi8 is capable of shooting in 1080p and 720p resolution with 30fps. Both captures colorful, sharp and fluid video (for a HD pocket camcorder). The best performing mode however is the 720p/60 fps video setting, which has much more sharpness and fluidity compared to the 1080p/720p 30 fps modes.

Also, the Zi8 perform pretty well at low light condition (for a pocket camcorder):

One of the biggest problem with pocket camcorder has been the camera shake. Kodak try to combat this with the Electronic Image Stabilization (EIS) feature. Although nowhere nearly as effective as optical image stabilization (which no one offers in this size yet), it does help to reduce small hand jitters when shooting.

While internal microphone of the Zi8 isn’t a great performer, it’s worth mentioning that the Zi8 comes with an external mic jack which allows you to connect an external microphone to it to improve the audio quality. Below is a video from Engadget that demonstrate the audio quality difference between internal and external microphone.

Conclusion
With a combination of superior video quality, features and a reasonable price, we think the Kodak Zi8 is currently the best pocket camcorder on the market. The video quality is among the best we’ve seen at this price level, and you get some extra features like external mic jack, full HD video capability, and electronic image stabilization, which are normally not found on other pocket camcorders.

Source: Amazon, Cnet, Engadget

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Flip UltraHD Camcorder Review

– August 22, 2010Posted in: Reviews

Review Summary

The Flip UltraHD is one of the best pocket camcorder on the market with great video quality and low light performance. It’s extremely easy to use and its simple user interface makes the process of shooting and transferring videos to your computer or uploading them to YouTube a breeze. The biggest problem with this pocket camcorder is that there’s no memory slot on it, so you can record only up to 2 hours of video at one time with its 8GB internal memory. If you have no problem with this limitation, the Flip UltraHD is highly recommended.

Pros & Cons

Pros:

  • Produce great video quality for a pocket camcorder
  • Simple user interface, extremely easy to operate
  • Can be used with both alkaline batteries and the NiMH rechargeable batteries
  • Huge 8GB internal memory that’s capable of recording 2 hours of 720p video
  • Support HDMI
  • Flip’s software supports both Windows and Mac
  • Audio quality is clear and loud

Cons:

  • Lack of memory card slot. Need to transfer videos into your computer to clear out space once the 8GB memory is used up.
  • Slightly bulkier and heavier than other pocket camcorders such as the MinoHD
  • Does not come with a HDMI cable
  • No image stabalization, which is a common problem for most pocket camcorders

Flip UltraHD Black

Specs And Features Rundown

  • Shoots 720p (1,280×720) high definition video at 30 frame per second, H.264 compressed, and encoded as MPEG-4.
  • 2-inches transflective LCD screen
  • 2X digital zoom
  • 8GB of internal memory for up to 2 hours of video recording; no tapes or additional memory cards required
  • Comes with a AA-size NiMH rechargeable batteries, which can be charged by just connecting the camcorder to your computer through USB
  • Weighs 6.1 ounces
  • HDMI output
  • Convenient flip-out USB arm plugs directly into your PC or Mac to launch FlipShare software
  • Simple user interface lets you start capturing video just seconds after powering on
  • Built-in 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 likeYouTube and MySpace

Video Reviews & Sample Footage

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Kodak Playsport Zx3 Review

– August 16, 2010Posted in: Reviews

The Kodak PlaySport Zx3 is one of the first waterproof pocket camcorder on the market. For $150 MSRP, this pocket camcorder records HD video at 1920 x 1080p and a smooth 30 frames per second. It is waterproof to a depth of 8.9 feet (3 meters) and features a rugged design with 3 color choices: black, blue, and purple, all with a white control side.

Design
The Playsport Zx3 has rounded edges, rubberized grips and textured plastics to give it a solid feel. The ports, battery, and SD card are all covered by locking doors for waterproof purpose. The tradeoff is that you have to open a door to get at any of the ports. Overall, it’s both comfortable to hold and easy to use.

Video / Image Quality
The video quality of the Playsport Zx3 is pretty much the same as the 1080p image quality of the Zi8. At good light condition, it produces sharp pictures with smooth colors, and minimum digital artifacts. At low light condition however, the Playsport struggle to produce good quality image, which is expected for a pocket camcorder. Having said that, the footage is about the best you can get at this price point.

Kodak Playsport 1080p Test

Kodak Zx3 Low Light Test

Image Stabilization
Pocket camcorders typically produces jittery and warped video. To deal with this issue, Kodak added the electronic image stabilization (EIS) feature to the Playsport Zx3. While it does not totally solve the issue, the EIS feature does help a little.

Playsport EIS Test

Audio Quality
The Playsport Zx3 does not comes with an external mic jack, so you can only depends on its on-board mono mic for sound recording. The video below is a great audio test by David Snook. In a quiet environment, it has no problem recording the voice of someone talking from 16 feet away.

Battery Life
The battery of the Playsport Zx3 lasted for one and a half hour of continuous shooting at 1080p resolution.

Underwater
The PlaySport Zx3 is waterproof in up to 3 meters (9.8 feet) of water, but Kodak is quick to remind users it doesn’t float. So keep the wrist strap secured when diving with it and resist the temptation to toss it overboard. An interesting aspect of the materials of the camera is that it feels almost entirely dry just seconds after we pull it out of the water, and certainly isn’t slippery or even difficult to operate. Also, you can turn to underwater mode to corrects the colors so they’ll be clearer underwater!

What Others Say About Playsport

“I shot this using the Kodak PlaySport while snorkeling off of Ixtapa, Mexico. The water wasn’t the clearest, but I did get pretty good results. It looked really great in the pool. It also looks great above water! I use it at my son’s baseball games and I have been amazed at the quality. Hands down the best thing about this camera is the size. It’s so easy to slip in a pocket and just carry around. Great little vacation camera. My only complaint is that the control wheel is a little small. I would often accidentally stop recording while trying to zoom in or out. You get used to it though and it is a minor annoyance. I highly recommend this camera. “

> View all 357 customer reviews

Conclusion
The Kodak Playsport Zx3 produces great picture quality (for pocket camcorder). Its waterproof and EIS feature is something that you don’t find on many pocket camcorders. At a low MSRP of $150, the Playsport Zx3 is highly recommended for those who like to capture a day at the beach, in the pool or out among the elements. The Playsport Zx3 is currently available at Amazon for $124.90
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