Beth Howard asked:


In recent times, there has been a big spurt in the digital video camera market. With the Flip video camera series being launched, it has become even more exciting, particularly because of its amazingly low price.

The Flip Video camera from Pure Digital is a compact video recorder that fits into your pocket. The recorded video clips are stored in the camera’s hard drive and these can be either viewed on a computer or on TV screen. It has a convenient USB that flips out from the side via which you can plug it into your PC or Mac. Video clips are saved as .avi files.

In the Flip camcorder range are the Flip Ultra and the Flip Mino HD. The Flip Ultra camera shoots 4:3 video while the Mino shoots 16:9. If you are wondering which Flip digital camera to buy, it makes sense to browse through Flip camera review sites to help you make an informed decision.

One of the reasons that lead to the success of Flip digital cameras is the fact that people use online video services like YouTube a lot. This camera is so easy to use that people don’t really notice any shortcomings. The Flip Mino came after the Ultra and if you do a comparison of the two, the Mino is about 40% smaller and lighter than the Ultra and has a touch sensitive control pad, a rechargeable built-in battery and a codec for Mac users enabling them to use iMovie 08 and edit their videos directly. The Flip Mino is preloaded with the software it needs for video sharing. While the Flip Ultra has the USB connector at the side, the Mino has it on top and you can use it to download your videos as well as to charge the camera.

The Mino also has a faster image processor, an omni-directional mic, pause, review and fast forward button. It is capable of uploading movies to MySpace. 

If we explore the Flip Mino Vs Ultra, according to online reviews the Flip Mino scores over the Ultra in many ways. For example, in terms of design and interface, people prefer the Mino for its smaller size, sleeker look, touch sensitive controls and better playback options. Specifications wise, even though both Flip camcorders are similar, the Mino scores for its superior sound and compression and additional uploading option. But for video quality, it is the Ultra that is ahead for its consistently brighter videos and better exposure especially in low light situations.

To some, the Mino might look better, but if video quality is important, then it is the Ultra that has an edge. Cost wise, the Mino costs more and is better designed with a rechargeable battery while the Ultra works with replaceable AA batteries. However, when it comes to the Flip Ultra vs. Mino, it really is a matter of what you want to do with the camera and the features that matter to you the most. Therefore, it is best to check out as many online reviews as possible since you can read a lot more than just the product specifications. Diverse user experiences described in Flip video camera review can finally be the deciding factor when you buy your own Flip digital camera.



Baby

Leslie Mckinney asked:


A sturdy pocket sized camera, the Flip Ultra HD is easy to use and low cost. This is perfect for someone looking for a low profile or easy to carry camera.

With weight and size taken into account this camera can film some really great looking videos. The colour display is vibrant, even with only a two inch screen. It has fantastic sound recording and playback, and inbuilt speakers that are very loud and clear. The Ultra HD also has a HDMI port and can suport two AA batteries, unlike all the other Flip cameras.

There are some problems with this camera -

The base of the camera is unevenly shaped. Because the base isn't entirely flat when placed on a flat surface it may wobble. This is something to be aware of when using the camera. Though it is to be noted that the camera has not yet fallen when I've been using it.

Low light situations cause the video quality to degrade. It becomes very grainy. The image stabalization appears to be non-exsistant, so hold the camera very steady to record high quality videos.

The camera display has no information on how much power the rechargable battery has left until just before it runs out. Once all the power has left the battery it takes up to 7 hours to fully recharge.

Also there is no way to fast forward or rewind while you're watching a video clip on the camera.

I'd hope that lots of these issues will be updated in the next release of the Flip camera. Is it better to wait for the new version, or to try this one? It really depends on what you need. If you want instant recording of what is going on at any moment, this is a great, easy to use, point and shoot camera. However if you are looking for high quality movie recording, then you would be better to go with a different camera.

The Flip UltraHD is fun to use, easy to carry, quick to point and shoot and downloads to send easily.



Julia

Sujanti Djuanda asked:


If you have problems with previously digital video camera/camcorder such as

picture quality (lighting) use bulky battery charger, losing cords/memory cards, mess with disks/tapes heavy, not user friendly, don\'t fully understand their complex and massive camcorder need a whole carrying case then you can consider buying this Flip Video Ultra Series Camcorder, 60-Minutes (Black) as many customers highly recommended.

Features:

The Flip Video Ultra Series has two major parts i.e. the camera and the capability to manipulate and move the videos. It also comes with TV connector cable, batteries, wrist strap and velvet drawstring case that are perfect to prevent any dirt or scratches on the lens or LCD screen. Price and Quality: Flip Video Ultra Series is an excellent quality and inexpensive convenience product from Amazon with four favorite colors (white, orange, black, pink). Durable: The customers that have been using this Flip Video Ultra Series for about a year never have a problem with it. Size: Flip Video Ultra Series Camcorderis a little highly portable video recorder for casual use. The dimensions are only 1.2 x 2.2 x 4.2 inches and the weigh is 7.2 ounces, it\'s very light. Portable: Flip Video Ultra Series is easily fit into your pocket and carries as a cell phone to capture the special moments wherever you go. User friendly: A tripod socket on the bottom is good for those that have trouble holding the Flip Video Ultra Series steady. Easy to Use: The Quick Start Guide can be read in 5 minutes then you will be able to use this camera. However, the end users especially senior citizens must have solid basic knowledge of installing software and file transfer. Recording time: With 2 GB flash drive (built-in memory) the Flip Video Ultra Series will record up to 60min (1 hour) and no memory card. Designed for everyone: It\'s suitable for bloggers, artists, travelers, amateur filmmakers, lecturers, parents, students and everyone. Flip Video Ultra Series Camcorder, 60-Minutes (Black) also a most memorable and thoughtful gift for someone special in your life. Record all your favorite moments: Christmas, thanksgiving, birthday, wedding, holiday, BBQ, graduation, interview, video project, music concert, and other activities

Battery:

Flip Video Ultra Series is powered by two AA Duracell batteries (included with the camera) and easy to be installed. It\'s well designed and highly resistant to accidental opening. Good battery life.

Image Quality

The image quality of Flip Video Ultra Series is remarkably good resolution (640 x 480 VGA), no little pixel smudges. Exposure capability is excellent, for outdoors, from a sunny with wide contrasts to the rain/dark conditions, or indoor shots with decent light such as in the restaurant.

Lens

The actual lens of Flip Video Ultra Series Camcorder, 60-Minutes (Black) is recessed and protected by either a glass or plastic cover. It shows no susceptibility to being easily scratched. However, if it appears held in place by a metal fitting and the lens cover becomes damaged, I\'m sure it could be replaced. On the back of the Flip Video Ultra Series is a 1.5\" transfective screen that you can see even in quite bright daylight.

Audio Quality

The sound quality of Flip Video Ultra Series is excellent for recording voices. The built-in microphone is sensitive. It will pick up and record nearby voices even whispers without distortion and it won\'t pick up too much background noise. In a very loud environment, the mike captured both highs and lows surprisingly well.

Recording, Playback and Delete the Video:

Start up time from turn on to recording is only 2-4 seconds. It\'s easily to set a time and date to the gadget when initially start it up then each video automatically has the date as the initial name. One button for record/stop prevents accidental starting and stopping. If you have problems with the red button, use the tip of your thumbnail to press it. Flip Video support said the record button is being redesigned for future models so that this problem is no longer. The play button is on the left of the 4-way and delete button is on the right.

Zoom

You can zoom in and out by pressing the + (plus) on top of the red button and - (minus) signs on top of and below the red button. It has only 2x digital zoom, so you have to close to the subject but not too close up the detail such as words/logos, it will get the various degrees of blurry.

Video Editing Built-in Software

The new version of Flip Video Ultra Series Camcorder, 60-Minutes (Black) software has been updated on December 21, 2007 with no issues. The simple Flip Video Ultra Series software is able to do some minor editing, file organization, download clips into the computer, crop beginning/end, upload clips to the web/email, string clips together to make a longer movie and make photos from videos. Also, included a \"Help\" feature.

You can also convert video files, watching your videos on TV as well as on the computer, quick emailing the video, DVDs made, and publish online to YouTube, AOL video, personal site, or any video sharing website and share them instantly with your family and friends.

Flip Video customer support will take care of any problems.

Phone support is 24/7 and they will answer the phone within a minute or two. If you email them, you will receive a response after a few hours. You can also read other product review about Flip Video MinoHD Camcorder, 60 Minutes.

Howard

JR Lang asked:


Today there are many choices available when it comes to digital camcorders. The shelfs are full of brands and models each unique in their features and capabilities. Here is a list of the top 7 digital camcorders.

Canon Vixia HF10 - This is Canon's first flash memory media digital camcorder. It delivers excellent High Definition quality video and performance while remaining compact and user-friendly. Specifications: High Definition Digital Camcorder, 16 GB Internal Flash Drive, full 1920x1080 capture and recording High Definition Video, 12 x optical/200x digital zoom lens. Retail: $1099.00

CANON VIXIA HF100 - Canon's second Flash Media digital camcorder, same small package and continues to deliver excellent High Definition video quality. With it's advanced Video Codec High Definition, the picture never fails to deliver a supreme high-def viewing experience.

Specifications: Digital Camcorder, Flash Card memory, full 1920x1080 capture and recording High Definition Video, 12 x high definition video zoom lens. Retail: $899.00

Canon DC-50 Digital CamcorderCanon DC-50 - Nice and simple. Canon delivers a simple DVD camcorder that produces great video. Specifications: DVD Digital Camcorder, 5.39 megapixels, 10 x optical zoom, DVD-R (8cm), DVD-RW (8 cm), DVD-R DL (8 cm). Retail: $799.00

Sony Handycam HDR-SR11 - This 60GB Hard Drive based High Definition Video digital camcorder features superb image quality and top notch performance. Specifications: 60GB Hard-Drive Digital Camcorder, full 1920x1080 capture and recording High Definition Video, 12 x optical zoom. Retail: $1199.00

Canon DC230 - A great budget model. While it has few frills, the long lens and good video quality makes the Canon DC230 stand above the rest of the inexpensive DVD type camcorders. Specifications: DVD Digital Camcorder, 1.07 megapixels, 35 x optical zoom, DVD-R (8cm), DVD-RW (8 cm), DVD-R DL (8 cm). Retail: $449.00

JVC GR-D250 - While JVC manufacturers offer several types of digital camcorders the GR-D250 stands out due to a budget price and a big zoom range. Specifications: MiniDV Digital Camcorder, 25 x optical zoom/800 x digital zoom. Retail: $279.00

Flip Ultra: You cannot write about top digital camcorders and not mention the Flip Ultra, the second and better version of the original Flip from Pure Digital. An innovation in video recording the Flip hit the market by storm and accounts for over 13% of all video camera sales. Major manufacturers are all ready mimicking the Flip by coming out with similar versions. The Flip Ultra can definitely be dubbed as the "simple and perfect" digital camcorder.

Specifications are pretty much nill with this one. The screen is tiny (1.5 inches) and doesn't swing out for self-portraits. No still shots. There are no settings, no menu buttons, no light, no lens cap and no memory card. No optical zoom, only a 2 x digital zoom. The entire unit is pocket size, has three buttons, play, stop and trash. No battery pack, works with AA batteries, (alkalines last about 2 hours and rechargeables about 5 hours).

No tapes or disks, all footage is downloaded via attached USB plug, which pops out at 90 degrees to the camera body, plug that into the computer and download the footage. The Flip's icon appears on your screen as though it's a disk. When you open it, you find a folder full of video clips, which you can play, copy to your hard drive and burn to DVD and edit in most standard editing programs. All of this requires a one-time installation of a special codec (a video-format translator). You can also use a special cable to plug it into the TV and watch footage.

Also, you can take the Flip to a CVS or other participating store where they will make you a DVD for $13.

The entire filming process is: Press the red button once to record and once to stop. Press play to review the video and then trash to delete scene. Thats it?

Yes that's it! It is the most simple of digital camcorders that fits anywhere and everywhere, and is light enough for a baby to hold. It's size allows it to go anywhere, and everywhere where a traditional camcorder may not, like a purse, beach bag, or pocket. It's rugged so you can take it skiing, to the playground, while playing a sport and virtually anywhere where you might need to shoot some clips. And if you get the acrylic accessory case (retails: $50) you can even take it UNDERWATER!

With all this simplicity, the Flip delivers an amazingly good picture quality. It has TV resolution (640 x 480 pixels, 30 frames per second). The picture is surprisingly good, not as good as high definition or tape digital camcorders but for the price and simplicity the Flip definitely earns a spot on the top digital camcorders list. The most amazing feature is the Flip's low-light ability, which trumps even the most expensive of digital camcorders. Not only is the video grain-free, but recorded dim scenes actually look brighter than they looked to the naked eye. Retail Price: $149.99 with max 60 minutes of footage.

Something to consider is that in todays' world with the Internet providing a stage where millions of sellers and merchants compete for your business it is easy to save significant amounts of money by avoiding retail merchants and purchasing discount digital camcorders.



Drew

Shaun Parker asked:


Want to make movies but do not want to blow the budget? There are two camcorders for under 100 GBP that you will want. So which one should you choose?

With dimensions a little larger than your average mobile phone 32 x 55 x 106mm, the Flip Video Ultra is a pocketable camcorder for capturing movies on the move. But this is not designed to take on the big boys like Canon and JVC, but instead offer you movies on the cheap. The simple design sees a lens on the front, power switch on one side and the flip-out USB connector on the other as well as a TV out socket. The rear sports 1-inch LCD screen and the controls.

This is a concept we like, it is so simple to shoot and share video with this pocketable device. The approach is easier than using a mobile phone and the results are better, so you are more likely to do it. Also, you can go from pocket to filming in seconds, so you do not miss the moment.

The price is perhaps a little high, at 99 GBP this could be beyond the reach of some, considering the duplication of existing phone or camera features. A replacement for a camcorder this is not, but for capturing those passing moments and having fun with video, it is a great little device.

Sporting the moniker Pocket Video Cam, Creative are lining up against Flip Video in the battle to be the video in your pocket. The device is slimmer that the Flip, with the lens and screen being flush to the body rather than protruding, again, there is no lens cover.

The slimmer design is thanks to the lithium-ion battery, rather than the AA batteries of the Flip. You also get 2 hours from the battery, meaning you can fill the 2GB memory before the battery dies.

The software supporting the Vado does not compare to the offering from Flip and practically serves no purpose for those on their home computer; granted, those in internet cafes or on the move might depend on those sharing options.

However, the Vado stands-up against the Flip in a number of areas: the rechargeable battery and the slimmer profile will appeal. Likewise, the option of step down in quality to get an extra hour from the memory is an option that makes this a much more versatile device. The screen is bigger, the design more conservative and the price lower. The camcorder battle lines are drawn, so let the video shoot-out commence!



German