Flip Video just launched a new "premium" take on the
MinoHD -- it's fundamentally the same as the existing MinoHD, but with 8GB of storage, a bigger two-inch screen and an HDMI port, all wrapped up in either a sleek aluminum shell or a personalized design from the Flip website. The 8GB of flash means the MinoHD can now record up to two hours of 720p video, and while there's still no image stabilizer, it's not like that's stopped anyone from loving the MinoHD before. There's also a new version of the FlipShare software, which features an automatic Magic Movie mode that'll trim and edit before shooting your video to Facebook, YouTube and MySpace. We're sure the kids will love it, but we'd rather do things the old-fashioned way. The new premium model will sell for $229, while the original MinoHD remains on sale for $199 and the old-school Mino hangs back at $149. After some time playing around with one, we'd say you're well-justified in dropping the extra $30 here -- the newer case and screen are quite nice, and HDMI-out is nothing to sneeze at. It's still the same MinoHD as far as image quality goes, however, so don't walk into this one expecting any surprises -- and no fancy al-yoo-min-ium case will quell the need for a proper stabilizer in these things. Video after the break!
posted Oct 14th 2009 12:01AM
Way to go Flip. Catching up with the Vado HD on screen size and memory. Now if you could only lower your price...(I got a Vado HD on Amazon for $99) - got the same big screen and big memory at half the price...
If it only had image stabilization it would be great.
Aluminum eh?
For the res, it looks decent. Can't argue with the convenience either I suppose. Not bad Flip.
Dammit...I was hoping for something better. Flip needs to tighten their belts and release another Ultra HD with 1080p capturing capability, with image stabilization and optical zoom. I could care less if it added a few millimeters.
The Kodak Zi8 looks like a much better choice: 2.5" LCD vs 2.0", 1080p video vs 720p, 60fps vs 30fps, removable battery vs sealed, removable media up to 32GB vs sealed 8GB, external microphone jack vs none, 5MP stills vs none, Image stabilization vs none, remote optional vs none, $180 vs $229.
The Flip is a Flippin ripoff.
Thanks! The Kodak Zi8 looks good...
Having bought the Flip UltraHD (720p 8GB) during summer, my biggest problems with it are the following:
1. There is no battery indicator on the screen! Yeah it is on there now in this new version, but doesn't help that the rest of us don't know if our batteries are full of juice or about to run dead. Would be handy when we are out and about. How this was omitted from the beginning is beyond me!
2. File names that are created for each clip just have a name and number (in sequence), yet when the clips are imported into the FlipShare software where they can be viewed as thumbnails or thumbnails with some details - the file name is omitted and "untitled" is listed for each file. Why can't it just show the file name with the number in place? You get duration, time etc but the file name it saves as never shows in the FlipShare software. The problem with this is if you take lots of short clips in sequence, it is tough to find the order they were filmed in. Especially if they are shorter than say 30 seconds so you could do 2 clips within a minute, so even the time view doesn't help.
3. When you take lots of short clips and you want to join them up into a single bigger clip, the only way to do this is via the FlipShare software. The problem however is that to "join", what it does is just re-encode the selected clips into a single wmv file! The files are recorded on the camera as mp4 - why re-encode? This results in a loss of quality. They could just get a sort of mp4 joiner and stitch the files together WITHOUT re-encoding to wmv. A waste of time waiting for the encode and a waste of quality.
4. The USB sockets flips out from the side, but to charge it on my desktop which has its front USB ports about halfway up the tower, leaves the device dangling and must be putting a strain on the socket given that it rotates to get to equilibrium. I would suggest that they use a retractable cord instead, but if this snaps then the camera is all but useless, so they could at least provide a short female to male USB lead that would then get round these tight restrictions.
A great camera no doubt and I do love using it - these are just a few gripes I have found, having now used one which I didnt know about prior to purchase.
For "joining," try Windows Live Movie Maker. It accepts the native .mp4's and is a far more capable, free editor (although a pretty well-kept secret, at this point.) When you use FlipShare to join by making a movie, the result is a lower-resolution .wmv file.
File issues: I'm guessing you haven't discovered the detail view (left-most icon at the top of FlipShare) which gives you filesize, duration, when taken, etc. and allows you to order by creation date, name, or length. Click on 'untitled' and you can give it a name that makes sense.
USB issues: Flip does sell USB extender cables, but I bought a 3 ft USB extender for $.01 + shipping. Sometimes they charge a higher price and less for shipping. Google for it, and you should be able to get one shipped for ~$7.
man, you could buy a cheap digital camera that can record VGA video, then stretch the video to HD resolution and still get a better picture than this
For $50 more you can buy a panasonic dmc fz28 which is an 18 optical zoom, 10 megapixel camera with image stabilization that shoots HD (1289X720) at 30 fps. Quality can be subjective, but to me the panasonic has a better image. It definitely is not as jerky. It uses SD/SDHC/MMC cards, which means it can store up to 32 GB. It doesn't have specialized software for youtube uploading and a hdtv cable connect will cost an additional $27. Even so, I think the Panasonic is a better deal. The Mino HD is overpriced for what it offers.
Well,okay, but... my biggest problem with Flip is that they are shoddy quality with very poor customer support. Having been without a video camera for a series of workshops and a recent motorcycle vacation, I'll be ebaying mine if and when they ever deign to return it, and looking at the alternatives more closely. Horribly plasticky kit, very '1st-gen' software', and that swing USB arm just feels like it's going to get wrenched off every time you use it.
I just bought a Zi8 with an 8GB SD card for about the same price and so far, I think the picture quality is way better. Plus, the Kodak Zi* shoots great 1080p at 30fps or 720p at 60fps (which btw with image stabilization is super smooth fr a pocket camcorder)
"automatic Magic Movie mode that'll trim and edit before shooting your video to Facebook, YouTube and MySpace"
Are you sure? You can trim and edit before, make a movie before, and upload to FB and YouTube before. Are you saying there's something beyond FlipShare v. 4.5? Why don't they mention this difference on the Flip site?
Also, the video engine is upgraded to the same one as the UltraHD. I did a side-by-side comparison of the results, and the new video engine is noticeably improved in color saturation and low-light handling.
The Zi8, and a new pocket camcorder just out from JVC, have better features and specs than the Flip, but don't assume they have better video, equal ease of use, or anything approaching the ease of off-loading and editing of the Flip. Also, the prices comparisons are apples to oranges. The Flip price includes 4-8GB of memory, and you can buy for far below the MSRP.