Pocket Video Camera Reviews – Kodak Zi8 Vs Flip Mino
Oct/095
The world of point and shoot digital cameras and digital camcorders are hurtling along at the same speed as the computer industry, gathering more and more extraordinary features in ever smaller packages. Take, for instance, the new pocket video cameras that have been developed lately. At this moment, it is largely a competition between just two products: the new Kodak Zi8 and the Flip Mino camcorders.
Both products have been carefully designed to corral the advancing market of easy to use and extremely portable camcorders with built in abilities that make sharing the videos on the computer and loading them up to the typical social networking sites immensely easy. Let’s do a quick digital video camera review of these two cameras.
Flip and Kodak are both justifiably proud of their respective product lines, and make it easy to catalog lots of information online. Of course, one of the most significant traits to everyone is the price, and you will recognize that they are at precisely the same price point. So far it’s a tie.
One important difference between these 2 is that the Kodak Zi8, like most pocket video cameras, has an extremely small amount of internal memory — only 128 MB. The Flip has a much larger capacity of 2 GB, 16 times as much. Score 1 for the Flip.
Yet, and this is huge, the Kodak relies on the use of SD/SDHC memory cards to advance it’s storage capabilities. The Flip Mino leaves you without room for growth. The Kodak digital video camera can manage up to a 32 GB card for those who want to go all out. How will this help you? Up to 10 HOURS of video recording! That’s a huge plus for Kodak.
One of the things that is similar between the two is they both benefit from a very versatile built in USB swing-out arm, so you don’t need camera specific cables. You can just flip out the arm and plug it instantly into your computer and start sharing. No more cable clutter! A tie.
Each comes with video and picture editing software, but only the Zi8 has HD capable video recording, and a HDMI output on the camera itself to connect directly to your HDTV for prompt screening. Kodak wins.
But from here on, it really isn’t much of a competition. The Flip Mino, and even it’s big brother the FlipHD, which costs significantly more, can’t hold a candle to the value and caliber of the Kodak Zi8. For the same price, you get a considerably bigger view screen, built-in image stablization, full 1080 pixel HD video, and the dependability that comes with the Kodak name.
Countdown result: the race between these 2 models is not remotely close today — the Kodak Zi8 pocket digital video camera is first rate. However, don’t expect Flip will sit by quietly as their market share disappears.
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7:51 am on October 28th, 2009
This must have been written by a Kodak employee. I bought the Zi8 and am extremely disappointed. The main problem is YOU CAN’T USE THE CAMERA TO ZOOM! I contacted Kodak and they said it isn’t meant to zoom. So they have a tiny button that allows you to zoom, but when you do it jerks the whole way. So the Zi8 can only be used with still shots!
Then the other problem is that the Zi8 zoom button is the same button as the start and stop–so while zooming it stops itself! What a mess.
The external mic jack is the ONLY reason to buy a Zi8. But only if you don’t want to zoom.
4:47 pm on November 9th, 2009
Sorry dude I’ve never worked for Kodak.
9:24 pm on November 12th, 2009
I have a child who will be going to college in the fall and has some trouble taking notes. I am looking for a camera that she can record lect. on so sound counts. I have been looking around and have found mic that attached to her itouch. So the answer maybe two devices. I would like to give her the video-recorder for Christmas so she can spend the rest of the school year learning how to use it to her advantage in classroom setting. I know she will not need one more thing to learn in the fall.
6:46 pm on November 30th, 2009
The zoom works, just not the way smooth zoom works. The zoom on this camera is meant to be set prior to shooting the video and not while filming. It zooms in steps. Another words it’s a pre-set zoom… set the zoom and then film. I do think that Kodak should tell people this in there literature though. Otherwise… The quality of the picture is way better than the FlipHD. The image stabilation is good, something the FlipHD does not have. The viewfinder is larger, 1080p vs 720p, 32gb replaceable memory card vs permanent 8gb hard drive which won’t last long.
Sorry but I pick the Kodak Zi8… it’s a no-brainer!
4:23 pm on March 8th, 2010
I have a Zi8 and I love it… It DOES zoom, if you mount the camera on a tripod you can use the external remote control (an extra purchase of about $13.00 on Amazon.com) or you can use the Start/Stop button to zoom as well. Granted, you have to be a little careful if you use the button on the camera, but once you’ve gotten the hang of it, it works. One of the great things about the Zi8 is the external microphone jack. I built a special cable to obtain audio from a mixing console and the results are fantastic, quality audio with 1080p video… INSANE!