We pit three of the best mini HD camcorders in the biz against each other in a battle royale.
When Pure Digital released the very first Flip handheld camcorder back in 2006 and promptly captured 13 percent of the entire camcorder market with a single year, the video landscape changed. Despite the ranting of pro photographers that little handheld cameras could never equal the quality of the real thing (they can’t), people overlooked the sacrifice in video quality for the Flip’s small size, ease of use, and low price.
Three years later, all those factors are still in play, and video quality has gotten even better. The latest crop of cameras actually boasts 720p HD quality. And though no one disputes that a $1,200 HD camcorder produces better video, the little guys are more popular than ever – and the field even more crowded. We pitted three of the most popular models from Kodak, Creative and Flip (now owned by Cisco) against one another in a head-to-head competition to see which reigns supreme.
Meet our competitors: The Kodak Zi6, Creative Vado HD, and Flip Ultra HD.
Kodak Zi6, Creative Vado HD, and Flip Ultra HD.
Features
Because they occupy such a narrowly defined niche, it comes as no surprise that all three of our cameras have very similar features: a handheld form factor, 720p video resolution, nearly identical idiot-proof controls, and handy built-in USB plugs to eliminate the need for a separate cable. However, some stand out more than others in certain areas.
While both the Flip Ultra HD and Vado HD come with 8GB of built-in memory for around two hours of HD video, Kodak has opted for a SDHC slot on the Zi6. On one hand, it will add about $20 to the purchase price to pick up memory separately, but it also opens the door for sharing a card with a digital still camera, getting a bigger card for more continuous shooting, or swapping between multiple cards when one fills up.
The Zi6 and Ultra HD also use rechargeable AA batteries in place of internal lithium-ion batteries. The difference shows quite clearly in size (see below), but for extended stints away from home, AA batteries also make far more sense, since you’ll be able to have charged extras at the ready, and in a pinch, can even buy a pair pretty much anywhere.
Kodak Zi6, Creative Vado HD, and Flip Ultra HD
The flip-out USB arms on the Zi6 and Ultra HD, despite being a brilliant way to eliminate clutter, can be very tough to plug in when other USB ports on a PC are in use, and feel like they’re ready to snap at any moment while they’re hanging from such a flimsy arm. Creative’s rubber USB plug, which is more like a short cable than an arm, plugged in with less hassle and put us at ease.
Kodak can claim the biggest screen with the Zi6’s 2.4 incher, but it’s also the grainiest looking, and dimmest. We much preferred the 2.0-inch screens on the Ultra HD and Vado HD, which give better previews, despite their size. The Ultra HD also packs surprising 960 x 240 resolution, and stands out as the brightest of the bunch, making it a clear winner.
Showing 2 comments
RSS