Flip MinoHD Video Camera - Black, 4 GB, 1 Hour (1st Generation) OLD MODEL
by Flip Video
|
List Price: Our Price: $72.97 You Save: $127.02 (64%) Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days Buy Used: from $50.00 (click here) Category: Digital Camera See more product details |
|---|
Customers in the UK,
Buy this product at amazon.co.uk
for British Pounds
Digital Cameras Photo Reviews of Flip MinoHD Video Camera - Black, 4 GB, 1 Hour (1st Generation) OLD MODEL
Customer Review: If you have a family, you MUST HAVE this camcorder
Summary: 5 Stars
Customer review from the Amazon Vine™ Program (What's this?)
Wow, what a delight this little machine is. The box opens like a jewel case -- if you've bought an Apple product, you know the type of packaging I mean -- and this tiny little gem of a camera, about the size of a long cell phone, greets you. It arrives partially charged, and ready to use. It's so intuitive you can use it instantly. I mean instantly. There's a big red button. Press it and you are recording. This is an important feature if you're planning on giving this camera for Christmas (open it first!) or if it's a present for a technophobe. There's nothing more disappointing than a pretty little electronic device that needs half an hour of setup before it can be used.
This camera is about simplicity, not features. That's why I think it's ideal for shooting family and friends on the fly; if you like customizing the way you shoot, this machine isn't for you. I'll summarize the Mino HD this way: Beautiful machine; intuitive interface; gorgeous video, even in low-light interiors; quality lens that distorts just enough to get a wide enough angle to film in fairly close quarters; lens that zooms a little, but not much; easy-to-use interface, at least with my Mac (reminds me of the iPhoto interface, and movies are easy to import into iMovie); sound is fine if you're not expecting audiophile quality; slow download (but what do you expect with HD video?). I recommend that you also buy this Male to Female USB Extension Cable, unless you already have a convenient USB hookup. As the photo shows, the USB male plug pops out of the top of the machine (in a very graceful way, I might add), and if your USB port is in an inaccessible spot, downloading will be a pain without a USB extension cable. You should also have a tripod, both so you can be in your own videos and to counteract the tendency of this camera to be very sensitive to shakiness. Amazon may include the Flip tripod with your purchase, but the Gorillapod Flexible Tripod is far more versatile; it works on uneven surfaces and clings to furniture and objects as needed. This camera has a very tall, narrow profile when it's standing, so it really needs the support of a tripod. What you probably don't really need is a case, unless you're going to put the camera into a bag where hard things may knock at it; it comes with a nice suedelike slipcase that protects the plastic casing/lens cover from scratches.
So: why did I say you MUST have this camcorder if you have a family? Well, you know how fast your kids grow up. And you know how important it is to document memories of good times, special occasions, relatives that may not always be around. But why THIS camcorder? Because it's hard to find room in the budget, let alone the travel bag, for a video camera, and this one can fit in both. Because it's very small, and the camera that you actually have with you, in your pocket, always shoots better video than the camera that's sitting at home on the shelf. Because even Grandma -- heck, even Great-Grandma -- can figure out how to operate it. Because you won't be fiddling with feature-bloat controls while little Isabella is taking her first step. Because high definition is a lot more like being there, and as screens get bigger, low-res video looks worse and worse. Because as the years go by, you will never, never regret having too much video of your family, but you may regret having too little.
Customer Review: Great for a gift as well as personal use.
Summary: 5 Stars
Customer review from the Amazon Vine™ Program (What's this?)
I owned an RCA EZ201 Small Wonder 60 Minute Point-and-Shoot Camcorder before coming into possession of a Flip Video MinoHD Camcorder. There is no comparison in image quality, and the price difference reflects this. The Small Wonder does, however, have two features that I consider useful that the MinoHD lacks. One is the ability to use replaceable batteries (the MinoHD has a built-in rechargeable Lithium battery). The other is a flip-out display screen that enables the user to get in front of the camera while seeing exactly what is being recorded.
The MinoHD comes in an attractive, elegant black box, with none of the difficult-to-open plastic that we've come to expect electronic gadgets to be packed in. A high-gloss image of the MinoHD adorns three sides of the box, and the overall quality of the box broadcasts that it contains a high-quality item (reminiscent of the packaging for fine perfumes, watches, and fountain pens). This, plus the items quality, makes it an ideal gift item for anyone who might have use for a pocket- and purse-size camcorder.
Open the box, slide out the inner black box, and one sees that this box is designed not only to hold the unit but to display it (again, in the way the packaging for many fountain pens and watches are designed). Flip open the lid of the inner box and there is the MinoHD nestled in a black cardboard bedding that lifts out to allow one to access the TV cable, wrist strap, carrying bag, and instruction manual. The packaging for the MinoHD is a work of design art and makes for a most impressive display.
Charging the unit is simple: Flip out the USB connection and plug it in. Once the unit is charged, using it is as intuitive and simple as can be. I first used it on Thanksgiving at an 18-person family gathering. A couple of days later I took it to an art museum where I mostly used it in those areas where the use of cameras (but not flashes) are allowed and a little bit in areas where the use of cameras were not allowed. Friends who saw the "legal" and "illegal" museum segments on the MinoHD's display screen as well as friends who saw them on a large TV/monitor, were so impressed that they swore they would get to the museum before the exhibits I'd captured clips of were taken down.
Within my first days of having the MinoHD in my possession I also took a number of clips of my just-turned-6-months-old granddaughter, and these clips are as clear and sharp as I could want when I play them on my laptop and TV.
Price is obviously a factor for anyone considering purchasing the MinoHD for themselves or for someone else as a gift. The price will no doubt come down over time, and in six months or a year a high definition model or models will appear on the market that will make the MinoHD slide toward obsolescence. My advice to anyone who isn't sure if the quality of the image offered by the MinoHD is worth the price (to the potential buyer), is to find a store where you can compare mini camcorder video images on a large screen. My advice to anyone considering purchasing the MinoHD as a gift for someone who you are reasonably sure will actually regularly use a mini camcorder, is, if the cost of the MinoHD is in the ballpark of what you want to spend on a gift for the individual in question, the MinoHD is an excellent choice that anyone who appreciates quality will surely be impressed by.
Customer Review: A great improvement on an already fantastic device
Summary: 5 Stars
Customer review from the Amazon Vine™ Program (What's this?)
First I should tell you that I would give the flip mino 5 stars even without hd. The jump to high definition is fabulous though and I can see the difference right away.
Since I now own BOTH players I can tell you the difference is as noticable as one would hope. Neither player quite blows up to the capacity of my 30 inch 2500 x 1600 res monitor, but I can make the hd picture several times as large as I can the original standard and still like what I am seeing very much. Also the HD flip mino records in
widescreen and plays back in widescreen as well.
The sound on these are fabulous. One of my key uses is to tape my two sons' suzuki violin lessons so we can play them back and really get the most out of their lessons. We like the sound well enough that we can listen to the music and follow. That is saying a lot!
Battery life is outstanding, and I run out of my hour recording time long before I need to power up again. I wish sometimes I could record more. Then again, I am much more likely to grab 5 and 10 minute clips with this little gem. To power back up, just plug it into your computer usb port. Do the same to transfer video clips to your had drive for longer term storage.
I had a full size camquarter before my Minos. I have to tell you, it came out of its case out for birthdays and school shows. It was just big enough and seemed fragile enough, that I would never just toss it in my bag and leave it there, like I do the flip.
I still like the big one for school shows because there is no add on light or super zoom on the Flip Mino -- but because it is so easy to carry, the Mino is allowing me to capture my kids in real life. I have become a candid camera mama.
When I only had the standard definition version, I was a little sad that I was capturing all of these fabulous moments in so so picture quality. That was better than before, when I captured none of them, but certainly less than ideal.
So if you already have a flip mino, I do think it is worth upgrading to this new model. If you don't have one at all, this is the place to jump in. the price difference is about 30% but the images this will allow you to capture are priceless. I love the kind of impulse recording this little machine is making possible.
These are movies I'd never have taken and I am so grateful to have them.
I do wish Flip would consider a replaceable battery. I really never liked the ipod model. Still, I am not complaining.
Oh, and just so you know, using ONLY the little microfiber pouch the Mino comes with. I have tossed the standard version in my backpack and carried it daily since last June. It works perfectly still. I will probably abuse the hd version just as much and I love that I can do that. It is this ultra portability that makes these cameras so useful. Now useful with a better picture.
So the babysitter will get the standard version and hopefully will spend lots of time taping my kids when she has them. The HD version will stay with Mom. Both will get good use.
I now think of these as standard parenting equipment.
Customer Review: Flip Mino HD
Summary: 5 Stars
The Flip series of camcorders are designed with the ultimate simplicity of operation in mind. In fact, it is so simple to use, you won't even need the small instruction booklet that comes with it. Usually with simplicity comes sacrifice. In tiny camcorders, that usually translates to lousy image quality. Now the Flip HD is by no means a true high definition camcorder capable of creating broadcast TV productions. But it does produce a very crisp image. So crisp, it puts all the old Hi-8 and mini-dv camcorders to shame. Normally, when the lights go down, small camcorders get very grainy and the color gets distorted. The Flip HD gets grainy too, but not until the light level is so low that you're straining your eyes to see where you're going. The color seems natural and true in almost any lighting condition.
Using the Flip to it's full potential requires that you have a PC or a Mac. It derives it's charging power from the USB port, and also transfers it's video files that way. If you are familiar with file transfers, the Flip is a breeze. Just plug the camcorder into the USB port (no cables needed) and your PC or Mac sees it instantly as another drive. Simply drag and drop your files onto your hard drive. Editing and burning to your files to DVD requires some knowledge. DVD's made from the Flip HD are stunning, but of course, standard DVD's are not high definition unless you make a BluRay disc (which is more complicated). You can use the included cable to connect the Flip directly to a TV or VCR, but the cable output is not high definition.
The Flip is so tiny you can carry it in a pocket or purse and forget it's even there. You'll get great video and crisp sound out of the Flip HD. Voices sound crisp and clear. It's adapted for voices, so there is very little bass to the sound. So what's not to like? There is no photo mode. It's just video. There is no high definition output port. You can only get high definition quality on your computer from copying the files through the USB port. The screen is very small. There's no image stabilizer, so you need to hold the Flip with two hands to get steady video. It shoots at 30 frames per second, not 60 frames like TV, so fast motion can look a little jittery. Normal motion like people walking is fine. There's no autofocus or optical zoom. But the usable depth of field is so wide from three feet to infinity, you don't need autofocus. Which is actually an advantage because the focus is steady. It never hunts for the right distance, so shots are always clear until you get closer than three feet. The 2x digital zoom reduces image quality, so use it sparingly, only to frame out unwanted objects when absolutely necessary.
All in all, this is a great camcorder for vacations because you'll always have it in your pocket, ready to go. For the money, there isn't a better mini camcorder on the market that shoots high dfinition video.
Rick Bennette - Fine Art Video dot com.Flip Video MinoHD Camcorder, 60 Minutes (Black)
Customer Review: Flip Mino HD Camcorder
Summary: 5 Stars
Ahhh, the Flip Mino HD Camcorder that fits in your shirt pocket. I ordered my Flip Mino HD in November 08 and it arrived swiftly. I enjoyed it from the beginning even though I had some problems with it regarding playback of my downloads directly from my computer in what I will call original or first generation playback. [I solved it quickly though! ]
The problem was, and I mention this in case other folks experience a similar problem, that being a ventriloquist, I would video myself and my puppet, and down load it to my computer. When I attempted to play the video back from the computer our voices and our lips were out of sync for some reason. At first I was quite distressed but shortly tried a few things that worked and I will share them with you all here. This is no longer a problem! [ BTW I recommend you see my review of the "Tripod" for info on how to video yourself doing performancews of various types. ]
This Problem was more than likely a computer fault and I have since up graded my memory and added a couple of High Speed USB ports. My computer is about 5 years old and did not come with High Speed USB ports and it did not have a lot of memory. Adding memory will speed up computer work considerably in all its uses, and is not all that expensive. However, this was not necessary if I was willing to take one additional step and send the original Flip Video to myself before sending out to others. Somehow, everything evened out in cyber space to my satisfaction.
I have used my Flip Mino HD on several occasions already and have captured Christmas model train layouts at a museum, recorded a Middle and high school concert with great satisfaction, and find it a most handy device to have to capture all manner and sorts of episodes. I caught a Moon, Jupiter, Venius conjunction in the night sky, Christmas and house lights, and various performances of myself with my puppets and playing a flute. More will come. The beauty is, the handy availability of the Mino HD CAmcorder, the no hassle set up and use, the copying, playing, and recording to other devices that this item offers. Let me finish with a tip. If you are hand holding the video and go to telephoto using the + button you must be very careful to keep the camcorder still. If you can prop your hands against something or hold with two hands, one to steady the other things will remain jitter free for the most part. It is also desirable to do this when panning and switching from telephoto to a long shot using the + to - buttons. This will occur with all types of cameras but since the Flip is so small, just be extra careful and you will be amazed at what this litte gem will do for you. Joe Radle, Huddleston, Virginia. P.S. I would like Flip to come out with an alternate method for AC charging of the unit when one is away from a computer as I might be on a vacation trip. Since the batteries are internal in this unit, this would enhance its use. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all
Dec. 20, 2008 J.B.R.