Flip MinoHD Video Camera - Black, 4 GB, 1 Hour (1st Generation) OLD MODEL
by Flip Video
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Digital Cameras Photo Reviews of Flip MinoHD Video Camera - Black, 4 GB, 1 Hour (1st Generation) OLD MODEL
Customer Review: Great recorder-small package
Summary: 5 Stars
Customer review from the Amazon Vine™ Program (What's this?)
This is an amazing video recorder for those who want to capture the moment without all the fancy trappings. This is as small as an ipod video or cell phone with a small viewing screen, and seven buttons on the back (play/pause; zoom+; zoom-; record; scroll forward, scroll back; trash). You capture video with the touch of a button. Perfect for the You Tube generation, soccer moms and grandparents! Even my kids can use it with ease.
The screen instructions make it easy to use straight out of the box without even reading the directions. Set-up can be accomplished in about 2-5 minutes (time, date, tone on/off) by following the on-screen instructions. Deleting and recording are also simple to do by following the directions on the screen.
There is a battery indicator on the screen. Small speakers are located on the back. The overall sound quality is not bad, but I wouldn't use it to record music. It is fine for voices, and such. The sound quality improves dramatically once you get it on your computer and listen to it with real speakers, so don't judge sound quality by the internal speakers. It comes with a tripod attachment port on the bottom. The recording mic is located next to the lens on the front.
Once you capture your video, you can scroll through all the captured videos and easily delete the ones you don't want to keep. There is also a delete lock button, so you won't accidentally hit the trash button. As a secondary control, it asks you to confirm the delete before the final deletion.
The only drawback of the design is the plastic. I worry that it will scratch without much effort, so I have been handling it with care. I have ordered a Invisible Shield cover from Zagg (Zagg.com), the world's best producer of scratch-proof covers for all electronic devices (money-back guarantee, which they really honor!). Once I get the cover on it, I will be able to toss it in my purse so that I can record at a moment's notice.
Because of the nature of a portable camcorder, it does not have an external light nor a mic extension port. You will need to be in a well-lit area and within a good hearing range for it to work. The mic is pretty sensitive, though, and hasn't been a problem yet.
Note: This product does not come with a still-shot feature (camera). I am actually surprised it doesn't, as it seems like it would be easy to add. However, given everything else that it does so simply and that I have an iPhone, I don't worry about it much.
Downloading is made simple by a USB port that pops out of the top and stores safely when not in use. This whole system couldn't be easier! I highly recommend it, as it is worth the money.
Customer Review: This IS The Flip To Get!
Summary: 5 Stars
If you are looking for a super-easy HD camcorder for yourself or as a gift, this is the model to get.
It is particularly nice for those who are not overly tech savvy, but want to save or more importantly send a memory.
You can easily shoot a HD video, and email it within a minute or two - People seem to really love this! It is impossible to make a mistake, the software works like a charm.
As with any consumer camcorder, one needs to use care with pan's - s l o w is good, fast looks bad. This is something you will get a hang for when you use it.
I do think this model is superior to the RCA and Creative versions- the product has a better design,and is easier to use. It also feel's substantial, if you know what I mean.
As others have mentioned, remember that you are shooting 16:9 , which can be hard to imagine on the screen with the camera. Again, you will understand this better when you see it.
The best part of this product is the portability, and picture quality--you WILL use this. How many times have you seen an interesting shot, or event and wished you had a camcorder?
This one fits easily in your pocket, backpack or case. This one will NOT stay in the box, it will get USED!
The Flip products are also frequently distributed at red carpet events like the Globes, OSCARS and SAG Awards - many use them on-the-spot, which proves the ease of use!
I am sure you will use and enjoy this.
Update 1/01/09
Used this gem again last night--it was a HIT! Truly had the "it" factor going for it- and being the latest and greatest ftom Flip, the software was a breeze.
The ability to send an email video with such ease to friends and family made this a hit with the guys and the girls, of all ages. From mid 20's to 60+ this product was used with ease.
I suppose the most common observation was how superior the Flip Mino HD was in relation to a cell phone camera. The video quality is OUTSTANDING compared to the cell cameras, even the "good" ones.
If you shop like I do, you read reviews, compare spec's and look for a nice design.
This one is a winner on all fronts. I know there are less expensive cameras out there, but they simply are not as good or as EASY to use, and lack the quality of the Flip Mino HD.
I can easily imagine using this in business applications, as well as just for fun - perfect for students at college, family far away, or those overseas. A great 'keep in touch' item!
How nice to slip it in your pocket and shoot a video when you happen to be somewhere interesting? Easy to transfer to the computer , easy to edit and copy to DVD. Looks great on my Samsung HD TV as well.
Can you tell? I LOVE this Flip! I think you will too! Why not buy the best, you deserve it!
Customer Review: PERFECT SOLUTION FOR BUSY FAMILY WITH KIDS
Summary: 5 Stars
I also posted to [...], but wanted to post here to to share my wonderful experience with other Mac users.
Just received this camera today and have been playing with it. It works wonderfully! Great picture for such a small camera. It does a funky auto white balance adjustment on the fly, depending on the type of lighting (i.e. going from a room with fluorescent to a hallway with incandescent, or even changing the viewing angle in the same room . . . but this is not bad).
MOST IMPORTANTLY: If you have a PowerMac and are looking for a streamlined solution for getting HD video onto your computer and/or Apple TV, THIS IS THE PERFECT SOLUTION!
Several reasons:
-No need to transcode: I've uploaded clips directly onto the desktop and directly into iTunes by simple drag and drop, and clips play perfectly both within iTunes and in standalone QT. No more transcoding with Voltaic!! WooHoo!
-Apple TV has max HD resolution of 720p anyway, so I don't have to downconvert my captures from 1080/60i or 1080/30p or 1080/24p to 720/24p to play on the Apple TV, like I currently have to with my Canon HF10.
For the cost and size, this camera takes really very very nice images. MUCH nicer than the video captures on my point and shoot camera. And surprisingly, very nice even compared to the Canon HF10!
Overall, I am incredibly pleased, this device is the perfect, perfect solution for us: compact and portable, we can take it anywhere all the time and capture those short fleeting moments of joy with the kids, then upload instantly on a PowerPC Mac and view instantly on an Apple TV connected to our plasma, where it looks wonderful. No transcoding, no downconverting, no AIC, no AVCHD to h.264 to blu-ray or whatever. Just simple. I love this camera.
Did I say I really love this camera?
UPDATE 11/28/08: I must inform others that my review above is flawed in one way. I thought the clips from this camera worked flawlessly with both iTunes and AppleTV. They DO work flawlessly on BOTH Intel Macs and PowerPC Macs in iTunes (which is a godsend . . . no need to convert AVCHD to AIC using Voltaic, which is currently the only AVCHD solution for PowerPC Macs), but in order for the clips to play on AppleTV, they do have to be converted from 720/30p (what the MinoHD natively records) to 720/24p (the max framerate the AppleTV will support, for now anyway). Audio as recorded works fine.
So to upload and watch on any Mac: simple, flawless.
To upload and watch on AppleTV: upload to computer, open in QT, [edit if desired], choose Export Movie and change just one thing, make frame rate 24fps (I choose high bitrate 2500kbps, and audio pass-through). Not exactly "one step", but still just about the easiest way to get homemade HD video onto your plasma TV.
Easy + Compact = perfect for parents, like us
Customer Review: Whats there NOT to like? Exceptional Device!
Summary: 5 Stars
Customer review from the Amazon Vine™ Program (What's this?)
I own a regular flip which I have used for everything from birthday parties to taking video of server rooms to help me in my job. I now have the Flip MinoHD.
I am not going to try to give you another detailed review...but understand this. This device costs a little more then $200 and records HD video at 720p...which is more then adequate for daily HD use. Its not 1080p, and in my humble opinion, it does not need to be! It is a compact camcorder that records in HI-DEFINITION.
Which part do you not like at this point???
Yes the little screen is a bit small...but if you think about it..the camera would not run for long at all on the internal battery had it a bigger screen. (For those with an iPhone, you know what I mean).
The zoom is limited to 2x - but what are we trying to achieve with this camera. It is a pocket sized HD camera that is not intended to make a motion picture. It does what it should and it does it PERFECTLY.
The box includes:
Camera
Wrist Strap
Microfiber Pouch - which for me also works as a polish cloth. :-)
AV Cable to connect to TV
Manuals , etc.
The warranty covers the product up to 90 days, which is about the norm these days.
The USB functionality allows you to use it on a PC or a MAC and it works flawlessly out of the box.
When you first turn it on it takes you through setting the date and time....save and you are ready to shoot. I love the controls on the back of the unit....they are touch sensitive. The only physical button is the record/stop record button... The right hand side has a power button. The left side has a slider switch to flip open the usb connector.
From the press of the 'BIG RED BUTTON' to actual recording is a nano-second...very very fast...faster then most camcorders. Stopping the recording is similar.
You can review the videos you have recorded on the device itself, delete them etc..
The FlipMinoHD has a sealed battery which charges off of the USB port on your computer. An optional AC adapter is available.
My thoughts - if you want compact, efficient, quick, and above all HD....get the MinoHD. If you are looking to make another Hollywood flick....you need to look elsewhere.
UPDATE 11/26/2008
I found a great review from Andy Ihnatko on his website.
He is a renowned expert and writes for the Chicago Sun times:
http://ihnatko.com/index.php/2008/11/16/showcase-showdown-flip-mino-hd-versus-kodak-zi6/
He compares both the Kodak and Mino HD with samples.
Enjoy!
Customer Review: Score!
Summary: 5 Stars
There are no more excuses for missing the moment. This camera isn't designed for producing major motion pictures, but it does a terrific job of being available, while being ridiculously easy to use. It will be tossed into the purse for recording moments at gatherings.
I would say that the "HD" designation is mildly exagerrated, but the picture quality is better than what I get from the Sony miniDV Handicam (which does a nice job), but with far less aggravation when it comes to importing and viewing. And I have never thrown the miniDV into my purse to capture a moment at a gathering. This Flip MinoHD, I doubt if I'll ever leave home without it.
Auto-focus is first-rate. It automatically adjusts for lighting conditions and does a good job in dim light. The sound quality is not exceptional, but it isn't exceptional on any home video camera I've ever used, either. Still, it picked up my granddaughter's voice from across the yard without distortion. I haven't tried to edit the video yet, but the included software is straightforward when it comes to storing and viewing videos. The camera also comes with a cord to connect to your TV.
It is what it is and at a very reasonable price. This thing...this is truly a score. Oooo oooo, I have to get a DryPak so I can use it in the pool...!
UPDATE:
A potential customer asked a question in the discussion area. I answered, but include it here as well in case others are curious, too. The question -- how does the video compare between TV or HDTV, and a computer monitor.
I tried four different screens -- a 42" plasma flatscreen, a 42" lcd flatscreen, a regular old-style TV and an lcd computer monitor.
The old-style TV, I wasn't surprised, was "grainy," to use an old-fashioned term. The plasma was disappointing. The particular model I own didn't allow me to shrink the video to its natural size, so the picture was blown up edge to edge and that caused the picture to degrade. (DVDs on that TV are great, by the way.) Your plasma might operate differently and therefore, offer better results.
The lcd TV allowed viewing the videos at natural (large) size, best quality of all, although even full size it looked great. And the computer monitor was great, too.
If your potential gift recipient is a casual videographer as most of us are, they won't be disappointed. Fancy themselves as the next Baz Luhrmann and the Flip will promptly find itself on the return pile.
2011 UPDATE: This camera is still useful and enjoyed at our house, so I'm stunned to learn that Cisco bought and then dropped the product line. I know most people have phones that shoot video, but not very good video. Anyway, didn't know where to place a vent. This space seemed as good as any. -- Regards