Flip Ultra Series Camcorder, 60-Minutes (Black) OLD MODEL
by Flip Video
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List Price: Our Price: $79.99 You Save: $70.00 (47%) Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours Buy Used: from $53.99 (click here) Category: Digital Camera See more product details |
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Digital Cameras Photo Reviews of Flip Ultra Series Camcorder, 60-Minutes (Black) OLD MODEL
Customer Review: Simple, convenient, fun
Summary: 5 Stars
Let's say you want to keep video memories that you can share with friends and family or watch on the TV. Let's say that you want to be able to edit your videos easily, add a bit of background music, and make them look a little cooler without going into some huge production. Let's also say that you want to be able to take this device with you everywhere and don't want a huge manual to carry along with you to remember what all those buttons do. And let's say you're just a casual budding director and so don't want to spend too much on your new hobby. OK, so buy the Flip, then.
It's so easy, your Mum could operate it. Turns on at the side, hit the big red button to record, hit it again to stop. The + & - buttons slide the zoom in and out in record mode, and control the volume in playback. The side arrows sweep you through your recorded clips. The play button.. well, you can figure it out. Then there's the pull down switch to activate the sticky-out bit to plug into your computer wotsit, and that's it.
The first time you connect your Flip to your computer, it will upload software to edit your clips. Editing is easy on the Muvee software, allowing you to choose your clips, cut out the bad bits, join them together and add your own background music. There's a choice on styles which you can use to jazz your movie up a bit if you wish, and the option to upgrade the software for a fee. Editing is also available through Windows Movie Maker, I'm led to believe, tho I haven't tried that yet.
The Flip comes with a cable allowing you to view your videos on TV. The quality of the video when blown up to TV size is surprisingly good, I thought, and it's again simplicity itself to set up.
Movies sent via email takes time as it compresses the file somewhat and the end effect isn't as good as your original work, but it seems to work OK if you upload to a public site (YouTube, for example).
A downside is that you only have 60 minutes to use before you have to upload your creations to computer, which may be an issue on long vacations where you weren't planning on bringing your laptop. But you can (they say) get your videos burned onto DVD at certain retailers (CVS pharmacies, for example) and I'm sure there's a website out there somewhere explaining how you can save your Flip films onto other handheld devices, if it's particularly important to you.
If you want something that's no hassle, that you can slip into your pocket and whip out when the mood strikes you, that produces clips that can look pretty damn good with minimal editing and can be sent to all your mates in minutes, you should get this.
Customer Review: Not only cheap and effective but a movie camera you'll actually use.
Summary: 5 Stars
Ignore the complaints. This thing gets the job done--quickly, efficiently, dependably, well. You'll appreciate it more if you've previously owned a more elaborate and expensive video camera. I didn't want to fool with the Panasonic camcorder and decided to leave the Canon Elph in my pocket and to use this equally compact but simpler, more fool-proof camera for my son's wedding. (I'm a hero--and no one even realized I was shooting a movie of either the ceremony or reception.) Despite some users' complaints, the audio is terrific when plugged into a TV (it's the mic that counts, not the onboard monitor speaker).
If you wish to save a few bucks, look to cosmetics, generation and memory. Right now the Flip white is killing black. Also, the quality of the earlier model is generally as impressive as the Ultra. Finally, 30 minutes is plenty unless you shoot with no regard to composition and don't have a computer to download to. For editing purposes, the Flip is more PC than Mac friendly. Still it installed and functioned on my Macbook with minimal hassle (surprising, given the complaints by Apple users). All the same, I don't have time to edit movies--60 minutes to shoot the movie, and 60 to watch it immediately on a TV screen (a raw to finished footage ratio of 1:1). Follow Alfred Hitchcock and edit "in the camera."
It's a light camera, very sensitive to shaking. So hold it steady and keep clips relatively short in duration. Zoom before the shot (to compose it), not during it. (This will also reduce the problem of hitting the off switch, which is positioned right next to the zoom button.) Also, before you get overly "intuitive," the button on the right doesn't advance the scene: it deletes it. And trust the camera to capture a viewable image even in near-darkness. The manufacturers do all the work for you, no directions needed. Only minor complaints, aside from the crowded zoom switch and overly accessible delete button: the viewer screen washes out completely in bright daylight and there is no viewfinder, so do your best to line up the lens with your sightline. Otherwise, the only challenge is getting the camera out of the sealed plastic casing.
Finally, saving single shots is a piece of cake, even on a Mac--either in lo rez e-mailing format or as hi-rez framable jpegs. Next question: is the manufacturer of this gadget publicly traded on any exchange? Aside from kids, there's got to be a potentially big market out there among videocam owners who have finally figured out they never use their expensive machines.
Customer Review: Love This Camcorder!
Summary: 5 Stars
This gadget is so handy.. it is compact, easy to operate, looks good, comes with everything you need to operate it, and takes very high quality videos relative to its price. I recently recorded a piano recital and both the sound and video were surprisingly good. Piano is not an easy instrument to record, but the Flip did a great job.
I did have a problem loading the software, in particular the 3ivx codec that it uses. When attempting to install the software I received an "installation failed" message on Windows XP. I tried installing the 3ivx codec separately but literally one second after agreeing to the terms and conditions and then pressing the "install" button, I received an "aborted" message. I subsequently learned the problem was I had K-Lite codecs on my computer, of which one was 3ivx that was not an authorized version (I had no idea it wasn't legit!) so once I uninstalled the K-Lite package, the Flip software installed without a hitch. In case any of you reading this have a problem installing the software and/or codec, it may be that you have a rogue version of 3ivx lurking on your computer already so try uninstalling it. Note that the creators of 3ivx charge you $14.95 to download this codec so at least it comes free with the camcorder.
To Flip's credit, their support is excellent. Phone support is 24/7 and they actually answer the phone within a minute or two! And the support person I spoke with spoke fluent English! I also had to e-mail their support team and received a response after a few hours, also written in proper English and tailored to my problem (as opposed to some generic answer that didn't answer anything). So I give thumbs up to Flip's support.
Their web site, like their camcorder, is very simple, practical and easy to navigate. The only thing I am not crazy about with this camera is the usb connection, which can be awkward depending on the location of your usb port. You'll have to get an extender cord if that is the case.
But for the price, the Flip Ultra Video is an excellent product - quality and convenience-wise.
One other thing: I notice Amazon keeps shifting the prices around among the various colors so if there is a particular color you want and it is priced higher than the others, just wait a day or two and see if it comes down. They like to play games with us.
Customer Review: Awesome, fun, productive - you'll be a star and hero by making videos!
Summary: 5 Stars
This is a simple and brilliant video tool, small and light, runs on two AA batteries (get a set of 4 rechargeables), easy to keep in your pocket at all times. Its very few buttons make operation straight-forward, but fully functional, it records in low light or any light, picks up sound pretty well, downloads easily (go online and download the free and fully functional "MPEG Streamclip" software for Mac OSX). Make little films, download, translate, share and have fun.
This gadget is looks unimposing, but does a great job. I first took it to a gallery photo show opening where Joan Baez turned up. Some jerk photographer wanted to have his picture taken with her and she instantly made him go away, but when she hugged the artist of the hour, there was my little Flip to record the two of them and this little thing was so humble and unimposing that I wasn't a nuisance, got to record a great moment and it was wonderful. Since then, I have recorded one teenager at an Afro-Haitian dance concert and the next night recorded another teenager when he was in competition in a county-wide "Battle of the Bands". They made it to the finals, and with the judge's comments mentioning something about needing to work on their 'stage presence', he snatched up these videos to study their performance - point being - quick, easy, pocket-sized, always available, pretty good quality video in a handy package. I carry mine with me always. Using the software, I have even used the forementioned software to save single image frames and email those as photographs in my business.
I read about the Flip in the New York Times. David Pogue is a brilliant tech guy, and he was writing about how he had completely overlooked the Flip for some time because it was so simple and unassuming. As soon as I had a few spare dollars, I grabbed one of the refurbished Ultras and here I am telling you how much fun it is to use. Don't hesitate. It records for an hour. With rechargeable batteries, there is no cost, nor environmental spoilage. Get people use to being around it and then record wonderful, fun and tender moments. This camera is so small that it remains unassuming. Keep the lens clean and be creative !!!!!
Customer Review: I *Now* Believe the Hype
Summary: 5 Stars
I have never posted a review before, even though I am a gadget-hound and have purchased them aplenty. This came to an end once I purchased the Flip. I work at an electronics retailer, and after spending my downtime at work playing with the Flip on display I got that "I have to have it" compulsion. Being much cheaper on amazon than at my workplace I ordered one and recieved it in 2 days.
Already being familiar with the function of the flip, I wasn't floored by that once I took mine out of the box. What *did* floor me was how fun, and extremely accessible the Flip is. Within no time I was recording footage of my dogs playing in the backyard, and that was a cute novelty, but the real fun came when I plugged it into my computer.
I run Windows Xp, and the unit installed the movie software without a problem and immediately let me review the footage I had taken. The usb arm is a bit flimsy as many reviewers have already said so I plan on buying the $6 usb male to female connector so that will no longer be an issue. I strngly suggest you do the same if you are sing a desktop rather than a laptop. Exploring the Muvee program, I decided to make a "movie mix". Using one of the "presets", it produced one of the cutest video montages of my footage complete with background music, which totally fit the subject at hand. It also lets you specify your own music file (mp3 or wma I believe) or none at all. I was just amazed at the great project that this little camera yielded that I have had tons of fun creating clips and mixes.
The video quality at 640x480 and audio is very acceptable for computer-only viewing. I myself bought it just so I could take footage and be able to email clips back home to relatives. I would not rely on it to record those once-in-a-lifetime events like the birth of a baby or anything, but what this thing does is allow you to make your own memories and show them off just as easily.
If you are looking for an easy to use, and extremely fun way to capture even the tiniest of memory this is definately a must have.