Flip MinoHD Camcorder 2nd Generation 2 Hours Brushed Metal
The sleek HD camcorder features 2 hours of record time and a large, 2″ anti-glare display, making it even easier to capture stunning HD video.
User Ratings and Reviews
5 Stars What’s the best kind of HD camcorder?
What’s the best kind of HD camcorder?
The kind you have with you at all times.
The number one reason why I love my Flip Cam so much is that I always have it with me. My previous HD camcorder took outstanding video BUT I never had it when I needed it. So what did I do? I took lousy-quality videos with my cell phone or even worse: I’d miss the moment all together.
Now my wife just keeps it in her purse at all times and we whip it out when a moment we want to capture presents itself.
I also love the Flip Cam because there are no wires, battery packs, memory cards, or any other pieces that I need to make it work. After we fill it up, we just connect it to the USB port and let the software do the rest. Once it’s dumped, it goes right back into my wife’s purse.
Speaking about software, I really like what comes with the Flip Cam. What I like best is that as soon as I download my videos from the Flip Cam, it emails family members with a link where they can view the videos from their computer. This is especially great because it allows my grandma, who we don’t see very often, to watch the videos and feel more connected to the family.
I don’t mean to sound like a commercial for the Flip Cam, but I honestly do love it that much. While the video quality isn’t as good as my Canon VIXIA, the sheer convenience of it outweighs the difference in video quality.
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.
5 Stars Excellent single-purpose recorder
Flip is a beautifully-designed, solid video recorder with high ease-of-use and a few bonus perks. If you have kids or a popular video blog, this straight-forward, no nonsense device is perfect for you.
The interface is simple and fun to use. The seamless control panel matches or even beats Apple with simplicity and smooth industrial design. The few buttons are intuitive and appropriately receptive to the touch. The built-in USB prong also makes it very easy to connect with your computer to download your videos and recharge the battery.
The video quality is excellent HD and the colors are brilliant. Automatic light adjustment is also good.
Flip also comes with complimentary video upload software and web hosting so that you can share your videos with your friends and family with ease (if you aren’t even slightly tech-capable to retrieve the video files from your hard drive and upload them to Facebook).
The main drawback to this simple device is that it is too simple. It’s just a video camera (I couldn’t even find a still photo option). It’s a very good video camera (perhaps the best in the compact department), but it is just that. If you are looking only for an excellent video camera, this is your device.
4 Stars Great little camera – but don’t expect HD imagery
This is a great little camcorder. It’s small – a bit longer than a deck of cards and about the same width but you get a lot of goodness in that small bundle. It doesn’t have a viewfinder so you have to rely on the LCD screen on the back but thankfully it’s more than large enough to work with. And the operational buttons beneath it are clearly laid out with one big red start/stop button the center that you cannot miss.
The form factor is cool especially the glowing red ‘record’ leds on the front (which can be disabled easily if you’d prefer to film incognito). Popping out the USB connector is straight forward and of course you can then hook the camera up to your PC/Mac for easy access to your footage. The supplied software is on the camera so no CDs to install. In fact hooking the camera up was a breeze and amazingly simple – gone are the days of transferring video from your camera to your computer via miniDV tape or even CDs. This is as easy as it gets. You can view, copy delete your footage as soon as it’s taken. They really have streamlined the process of getting video footage onto your PC. And, as an added bonus, while doing so your camera’s battery is also being charged via USB too. Nice.
Now image quality – well this is where we lose a star. It’s just not up to HD standards. It’s not. Sure it’s in HD rez (1280×720) but a cursory glance at the footage reveals it’s little more than up-scaled SD. Whilst I don’t expect cinema quality footage using a 3″ consumer camera, I do feel that if you call something HD then it needs to be MORE than just HD resolution – it needs HD quality as well… and you aren’t going to get that here. But then for the price, size and lens type should you expect it? Probably not.
This is, after all, a camera for every day fun – vacations, family gatherings and so on. Just pop it in your pocket and shoot what ever takes your fancy. So if you go in with no greater expectation than that then you won’t be sorry you bought it.
Fun camera to film your fun times!
4 Stars A great pocket camcorder. Just wish is had better picture quality.
When I go shopping for new cameras and camcorders, I value one thing above all else: picture quality. I don’t care if it has 10,000 pixels or some fancy-named sensor. I want my pictures and video to look good first and foremost. Second, I look for a camera that I like holding in my hands. Some cameras take great pictures but are difficult to work with.
For my review of the Flip HD, I’ll keep it short and to-the-point.
LOOKS great. Very stylish and retro. 5 stars.
FEELS okay in my hands. Most camcorders fit my hand better than the Flip. Button placement is good. Few buttons to work with. 3 stars.
IMAGE QUALITY could be improved. The HD label just means that the video will be big, but it doesn’t mean it will look hi-def. If you want good picture quality, I wouldn’t recommend this HD camera. For the price, the quality is what you’d expect but like to see improved. It’s just okay. 3 stars.
SOFTWARE that comes with a camera is something I never use. I work with my video in Abode Premier Elements and don’t plan on using limited software that comes bundled with a camera. N/A
MEMORY & BATTERY LIFE is good for the price. Not great, but not poor either. 4 stars.
Who’s this camera for? The niche market for the Flip HD is the 10-25 age group. It is very stylish, easy to work with, but misses in some key areas that a more discerning shopper would want. If you have the money, spend a little more and get a handheld camcorder from Panasonic, Sony or Canon. You’ll spend more, but you’ll get a far better video experience.
4 Stars Sexier version of the old Flip
Good:
If you’ve had the first generation Flip, this is the more stylish, smaller (and of course, HD) version. It feels more solid, like something out of a spy movie. Especially the front-facing recording light, which can be turned off.
The video and audio (in stereo, no less) are good quality, and you get a 2-hour battery life. Clear 2″ screen. The user interface is pretty much the same as the old model, so if you’re used to it, you’re all set. HDMI output as well. Comes with strap, carrying pouch, and cables.
The software is snappy and easy to use. Your video is easily transferred and ready for YouTube.
Not great:
The zoom is, of course, not great, but unless you want something more expensive and bulkier, that’s something to live with. The other thing is the USB connector – it makes the unit hang in mid-air. Gives me the willies. But so far it hasn’t snapped off.
The battery is nonremovable, and there’s no memory expansion.
Buy/More Info
Photography | admin | 
July 1, 2010 4:29 am | 
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