Review: Flip Ultra HD Camcorder, (Probably) A Keeper When the iPod Gets Video

10:37 am, August 14th, 2009, Nicole Martinelli

The Flip Ultra HD works seamlessly with iMovie.

Much has been said about the super-handy Flip digital video cameras. These well-designed, inexpensive cams have gotten plenty of favorable reviews.

But the question is whether they’re worth having when the iPod gets video capability.

The Flip model we tested is ripe for iPod comparison: the 8G UltraHD records two hours of video and is slightly cheaper than an 8G iPod Touch, with a price tag of $199. It shoots 720p (1,280x720) high-definition video.

So, should you wait to see what’s behind door no. 2 or stick with the Flip HD?

Full review after the jump.

It’s a tough call. I got the Flip the week we posted those leaked case shots that make it seem fairly certain next gen iPods will shoot video.

Ever since, I’ve debating whether to sell it in favor of one-stop video, music, etc. that may come any day from Apple.

If the iPod video is the same quality as the iPhone 3GS, the dilemma is even greater. At least one non-scientific comparison between the two — but one where you can see video shot from a Flip next to a clip from an iPhone 3GS — puts the quality at about the same level.

So why carry around a point-and-shoot video cam?

A couple reasons have kept me from putting the Flip UltraHD on Craigslist so far:

-- It’s super Mac friendly (see a video I shot and edited with iMovie, above).
The USB arm plugs in directly to your computer and doubles as a charger for the two AA rechargeable batteries included.

The MPEG-4 vids are viewable in Quicktime or you can edit them with iMovie. One small caveat: you might find the USB port on a Mac laptop a little too low for the Flip, you can plug it directly in but it’s better to elevate your Mac and then plug it in.

-- It’s easy to have around.
The Flip HD is small, light (about six ounces) and streamlined enough that I forgot it at the bottom of my everyday bag. (Even my point-and-shoot digital cam is more obtrusive than the Flip). Once I realized I had it on me, I started using it a lot more.

-- It’s idiot proof, sturdy.
There’s not a lot to figure out. Turn it on with a small side power button. Hit giant red button to record. Zoom in or out with arrows. There’s a “play” and “trash” button on either side of that. That’s all. It shuts itself off if you let it sit, avoiding those butt or bottom-of-handbag shots and pooped batteries.

The black version we tested is essentially the chrome model covered in a thin plastic coating, so no scratching, slipping etc. and the pouch the camera comes in seemed to be enough protection.

If you want something you can easily use with one hand, pass around, let your kids use, this would be it.

-- It does what it’s supposed to. An iPod Touch would be great for quick, on-the-fly vids, but if you need to record a bunch of stuff — interviews, a vacation, conferences, lectures — you’ll need the two hour recording time. The picture is decent, outdoors and in, and even the moving car shots weren’t a deal breaker.

Anyone else thinking of keeping or ditching the Flip?

Posted by Nicole Martinelli in News, Reviews | Comment on this article

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About the author

Nicole Martinelli was born in San Francisco and has lived in Milan and Florence, Italy. Cultish tendencies and love for DIY increased while living on the Old Continent, where tech came late and cost more in Big Mac index terms. She's written for Wired.com, The New York Times and Newsweek. Since 1999, she's been tapping away at zoomata. You can also find her on Facebook, Linked in and Twitter.

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8 comments

I personally like my Sony Webbie better for shooting handheld HD video, but wifi would be a nice addition…

Matthew Hampton, on August 14th, 2009 at 10:52 am

not sure how much this matters, but i’ll add my two cents…

- even with the iPhone 3GS on hand, i’m still purchasing one of these style cameras. i’ve gotten some pretty good stuff with the 3GS’s video capabilities, but there have also been way too many times where something comes out like garbage. with a child on the way (Nov.), i think its worth keeping something that is idiot proof, sturdy, and super quality.

- keep in mind that Kodak is getting ready to release their new Zi8 that includes 1080p recording. same for factor as these cameras (like the Zi6). just throwing that out there. only $180 on Amazon with expandable SDHC cards to 32GB.

Luke Lucas, on August 14th, 2009 at 11:38 am

I just discovered the flip ..I like the idea of it being
a stand alone. It is amazingly easy to use and the pictures
are quality enough for me. I am not ditching mine.

Stephene, on August 14th, 2009 at 11:52 am

Luke, as a former Zi6 owner, I recommend against Kodak’s little video cameras. The picture quality is fantastic, and it handles color better than the flip, but the video is incredibly jittery—so much so that not even iMovie’s clever stabilizing feature can make them pleasantly watchable.

Until Kodak gets some decent stabilization software into their Zi’s, I’m sticking with my Flip.

Ismael, on August 14th, 2009 at 12:21 pm

Hiawatha Bray has a nice review (with video) of the Flip compared with the upcoming Kodak Zi8… Seems like the touch won’t touch the Kodak’s specs… http://bit.ly/nQpyu

Cave Dog, on August 14th, 2009 at 12:34 pm

thanks for the response, Ismael. let me throw this nugget out there, though.

Gizmodo did their review of the Zi8 a couple of weeks ago [ http://bit.ly/sOZA1 ] and they noted that with the new image stabilisation (along with other feature points), it was now officially Flip’s move to make something better.

i had been considering one of the Flip cameras before the review hit. i’d seen footage from a friend’s Zi6 and noticed the jittery bits that you wrote about and was worried about this, as i’ve got shaky hands from time to time. but i trust in Giz’s reviews as they tend not to gloss things over and put new gadgets to real tests. maybe its time to give the Zi series another look?

Luke, on August 14th, 2009 at 1:12 pm

I just got the UltraHD a couple months ago so my wife would have something easy to use that shot better quality than the video feature of her point and shoot camera. And it’s stinking awesome! She loves it and uses it all the time as do I. I love that it’s easy to slip in a pocket or bag and it’s not weighing it down, but it’s right there when I want it. The battery life is great as well! I went to youth camp for a week, took over an hour of video throughout the week and never had to charge my camera. I was very impressed.
And I like the video quality better than what I’m seeing from iPhone 3GS users. I mean, an iPhone/iPod Touch is great for those moments when something spontaneous happens and you don’t have a regular camera, but my iPhone will never replace my regular camera or my Flip UltraHD.
The whole Mac friendly aspect you mentioned doesn’t hurt either. Especially with iMovie 09 being able to upload HD Video straight to You Tube.

Jeremy, on August 14th, 2009 at 3:28 pm

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