Review: Kodak Zi8 Pocket Video Camera
10:14 am, December 8th, 2009, Giles Turnbull
As Christmas approaches, you might be thinking of buying a pocket sized video recorder for your loved one. But which one should you get? A Flip? An iPod Nano?
How about none of the above? When I asked my Twitter followers the same question, they were unanimous: “Get a Kodak Zi8“, they said.
So what’s so good about it?
The Kodak is a solid piece of kit with a simple row of controls on the back. Very Flip-like (more so than previous Kodak models like the Zi6). It’s not overly large (although a little bulkier than an iPhone) and feels comfortable, and surprisingly light, in the hand.
The large central record button doubles as a five-way joystick, for flicking through menus and between video resolution modes. It makes everything very simple.
That’s the first good thing about this gadget: it’s simple. There’s a manual in the box, but you probably won’t need to consult it.
Next up is the lens. As one of my Twitter correspondents said, this is a lens that has a macro mode “that actually works”, and this is one of the best features. You can even switch to macro mode mid-recording if you wish. The digital zoom is basic and juddery and frankly best avoided.
At full resolution (1080p, 30fps) you get very nice video recordings in 16:9 aspect ratio. The 2.5 inch screen is bright, the interface easy to understand. Deleting requires three clicks; playback just two. I like the way the minimalist on-screen instructions and control graphics.
HD recordings are OK indoors and in lower light, but footage shot at night under standard electric lighting is grainy and less satisfactory. Lower resolution recordings (720p at either 60fps or 30fps) are generally good too. For pure quality of moving pictures, you won’t find much better at this price. The antishake technology does wonders at cutting down on jitters and judders, but it doesn’t remove them completely. It’s still a good idea to have a tripod handy.
As well as video, it can take 5MP still photos but they are nothing to shout about. Stick to a proper still camera if you can.
The Zi8 records in .mov format, which is great for Mac users. Quicktime deals with these files without a problem and in Snow Leopard, lets you trim the ends off before uploading to the web. If you buy this camera solely for putting silly snippets on YouTube and don’t want to spend hours sitting in front of iMovie, you’ve made a good choice.
Equally, it’s a good choice if you want to get more from your video recordings. A metal tripod mount, an audio-in port for an external microphone, HDMI video-out, and of course the HD recording function make it usable for more “pro” recording situations.
Criticisms: well, there’s a few. I think the power button is awkwardly placed and too smudgy – I have to look at it to be sure that I’ve switched the device on. It would be better to have something that gave a satisfying, feedback-providing click.
Kodak generously includes 128MB of flash memory built into the device, so you can capture a few seconds worth of footage as soon as it arrives. (Seriously, Kodak: what’s the point? Either don’t include any memory at all, or include an SD card that’s worth having and put up the price to cover it. Really. You’d be saving everyone just that little bit of extra hassle.) The Zi8 supports SD cards up to 32GB.
Overall this is a fine pocket video camera that produces excellent results and is well suited to use with your Mac (although if you like to zoom in and out of your subject all the time, it’s no good for you). If you’re looking to buy a video device as a gift over the festive season, you’d do well to pick up one of these; and because it was first released back in the summer, you can already benefit from some price reductions.
Model: Kodak Zi8 Pocket Video Camera
Company: Kodak
Requirements:
Buy Now: The Kodak Zi8 Pocket Video Camera is available from Amazon for $146.95 with free shipping.
Posted by Giles Turnbull in Hardware, Reviews, Top stories | Comment on this article
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SD cards don’t go above 4GB, so I presume it actually supports SDHC cards up to 32GB?
Mike Scott, on December 8th, 2009 at 10:44 am
Erg, sorry, my silly error. Yes, SD*HC* cards are what you need.
giles, on December 8th, 2009 at 12:34 pm
There’s a firmware update that corrects the choppy zoom function. Google it.
Don Martelli, on December 12th, 2009 at 5:28 pm
Capture every experience with the Zi8 in stunning 1080p HD video. Stay in focus while you’re on the move with integrated image stabilization. You can read review at : http://www.techarena.in/review/9692-kodak-zi8-slim-pocket-camcorder.htm
amar, on December 18th, 2009 at 12:20 pm
I’m looking into buying a pocket hd camcorder such as this model but my only issue with the Kodak Zi8 is that it doesn’t have a swivel LCD screen in the event that you want to record or take pictures of yourself. I’ve been looking into the Insignia 5MP HD camcorder. It records in 1080p and has a swivel lcd that’s 3′ for $160 at Best Buy! Has anyone used this camcorder or have any suggestions about a device that may fit my needs???
Robert, on December 27th, 2009 at 2:41 pm
Thanks for an excellent review. On a minor point – where did you get that nifty tripod from?
Tony Boyce
Anthony Boyce, on March 1st, 2010 at 10:49 am
Tony: I bought it from Amazon UK.
Giles Turnbull, on March 1st, 2010 at 11:18 am