Flip Camcorders are the dominant players in the Shoot and Share Camcorder market. As mentioned in our comparative review of Flip Camcorders and Flash Camcorders in general, Flip has a tight grip in the Shoot & Share Camcorder segment with an array of products sporting a combination of distinct features (Hand Grip, Integrated LCD, Flip-out USB & Charging) and design compromises (fixed-focus lens, internal flash). In course, a number of competitive products have mushroomed essentially duplicating a majority of the distinctive features of Flip.
Shoot & Share HD Flash Camcorders have several advantages:
- Flash Media based camcorders are more rugged and are not sensitive to shake,
- Comfortably fits in your pocket,
- HD Videos have good picture quality although the ideal use is video sharing on the Internet.
- Integrated video editing software.
Below is a look at Shoot & Share HD Camcorder manufacturers and their offerings:
Manufacturer | Thumbnail | Models | Comments |
| Aiptek |  | Aiptek HD-1 720P - $99, A-HD+ 1080P - $114, A-HD Pro 1080P - $144, Action HD GVS 1080P - $157.54, etc. | Aiptek has a good selection of HD Camcorders at different price points. The mid-range Aiptek A-HD+ 1080P is a great value at $114.54. |
| Apple |  | iPod Nano (5th Generation) - $124.54 | Apple’s first foray into the S&S Camcorder space is this music player that can also capture videos. The video resolution is 640x480 (SD) and doesn’t compare well with HD (720p or better) that the competition offer. |
| Cisco (Pure Digital) |  | Flip MinoHD 120, Flip UltraHD 120, and several other models with low resolution (SD) or capacity. | Flip Video is the proven leader in the space. |
| Coby |  | Coby CAM3000, CAM4000, and the CAM5000 HD Versions. | Lower priced (starts at $28.45), but reviews are mixed. |
| Creative Technology |  | Several models under the Creative VADO branding. | Solid products with a dedicated following that have been with them ever since they pioneered the mp3 player that Apple eventually hijacked. |
| DXG |  | Both Shoot & Share and higher end models. | Low-priced (starts at $49), but reviews are mixed for the shoot & share models. |
| Insignia |  | NS-DCC5HB09 model with mp3 & voice recording and NS-DCC5SSR09 | Lower priced (starts at $39), but reviews are mixed. |
| Isonic |  | Isonic Snapbox DV series models | Good feature set, but has quality problems. |
| Kodak |  | Kodak Zi & Zx PlaySport HD series models | The Kodak Zi6 was a popular model and the new Zi8 model is a worthy replacement. The Zx PlaySport models are rugged versions. |
| Panasonic |  | Panasonic SDR-SW20 & SDR-SW21. | Panasonic’s S&S models are bulkier but has 10x optical zoom and are waterproof. Pricing is over $300. Close out deals on SW20 can be had for around $230. |
| RCA |  | Several models under the Small Wonder and “Traveller” Small Wonder lines. | Good feature set, very competitively priced, but has quality and software problems on earlier models. The RCA EZ201 at less than $60 is an exception. |
| Sanyo |  | Sanyo XACTI VPC-CG10, Xacti VPC-EC2, VPC-ZH1R, and other higher end models. | The XACTI VPC-EC2 is slightly bulkier but has a distinct design with 5x optical zoom and priced competitively at around $165. The new XACTI VPC-ZH1R is a great value as Camcorder/Camera combo. |
| Sony |  | Sony Webbie MHS-PM1 and the older Webbie MHS-CM1 models. | The new model has a unique swivel lens, 5x digital zoom along with competitive pricing at around $140. Uses memory stick pro duo card as opposed to SDHC cards. |
| SVP |  | Several SVP-T and SVP-HDT models. | The HDT500 model sports 20x zoom (4x digital), 1080p, and low pricing ($179) but the reviews are very mixed. |
| Zoom |  | ZOOM Q3 | Hi-Fi audio recorder is the key feature that distinguishes it from the competition. Priced at $200. |
For a best value comparison, we chose four models that offer the best features at a price point below $200 and ideally closer to $150. Below is our comparison spreadsheet:
| Product | Pure Digital (Cisco) Flip Video UltraHD | Kodak Zi8 | Creative Labs VADO HD 720p | Sanyo VPC CG-10 |
| Thumbnail | | | | |
| List Price | $199.99 | $199.99 | $229.99 | $199.99 |
| Best Price | $152 | $119.32 | $99.99 | $123.90 |
| Date of Release | 04/2009 | 07/2009 | 11/2008 | 01/2009 |
| Storage Media | 8GB Internal Flash Memory – 120 minutes | SHDC Memory Card (up to 32GB) – Not Included. 9 MB/sec speed or Class 6 cards required for HD recording. | 8 GB Internal Flash Memory: 2 hours – HD+, 4 hours – HD, or 8 hours - VGA. | SHDC Memory Card (up to 32GB) – Not Included. 9 MB/sec speed or Class 6 cards required for HD recording. Internal ~40MB. |
| Video Recording Format | MPEG-4 AVC/H.264 | MPEG-4 AVC/H.264 | AVI, MPEG-4 AVC/H.264 | MPEG4-AVC / H.264 |
| Lens & Focus | F/2.4 Fixed Focus | F/2.8 | F/2.8 Wide Angle | F/3.5-3.7 |
| Optical Zoom | None | None | None | 5 x |
| Digital Zoom | 2 x - smooth | 4 x - smooth | 2 x - smooth | 12 x – smooth |
| Image Stabilizer | None | Electronic | None | Intelligent Electronic |
| Resolution | 1280 x 720 (HD 720p 16:9 progressive) | HD 1080p 16:9 progressive | HD+ 720p 1080i, HD 720p, or VGA Mode (640 x 480) | HD-SHQ: 1280 x 720 (30 fps/ 9Mbps), TV-HR: 640 x 480 (60 fps/6Mbps), TV-SHQ: 640 x 480 (30 fps/3Mbps) |
| Sensor | 1/4.5” HD CMOS Sensor | 1/2.5” HD CMOS Sensor – 5 MP Resolution | HD CMOS Sensor | 1/2.3” HD CMOS Sensor – 10 MP Resolution |
| Battery Type | USB Rechargeable AA battery pack (Included). Also supports standard AA. | KLIC-7004 Li-Ion Removable Rechargeable Battery (70 minutes) | Lithium-Ion Removeable Rechargeable Battery (2 hours) | DB-L80 Removable Rechargeable Lithium-Ion (70 minutes) |
| Size & Weight | 4.3 x 2.2 x 1.25 inches, 4.9 ounces | 4.4 x 2.4 x 0.9 inches, 3.9 ounces | 3.9 x 2.2 x 0.6 inches, 3.3 ounces. | 4.4 x 2.8 x 1.5, 6 ounces |
| Screen Size | 2.0” | 2.5” | 2.0” | 3.0” |
| Others | HDMI Output, FlipShare software preloaded, Namesake flip-out USB. | HDMI Output (Cable Included), Arcsoft MediaImpression Software preloaded, flip-out USB. | HDMI Output (Cable Included), Vado Central Software Preloaded, flip-out USB, | 12 subject face chaser technology, Still Photo Flash, Flip-Out LCD w. 285 degree rotation, Proprietary USB/AV port (cable included). |
Summary and Recommendation:
The Flip Video Ultra HD is a good frugal choice – everything required to commence shooting HD videos is included in the box. Maintaining a new AA battery as a backup is a frugal choice that compares well with investing in a much more expensive Li-Ion battery pack. As mentioned previously, our choice during the ‘08 holiday season was the Flip Video Ultra, the predecessor of Ultra HD. Having used it for a year, we still think Flip Video Ultra was a great choice: in spite of having run out of batteries abruptly. The HD 120-minute option in the new Ultra HD model is a good upgrade. Although, given our frugal lifestyle, it will be at least another year before we consider upgrading ours.
Kodak Zi8, sporting a flexible SDHC interface in place of Internal Flash memory is a worthy competitor for the flip. The Zi8 has a feature-set that compares well with the Flip Video Ultra HD –4x digital zoom, electronic image stabilization, 2.5” LCD screen and 1080p HD recording are all features that exceed the Flip Ultra HD specification. The Flip is priced around $150 while the Kodak Zi8 is about $30 lower. The cost of the Zi8 would almost certainly trend upwards to $160 as consumers have to invest in an SD card (not included) and most would prefer to have a Lithium Ion battery backup around. Based on reviews, the build quality of both the products are pretty good, making the the purchase decision essentially boil down to whether to get the extra feature-set for about $40 more. For a more rugged choice, go with the newer & slicker Kodak Zx3 Playsport HD.
The Sanyo VPC-CG10 is no less with an outstanding feature set – with 5x optical zoom, Image Stabilization, and an integrated camera with flash. The pricing has come down to $125 following announcement of the new model Sanyo VPC-CG20. Sanyo VPC-CG10 is a wonderful option for people on the look-out for a single camcorder plus camera gadget. Investing in an SD card and a backup Lithium Ion battery pack will push the price past $170, but even so, the feature set and the dual purpose make this is a good choice. If dual-purpose and conventional design are both requirements, go for the newer Sanyo XACTI VPC-ZH1R for around $150.
The Creative Labs VADO HD 720p is the outright winner in this best value comparative review. The feature set compares favorably with the Flip Ultra HD – allows AVI recording along with three recording modes that allows up to 8 hours of record time although they both use 8GB internal flash. The pricing at $99.99 makes this an outstanding deal. As with the Kodak Zi8, an HDMI output cable is included. The reason for the difference in pricing has mainly to do with Creative Labs coming out with a newer version with marginally (arguable) better feature set.
09/2010 Update:
Following Kodak's entry last year, a number of the biggest manufacturers of the world debut products in this space in the last few months. Chief among them are:
- Panasonic TA-1 Ultra-thin HD Pocket Camcorder Enabled with Skype and iFrame launched 07/2010: For $169, the feature-set & 1080p HD resolution are great, but keep in mind the following caveats - USB charging needs a PC & original Panasonic replacement/2nd battery will set you back almost half the price of the camera.
- Samsung HMX-E10 1080P Pocket Camcorder with 270-Degree Swivel Lens: Announced in August with a release date of 09/15/2010 and priced at $199.
- JVC Picsio GC-WP10 Waterproof Pocket Video Camera: Announced in August with a release date of 09/15/2010 and priced at $199.
Related Posts:
1. Best Values in Shoot & Share HD Camcorders - A Comparative Review - 10/2009.
2. Best Values in Flip Camcorders - Comparative Review - 06/2009.
3. Best Values in Flash Camcorders - Comparative Review - 02/2009.
Last Updated: 09/2010.
1 Comments::
I did 2 interviews with celebrities back in July and used a Flip camcorder to film them. I love Flip, but the battery life sucks. Though they do make it really easy to film with.
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