Flip Mino Video Camera - Black, 2 GB,1 Hour (1st Generation) OLD MODEL
by Flip Video
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List Price: Our Price: $40.00 You Save: $109.99 (73%) Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days Category: Digital Camera See more product details |
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Digital Cameras Photo Reviews of Flip Mino Video Camera - Black, 2 GB,1 Hour (1st Generation) OLD MODEL
Customer Review: Excellent for short, on-the-go video!
Summary: 5 Stars
I purchased this to use with students and teachers. The first time I opened it, I didn't even have to read the directions it was so simple to use. I used it to capture my teaching in a special education classroom. The mino is so small, the kids didn't even notice it. Next, I used it to video a mini-workshop by three teachers. Normally, they would have been nervous knowing and seeing a big video camera facing them, but the Mino is so small, it didn't cause a distraction to any of the participants or presenters.
I taped a Reader's Theater production and within 15 minutes of the conclusion of it, I had uploaded the entire 30 minutes production to the teacher's computer, installed the Flip software, edited and enhanced the video and posted it to the school's share drive.
Cons: it isn't HD, is only 2GB, lasts 60 mins and only has a 2X zoom
( this is the con that really bugs me) the USB seems a little flimsy, so I purchased the connecting cable, too.
Pros: lightweight, easy to use, easy & quick to charge ( also charges when connected to computer) easy uploading.. especially for people like me with Iphones that don't have video, easy and fun to use software for editing, the quality and clarity of the videos is amazing! The tri-pod looks like it wouldn't hold a fly, but it works great for placing the Mino in an out of the way spot for video capturing. Easy and durable enough for kids ages 4-400 to use!
I only wish i had researched and found out the Ultra was coming out this past April that has 120 minutes of video.
Customer Review: Outstanding product, great value, few deficiencies
Summary: 5 Stars
This is the first video camera I've ever owned (I'm 58 yrs old), and I love it! Video quality is excellent (even in low light). I have not tried viewing it on a large TV, but the playback looks great on a 19" monitor. Best quality is observed at the "normal" size (about 8" diagonal) but the full screen version is perfectly acceptable. Audio quality indoors is good up to about 8 feet from the subject. Comments made by the person holding the camera while recording are extremely clear.
Battery life so far has been NO ISSUE. A continuous 30 minute recording does not even move the battery charge indicator bar. Beware of incredibly large files though! A 30 minute recording will consume 900 Mb, and I've found no way to share files that large. There must be a way to convert the files to DVD on the computer, but I'm not savvy enough to figure it out yet. The included software says you can edit the files too, but the instructions have thus far eluded me. I consider that to be a user problem, not a product issue. Just be prepared to dedicate a LOT of computer memory to file storage!
Another restriction is camera shake. Mino is so small and light that it's nearly impossible to hold steady. Pressing buttons to zoom or start/stop will almost certainly result in a shake, but most people will figure out how to clip the ends in editing. I did buy the little tripod which eliminates the problem.
Despite the few difficulties, I do highly recommend this camera after 3 months use.
Customer Review: VERY dissapointed. Will not buy again.
Summary: 1 Stars
I got a Flip camera as a Christmas gift in 2008 and by March I noticed it started having problems holding a charge and when I plugged it into the computer to re-charge it, it didn't work and the computer didn't recognize the flip as plugged in. (And it wasn't the computer's problem, we tried it on multiple ports and computers, none worked.). Eventually it was dead as a doornail. There was nothing I could do to recharge it or turn it on. This "conveniently" happened right when the 90 day warranty ended. I called Flip customer service and they told me it probably had a bad USB arm and to send it to them and they would try to refurbish it. So I sent it and a month later received a brand new flip camera. I was surprised and pleased. It is now October, I've had my 2nd Flip now for about 4 months and the other day I turned it on, it immediately gave me the "low battery" message and 2 seconds later, it died. Plugged it into the computer and the SAME problem happened. Bad USB arm. Computer's don't recognize it as plugged in. Won't charge. Won't reset. Totally dead. I called Flip again, they refused to help me because I was past my warranty. I explained to them they helped me the first time I was past my warranty and sent me a new one, however, this time they told me all they could do was extract the video's for me and send me back the broken Flip. I am VERY dissapointed in Flip and will not ever buy again. The USB arms are cheaply made and will break within 3-6 months.Customer Review: Great product at price point.
Summary: 4 Stars
As a parent to two toddlers, taking videos is our way of capturing our kids young lives. However, many times we were too busy, couldn't carry the other camcorder or the battery was dead. The Flip Mino has increased our video shooting by leaps and bounds. The form of the Mino is best compared to an older Ipod Classic. The ease of use is remarkable and the videos are very good. Disclaimer, they aren't HD quality but still very good for such a small package. Additionally, playback on a big-screen TV was excellent. Sound quality is also solid from such a small device. Plugging the camera into my laptop and grabbing the videos is easy-enough just like any other flash-based memory card.
It really is a pleasure to use and the best part is that it goes with us everywhere and we're not concerned with the battery life, weight, hassel, etc.
There are some downsides, hence my four out of five star rating.
1) The controls can be depressed fairly easily when you may not want them to. This can easily be remedied with an Ipod-like "lock" feature.
2)Embedded software is average for Macs. I will say however there are any number of ways to get the video off the camera using other software.
3) Zoom is poor, but what would you expect from an optical zoom? Don't zoom, videos are nice and clear.
Bottom line: I'm thrilled with the product and it has made capturing little moments so much easier and more enjoyable.
Customer Review: Well, I NEVER . . .
Summary: 5 Stars
have been able to use ANY gadget right out of the box and have it meet and exceed my expectations. This is a first for me. I opened the box, found a much more compact item than I had expected (smaller and lighter than my Treo), and just turned it on and started using it.
I was able to use it without even reading instructions, it is quite intuitive. I did not have to worry about saving an accompanying CD with special software. The software is built in the device and downloads itslef, and your videos, onto your desktop into a folder with a normal name like Flip Videos (imagine that!!!).
So by now I was so excited that I wanted to share, well, guess what? you can email your video to friends right after you download it to your desktop by pluggng the Mino into the USB port of your computer (only little drawback is that you have to know the recipients' emails at this point to use this route for email, later you can just attach it to an email).
I could go on and on, but just get one, you will be so happy you did. Teachers can use this to record lesson (it really does record one hour); students could use it for the same reason; dancers can use it to record their choreography and dance steps; the list goes on, you will figure it out, just like I am figuring it out as I go along.
Enjoy this, its simplicity is just marvelous and the quality of the videos is truly outstanding. Goddbye Sony Minicam!!!!