Flip MinoHD Video Camera - Black, 4 GB, 1 Hour (1st Generation) OLD MODEL
by Flip Video
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Digital Cameras Photo Reviews of Flip MinoHD Video Camera - Black, 4 GB, 1 Hour (1st Generation) OLD MODEL
Customer Review: I Cannot Say Enough Bad Things About This Company
Summary: 1 Stars
This is the most negative review I have ever contributed to Amazon.
Summary:
After spending many hundreds of dollars over and above the cost of the camera itself and scores of hours taking hundreds of videos, titling them, and placing them into labeled folders, Flipshare, the software that comes with the camera, first caused all of my videos to disappear from application, and when I was finally able to locate them in a new folder that popped up some days later, all of the information had been stripped and mixed together. The clips are short because Flipshare can only handle very short clips. I don't have DVDs because since I bought the camera I have been exploring that issue (the reason for the extra hundreds of expense) and have still not solved it satisfactorily.
The method prescribed for importing the videos back into the application is unbelievably time-consuming and it stopped working. Furthermore, the relatively few files I was able to import disappeared a second time.
I've owned the MinoHD since late January. It makes reasonably good videos and is fairly easy to use. If you want to send a very short video by email, it works well, but if you want to send something that's longer the software tells you that the video is too long for email. Which means you have to make a DVD, which is not as straightforward as I thought it would be, but I'll come to that in a minute.
As at least one reviewer commented, I don't think you get a full 60 minutes of recording time.
The zoom lens is limited and you can't control the recording volume. You can't upload videos longer than 10 minutes to YouTube.
The DVD problem: You either have the choice of paying for the company's online service and have to wait to have the DVD mailed to you, or you have to buy additional third-party authoring software. I'm looking into the latter option now. I have no idea how much that costs. I need to be able to view my videos on computers other than my home computer and there's too much video to use the camcorder itself as a viewer.
In addition, it takes a long time for the videos to be saved to the computer from the camcorder or to be uploaded into a format that will allow them to be saved to a DVD.
So far, I am not at all impressed by their email technical support. Earlier, I asked a simple question and the response was a paraphrase of what I'd asked without the question mark.
UPDATE, Feb. 28, 2009: Their email support is absolutely awful. You go around in circles. Call them on their supposedly 24/7 help line during the weekend and no one is available until Monday.
UPDATE, March 2, 2009: They did not call as promised and I had to call them. It turns out my laptop can't run their software. I'm going to have to buy DVD-burning software and they refused to recommend one.
UPDATE, March 19, 2009: I spent nearly $400 on software, storage, and a DVD burner. I was trying to install the program on the new drive and during the download the application erased my 200 videos and deleted the folders I'd created. I'm told that the videos are retrievable, but I've been waiting for over two days for the Tech. Department to call me directly. I bought the camera to record demonstrations and now I can't do my work.
Their assurances mean nothing. They're liars. You call and email and cajole and rail at them and then the Customer Service Department just gives you the same lame apology (assuming you get a polite, professional person) while saying they can only email the Tech Dept. The Tech Dept. then sends you a noncommittal email and you keep waiting, getting more frustrated.
Even if you warn them repeatedly and in no uncertain terms that you are going to report their unprofessional behavior to other consumers it makes no difference. The excuses are absolutely incredible: "office emergency," the next day, "unforeseen circumstances."
The rep. I spoke to a couple of days ago said that a new folder might pop up, and since I've been calling, I've seen one, but it appears to be an undifferentiated mess of hundreds of videos and none of the titles I gave the clips are there. If I can't retrieve my videos in their original state, assuming this new folder has them, it will take me days to reconstruct all the titles I gave, which are absolutely necessary, and this after spending scores of hours on various issues relating to the software and the DVD burning issue.
Beware of this very unprofessional, callous company.
But if you enjoy unmitigated frustration, having entire days tied up waiting for them to respond to emergencies caused by their horrendous software and being generally jerked around, then this is the company for you.
UPDATE, March 21, 2009: I finally heard back from the company. The representative was polite and apologetic but the method I was given to transfer the videos that have been stripped of all information is unbelievably unwieldy and time consuming and clearly will consume days of my time. And as of now, it's not working.
I'm too tired and disgusted to write about this in more detail.
UPDATE, March 23, 2009: Still not working.
CONCLUSION: COMPLETE DISASTER
UPDATE, March 25, 2009: Flipshare erased all the folders and videos that I was able to reconstruct. That task took almost two days, and was only a fraction of the videos the application previously removed and stripped.
UPDATE, March 26, 2009: The folders and files have reappeared in Flipshare. Again, this is only a tiny fraction of my videos, the rest remain in a raw state and must be imported by a method that takes easily six steps and is unbelievably slow. Plus, it stopped working.
UPDATE, June 15, 2009: I remain completely disgusted by this camera.
Customer Review: The Flip Mino HD - The Most Compact And User-Friendly HD Camcorder
Summary: 4 Stars
The Flip Video MinoHD Camcorder is the ideal choice if you need a unit that offers HD functionality with the simplest possible interface. This model sets itself apart from standard format compact camcorders with the highly sought after feature of 720p HD video capture.
Video quality was already very good with the Flip Mino, and the Mino HD is even better. The internal storage has been doubled to 4 GB, but for the purposes of HD video that still only yields 60 minutes of recording. So at its highest setting of 720p, you can save about an hour's worth of video. But the battery will last long enough for you to record for much longer than that as you selectively delete the clips you don't need.
The use of the standard mp4 video also makes it easy to play recordings on your computer or TV, but if you need to edit this video with software other than what is included make sure it supports HD video editing.
PROS
+ Video quality is greatly improved on the Mino HD, offering 720p HD Video
+ Improved 4 GB internal storage captures an hour of HD video
+ Uses standard format MP4 (mpeg4) files
+ Includes a port and cable for AV connections to TVs
+ The Mino HD has simple on-screen menus and good software
+ The battery seems to hold its charge well
+ A standard tri-pod screw hole is included on the bottom
+ The USB connector tucks neatly into the body like on the original Mino
+ Has a sleek body with a shiny black surface
+ The microphone sensitivity is good enough for close recording
+ The built-in speakers on the Mino are good for playback
+ Low light performance is also slightly improved
+ Includes a pouch and a dongle for storage and transport
+ Nice front light indicates when unit is recording
+ The screen is adequate given the sharper resolution
+ The unit is very light, portable and easy to carry
CONS
- High price due to the HD feature approaches full featured units
- The 16:9 format plays great on widescreen TVs, but you may have to adjust full-screen HD TVs
- Still only 2X zoom, making it ideal for up close use
- Mino HD uses a built-in rechargeable battery that is not user changeable
- The included software requires a lot of RAM to run
- Does not include a jack for a compact microphone - sometimes needed for work use
- No headphone jack for checking audio playback
- Screen can't be seen when recording from high or low vantage points
- The Mino HD won't let you adjust video quality to record for longer
- Software issues are intermittent but noticeable
- Mac users may find it easier to drag and drop files than run the software
- No memory card slot limits recording time
THE COMPETITION
The price of the original Flip Mino has not dropped since the Mino HD came out. It should fall with time. Those who don't need HD may still choose one of the conventional options, including the Flip Mino, Creative Labs Vado and the original Flip Ultra. While the Flip Mino was slightly better than the other two, an argument could have been made for any of them. The Creative Vado is probably the best value and will meet most people's needs at half the price.
The Sanyo Xacti VPC-CG9 offers HQ video recording at a similar price to this unit but with more features and SD memory storage. Most point and shoot cameras will also capture standard video, but are generally not as comfortable to operate.
The Mino HD offers 720p video in a more compact size than competing devices. So those looking for HD and simple operation should choose it. Some will need HD with more features and many will want more than one hour of recording. The Sanyo Xacti HD700 is in the ballpark in terms of price and offers HD with many of the features missing from the Mino HD.
Demanding users may need models like the Sanyo Xacti HD1010 and Canon VIXIA HF10. Each offers more features and expandable storage via memory cards. Of course those are also expensive (at around 3X the price) and much more complex to operate. Hopefully the prices of higher end units will come down. No matter what your needs, many more options are being released this fall.
CONCLUSION
The Mino HD really wins on convenience and is a nice quality item to gift to somebody who is not super tech savvy. This is basically a point and click HD camcorder, and in that sense it's one of a kind. It's good enough to warrant the premium price. If you need more features, look into the higher end models.
Enjoy!
Customer Review: Capture your friends in HD with this fast and friendly mini camcorder, best camcorder for video sharing on the web.
Summary: 4 Stars
Flip camcorders are easy to use like the name suggests. So your friend starts pulling a stunt, or your baby starts taking the first step, you may have missed getting it on video earlier...but with the Flip you don't. You flip out this sleek camcorder from your pocket (or purse)and take that video and then flip out the USB arm, plug it into your computer and start "flipping" your video directly into youtube. You can set your privacy options on the videos you upload to include only your circle. It's super easy with the Flip and so nice to share special moments with your far away family and friends.
Here's what I like about this camcorder:
-- Takes HD video (720p) in 16:9 ratio, picture is very sharp especially when viewed on a computer screen or LCD TV.
-- To upload your video you just flip out the USB 2.0 arm and plug it into your computer like a mini external drive. You can then directly upload your video to youtube, myspace or any other video-sharing website without having to transfer it to your computer. Or just upload it to your computer.
-- Super sleek and easy to carry in a pocket or small purse. Weighs only 3.3 ounces and is 50% slimmer than the earlier Ultra series Flip Video Ultra Series Camcorder, 60-Minutes (Black). And Mino also has 4GB capacity compared to 2GB of Ultra - although both take 60 minutes of video
-- Controls are super-easy, really child's play. A simple press of the big red button records video. The +/- signs operate the digital zoom and the left/right arrows scroll through videos. Touching the trash can button deletes a video. That's it!
-- Good performance in low light - although one wishes for some sort of extra light source sometimes, this camcorder performs above average in low light
-- Sound is good especially given the size. The sound syncs well with the picture too. The videos I shoot with my digital camera sometimes go out of sync but not with the flip.
-- Easily charged through your computer, has a Li-ion battery as opposed to the Flip Ultra that used 2 AA batteries
-- Creates MP4 video with good compression so the files are not huge, easy to load files into youtube or your computer. The upload feature seems to be faster than the previous Flip Ultra. Video uploads can be slow but Flip seems to make good time with its H.264 video and AAC sound compression which is stored as a MP4 file.
-- Software drivers are on the camcorder drive so you're good to go with any PC or Mac. This camera works perfectly with Mac and iTunes for viewing your videos as well as Windows Media Player or any other popular player.
-- Included Flipware can be used to edit/share/organize video files. I don't use it though, I just drag and drop the files to my computer, so easy
-- It also comes with video cable to watch your video on a TV
-- The camera is smooth and sleek and self-contained which makes it fairly rugged compared to the super sensitive traditional camcorders. The lens is also protected and has been able to weather some minor drops.
--Comes with a basic soft carrying pouch although you may prefer to buy a separate case.
Here's what I don't like:
-- Zoom is limited at 2X digital zoom. It's great for making videos of people right in front of you but if you're trying to record a performance from a distance prepare to be disappointed.
-- Given basic controls it's also difficult to zoom in as smoothly as my Sony MiniDV camcorder to capture people's facial expressions without noticeable camera shake and repositioning. I find Flip is best for mostly fixed focus videos.
-- Due to higher definition video, camera shake can also be more pronounced. A tripod or putting the camcorder on a flat surface will help minimize shake.
-- Li-ion battery replacement is only available through the Flip Support as of now, the earlier Ultra series used the widely available AA batteries
-- The 1.5" screen makes it difficult to see what you're recording at times. Since there is no tilt like traditional camcorders it is also not possible to hold the camcorder over your head and shoot something. Although FLIP says the screen is trans-reflective, it can be hard to see in bright sunlight.
Overall, I like this camcorder for its super sharp videos and ease of use. A high end camcorder may be nice for very special occasions but it's not possible to carry my bigger camcorder at all times. You can also use your digital camera to make videos but the resolution is not good and files are large and unwieldy and cannot be widely shared. I find it worth carrying the Flip with a digital camera in my purse and can do so because of its slimness.
I have found myself capturing more moments on video since I started using the Flip camcorders. These moments would have never got on video if I did not have the Flip camcorder which I could pull out and turn on in a few seconds!
Customer Review: Great HD recorder for the price, but if you need a real zoom lens or features, look elsewhere
Summary: 4 Stars
There's a new market emerging for cheap, YouTube quality digital video recorders that are easy to use. That's where this product comes in.
The Flip MinoHD is the successor to the Flip Mino, a standard-definition digital camcorder that recorded to it's own internal memory and had a no-frills interface, making it easy for novice computer users (and novice directors) to take videos. The Flip MinoHD pretty much stays in that same vein but has some nice bonuses for the price it retails at.
First Impressions
The MinoHD's retail box immediately reminded me of an Apple product box; very sleek, refined packaging. The unit I received was gloss black. I was impressed by how little space the device takes up. It's extremely small and light, and other than the springy USB trigger, has no moving parts.
Specs
The MinoHD differs from the earlier Mino models in that now it records video files in 1280x720 (referred to as 720p in the HD world). It uses the popular H.264 MPEG 4 codec to store video, which allows you to store approximately 60 minutes of video in it's 4GB of fixed internal memory.
The device has a fixed lens that offers "digital zoom" (digital cropping, not an actual zoom). I've used hand-held recorders with optical zoom in the past such as the Sanyo Xacti HD series of digital camcorders. I really liked having that feature on those models, but this recorder is much cheaper than the best Sanyo Xacti model I've used, which is the Sanyo Xacti HD1010.
The device weighs only 3.3 oz, easily fits in a shirt or jacket pocket, and has a USB interface that flips out from within the device to make it easy to plug into any USB port and start importing your video files.
The rear of the MinoHD has a few touch-sensitive buttons for deletion and playback of videos, a physical (non-touch sensitive) record button, and a very small, non-widescreen 1.5' LCD. I was kind of disappointed in the LCD not being at least widescreen format, since the videos it takes are widescreen format themselves. Maybe this will be in the next incarnation.
Video Quality / Recording Video
The MinoHD's video quality is variable depending on the level of light and how stable the camera is. I've found the MinoHD works best in good light (outdoors) and standing still while panning around and recording. Video taken this way looks pretty darn good. However, there's no image stabilization to be found in this camera, which makes it really jarring to watch some clips that are recorded if you're moving while filming.
The low-light performance was adequate, but washed out a lot of the picture and was noisy. I wouldn't expect amazing low-light performance from a video camera this cheap, but it still is a bit annoying. The camera does have a standard tripod mount on the bottom for more stable recording.
The audio recording is also nothing amazing, but it works. The camera captures a lot of high frequencies, and the sound seems like it lacks depth. I'm not really hung up on this feature myself, though. There is not a separate place to plug in a microphone on the device, so you're stuck with this mic if you decide to use this camera.
As stated earlier, it records video to 1280x720 H.264 MP4 files, which can be played in Apple's QuickTime Player, VLC, or the bundled application with the camera. They are immediately compatible with YouTube or Vimeo without any software tweaking.
I tried taking a few short videos (under a minute) and uploading them to YouTube straight from the camera itself. The process is simple, I uploaded straight from the device to YouTube like it was a USB thumb drive. You can also use Flip's built in software on the device (which works on both PC and Mac) to edit or manage your video files before uploading.
General Impressions / Final Thoughts
If I had to give a recommended buyer for this camera, It'd be a person who doesn't have a lot of money to spend on gadgets, and who wants to take portable, high-definition video on the go. I can see why this unit's predecessor sold so well.
The MinoHD has the same feature set as a disposable camera (cheap, fixed-focus lens, very little control) in an easy to use form factor. It's affordable, especially when compared to other digital video recorders in the market today.
For the price, I'd say to definitely give it a try if something like this sounds useful to you. I find it useful, but very limiting - and for a few hundred dollars more (the price of say, a Sanyo Xacti HD1010, you can get much more flexibility, better overall video quality, and some level of image stabilization.
Customer Review: Great for web businesses!
Summary: 5 Stars
We host a lot of web products and services for our grads and find that our ecommerce customers had to jump through yucky hoops to get their products on U-tube, including Sony editing software, wmv conversion protocols, FTP glitches, etc. NO MORE! This awesome package-- including both the camera and it's user friendly sofware-- makes your dream of rss video feeds, clips on your website, and Utube uploads a BREEZE. Although the average customer will love this for family events, we'd like to emphasize the importance this little monster can have for your online business. If you don't know it yet, Utube can be a great place to get visibility for your product (our bladesmiths post their knives in action, for example), and you can include backlinks to your websites. Utube, owned by Google, also has automatic Googlebase (Froogle) feeds, so you get the added advantage of higher organic search listings free. We've found that four things can supercharge your web commerce: email blasts, ebay listings, article submitter software, and UTUBE clips! This amazing camera, with it's flip up usb, makes Utube capture, editing, and posting simple enough for your pre-teen (so keep an eye on them). Take a brief clip of your product in action by pressing the red record button, plug the unit into your usb, use the software to check or edit it, and upload instantly to utube, your own server, your website, or your email list! The first time you use it, you are prompted to install the software, which is in the unit's chip (no disc required). The GUI is friendly and easy with point and click for all features. Note: there is a bunch of trash talking about certain cables that don't fit this unit. The funny thing is that these cables are offered by third party sellers, whereas amazon's own cables work just great less than the ones that don't work! These cables really are not necessary, as the unit is light enough to "stick out" of your usb or hub, but if you have a crowded usb family, the cables are 8 bucks and worth the investment. Ebay is even allowing utube "additional descriptions" in their listings, which is a sneaky way to get folks to your website, as it's two links removed. To be safe, add "this link is to provide additional product description only" in your ebay listing, and when you do the link, put "buying on ebay is always fastest, safest and least expensive" and the AUP "community" crowd won't ding your link. GET THIS LITTLE MONSTER, START UPLOADING YOUR MINI PRODUCT CLIPS, AND SUPERCHARGE YOUR WEB BUSINESS! Brief caveat: Utube or separate server links are better than direct posting on your site, as they can slow loading for those with dial up. Also, don't put music on your site-- it slows loading, and can get folks in trouble who are surfing at work. In any case, keep your promo clip to under 60 seconds, folks won't watch longer than that for "most" products! ;=) good luck and God bless your business. Answer to recent question: How do I find the link to upload? 1. If you save your videos to your computer, the flip software saves it within that software, so you need to open an application to get to it. 2. For posting to your own website or server, do this: a. Click "sharing" and click on the world "internet" icon b. when the icon comes up, you can drag and drop the clips you want to process into wmv's c. Go through the little "yes" protocol (be patient, there is a very tiny progress window bottom left you might miss) while the software converts your clip(s) to wmv. Say "yes" to publish now, and you'll go to a flip website you can close-- the message will say the clips have been saved to your desktop. All this "pretends" to save to a website, but once they are converted to wmv and on your desktop (you can name the folder anything you want), you can then use your FTP or browser to put them on your website. If you have cable or dsl internet, you might now know it, but you DO get some space to upload content that you can then either link to, or publish on your own website. If you have NSI, godaddy, etc. just select and upload "media" window that allows wmv's, and you'll be live in minutes. If you're doing your own coding, either simply use a free FTP, or use the embed/ object tags within Dreamweaver. We recommend that you use embed, because it doesn't prevent search engine crawls, which could lower your rankings! The nice thing about wmv, is it automatically "calls" your viewer's media player up and has none of the hassles of trying to embed flash. Keep your clips small! Unless you're streaming, you don't want viewers to leave because they have to wait for a large file to load!