Flip MinoHD Video Camera - Black, 4 GB, 1 Hour (1st Generation) OLD MODEL
by Flip Video
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List Price: Our Price: $124.50 You Save: $75.49 (38%) Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days Buy Used: from $48.55 (click here) Category: Digital Camera See more product details |
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Digital Cameras Photo Reviews of Flip MinoHD Video Camera - Black, 4 GB, 1 Hour (1st Generation) OLD MODEL
Customer Review: Flip keeps getting better & better
Summary: 5 Stars
Customer review from the Amazon Vine™ Program (What's this?)
I started with an Ultra Flip last year and my raves about it had my friend go out and buy the latest version, the MinoHD Flip. I borrowed it once too often and was told to get my own. I wasn't sure if I needed an upgrade but I am happy with the results. There's about a $100 difference between the two and here's some information to help you decide if it is worth the extra cash:
* The video quality is better - yes, the HD version shows a visible difference in quality when you watch on a full screen.
* It has the same great features and is so easy to use - a few buttons that do the trick; however, the control buttons are not as nice as the Ultra.
* The software has been tweaked for the better - it was always easy to use but now it has more options.
* The bloody USB port is still an issue! I prefer the Ultra version that had it on the side, the MinoHD has it on top which makes it stick out even more (I have to be careful that it does not get jarred from place as it sticks way out).
The portability of this video recorder and the quality is unbeatable. It was the leader and still beats the newbies that rushed to market. The MinoHD Flip is the newest in their line and another winner. I still have my dvd camcorder and intend to keep it for the holidays and like since (1) the quality is close but still not better then my camcorder (the Flip performs poorly in low light); and (2) I have an irrational fear of trusting all digital products but I need the Flip for the unexpected. It also makes vacations so much easier. Who wants to carry around the camera bag and stop to unload it whenever something happens? Usually the moment passed, by the time you were ready to record - that will not happen if you get a Flip. If you see this on sale - BUY IT! If the price is too steep just make sure you buy the Ultra Flip and you will not be disappointed.
Customer Review: The easiest digital camcorder I have ever seen!!!
Summary: 5 Stars
Customer review from the Amazon Vine™ Program (What's this?)
I received my Flip Video MinoHD Camcorder today. I unpacked it, and plugged it into my laptops USB port to charge it. It charged up fully in about 35 minutes. I then browsed briefly through the quick-start manual, which is only about 6 small pages long, and I was shooting video.
This is the easiest camcorder I have ever seen. My 5 year old son, Jake, wanted to try it, so I let him. He shot about 10 minutes of video, kind of shaky because he spends more time zooming in and zooming out than he does trying to capture a good video, but then again he is only 5. Once he was done he wanted to see it on TV. I grabbed the cable, hooked it up to the front jacks of my TV, hit play, and we were watching Jakes video. It was that simple.
After playing with it for a few more minutes I plugged it in to the USB port on my desktop PC. It asked if I wanted to load the software (which is preloaded on the camcorder), I clicked yes and about 4 minutes later I was editing the video footage on my PC.
Well thats my first experience with the Flip Video MinoHD. I will play with it for the next week or two and come back with a more detailed report. But my first impression is this is an excellent little camcorder.
*** Update 12/17/08 ***
I have been using this camera for a few weeks and still really like it. The video is high quality and because of that shakes and motion are visible, so I found I need to be aware of that and hold the camera steady. My videos turn out great, the kids are pretty shakey, but they cannot stay still for even a few seconds. But then again they are kids and should be in front of the camera and not behind it.
I have tried editing a few videos together to make mini movies and that feature works great. The only problem is my directing, which needs work. But the process of editing the movies is very simple and easy.
Customer Review: A little bit buggy
Summary: 4 Stars
I will echo what most of the other positive reviews say:
- Pros: always have it with me, great video quality for computer display/pretty good for burning to standard DVD and TV display.
- Cons: small size makes it difficult to hold steadily so the video is often jerky. Small screen makes it tough to monitor. I shoot my daughter's swim events and sometimes lose track of which tiny dot in the water is her, although it's quite clear when the movie plays back on the computer.
Also, the field of view is not always as large as I'd like it. If you are shooting people a few feet away from you, rather than across a swimming pool, you may find yourself backing up a lot. Originally I considered the Creative VadoHD also, which has a wider-angle lens, but I tend to like to be closer rather than farther from my subject. So I was surprised to find myself backing up with the MinoHD. From waist up is fine, but if you frequently want to get more than that, this will be too close.
The only thing I have to add that others might not have is that the MinoHD seems to have some electrical bugs. I have had it since March and had to hard reset it at least once. (Hard reset by sticking a paper clip into the tiny hole in the tripod recess.) The battery drained and it would not recharge or turn on. Sometimes the battery will not recharge when I have it plugged into a USB port, but if I run it down a little further by shooting more video, that seems to take care of it.
In light of that, beware also the short 90 day warranty from Mino. I contacted their customer service before ordering and confirmed that they will still accept the unit for servicing after 90 days, and they "will try to fix it". I am not sure what that comment was supposed to mean -- out of warranty I expect to pay for repairs, but I also expect them to know how to fix it. The warranty was almost a dealkiller except that I was able to get the item for "free" with my credit card miles. Knowing what I know now about reliability, if I had to pay with real money I would probably go with the Creative -- or the 2nd gen Mino.
Customer Review: Exceeded my expectations
Summary: 5 Stars
I didn't know anything about the previous generation Flip cameras, so I didn't have any grand ideas of what this camera was capable of. Now that I've owned it for awhile, I could say it exceeded my expectations in every regard. The video quality is really good when taken outdoors in high light situations. It becomes grainy pretty quickly, even with a good amount of ambient light indoors. The quality is still very good for a camera of this size. The HD video is really nice and takes up the whole screen on my MacBook.
The best thing about this is the size. It's comfortable to take anywhere, and it's completely unobtrusive so people feel more comfortable around it, moreso than a large video camera. The portability of it just makes shooting video fun again. It fits in your pocket and is super lightweight. The lightness of it makes camera shake a problem, as it doesn't have the stabilizing weight of bigger cameras, but it's certainly manageable.
I've only used it on a mac and haven't installed the included software so I can't say much about that, but the fact that I didn't need the included software is a huge plus. It just plugs into the USB and you could drag your clips off the device like you would from a digital picture camera.
Overall, it's a great camera and I wouldn't trade it for the world. I've bought one for my brother and I'm actually thinking of getting a second one. Other people who have seen me use it have also went out to purchase one.
Here are the complaints. As others have stated, I wish there was an input jack for an external microphone. Right now the microphone seems to be right next to the screen, so the camera operator's voice is 3 times as loud as anybody elses. Another gripe I have is that I wish there was a quality setting to limit the amount of compression or even make uncompressed films. I know that would change the amount of video you can record from an hour to a minute or 2, but having the option there would be a huge plus, especially since it's just a small firmware update.
Other than that, buy this thing!
Customer Review: Amazing quality, incredibly portable, easy-to-use!
Summary: 5 Stars
Customer review from the Amazon Vine™ Program (What's this?)
The MinoHD is absolutely AMAZING and it is a great gift for the holidays.
PHYSICAL FEATURES
--PICTURE AND SOUND QUALITY--
For such a small camcorder, I have to say that the quality of the MinoHD--both in filming and in playback-- is impeccable. It films better than any other camcorder that I have and it captures sound very well. Upon playback, video is crystal-clear and sound is crisp. I took my camcorder to the beach and it captures all sounds--the seagulls, the wind, the waves, everything. Don't underestimate this product due to its size--it's great!
--DESIGN--
The design is both aesthetically and ergonomically appealing--the camcorder is very sleek and looks shiny and polished. My friends keep asking me, "What is that? That's so cool." (Yeah, it is pretty cool!). It is also designed to grip easily in your hands so it's really easy and comfortable to use.
--SIZE--
The MinoHD fits RIGHT IN MY POCKET and could easily fit in a purse, wherever you want to bring it. Who would have thought that you could find an HD CAMCORDER THAT WAS PORTABLE?? It's so much easier to carry this around than a bulky camcorder or camera.
--FUNCTION--
The MinoHD is really easy to use. There are only a few buttons on the MinoHD, which takes a lot of the hassle and confusion of trying to figure out how to start filming. The screen is bright and easy to read. The camera has a zoom that works while you're filming. It stores 60 minutes of video--which is a lot for a little device like this. It charges through the USB port of your computer.
--COMPATIBILITY--
The flip-out USB extends after pressing a button on the side and my Mac instantly identifies the camcorder once I plug in the USB.
This is a great product for everyone--I love my MinoHD Camcorder!