Flip UltraHD Video Camera - Black, 8 GB, 2 Hours (2nd Generation) OLD MODEL
by Flip Video
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Digital Cameras Photo Reviews of Flip UltraHD Video Camera - Black, 8 GB, 2 Hours (2nd Generation) OLD MODEL
Customer Review: BATTERY PACK 1 Stars
I have been a member of Amazon.com since it practically started. I can't count how many products I have bought off this site. This is my first review of a product. I read about the battery problems in the reviews section on this site but I thought I might be immune and get a camera with a good rechargeable battery pack.CONS:
Now the reason I gave it a very poor rating is because of the battery pack issue. If the rechargeable battery pack can't be recharged then it's hard to give the product a good review. There are so many reviews about the battery that I can't believe that this problem hasn't been isolated and fixed yet! I'm writing this review on 5/26/10!
BATTERY PACK: After 2 days of playing with the camera the battery died so I plugged it into my laptop to be recharged. The charge takes about 6 hours so you better think ahead if you plan on using the camera the next day. The next day I went to use the camera and the camera said low battery. I took the battery out and the battery was still dead. I tried to charge it again. It still didn't charge properly.
CUSTOMER SERVICE: I used the Flip site to open an email ticket about the battery pack not recharging. They emailed me back the next day with the following instructions.
If your battery pack is not charging properly, please try the following:
1) remove the battery pack from the camcorder
2) connect the camcorder to a powered USB port on your computer
3) when the "Connected" indicator comes on, insert the battery pack into the camcorder
4) safe eject your camcorder from your computer
5) reconnect your camcorder to your computer
6) the battery pack should now begin to charge within the camcorder
If the issue persists, please contact us again so that we may provide the next necessary steps.
Of course this bit of knowledge did not help.
After that waste of time effort I contacted customer support on the phone. They told me to do the same thing as above. I told them I had already tried it. He told me to do it again then tell me what the screen on the camcorder states. Talk about a Flip USB arm being a bad usability idea when a product needs to be debugged. Case in point point! Have the video screen facing up and not facing down to the desk. In order to see the screen I had to either pick up the laptop with the flimsy flip arm connected to the USB port and risk it breaking off or I could have turned the laptop over and connected the flip to the USB port or I could push the laptop towards the edge of the table so I can crawl under to look at what the screen was saying. I chose the latter. Once again this was a waste of time. I gave him the info. He said give it time to charge and call back if there are problems. Once again the pack did not charge.
I called back and talked to another CS I told the CS what I had already done. The CS stated she thinks it's a firmware problem. I said are you guys getting a lot of these Flip Video ULTRA II HD back? She said no! I said then how can it be a firmware problem. If it was a firmware problem it would affect more Flips then just this one. I eventually said screw it and sent it back for a refund.
PRO:
The camera is convenient to carry around for those quick spur of the moment shots but once again if the battery dies the convenience does not matter.
If you point and shoot be aware that you better have a steady arm. The picture will suffer from shaky cam syndrome. This camera works best on a tripod.
The video is actually pretty good for a cheap camera. It's not movie quality but then if you're looking for movie quality you better shell out the serious bucks.
Customer Review: UltraHD
Summary: 5 Stars
I decided for my birthday that I wanted another video camera, after mine got stolen on a flight to London. The main reason I rarely used my other Panasonic camcorder is that it was a handycam-type, not bulky or anything, but required a separate bag and was a hassle to drag around. Not so with the Flip Ultra HD, which I've had for a couple of weeks now. Although it is a fatty compared to the MinoHD, the video quality, in my opinion, is better than that of the Mino.
Pros:
HD quality 720p- absolutely stunning, may not be quality of $400+ Canon HD's, but I can see in good detail during playback. Motion is good too- no blurring. Mini HDMI on camera is a +.
Screen Size- the screen is around 2 in. I believe it says in the review, vastly bigger than that of the Mino. The screen just makes it easier to view, which in some cases, is a must-have.
Battery- I like how Pure Digital gives you the opportunity to use its rechargeable or 2AA batteries. I am going on a foreign trip soon, and I need disposable batteries for convenience. This attribute and screen size were the deciding factors over the mino. Battery life is pretty long.
Price- compared to other cameras in this price range, it is relatively cheap, especially to the mino. The others in the market may be cheaper, such as the Zado and Zi6, but for the factors listed above, the Ultra ultimately was the top contender.
Simplicity- for people who hate format and technical issues, Flip is the way to go. I don't mind the formats or technical jargon, but it does make life just a tad bit easier. Flipshare software pre-installed is quite helpful, it can take snapshots and is a breeze to use. Forgot to mention: start up time takes about 2-3 sec. pretty fast for point and shoot.
Memory- It holds 8gb, and 2hrs worth, unlike other camcorders.
Sound quality- it's quite good, can pick up nuanced details.
Accessories- comes with some useful stuff, though they could add more, but it's basic and good.
Cons:
Stability- You need steady hands/2 hands to have a really balanced video. One hand is fine too, but it might get irritating during playback.
Size- It is *kind* of thick, but lack of thinness gives it durability. Still quite small, thinner than some digital cameras.
USB arm- some have a beef with its position, & since I have a desktop, it is in a somewhat awkward position, but I don't think it will break off, but it is recommended to get a usb cable (female to male) for peace of mind.
Editing- on the camera itself, I kind of wish I could pause, and then take it again, but it's not that big of a problem.
Zoom- This is one of the bad things about it- they sacrificed optical zoom to make it more compact and less complicated and put on digital; the quality doesn't degrade that badly, but it's noticeable. The shake on the video does increase though, if you're holding it. Zoom not that great, but better than nothing.
Pixels- after scouring the net for research on this camcorder, Pure Digital is clever enough to not release the amount of megapixels. Perhaps because it is lower than other cameras? Certainly doesn't seem like it. For whatever reason, they neglect to mention.
Last word: Some people expect this camera to do a ton of things it's not supposed to, such as give a $500 picture, image stabilization, 30x optical zoom, etc etc. This is a point and shoot camera, perfect for home movies, impromptu videos for friends, taking videos of something surprising or spontaneous, for uploading on Youtube, and a cheaper HD picture. Buy with these expectations and you won't be disappointed.
Customer Review: A review from a Mac user's perspective.
Summary: 4 Stars
There's so much that's already been written about the Flip UltraHD that it's hard to relate any kind of new information that hasn't already been talked about ten times over. So instead, I'll give a general review plus some insight from the perspective of a Mac user since lots of people will be using this camera with their Macs.
From a usage perspective this camcorder is insanely easy, far easier than even the easiest tape or hard drive-based camcorder could ever achieve. There's a lot to like in its design; the rubberized plastics to keep a firm grip, the clear and obvious markings on the buttons, the rechargeable battery, the clear and bright LCD screen, the reasonable zoom level, the ability to lock the controls so it doesn't accidentally turn on, etc. But there's also a few things that I'm not so crazy about. For example, I'd have liked to see a lens cover on the camera to keep that big ol' lens from getting scratched. I find the zoom controls (UP and DOWN on the control pad) to be awkward to use when holding the camera with one hand. The video inevitably shakes a bit as you try to move your thumb around. I'd have liked a rocker or slide switch just below the control pad instead. The included lariat, while strong, feels insanely cheap, like one of those plastic necklaces you get for 25¢ at the supermarket vending machine. As a mixed blessing they also make it difficult to delete a video on the camera; you have to press three times on different buttons to delete. On the one hand that makes it harder to accidentally delete a video, but it also makes it a pain to purposely delete a video. I also wouldn't have minded the ability to use the camcorder as a webcam but that's not on the menu either.
For the Mac users out there, here's what you want to know: The camcorder plugs in via USB. It works on both USB 1 and USB 2 ports but of course it's much faster on USB 2, and given the size of the video files (roughly 4GB per hour) you'll definitely want USB 2. Your Mac will see the camera both as a USB storage device AND as a camera. For the former, you'll see a "FLIPVIDEO" volume appear on your desktop. This contains both Mac and Windows versions of the FlipShare software (completely 100% not needed for a Macintosh) as well as a "DCIM" folder (Digital Camera IMages) that contains your MPEG4 video files. You can drag-copy those files from the camera to wherever you want. Alternately, because the Mac sees the camcorder as a camera, you can use iPhoto, iMovie, or Image Capture to copy the videos from the camera to the computer. (NOTE: iMovie HD, the last version of the 'old' iMovie, does not see the camcorder. iMovie '08 and iMovie '09 both see the camcorder and can access the videos directly.) When you're done copying you can delete the videos from the camera if you wish, then just drag the "FLIPVIDEO" icon from the desktop to the EJECT icon. If you leave the camcorder plugged in it will charge via USB; otherwise, unplug it and away you go.
At first I was somewhat reluctant to have this camcorder. After all, I have a very powerful (and very large) Sony Digital8 camcorder that has served me well for MANY years. My Canon PowerShot digital camera also takes exceptional videos, and with an 8GB memory card in it I can record for quite awhile. And in a pinch, my cell phone (which also has an 8GB memory card in it) can record a couple hours of video if I let it. So I'm not hurting for video recording. But the UltraHD is the first camcorder I've owned which does true high definition video and due to a combination of its size, fast setup time, and insanely easy to use architecture, I find myself carrying this camcorder almost everywhere I go. Because you never know. :)
Customer Review: Wonderful addition to my camcorder stable
Summary: 4 Stars
I have a love / hate relationship with camcorders, and have for the decade or so I've been buying them and breaking them. I've burned through 3 or 4 of the tape varieties, and never had one last longer than a year or so before needing repairs that are nearly as costly as the camcorder itself.
While I've only had this little guy for a bit over a week so can't speak to its durability yet, it has a lot going for it. Fewer moving parts greatly reduces the likelihood of mechanical failure, I should think.
It's important to note that I also still own and use a canon vixia high definition camcorder that has worked quite well for me. I bought this to carry around with me for more impromptu filming; creating short youtube movies is a bit of a hobby for me right now, and that's exactly what this guy is cut out for.
Video quality is a bit diminished from my vixia, but quite impressive given its price and size. Sure, the Ultra HD is a bit bulkier than it's thinner breatheren, and certainly thicker than your iPhone, but remember when you had to rest a camcorder on your shoulder? Size is all relative, and I find this to be a comfortable fit in both my hand and my pocket. If you wear those super skinny pencil-leg jeans (you hipster!) this isn't going in your pocket. But neither is your milk money. Dress more practically and you have nothing to worry about here.
Operation could not be easier. There is a giant red button, and that's about it. Once powered on, push the red button and you're recording. Push it again and you're not. Push the playback button for playback. My 4 year old can work this, and while it's a bit too pricey to be her toy, I could almost trust her with it. It's pretty fool proof.
Audio quality is where you miss out a bit, but I feel that way on most cameras. There is no substitute for an outboard microphone, and I wouldn't expect the sound quality to be much better than it is given Flip's price point and profile. Where I dinged the Flip Ultra HD one star was in its lack of a microphone input. Add a mini jack for me to plug in a lavalier mic and this would be complete homerun.
I find myself using this more and more each day that I own it. Uploading clips to my computer is simple once you have the unit connected to your computer. I find that to be the most difficult part of operating the Flip Ultra HD; the "flip-out" USB connection makes it a bit clunky to maneuver the camera into tight spaces to connect to the computer, and if your USB jacks aren't near ground level you have to engineer some way to properly support the camera for fear of it plummeting to its death. I use a USB extension cable, which greatly eases the connection process but loses the ability to charge the camera while you upload, apparently.
Battery life has been good. I've not tried to push it to its 120 minute maximum, but have never run into a situation to date where I was lacking juice to capture a moment. Other reviews will likely test the threshold and give a much better representation of what to expect. I suggest a second battery for anyone actually depending on having a set amount of filming time for critical shoots. But on that note, I also recommend a backup camera for anyone with those requirements :-)
Good stuff, this camera. I wouldn't hesitate to buy yourself one, knowing that what you will get is a very fun and very usable, albeit not professional-grade, camera. Videophiles. . . trying to get something that you usually spend 5k or more for, for under $200, just isn't going to happen.
Customer Review: Product has inherent design flaws--very fragile lens glass, cheaply made! BAD customer service.
Summary: 1 Stars
Do yourself a favor and Google around for the numerous problems people have had with this unit before buying.
This product has many users who are complaining that the lens glass broke without much effort.
I have owned it for a few weeks, and had my glass lens break this weekend when it was in my pocket... When I took it out, the lens glass was broken. I wasn't dancing or running or anything crazy, I was walking down the sidewalk with it in my pocket. I've owned many digital cameras and have never seen anything like this!
Worse yet, every person who has reported the problem has consistently said that Flip Video (owned by Cisco) refuses to acknowledge a design problem with the product and refuses to honor any sort of warranty on their flawed product. They say they're not responsible for any accidents of misuse. I don't consider putting it into my pocket while not using it to be misusing it or an accident. I've had more digital cameras than I can count and have never broken one, let alone had it break by simply putting it into my pocket.
Furthermore, they say the glass piece isn't repairable or replaceable, even though it's just a flat piece of glass that covers the actual lens.
Outside of the flawed design, there are a few issues I have with the camera itself. There is another design flaw whereby when you plug it in to your computer to charge, it overheats. I've gotten the "too hot to charge" error numerous times after it's been plugged in for only a few minutes. You drain the battery, plug it in to echarge it, only for it to tell you its too hot to charge? This makes no sense.
The camera's controls are way too over-simplified. Every digital camera I've ever had has had about 20x more features than this thing. This thing is on/off, zoom in/out. That's it. No bells or whistles.
The included software is very simplistic. Basically what you can do is download the videos from it. You can't even crop or merge video files together, which is really annoying, since every time you stop the video to pause it creates a new file that you then have to take into your own video editing software to merge with the prior files. I didn't expect it to come with Final Cut, but basic functionality would be nice.
Also, the file format used to store the videos is not compatible with uploading to Facebook. You would have to convert the file to another format to upload to Facebook.
There are no cables that go with this camera... To plug it in you flip an arm open. Before I imagined the lens issue even, I imagined the first problem would be this arm breaking. Basically the entire camera's weight rests on the arm of your USB port and the USB arm when you have it plugged into your computer. They also say in their warranty that this USB arm isn't repairable or replaceable. They're willing to sell you a USB extension cable to not have this happen for $25. But why not just provide one?
As far as I can tell, this is a cheaply made product relying heavily on trendy marketing and sold by a company that's unwilling to back that up with any sort of customer service. Buyer beware.