Archive for the ‘Video Cameras’ Category
Kodak Zi6 HD Pocket Video Camera
The video camera in question is a highly portable device that fits easily in a pocket and hence can be carried wherever desired with ease and videos can be shot of moments that would otherwise go without being captured. It is suitable for those who would like to take everyday casual videos and do not have professional like high quality videos as their priority. There is a competition faced by the Zi6 by Kodak from Flip video cameras but the brand carries more weight in this case and Kodak products have always been known for their quality.
Since the camera can take videos of High Definition, they are extremely pleasing with respect to sharpness and clarity. The overall quality of the video and the audio is far better than expected from a pocket video camera and looks very good even when played on a large LCD television. Moreover, the camera is small and lightweight and hence does not pose any problem when it comes to portability. The video quality is good both, indoors and outdoors with sufficient light. It can capture videos anywhere between the tiny macro shots to the landscape ones with vibrant colors. There is an option to shoot videos in the desired format from VGA, HD and HD 60 which is an added advantage and lets the user take low quality ones when the memory available would not be enough to take high quality video. The device thus, is flexible and advantageous.
The video camera can also take still photos though it was not designed for that purpose and can be considered as an added advantage. The best part of the device is that it can take AA batteries and is convenient at places where recharging cannot be done like outdoor parties and adventure areas. The videos are not stored in the internal memory of the unit but on an SD card and is therefore good for the user as the amount of memory in the camera is customizable. It is a dependable unit for casual recording due to its portable nature and the price is what makes the product even more attractive.
The zooming capability of the unit is not as expected and also makes a disturbing noise when used which is recorded along with the other audio of the clip. The instruction manual of the device is not pleasing as it does not include most of the necessary information. The default mode of video is HD and cannot be changed to HD 60 which is disappointing. The media impression software that comes with the camera has some serious flaws and is not user friendly at all. It also tends to freeze up the computer occasionally and is recommended to use third party software for the same purpose. The battery life of the camera is very short and carrying extra AA batteries always helps in locations where recharging the battery I going to be difficult.
The Zi6 is finally a portable video camera that is affordable and has a few quirks with respect to the functionality. It is therefore recommended for taking casual day to day videos.
Canon VIXIA HF200 HD Flash Memory Camcorder
The HF200 camcorder of the Vixia series by Canon is a promising unit just like most of the gadgets by Canon and is good for recording videos of ay type using the features present in the device. It’s a reliable product as its functionality is known to be dependable for producing high quality videos. It can be used very easily to take videos both indoors and outdoors with High Definition quality. It is portable like most other camcorders of the same brand and those of other brands and can be used for various purposes like shooting weddings, concerts etc.
The major advantage of the camcorder is that it has an optical zoom capacity of 15X which is very much useful while taking videos from a large distance from the object. The video quality is not compromised when the zoom is used to the maximum and that is indeed a surprise when compared to other similar camcorders. The videos taken using the device are a pleasure to watch even on LCD televisions as large as fifty inches. The camcorder is compact in size and the build quality of the device too is far better than whet one can expect for a camcorder of this price. The optical image stabilizer functions really well and eliminates the blur that usually results due to shaky hands. The software that comes with the device is very basic and hence is user friendly. There would be no problem transferring videos and editing them to a certain extent using this software.
The stereo microphone that is built n the device is capable of picking up even the slightest sound efficiently. The device easily fits in the palm of the user due to the ergonomic design and is also light weight leaving the users hand strain free while holding it continuously. The manual focus of the device is satisfactory and the exposure control also works well. It has a digital zoom of 300X along with an optical zoom of 15X. The price of the camcorder is almost half of the other camcorders that have half of the zooming capacity of this camcorder. This makes the device a winner when compared o the alternate models.
The camera could have a wider angle recording capability if allowed and this would improve the performance of the device. The recording quality is not good in low light, just like most other camcorders, but the users wish the unit would be different from them in this aspect. The accompanying software is not efficient and cannot do any job other than just transfer the videos though a few basic editing options are also included. The record button of the camcorder is not efficiently designed and is difficult to use. There is no stand alone battery charger included in the box and the device only recognizes class 4 and 6 of higher end SD cards.
The unit is good for taking HD videos anywhere and everywhere and since I comes from Canon, the service is undoubtedly the best.
Flip UltraHD Camcorder 120 Minutes Black
If there’s a camcorder that’s super easy to use and fun, it has to be the flip ultra HD camcorder. It’s a nice little unit, that’s compact and very handy. The controls too are very basic, and the unit doesn’t need any special skill to be operated. It’s a very sensible product in its price range and can be used for all kinds of fun videos though not for professional video making.
The upgrade of the Ultra model over the Mino is that it is added with an HMDI output. It has a larger screen when compared to the Mino, which is attributed to the overall increase in the size of the camcorder. Though it is larger than the Mino, it is not bulky, but is pocket able and is of a comfortable size. The battery life too is longer than the earlier model and other camcorders in this price range. The camera controls are very easy and basic to operate. Any commoner could use it without any difficulty. The colors on the screen of the Ultra are more vibrant, which is an added advantage. The camcorder comes with a rechargeable AA battery pack, but it is also possible to us regular AA batteries. This makes it a really convenient device as the batteries can be replaced if they are completely discharged on a tour and if extra batteries are available. There is no need of a USB cable for this camcorder. There is a latch to slide on the left that makes the USB connection pop up.
The sound quality on the Ultra is also very much pleasing along with the video. The ease of sharing the videos shot on this camera is very appreciable, as the software that comes with the device makes it easy to email videos to anyone and everyone, or to upload it to a website. It has an extra 4 GB of memory when compared to the Mino too. The video recording limit is 120 minutes, which is more than enough for a non-professional. It’s the best buy for recording videos at parties and family gatherings.
The zoom available in this camcorder is only 2X. So it is not considered an ideal product for filming very far objects or concerts. It is ideal only for shooting in daylight and okay for indoor shooting if there is adequate lighting. But the video gets grainy in low/dim light. The other downside of the device is that it has to be held steadily in order to shoot clearly. A slight shake can make the video a bad quality one. There are also a few complaints that the battery doesn’t get charged fully and shows a message that the battery is heated and hence charging has been paused. There is also a poor response from the customer care when enquired about this problem. Maybe the manufacturers need to concentrate more on these areas, in order to make it more pleasing.
The Flip Ultra is a very attractive product for what the customer actually pays for it. It is basically a non-professional and easy to use camera. The best product for users who need what it exactly offers, in its price range.
Flip MinoHD Camcorder Black
Flip has always produced reliable pocket video cameras. Though this is not a high end product, it serves the purpose of having it for regular use and taking videos that would otherwise go un-captured. This makes it convenient for basic use without having to compromise on the quality as the output is very impressive compared to that from its alternate products. As the title indicates, the video is going to be HD, making it a pleasure to watch the same on HD televisions.
The all new HD video camera from Flip, the Mino is a beauty with a simple and elegant design. The screen is very wide and attractive and it has the capacity to record for two hours straight. Its sleek design makes it very portable and fits comfortably into the hand and into the pocket. The keys are sort of touch screen and very sensitive too. The sound quality is also pleasing and it can play videos on HD TV with amazing clarity and sharpness. The material used to make the outer casing of the device does not attract finger prints, which is a welcome feature for most of the users. Also it is very easy and quick to turn it on/off which does not let the user miss a moment that has to be captured and comes unnoticed.
There are many improvisations on this model compared to its previous versions, the most important and basic one being improved picture quality. The videos taken by this device can also be compared to those taken by a professional and bulky camcorder. The color balance is very natural even if the video is taken indoors. The software that comes with the device is also very user friendly and like the device itself, this too has improved. The time taken to upload pictures is now faster and also includes an email feature that allows the user to send the videos to friends and family directly, without having to log in to the users specific email address. The software called flipshare that comes along with the device can be used to get still images from the videos taken. The time the device takes to recharge the battery is also less and it includes a USB stick so it does not need a separate USB cable to be connected to the computer.
The camcorder has only HDMI output and not AV, which might be disappointing to a few users. The software has problems when run on Mac machines and when on Windows Vista, it changes the color from premium to basic. The videos taken are by default of .mp4 format and the file has to be converted to a different type to play it in the desired player if it is not supported by it. The registration process for the product is also found to be troublesome and a few devices just freeze up when tried to zoom while recording. The reset button that has to be used in such situations is hard to reach due to its design. The high sensitivity of the buttons can be taken as a disadvantage too as it makes it very easy to erase the videos by mistake.
A basic camcorders job is done more than just efficiently by this device and for the price it asks for, it is a good deal.
