Do you own a Flip video?
by Volker Weber
Thinking about buying a Flip. Is it any good? How often do you actually use it?
Comments
I have the white one... I don't use it often, but then again I don't use ANY video camera that often. I like being able to carry it around "just in case" something happens that might be ripe for recording.
It's very quick to start up (a couple of seconds and it's ready to record), and the flip-out USB connector is extremely handy. In terms of convenience, it's hard to beat. The picture and sound are adequate given the size of the unit. It's perfect for "YouTube" quality videos if you don't want to carry around something larger.
(full disclosure: Amazon actually sent me mine for free in an effort to get some of the top reviewers interested in doing video reviews. I never did use it for that, however... :) )
I had the original Flip and now have a mino and absolutely love both of them. Like all cameras the one you're most likely to use is the one you have with you and this, combined with the ease of use, more than makes up for the lack of "advanced" features. I find myself making videos of events that I never would have in the past because I wouldn't have been carrying the camera with me. I find the quality of video to be very good... certainly not HD but more than "watchable". Highly recommended.
well - in combination with the underwater case i think it's a fine gadget. I own a canon A640 - the underwater case is about 200€; the one for the flip is around 40€... and it's much smaller than the A640 :-)... so it would be something to think around for the next diving excursion
I had an original Flip and it turned out to just be a novelty. If I wanted pictures or video clips I would take my Canon A700. If , like Kirk said, you will use what you have with you. I seldome take gadgets "just in case" so I finally put "better camera" on my list of cell phone features. Now, if I want a quick pic or video clip, I just pull out my cell phone which is 3.2MP and a good 640x480 for video. The phone does not have advanced feature but then again, neither does the Flip.
My advice is to minimize the load, use the cell phone.
Habe vor einigen Monaten ein TheFlip über ebay England bestellt und bin sehr angetan von dem Mini-Camcorder. Die Video-Qualität ist ordentlich, nachts sogar sehr gut. Der Sound ist ebenfalls gut. Ich nutze das TheFlip für Party-Dokumentationen für ein örtliches Stadtmagazin. Die Kamera wird unseren Fotografen in die Hand gedrückt, die neben den Fotos jetzt auch kleine Vidoes aufnehmen müssen.
Beispiele gibt es hier: http://www.citybeat.de/media/allmedia.html?type=video&what=news&id=2078044 und hier http://www.citybeat.de/media/allmedia.html?what=news&id=2078148&type=video
Übrigens haben wir gerade letzte Woche die Kodak Zi6 (ebenfalls über ebay UK) bestellt. Diese Kamera scheint sogar noch einen Tick besser zu sein: http://gizmodo.com/5055576/kodak-zi6-pocket-camcorder-lightning-review
Ich habe eine Flip ultra und eine Kodak Zi6 hier, komme aber erst übernächste Woche dazu diese zu testen. Die Zi6 habe ich selbst gekauft, zum einen wg. der auswechselbaren Medien und halt HD. Ach ja und der Mac versteht die Filme ohne Konvertierung, was bei der Flip Ultra ein echter Hassle ist. Habe die Zi6 über http://www.international-orders.com/ bestellt. Dauert, hat aber geklappt.
I got myself a Aiptek HD cam.
It produces 720p content, I use it with a 4GB SD card, and I'm really happy with it. Dead simple to use, the output is Quicktime based (compressed), and I have no issue uploading it as is to various video sites (youtube, dailymotion, etc). I find myself using it to record sporting event. Like Showjumping session, My friends really like it as they can go online, and review the clips, and understand how to improve by watching themselves.
I don't really like shooting randomly. So how often do I use it ? It really depends, I can stay a few weeks without using it, and spend an entire weekend shooting a lot of small clips. I need to find myself a good video editing software that will let me edit my QT movies.
I bought a Flip Ultra (black) on Ebay Germany a month ago, and I'm very happy with it. We could never be bothered to lug around our real video camera, so we never used it. The Flip is small and simple enough to bring along and actually use. The quality is good enough for our needs ("snapshots" to be sent by email or posted on Flickr). However, the stop/start button isn't as responsive as I'd like, and I've already been caught once without fresh batteries.
BTW with the latest Leopard updates video conversion is no longer necessary.
i was thinking about that at wwdc08 but upgrading to blackberry firmware 4.5 with video support was the cheaper solution ;-)
Thank you all for your input. I have decided to pass on that device. I have had my serious doubts from the outset, but there was exactly one reason I would have liked it: performance in low light conditions.
However, when I looked back at how often I have actually used, or wanted to use, the video capabilities of any camera or phone I concluded that the Flip would quickly become a novelty and that I would not carry it with me. The only camera that I have with me all the time is my mobile phone. And those are frankly not good enough yet for capturing video.
But instead of going to buy yet another gadget, I will carry my Sanyo HD1 instead. It most definitely does not work in low light conditions, but I already have it. ;-)
I have a Flip and find it quite useful. It doesn't replace a true video camera in so far as video/sound quality are concerned, but I have so far used it exclusively on a three-day trip to San Francisco as well as just for carrying around. On the trip I took more video than I would have with a normal video camera due to the easy of use and quick boot time. I have also taken it on small day-trips and just take it around with me many places I go. As long as you realize that you will give up quality for ease-of-use you should find it enjoyable.
Here's a nice Economist article on products like the Flip and others: http://www.economist.com/science/tq/displaystory.cfm?story_id=11999367
As Duffbert knows, I just got a Flip video camera (also for free from Amazon). I think the long term value depends on how serious you are about taking pictures and videos, and how much of a photo geek you intend to be. If you would classify yourself as a "snapshot" photographer -- where ease of use, affordability and convenience trumps any tech-specs -- the Flip video is probably the right tool.
We have a full scale Canon video camera which is now about 5 years old. It does great quality video, and we happily carted it around Germany with us. But it's bulky, probably weighs 4-5 pounds (not counting extra batteries and whatnot), and is pulled out only for Special Occasions. (Never mind that I've never found the time to teach myself how to edit in iMovie; that's another project.) It's Bill's toy, not mine; I've never invested the time in getting comfortable with the camera. The point is that while the "good" equipment does indeed have great quality and powerful features, sometimes it's more than you need.
What I like about the Flip video is that it weighs the same as my cell phone and I -- I, the fumble-fingered "I hate hardware" gal -- had a harder time putting in the batteries than in taking my first video. Transferring to the Mac or PC is almost as easy.
This is a masterpiece of user experience, suitable for anyone who wants an "it just works" gizmo rather than a powerful "it does everything" device. (Videos of Meriwether the selkirk rex cat available on request. Just for quality comparison purposes, you understand.)
End result: I'm headed to the Microsoft PDC next week. I'd never have considered taking along the Canon video camera, much less packing it around the show with me all day. But the Flip video is already in my suitcase. Because hey, you know... this could be handy.
Good idea on taking the Flip to PDC, Esther. I hadn't thought of doing that. (updates the packing list)
I hear you, Esther. That was my intention for the Flip. But for now I am going to use the small camera I have and then maybe phones will catch up.
