 Excellent, Compact Camcorder |
| Review Date: May 27, 2009 |
| Reviewer: Laura I, Fairchild AFB, WA |
Watch Video Here: http://www.amazon.com/review/R36XMSX3O7L286 I've made a video review, using the Flip Ultra Camcorder, so that you can see the audio/video quality (Keep in mind I had to compress the video a little bit for Amazon), and I also show how to use the camcorder.
In my opinion, this is an excellent camcorder for a novice, or someone who just wants an easy to use camcorder that is small and compact. I personally don't need more than 2 hours recording time and it's wonderful not having to purchase tapes.
The price is actually less than many digital cameras. I've wanted to own a camcorder for a long time, and the Flip Ultra has finally met my standards for: quality, value, and ease of use. |
The easiest video camcorder you'll ever own
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| Review Date: June 6, 2009 |
| Reviewer: digerati, San Francisco, CA United States |
| Watch Video Here: http://www.amazon.com/review/R3TMDUW1IZVQYN Showing the 2nd generation Flip in action: using the Flip and what's in the box, some video samples, and a quick movie editing example using the Windows version of the Flip software. |
Capture and Playback at Will, Easily...
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| Review Date: May 12, 2009 |
| Reviewer: Natarajan Krishnamurthy, |
This camcorder came with dead batteries. After several failed attempts to start it, popped in new batteries and it finally started.
First of all this camcorder cannot replace your regular video camera. It has limitations in terms of zoom and picture quality in low light.
I love this camcorder. I gave it 5 stars, because it takes "Easy" to a whole new level
-You do not have to worry about any flash card (the format, the capacity, the ridiculous high price) or tape or CD. It stores video and sound in its internal memory.
-You do not have to worry about carrying a USB cord because it has an inbuilt USB arm that pops out.
-You do not have to worry about carrying a software CD. The software is built into the camcorder and loads it when you connect it to your computer.
-You do not have to worry about recharging batteries because it runs on easily available 2 AA batteries (but you can buy a rechargeable battery pack for a price from the Flip store).
-You do not have to worry about carrying an extra bag for a video camera. This camcorder easily fits into a purse or trouser pocket.
-You do not have to worry about your camcorder taking its own sweet time to start up. This starts in a jiffy and you are ready to go.
You are ready to capture and playback video at will, easily...
Construction:
Body is made of plastic like material. It looks good and feels quite light when you hold it. Battery cover is located just below the lens and feels delicate. The attached USB arm, I feel, is not a good design. Even though it is light, I provide support to the camcorder when it is attached to the USB port of my laptop. So if you have to connect it to a Desktop, it might hang awkwardly from the USB port (I let it hang from my laptop USB port for about 5 minutes, it did not look it was in any danger of breaking off).....You can buy a USB connector from the Flip store at, of course, a price. The screen is very clear to see what is being captured or to watch your video played back.
Operation:
It is extremely easy to operate and has very few buttons. You start recording and playback videos right out of the box. Nothing to load, rewind, fast forward. If at all you need to go through the instruction manual, you can cover it in about 15 minutes.
Picture Quality:
Under bright conditions and out in the open the picture quality is excellent. The picture is sharp and the colors, true and beautiful. Under well lit conditions inside, the picture again is excellent. But under low light conditions it is grainy. Since it has very limited zoom, you need to move closer to the subject to get a good close up.
Sound Quality:
The sound quality is excellent. It is sharp and clear
Software:
Self installing software installed without any problems on my Windows Vista Home Premium 64 bit system. Again it is easy to use and create movies with your videos. You can also capture snapshots from your videos through the software. This is great because now I do not have to switch from video capture to still photo capture and then back again.
This camcorder is a well thought out quality product.....
Finally...
I called Amazon for a price adjustment for this camcorder (I paid $149.99 and the price fell by $15.00 three days after I received the camcorder). I was informed that the price adjustment policy has been canceled...bummer...But the customer service guy was okay about returning the item and buying at the new lower price. Huh???
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Simple and Brilliant
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| Review Date: September 23, 2009 |
| Reviewer: E-Cowboy, |
If you've done any camcorder shopping at all, it doesn't take long to realize that we've got a problem with function/feature overload. You could pick camcorder A with night vision, steady hand, and sepia filming capabilities...or you could pick camcorder B with the touch screen, HD video quality, and 50 other functions that you'd never use... The list, as you no doubt have discovered, goes on and on.
This is why I LOVE my Flip. Within 2 minutes of opening the box, it was on and ready to start recording. Within those same two minutes, I'd read the instructions on how to record, playback, and download the videos onto my computer. In my opinion, this is brilliant technology - it's small, convenient, and incredibly simple. Still want high-quality videos, not to worry, this puppy can capture 'em.
If you're an aspiring filmmaker with a commitment to the best of the best of the best...the Flip's probably not the best choice for you. But if you're like the vast majority of people who just want a quality camcorder (and be honest, even though they sound cool, you won't use a quarter of those features on the $400+ camcorders) that doesn't cost an arm and a leg, buy the Flip. It's incredible. |
Smart changes to an already outstanding product.
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| Review Date: June 17, 2009 |
| Reviewer: W. C. Bryant, Columbus, OH USA |
I bought family members first generation Flips some time ago, and they were so impressed by their simplicity and convenience that I had to get one for myself. I justified it by explaining to my wife that it would make Amazon reviews so much easier (I haven't once used it in that way), but really I saw it as a new toy. Sometimes less is more, and that certainly seems to hold true in the camcorder world -- at least as far as the Flip is concerned. While there are certainly bigger, better, and far more professional solutions about, the real value to the Flip is that it can go with you anywhere, and you can forget all about it until a shooting situation comes up. We've used ours to record press conferences, and post the same online for others to see. We've created our own virtual tours of homes we were interested in. We sent it to Princeton for my grandfather's 65th reunion, so I could at least enjoy the festivities from a distance. We've used it far more often than we ever imagined we really would, and it's proven to be as much a real tool as a novelty. That you can hand it to someone who has never seen it before, and instruction can be limited to "on/off here, start/stop recording there," means that it's near universally accessible, and fun even for those who might otherwise be somewhat technologically averse.
I grabbed the 2d gen Ultra because I wanted the additional storage space. What I didn't expect was to enjoy a larger view screen, a better (by my eye) on/off toggle (a simple push button, rather than a slide), higher quality audio, and a number of functional enhancements on the software side, such as mass delete with confirm.
Curiously, I no longer seem to be able to just pull the .avi files from the Flip into the Movie Maker software that comes bundled with Windows Vista, but I'm not prepared to actually complain about that fact, as it may be as easy as saving them in another format before pulling them in. If someone else has a meaningful solution here, I'd love to hear it.
That aside, I'd be hard pressed to come up with a single complaint about this generation of the Flip. Unlike hauling around a 'real' camera or camcorder, you can toss this one in your pocket and forget all about it until you need or want it. You can teach others to use it in under 30 seconds. Uploading to services like Youtube is easy even for those who have never done it before, with or without the software bundled in the camera itself. I couldn't be happier that I took the leap from the basic first generation to the Ultra 2nd. |
Great Portable Video Camera
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| Review Date: May 18, 2009 |
| Reviewer: cjw333, San Jose, CA United States |
I've owned a few video cameras over the years but none of them have gotten much use mainly due to the size of the camera. In my opinion it's not always practical to haul those things around. When they do get used, the video that I take tends to sit on those little tapes never to be seen again. It's just too much of a hassle to move the content from tape to digital so I can edit and finally watch what I've recorded.
Enter the Flip - with a size that fits easily in the hand (about the size of an iPod but narrower and a bit thicker) this device is also easily stuffed in a bag so you have it everywhere you go. For me this accessibility makes it much more practical compared to a traditional video camera.
Another big selling point for me is the simplicity. It's easy enough to use that I think even my parents could operate it with little instruction. It starts up in a flash and is instantly ready to record (from off to record in about 5 sec). The big red button records and stops recording. That's all you really need to know. Of course there are zoom and playback options that take the Flip beyond simple recording.
Although the Flip works well in low light, it's best that you film in daylight or a well lit room. I did a test shot at night in a dimly lit room and the video was watchable but a bit grainy. Filming outside during the day resulted in crisp, clear video. If you're looking to do a lot of recording in low light the HD version might be a better choice for you.
I also like the fact that I can watch my recordings right on the device itself. The built in screen is good enough for a few people to gather around for a quick view of what was just recorded. It has built in audio as well. If you want to show off your video to a larger crowd you can use the audio/video out on the side of your Fip to plug directly into a TV with a composite input (HD version has and HDMI output).
Getting the video from your Flip to your computer couldn't be easier. You basically flip out the little USB arm and plug your camera directly into your computer. When plugged in the flip will show up as a hard drive so if for some reason you don't want to install the software you can just drag and drop video files just as you might do from a thumb drive or other external drive. The software, however, gives you a nice interface for managing your videos on your Flip as well as those that you've moved to your computer. In addition to simplified file management the software gives your an easy way to edit videos, take snapshots and make your own movies by joining together multiple files.
I'm very excited to use my Flip for an upcoming vacation. The small size will fit easily into my day bag and with 2 hours of recording time I should have plenty of room to store a day's worth of video. I also like the fact that the Flip takes AA batteries (regular or rechargeable) so if I run out of juice while I'm out I should be able to find replacements easily. Finally since it's so easy to transfer the video to my computer I might actually end up watching these videos for a change. |
Great "Camcorder", one little flaw
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| Review Date: July 22, 2009 |
| Reviewer: K. Miller, Arlington, VA USA |
This is our second Flip and we highly recommend them to everyone, with one caveat. They are quick and easy to use/learn and produce good results for a point and shoot video camera. The video is 640x480 and the audio is so-so. It's not a full fledged video camera so this wasn't a surprise. The 2Gig will give you approximately two hours of video with sound. The camera has a built in USB arm that connects to any standard USB port and the camera is light enough I haven't have any issue with attaching it to a USB port with minimal support for the camera body or USB connector while transferring files.
The only downside to this camera is that how ever they encode the video (used to be AVI now it's MP4) the CODEX to watch the video isn't standard. If you plug the Flip into the computer and let it install the Flip driver you can watch it on that computer without issue. When I send videos of my son to my grandmother I have to convert them because we can't find a way to get the CODEX onto her computer which is a major annoyance. I was hoping when they changed file formats this would have been fixed but it wasn't... |
Good Camcorder for the family to use without worry.
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| Review Date: October 31, 2009 |
| Reviewer: A. Ward, Michigan |
| I like Flip Video camcorders. I got the first generation version, and I used that one a lot. It was very easy to use. It was very easy to take anywhere without worrying about losing or breaking. Then my kids wanted to use it so I thought I would upgrade to the 2nd generation version for myself. But, the 2nd one I got was no good. It could take videos, and review videos within the unit itself, but the transfer of the videos to a PC hung up all the time. I thought the first one was a good deal, but then it made up for itself when I bought the second one and it did not work for me. Finally, after many months of thinking I bought a pile of junk, Pure Video put a firmware upgrade on its web site. I downloaded the update, and now the thing works better than my first Flip camcorder. It takes decent video even in birthday candle light. And, the microphone picks up sound in a room as large as a good size karate studio. |
Doesn't Get Much Easier Than This
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| Review Date: November 24, 2009 |
| Reviewer: Marybeth Borman, |
| I had heard the Flip Camera had decent video quality (for the price) and was very easy to use, so I knew I wanted a Flip, just didn't know which one. I chose this one because it was the newest model that still used AA batteries. I liked the idea of using AA batteries, which I know is a turn-off for many people, for a variety of reasons. First of all, a "specialty" battery tends to lose its ability to hold a charge (hasn't that happened to one of your cell phones?) as it ages, which means you could lose out on taking some special videos if you're caught without enough juice to keep going. Other reviews rave about how tiny and slim the newest flip is (because it doesn't need to be fat enough to house AA batteries). Personally, I think this camera is very compact, while still having enough substance about it so you get the sense you're actually holding something. Smaller isn't always better in my opinion.....too easy to drop, lose, and often accompanied by limited functionality. In addition, if you're on your way to a big event and you realize your battery is dead, you simply stop at the drug store and pick some up. Furthermore, you can also use re-chargeable AA batteries (recommended) while keeping some spare regular AA batteries around in case your re-chargeable ones run out of juice. So even if you forget to re-charge your batteries, you always have the option of regular batteries. With the newest ultra slim model, when you're battery's dead, you need to charge.....no other options. |
ATTENTION MAC USERS
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| Review Date: December 17, 2009 |
| Reviewer: Bill B, Long Island, NY |
| I made the mistake of buying another similar video camera after the salesman and the box it came in said "Mac Compatable" . After spending one weekend on the phone with APPLE and RCA I learned it is only MAC compatable if you download about 6 patches and five applications and stand on your head while reciting the alphabet backwards. Back to the store for a quick exchange for the FLIP which my salesman said was not as good at the first one (not true). I brought it home and it was plug and play. Its great for a party video, a clip of the kids or dog but I wouldnt use it for the school play. The zoom is limited , but thats the only thing that is limited. The quality is very good and it fits right in my pocket. |
Love it.
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| Review Date: May 28, 2009 |
| Reviewer: Silly Sister, South Carolina |
If you are a camera buff, or in any way techno-savvy when it comes to camcorders, read no further. I can share nothing with you about the software, the compression features, the resolution.....but I think all that is available in the product description.
If you are, like me, sometimes a little technologically challenged: it takes you longer than anyone else in the family to learn all the features of the new DVD remote, and you still haven't used all the bells and whistles on your cellphone, and you have to call your daughter when your modem goes out - then this is the camera for you.
It comes with everything you need right out of the box. Batteries, case, usb cord, adapter, and a book of instructions truly for dummies. Very, very user friendly, streams directly to your TV with no downloading, beautiful picture, easy arrangement of buttons, nice size to it, clear screen for viewing....what else could you want? Oh, and it fits in my pocket alongside my cellphone - the one I don't know how to use all that well! So, within my limited area of expertise, I give it my highest recommendation! |
Great buy
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| Review Date: October 6, 2009 |
| Reviewer: Dov, |
| I just received my camera and I love it. Just had a baby and wanted something extremely easy to use and portable, so we would actually use it!! I have a very nice larger camcorder but its too cumbersome to carry around and my wife has no clue how to use it. This is perfect and we can easily upload the videos to [...] to share them with family. The upload feature is directly on the software that automatically loads when you insert the USB into the PC. Great value, and I look forward to taking it with me when I go scuba diving (with the underwater case). |
not perfect but great anyway
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| Review Date: September 14, 2009 |
| Reviewer: Alex Fielding, salem, oregon |
| i really should have given this a four star but won't because i just like this little camcorder so much. it is very easy to use and it is so much fun to have it on a trip. the sound quality is only so so and the color is not exactly realistic. depending on the lighting the focus can be sort of inaccurate too. one nice thing is that it will capture motion pretty well. in normal light the color is actually more vibrant than real life. it is hard not to like this camcorder because it is so simple and feels good in your hand. i can transfer the videos to my computer just by plugging it in to the back in the usb. i am not a genious and this one is fine for me |
Fun & Easy
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| Review Date: November 11, 2009 |
| Reviewer: Shiela A. Rhodes, |
I had a friend show me her new Flip Camcorder. I was totally sold on this new little gadget and within the same week I purchased mine from Amazon.com where she also purchased hers. The ease and fun of this little camera is amazing. I Love it!!!!!
Shiela
Wyoming
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Perfect Gift for Tweens, Teens or the PC Savy user
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| Review Date: December 5, 2009 |
| Reviewer: Andrea L. Polk, Southern Oregon |
This camera was an impulse purchase for me after viewing video review (#1) for it. I was looking for something I could carry in my purse to all the school functions; band concerts, etc..., and then quickly use to upload to Facebook the video. This item fits the bill perfectly!
I love these things about it:
+Great looking video, even though the resolution is only 640x480 at 30 frames per second. It's done in H264 video and AAC stereo audio in MP4 file format with this camera. NOTE: This is NOT the HD camera. If you want HD, buy this one: Flip UltraHD Camcorder, 120 Minutes (White).
+Audio is great too. Microphones picks up well and replay doesn't sound distorted at all.
+Works with a MAC or PC!
+Takes AA batteries - easily picked up wherever you go.
+2 hours of recording time is ample for most of my needs.
+Software seems easy to use for uploading to websites, emailing and saving to files.
+Has a zoom feature!
+Lightweight and compact.
Things that could be better:
-USB connection option for desktops; not really supported as the connector flips out and there's nothing to support the body of the camera. This problem can be fixed via a USB 'A' cord (not supplied but mentioned in the directions for use): USB 2.0 Extension Cable Type A Male to Type A Female 6 ft, Black.
-Battery life. Might need to invest in rechargable batteries or the lithium battery pack: Flip Video Battery Pack for 2nd Generation Ultra & UltraHD.
-Plastic cover for batteries feels a bit flimsy and has small plastic tabs that allow it to lock into the body of the camera. I'll have to be careful when changing batteries!
-Wish it came with a clamshell style hard case instead of a pouch to protect it. That would add to its bulk and weight though, and for some, be a negative.
Uses:
+Uploading video to websites.
+Emailing video.
+Making home movies to burn to DVD.
+Archiving family gatherings to digital video.
This highly portable video camera is a great find. While part of me wishes I'd spent the extra cash on the HD model, right now I am pleased with the price I paid, the features of the camera and the ease of set-up and use.
I highly recommend the Flip Ultra 2nd generation to anyone who is PC savy and likes to upload video. Kids ages 9 to 49 will love it!
**Check out the photos of the Flip I uploaded to Amazon, and the notes on each. |
Great camcorder
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| Review Date: February 13, 2010 |
| Reviewer: David Lazar, |
I bought this for my wife. Neither one of us likes complicated gadgets. Whoever thought of putting the software on the actual device and not on a cd that you will eventually lose was a genius. The quality of video is awesome. The HD version is not worth the extra money. Great buy.
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Fantastic camera
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| Review Date: September 22, 2009 |
| Reviewer: Erin K. Ryan, Washington DC USA |
| I got this cam because I took a trip to London and Dublin. I have to say I used this so much more than my still camera, the quality of the movies are fantastic. My father was commenting that he wish he got one like mine instead of his which was $400! The other great thing about this cam is that it is quick to respond, from off to recording is about 10-15 seconds. The one negative I did not like about this camera is, no still picture taking abilities, but it makes up for it when you edit the videos you can take a snap shot. If you're looking for a great, easy to use, high quality, inexpensive camera, this is should be your choice! Thanks to this cam i will always remember my trip! |
Cheap lightweight camera that can go pretty much anywhere
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| Review Date: September 29, 2009 |
| Reviewer: 1000Books, NY,NY |
If you're looking for something simple, this will fit the bill. If you need great quality footage, get a proper HD camera with the appropriate lighting and mic additions.
However, for the average joe, this is a great camera to bring on trips. It is only slightly larger than a regular digital camera and takes excellent footage. It records sound pretty well at a normal distance (though you should obviously test this and speak up). We had one our trip to Asia; and even in areas where we did not speak the language well, it was pretty easy to show people who spoke no English how to use this camera. The buttons are VERY sensitive, though and for people with big thumbs, can take a bit of getting use to.
If you are going on a longer trip, you will want to bring a lap top with you to download the pictures. They come off as avi files, so you'll want to make sure that you can read them on whatever program you are using to play back. Most systems should be able to read these files. Also, it recharges via usb port. Hence, if you are recording for multiple days and do not have a lap top, that could be a problem.
I am more than sure that anyone who receives this gift will be recording video footage far more often. |
Flip Ultra gen.II
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| Review Date: September 30, 2009 |
| Reviewer: J. L. Russell, Central Florida |
| This is a great camera. The pictures are good and it is so portable!. The pictures are a little slow to upload to my computer, but the software is very easy to use. I just love it. |
Flip Ultra 2nd Generation is a Gadget Queen's Dream
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| Review Date: October 5, 2009 |
| Reviewer: Abigail Soto, Brooklyn, New York United States |
| I'm known as the family photographer not because of special training but just because I take pictures / video at almost every family function and though I am an amature, I'm told I've taken some really good pics / video. That being said, I wanted something that was portable, easy to use and SMALL to capture not only those family moments but those spontaneous moments with friends and life in general. The Flip Ultra 2nd Generation is that VIDEO camera. Its not fancy but if you're in it for the fun of it and want good quality video that you can e-mail to friends/family or upload to social websites, then the Flip Video Camera will be your newest friend. No video tapes to buy and no extensive "How to" to read. Just plug and play and you can use it on different computers so you are not tied down to having the software on just one computer as the sofware is in the camera itself. You can't take pictures with it but I have my digital for that so its no biggie. Simple but good quality is what I wanted and that is what I got. Enjoy! |
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Compare Prices on Flip Ultra 120 Minutes black
US $14.99
(4.00 out of 5)
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