Kodak Zx1 Camcorder Review

Handling & Use Summary
• Fairly simple to use as, but button design is frustratingly ambiguous • Gripped surface and slim design feels good in the hand • Camcorder runs on easily replaceable AA batteries (also comes with a rechargeable set) • 2-inch LCD doesn't rotate and is on the small side • The lone menu on the camcorder is nearly impossible to find, but simple to use once you do
	Still Features	(Page 9 of 17)	Playback & Connectivity

Ease of Use (7.00)

The Kodak Zx1 is a member of the cheap, ultra-compact camcorder family, which means it is designed as a simple-to-use, fully automatic device. The Zx1 succeeds at being simply—you simply point with the camcorder and shoot. The only manual control it features is a measly 2x digital zoom that is simply to operate and adjust. Where the Zx1 fails, however, is its complicated button design. The button layout is good (everything can be accessed with your thumb), but the labels are terribly difficult to understand and the buttons themselves are poorly implemented. The Zx1's sister model, the Kodak Zi6 uses a much better button design and implements a traditional joystick rather than a directional pad. The Flip UltraHD and Sony MHS-PM1 also have much better buttons than the Kodak Zx1.

The button difficulties on the Zx1 have a strong impact during video playback. Since the buttons are difficult to understand it makes for confusing VCR controls. Clips can be fast-forwarded and re-winded, but it is very awkward to do so. Everything is controlled using the d-pad, which puts too many controls in the hands of those four little buttons. The camcorder also has a menu system that is completely unintuitive to access. You must turn on the camcorder, then press any two buttons simultaneously to bring up the menu. This is something that would be impossible to figure out unless you have the instruction manual in front of you.

While the Zx1 is simpler to use than any traditional camcorder, it cannot match the easy-to-use design of the Flip UltraHD or any of the Flip line of camcorders. Its buttons are too complicated, its menu system is too difficult to find, and the multiple record settings (30p and 60p mode) as well as the inclusion of a photo mode make the camcorder a bit tricky to figure out—especially for people who have never used a product that records video.

Handling (6.90)

You may not be able to tell from the look of it, but the Zx1 has a very durable design. Kodak claims the camcorder is water-resistant—not water-proof—and that it is ideal for someone who wants to capture videos out in the woods, on the slopes, or at the beach. The front of the Zx1 has a textured surface that offers a surprisingly-good grip. The curved lip (also on the front) aids the camcorder's grip-ability as well. For an upright camcorder, the Zx1 fits rather well in the palm and feels sturdy when you hold it. We found its thickness and design to be slightly better than the Flip UltraHD, which also has a textured surface on its front. The camcorder also has very good port covers and leaves no jack or input unprotected. For people who don't like the awkward design of the Flip's USB arm, the Kodak Zx1 offers a more practical solution.

The Zx1 fits easily in the hand or pocket.

The Zx1 also has its share of handling problems. The camcorder isn't very sturdy when you try to stand it on its own because its bottom is small and has two slight curves on each side. The flatter, thicker design of the Flip UltraHD allows that camcorder to stand up on a table much more easily. The Sony MHS-PM1 is also rather wobbly when it stands on its own—also a result of a small, rounded bottom.

The buttons are easy to reach, though hard to understand.

The Zx1 has some of the worst button design we've ever seen. The buttons feel weak and unresponsive, their labels are confusing and tiny, and the d-pad isn't fun to use. All the buttons feel like they are embedded inside the camcorder's body, which is something we like to call "membrane buttons." This design is good for keeping out water and debris, but it feels very awkward to use and often you have to press the buttons multiple times before the camcorder registers a response. The record button is the one on the Zx1 that actually feels good to press, while everything else is poorly implemented. 

Stabilization (0.0)

The Kodak Zx1 does not have any stabilization—either optical or digital. This is par for the course with these ultra compact camcorders. Competing models from Pure Digital (the Flip series), Sony (the Webbie HD models), RCA (the Small Wonder), and others do not have image stabilization. (More on how we test stabilization.)

Portability (10.98)

Like all ultra-compacts, the Kodak Zx1 is highly portable. Most of the competition is essentially the same size, so the weight and dimensions shouldn't weigh heavily in the decision-making process. The Kodak is even more portable thanks to its recording media and batteries. The camcorder records to removable SD/SDHC cards, which are incredibly small. As long as you don't lose the cards, you can have a relatively large stash of backups and you'll rarely have to worry about transferring footage. That means you can leave that USB cable at home.

The batteries are just traditional AAs. The Zx1 will run on any disposable or rechargeable AA batteries, including the two that come with the camcorder. Plus, the included batteries can last up to two hours, so you won't have to switch out very often. You can either bring the small wall charger or a few sets of extra batteries. Either way, there's no need to carry a DC power charger around.

Battery Life (6.00)

The Kodak Zx1 will operate using any two AA batteries, including whatever disposable or rechargeable ones you might happen to have lying about. However, Kodak also graciously ships the camcorder with two Ni-MH rechargeable batteries and a wall charger for juicing them back up when they're drained.

Better still, these two batteries can last a good, long while. The two Ni-MH rechargeable AA batteries that shipped with the Kodak Zx1 lasted a total of 1 hour, 59 minutes, and 32 seconds (about 2 hours) before they had to be recharged again. That's longer than the batteries on the Sony MHS-PM1 or the Flip UltraHD lasted. (More on how we test battery life.)

Battery Life Comparisons

You can use any AA batteries, but the included Ni-MH rechargeables are good.

LCD & Viewfinder (4.77)

The Kodak Zx1 has a 2.0-inch LCD (with an unknown pixel count). That's considerably smaller than the impressive 2.4-inch LCD on the Kodak Zi6. But it's all part of the compact, weather-resistant package. The Zi6 is wider and more fragile than the Zx1—this is one reason why.

The 2.0-inch LCD is smaller than you might like.

These days, you won't find a viewfinder on a camcorder this small, although some point-and-shoot digital cameras have a minuscule viewfinder. That means you'll have to rely on the small LCD to line up your shots. Since you don't have any manual controls for making image adjustments, the accuracy of the LCD isn't all that critical; it should be more than sufficient for recording video with the Kodak Zx1.

Menus (5.00)

There's only one menu on the Kodak Zx1 and you probably wouldn't even know it's there if you didn't read the instruction manual. Press any two buttons simultaneously and the menu will appear. This small menu will let you change the date/time, turn the system sounds on/off, or switch between PAL and NTSC output. (All North American televisions are NTSC, but if you're traveling to Europe, most of Asia, or Africa you'll want to switch to a PAL output.

You don't really need a menu for anything else, since there aren't a lot of options or settings on the Zx1. And since these three settings aren't commonly used, it's not surprising that Kodak buried the menu into a difficult-to-access location. The only other option you might want to change is the shooting mode; you can switch between HD60, HD, VGA, and still photo mode by pressing left and right on the directional pad.

The menu is very basic—and hard to find.