Flip Video Flip MinoHD

  

Kodak Zi6
The Kodak Zi6 (MSRP $179) outperformed the original Mino, but the MinoHD has brought Pure Digital back on top. With less noise and more sharpness, we prefer the MinoHD. The whole Flip series is also easier to handle and better in low light. And let's face it, the Mino is a better-looking camcorder, especially if you choose to customize it to the exact look you want. That's important to a lot of people shopping for an ultra-compact camcorder. Just about the only reason to go with the Kodak is if you're dead set on taking mediocre still photos with your camcorder. (Neither Flip Mino offers still shooting.)

  

RCA EZ300HD Small Wonder HD
We haven't yet tested RCA's high def option, but we were thoroughly unimpressed by the Small Wonder Traveler. If the Traveler is any indication, the EZ300HD (MSRP $159) offers a far less elegant interface and looks and feels more awkward. The video performance might surprise us, but we would be surprised if it did. If you know you want high definition video in an ultra-compact form, the Flip MinoHD is a safer bet. If your final definition is standard definition YouTube, the original Flip is still the best deal for your money.

  

Creative Vado
The best thing going for the Creative Vado is its price—the MSRP is just $99. The video performance can't match up to the original Mino, so it certainly won't equal the MinoHD. Even with the super compression of YouTube, you're bound to notice the difference between the Vado and either Mino. The Vado is just as easy to use as the Flip, but it doesn't look as nice and it only comes in gaudy pink and dull gray. If money is your bottom line, the Vado is there for the choosing, but most people will benefit from the better performance and design of Pure Digital.

 

Conclusion
The Pure Digital Flip MinoHD ($229 MSRP) is a very good camcorder for its price range – we'll get that out of the way before we start listing reasons why you might not want to buy it. The sensor, the compression, and bitrate have all been modified since the previous, standard definition Flip Mino was released earlier this year. The internal capacity is also doubled from 2MB to 4MB, but because the HD files are larger, the 60 minutes of recording remains the same. 

The video performance is much improved over the standard def Flip Mino. Not only did we see the expected improvements in resolution, but the color compression and contrast were smoother. The Kodak Zi6, another pocket-sized HD camcorder, produced similar results, but overall the Flip is more enjoyable to use.

But the very feature that makes the MinoHD new and exciting is so haphazardly integrated that it might not make sense to buy. First of all, YouTube, AOL, and MySpace – the uploading options offered in the software – do not support HD video. No matter what you upload, your video will be shrunk and re-compressed within an inch of its life.

You'd think that the obvious option Pure Digital would offer is a proper connection for HDTVs. If you can't enjoy the full benefit on YouTube, surely you can enjoy it in the comfort of your own home, with the whole family gathered around, right? No, in fact. The MinoHD only has a standard definition AV-out. You can connect it to a TV, but you won't get the full benefit.

So how, you ask, can you actually watch the HD video? There are three options, all involving your computer. First and easiest, you can upload to a video hosting service that does support HD, like Vimeo. Secondly, you can gather the family around the computer monitor, which is probably not as big or as conveniently located as your TV, but it works. The third option is to import the footage, edit it, burn it to a high definition DVD with your Blu-Ray burner (about as commonly owned as a Gutenberg Bible), then play it back on your Blu-Ray player. Boy, that was easy!

Unless YouTube starts hosting HD video soon, you're probably better off with the standard definition Flip Mino. If you're eager for an HD camcorder, consider Kodak Zi6, which does have an HD-out connection, or a more expensive, full-featured HD camcorder from Canon, Sony, Panasonic, Samsung, or Sanyo.

Comparisons

Who It’s For
Point-and-Shooters
This is absolutely the camcorder to get for point-and-shooters who want to try out HD video.

Budget Consumers
The Pure Digital Flip MinoHD is a great choice for those that want HD video, but are on a limited budget. 

Still Photo / Video Camera Hybrid
The Pure Digital Flip MinoHD does not record stills, thought the included software does make it easy to extract stills from video clips. 

Gadget Freaks
Yes, we think gadget freaks will enjoy this. HD in your pocket.

Manual Control Freaks
No. Moving on...

Pros / Serious Hobbyists
And no, again. Except perhaps as a gimmick, or one of those camcorders you don't mind putting in harm's way for a special shot (a la MythBusters).