Pure Digital Flip Ultra Camcorder Reviewby David KenderPublished on Sep 25, 2007 4:04 PM 
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Comparison
Pure Digital Flip (Original Model)
There’s really not much of an astounding difference between the original Flip Video (30-minute version for $119 / 60-minute version for $149) and the Flip Ultra (Specs, Recent News, $149.99), but there is enough to generate a $60 price gap. The Flip Ultra is slightly slimmer, comes in five different colors, and is equipped with built-in “editing” software that helps prep videos for the Web. Keep in mind that both models record MPEG-4 AVIs, meaning you can edit with pretty much any non-linear editing program out there. The Flip Ultra also upgrades to a tripod mount, larger internal storage capacity, and a 1.5-inch transflective LCD screen. Video quality is going to remain about the same. So, if you feel like spending a little extra cash on style and minute upgrades, the Flip Ultra is for you.
CVS One-Time-Use Video Camcorder
There is more than one parallel between the original Flip Video and the first generation CVS One-Time-Use Video Camcorder ($30 MSRP), and not without cause. Though we did not know it in 2005 when we reviewed the CVS camcorder, Pure Digital was indeed the manufacturer. Since then, the company has added a few components. Key among them is style. Both camcorders look strikingly similar if you discount CVS’s odd white and gray rising sun decal. The Flip Ultra is part of a new wave of style, but that’s not really what matters here. The CVS One-Time-Use Video Camcorder (you know you love the name) produced video that, well, sucked. But for a $30 camcorder, what would you expect? Worse was the post-production process. In order to actually obtain your 20 minutes of recorded rubbish, you had to return the camcorder to CVS and wait for a DVD to be produced by the in-house Spielbergs.
So, let’s delineate the terms here. In order to get 60 minutes of footage, you’re out $90 for three CVS camcorders, plus the cost of processing. So, $120 later, you’re saddled with three DVDs of terrible footage, and time spent at CVS that you’ll never get back. Or you can buy the Flip Ultra, which offers better video quality, an internal 2 GB memory that can hold 60 minutes of video footage at a time, and convenient AVI file transferring straight to your computer. If pocket video is your game, drop the $179 for the Flip Ultra.
Sony NSC-GC1 (Review, Specs, Recent News, $199.00) Net Sharing Cam (Review, Specs, Recent News, $199.00)
Sony’s NSC-GC1 Net Sharing Cam ($199 MSRP) seems to be the prime online video contender at the moment. Despite its massive 1/2.5-inch 5-megapixel CMOS chip, the NSC-GC1 appeared to produce low quality video when we played with it at the press event. We haven’t had a chance to test the NSC-GC1, but from our recorded footage we can honestly say it’s nothing more special than a digital camera with a video function. However, the NSC-GC1 has a still photo function, with the ability to capture stills up to 5-megapixels in size, a flash, a few manual controls, and a menu interface. The NSC-GC1 also records to Memory Sticks, allowing the user to shoot on multiple cards throughout the day. However, the NSC-GC1’s enclosed battery design eliminates any possibility of using a backup battery. You’ll have to plug in on the road. Sony aims to razzle-dazzle the consumer with flashy features while Pure Digital is all about ease of use. In the end, we believe that even serious technophobes will be able to master the Sony in no time. After those five minutes have passed, take another five and familiarize yourself with the menu and list of manual controls. You don’t have to use them right away, but they’re there as an option. The Flip Ultra has no options.
Canon ZR800 (Specs, $199.00)
In this price range, Canon’s entry-level MiniDV ZR800 ($279 MSRP) is a force to be reckoned with in the eyes of the Flip Ultra. Yes, it has a basic 1/6-inch, 680,000-pixel imager that produces fair video, but the ZR800’s video performance will trump that of any miniscule pocket cam. The ZR800 also has a mic jack, flip out LCD, viewfinder, still features—everything you’d expect on an entry-level MiniDV. But that’s not what we’re comparing here. We already know the ZR800 offers superior video performance and more features than the Flip Ultra. So, it’s down to target audience. The Flip Ultra is exceedingly easy to use. It’s designed for people with little to no video experience. In that regard, the Flip Ultra excels at what it was put on this Earth to do: YouTubeify the world. Those who insist on higher video quality and crave manual controls will undoubtedly opt for a model like the ZR800. A $100 price gap will divide the inept from the eager pupils.
JVC GR-D750
OK, same deal here. Let’s ignore the JVC GR-D750’s ($249 MSRP) superior video quality, manual controls, advanced ports, and accelerated architecture. The Flip Ultra fits in your pocket and connects to a computer in a whip crack. There is no need to capture or spend money on MiniDV tapes. The Flip Ultra equals quick, rudimentary, YouTube-bound videos with minimal to no editing. The JVC GR-D750 equals the first step toward total home movie production. With a $70 price gap, you be the judge.
Who It’s For
Point-and-Shooters
Point-and-shooters, bow down to your newest master!
Budget Consumers
For $179, you can make yourself an instant Internet star ... again and again and again.
Still Photo / Video Camera Hybrid
There is no still photo feature on the Flip Ultra.
Gadget Freaks
The spring-loaded USB arm is cool, as is the sheer size and simplicity. Those with money to burn can even use it for extreme shooting where the more-expensive camcorder is at risk of damage.
Manual Control Freaks
Look elsewhere.
Pros / Serious Hobbyists
Even for a throwaway where the camcorder might burn or blow up, the image quality is very low. The video this camcorder produces would be far from seamless if fit into a timeline with video from a real camcorder.
Conclusion
Pure Digital saw a gap in the camcorder market and filled it. The story of its success is no more or less complex than that. It saw two important trends: online video is becoming more prevalent; and devices capable of recording video can be manufactured in a cheap, compact form. Despite these trends, attention was being focused on the cutting edge of video technology, which is expensive and complicated. So why not strip away all the complications – all the special features and buttons and gimmicks – and make a cheap, simple, no-frills recording device that’s essentially plug-and-play with YouTube?
Don’t let the advertising fool you about the performance. The Flip Ultra (1GB version $149 / 2GB version $179) has precious little in common with traditional camcorders, and is a closer relative to a webcam. True, it has its surprises. The camcorder is a hell of a performer in low light when it comes to color and brightness, beating out most entry-level camcorders. But the compression artifacts are brutal no matter the light, killing most fine detail. This is YouTube-quality video straight out of the box. If you have no plans to show your footage outside YouTube and other video sharing sites, so much the better. However, if you have plans to showcase your vacation videos on the big screen TV, do not expect a pleasant experience.