Pure Digital Flip Ultra Camcorder Reviewby David KenderPublished on Sep 25, 2007 4:04 PM 
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Ease of Use (10.0)
There’s something to be said about a camcorder that takes up as much space as a Blackberry and connects directly to a PC via a flip-out USB connection. The Flip Ultra (Specs, Recent News, $149.99) is uncannily easy to use—a very smart animal, perhaps a chimpanzee or a poodle, could operate it. Just point and shoot. That’s all, folks. There are no manual controls aside from the puny 2X digital zoom—all adjustments are made automatically. If you want to delete a clip during playback, just hit the button with the trash can on it. If you want to cycle through recorded clips, just use the directional pad. There’s really nothing to it.
When it’s time to throw all that golden footage onto a computer, have no fear. Just pop out the USB arm, plug in, and go. The necessary software is built right into the camcorder. You don’t even have to install it ahead of time. All video files are recorded as AVIs, which is one of the most common video file formats out there. If you want to flex your editing muscle, a drove of non-linear editing programs are compatible with AVI files, including Adobe Premiere and Apple iMovie.
Sony’s NSC-GC1 (Review, Specs, Recent News, $199.00) Net Sharing Cam walks you hand-in-hand through YouTube. With the Flip Ultra, it’s a bit of a different story. You’ll have to go through the typical uploading process, which isn’t the end of the world, but not as easy as a simple copy and paste.
Handling (5.0)
In hand, the Flip Ultra is a feather. While shooting, it feels like you’re holding a candy bar cell phone. The body resembles a compact Kodak digital camera with a tiny LCD screen. There’s no hand strap or grip—the body of the camcorder is all you have to grab onto. The Sony NSC-GC1 Net Sharing Cam does it a bit differently. Its lens is mounted to one of the thin sides, meaning you have to hold the camcorder like a pistol. The Flip Ultra is a bit less comfortable to handle because the broad side faces out.
Once you settle into a proper grip, you’ll find there are a number of options. You can hold the Flip Ultra with one hand so the thumb rests on the d-pad, the index, middle, and ring fingers brace the front panel, and the pinky rests along the bottom. You can also hit record with your opposite hand and hold the Flip Ultra like you’re holding onto a subway rail. For those who must use two hands, try the Gameboy method – eight fingers in the front, two thumbs in the back. It’s actually one of the most comfortable ways to hold the Flip Ultra.
The four-way directional pad is surprisingly cooperative. This camcorder is all about simplicity, and the d-pad is your prime source of control. Luckily, Pure Digital did not equip the Flip Ultra with a cheap, rattling set of buttons like the ones found on the NSC-GC1. The d-pad is solidly constructed and operates smoothly. Our one complaint with the Flip Ultra’s design is the power switch. If you throw the Flip Ultra into a backpack or purse, the switch is vulnerable. Fortunately, the camcorder automatically shuts off if inactive for two minutes.
Menu (6.5)
There is no menu interface on the Flip Ultra. The only on-screen text in Record mode consists of “Ready/Recording” and “Time Left.” The Sony NSC-GC1 Net Sharing Cam features a full menu interface, though it is not a touch screen.
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The Flip Ultra is the same height and slightly thicker than the Blackberry Pearl. |
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Portability (10.0)
The Flip Ultra is the definition of portability. It’s as tall as a Blackberry Pearl and as thin as a highly compact digital camera, measuring 1.26 x 2.17 x 4.17-inches. At just 145 grams (5.1 ounces), the Flip Ultra joins the Sony NSC-GC1 Net Sharing Cam as one of the lightest camcorders on the market. There are no tapes or DVDs to worry about, either—the Flip Ultra records to internal memory. You will have to lug around AA batteries, as the Flip Ultra does not possess the gifted genes of internal battery life, found on the NSC-GC1 and Aiptek A-HD. In a way, though, the AA batteries seem to fit this kind of camcorder – yet another way of pulling back the veil of mystery surrounding tech products.
LCD and Viewfinder (2.0)
The Flip Ultra is equipped with a 1.5-inch LCD screen, with a very low resolution of approximately 23,000 pixels. The LCD is mounted to the back of the camcorder, just above the directional pad. The image is bright and colorful, yet lacks the resolution and sharpness of higher end LCD screens. It looks like a digital camera with a video recording function. There is no viewfinder on the Flip Ultra.
Battery Life (14.2)
Unlike most camcorders that feature a rechargeable, removable battery pack, the Flip Ultra runs on two AAs. It is the only camcorder we have tested to rely on a power source you can pick up at your local 7-11 instead of a camera shop. Some similar pocket camcorders are implementing rechargeable internal batteries, such as the Sony NSC-GC1 and Aiptek A-HD.
We tested the life of the Flip Ultra’s two AA batteries by recording continuously until the camcorder lost power. When the internal memory reached its capacity, a second pair of batteries was used to delete the clip and start from scratch. The Flip Ultra lasted 141 minutes and 42 seconds (2 hours, 21 minutes, and 42 seconds). This is a stellar performance. With a couple of backup pairs, you’ll be able to shoot all day.