Flip Video Cameras

[guns1inger]

Has anyone used one of these : http://www.theflip.com/ ? One of the teachers at a school I do work for has seen one and thinks it would be good for filming student presentations etc. She saw a demo, liked the fact she could just plug the camera straight into a USB slot and edit the footage. However she is also someone who finds Movie Maker difficult to get her head around, and had trouble downloading photos from a still camera.

Anyways, I am looking to find out how robust they are, what the quality is like, what the software is like, and if they are useful for anything but youtube clips. I would also like to see sample footage if possible.

Cheers

[SCDVD]

You might want to also consider a standard digital camera. Many of them will capture 640 x 480 at 30 fps. With a 4GB SD card it will record a shade over 30 minutes. I have a Canon digital camera that I sometimes use as a second camera mounted on a fixed tripod. I use it for cut-to footage when I have to move my main video camera. Vegas Pro 8 handles the MJPEG files fine.

[guns1inger]

She has her heart (and budget) set on getting one of these. They already have plenty of still cameras, but that isn't what she wants. Apparently this demo made quite an impression. Quality would have been the bottom of the list of things she would have been looking at though.

[NoBuddy]

It works on YouTube...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gQRFlnvxbFY

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XY5duopcLfY

Yes, even Oprah likes it (all but a quality statement...)

[SCDVD]

The web site is very well done so I'm not surprised that it made a good impression.

[Richard4]

Hi Gunsl1nger,

Quality-wise, the Flip does a reasonable but not top quality job. It really depends what you need the fottage for. If it is just to record students then it may be suitable but appreciate that the Flip uses internal memory rather than having expandable memory so will only record around at hour of footage - that may not be long enough for your uses.

I personally really like the software that comes with it which is very much like the camera - basic funcationality but easy to use.

See my website listed in my sig file if you want to visit the ad-free site I set up to give you a better understanding of the Flip camera.

All the best,
Richard

[web_maven]

I won the 2GB model. My Home Hi8 Video camera had just broke at the time and I used this as a substitute for that day. My wife felt that the video quality was good enough to capture the moment plus it was small. We get about an 1 hour of video and does an good job for what it is. Even in low light you can use the camera (I am not saying it does a great job in low light but if you're singing Happy birthday you will not get a black screen.)

The one thing it really needs is an digital or optical stabilization. DO NOT WALK WITH THE CAMERA WHEN RECORDING every bumpy step is recorded. What I do is stop walking and then take the video; once I have finished then start walking again.

As for the software I was able to install it but I could not get it to work well. I recommend using Ulead DVD movieFactory I am able to take the videos do some simple edits and output it to a DVD.

I believe the format is some form of Divix (I think 3xiv) with an AVI wrapper. I plug the unit into my USB port and just like a digital camera I copy the video to the computer then delete the files.

I had taken the camera on vacation for a week and it worked great with time left over. The batteries last long if you use good NiMH (Rechargeable Nickel Metal Hydride batteries) I believe I had to recharge the batteries towards the end of the trip.

Another tip is keep the lens clean. Since the lens does not get covered it tends to get dirty which could make your videos look bad. Before I use the video camera I clean the lens.

The camera also has an audio/video out cable which you can plug into a DVD recorder or VCR if you want to save the video or just watch the video on the TV.

You can review and watch videos on the Flip itself and delete what you don't want.

It's good for what it is, don't expect camcorder quality but I would say if you expect VCR quality and you know what your getting into buying this product then you will be happy with the purchase.

Ray

[lordsmurf]

I'd buy either:

1. Canon Elph SD1100 digital camera, makes 30fps 640x480 MJPEG videos that are at least as sharp as VHS was, but at a higher res. I dropped a test into Premiere and it exported/authored to a DVD fine.

2. A real video camera of some kind, be it DV or DVD or SD card or whatever. From a real company like Canon or Sony.

Buying the no-name web-marketed object shown here is stupid. I'm sorry, but the teacher seems like a dumbass. Whatever happened to doing real research, not falling hook-line-sinker for marketing crap because a "web site looked nice".

I would say devices like this are less "VHS quality" and more like "Youtube quality".

[Des]

Hi Gunslinger,

A friend of mine uses the Flip in her classrooms for recording students projects, etc.

Pros are: It's very easy to use and the files can be easily edited on the Mac as well as a PC. My friend is techno-phobic and has no problems.

Biggest downside is video is highly compressed and it shows.

In the same price range I would consider the Creative Vado :http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16830106001

Seems to offer more promise of quality, though I doubt by much.

Otherwise I am inclined to agree with Lord Smurf and suggest an inexpensive quality digital camera with a video mode. I used my Minolta and now my Olympus ZLRs to capture long clips while on vacation and they convert nicely to dvd.

My 2 cents.

--dES

[dj234468]

I don't know if you've looked at the RCA Small Wonder but it is more versatile than the Flip and allows you to insert SD cards for more video storage in case you run out of internal memory (which the Flip does not have). I also think that the Small Wonder offers better video quality than the Flip? I own the Small Wonder EZ201 and we LOVE it plus paid alot less for it than the Flip. Hope this helps?

Here's a link to check out the Small Wonder:
http://www.mysmallwonder.com/meetTheSmallWonder/EZ201/

[dj234468]

Just wanted to add from my previous post about the Small Wonder, HSN.com has a RCA Small Wonder package that includes a DVD burner that has a Docking Station for the Small Wonder. This is wonderful for consumers that are not very Video Savvy so that they can just plug the Small Wonder into the DVD burner and create a playable DVD. HSN currently has a 4 payment option that's much easier than paying for it all at once.

Here's the link:
http://electronics.hsn.com/rca-small-wonder-camcorder-with-memory-maker-dvd-burner_p-4346444_xp.aspx?webm_id=0&web_id=4346444&sf=ec&dep t=ec0108&cat=ec0325&ocm=EC|ec0108|ec0325&prev=hp!s f!dept!cat&ccm=EC|ec0108|ec0325

HSN.com also carries the Flip and has a 3 payment option and here's the link:
http://electronics.hsn.com/flip-2gb-1-5-lcd-mini-camcorder-with-neoprene-case_p-4164934_xp.aspx?webm_id=0&web_id=4164934&sf=ec&dep t=ec0108&cat=ec0325&ocm=EC|ec0108|ec0325&prev=hp!s f!dept!cat&ccm=EC|ec0108|ec0325

Good Luck!

[guns1inger]

Buying the no-name web-marketed object shown here is stupid. I'm sorry, but the teacher seems like a dumbass. Whatever happened to doing real research, not falling hook-line-sinker for marketing crap because a "web site looked nice".

I would say devices like this are less "VHS quality" and more like "Youtube quality".

I won't argue most of these points, and I agree completely that this is not the best camera. It was actually a live demo at a teacher professional development session that set her off, not the web site (I doubt she could stumble across this by accident, let alone go looking for it). She wants ease of use above all other factors, and the demo has convinced her that this is the solution, regardless of quality and other factors.

Thanks to all, but the decision has now been made. She has ordered the damn thing.