Flip Video MinoHD Camcorder, 60 Minutes (Black) | 
 enlarge
| Brand: Flip Video
Category: Photography
List Price: $229.00
Buy New: $209.00
You Save: $20.00 (9%)
New (5) from $209.00
Rating:  133 reviews
Sales Rank: 3
Color: Black
Media: Electronics
Autographed: No
Memorabilia: No
Batteries Included: No
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1
Dimensions (in): 0 x 0 x 0
MPN: F460B
Model: F460B
UPC: 892684000083
EAN: 0892684000083
ASIN: B001HSOFI2
Shipping: Eligible for Super Saver Shipping
Availability: Pre-Order (0-0 Business Days)
|
| Features:
| • | Holds 60 minutes of HD-quality video (1280 x 720 resolution at 30 frames per second; 16:9 widescreen) on 4 GB of built-in memory | | • | Weighs only 3.3 ounces; Super-slim, super-sleek design, fits into your pocket or purse | | • | Features one-touch recording and digital zoom | | • | Flip-out USB arm plugs directly into your computer to launch built-in FlipShare software | | • | FlipShare software lets you save and organize your videos, edit individual clips, make custom movies, email your videos, and upload them |
|
| Accessories:
|
| Similar Items:
|
| Editorial Reviews:
Product Description
Here it is! A 720p HD camcorder that fits in your pocket. The Flip MinoHD has 4GB built-in memory to record and store up to 60 minutes of highj quality video. A 1.5" TFT lets you preview and view videos on camera. A USB connector lets you transfer and share videos. Advanced playback, pause, fast forward/rewind features Records high-quality H.264 videos that work with iTunes, iMovie, and iPhoto Child Safe mode to prevent accidental deletions of clips Fast lens - great low or bright light results, 2x digital zoom 1.5 color high-brightness (transflective) display for easy recording and super-clear viewing in bright sunlight Silent mode for recording in sensitive situations TV connector cable included to watch videos on television Tripod mount fits any standard tripod Video - 16 - 9 widescreen, HD 720p (1280 x 720) at 30 frames per second progressive scan Built-in FlipShare software for email, edit, and more Includes Flip Video MinoHD Camcorder w/ built-in rechargeable lithium ion battery; Protective carrying pouch; Wrist strap; TV cable; Quickstart Guide Internal Memory - 4GB (60 minutes) Screen Resolution - 528 x 132 pixels / Video Resolution - 1280 x 720 progressive Video Bitrate - 8.8Mbps (average - auto adaptive algorithm) Video Format - H.264 video compression, AAC audio compression, saves as MP4 file Lens Type - Fixed Focus (1.5m to infinity) Aperture - f/2.4 (fast lens for great results in low-light environments) Zoom - Smooth multi-step 2x digital 8 Touch-Sensitive Capacitive Buttons (Power, Play, Delete, Record and 4 way navigation) Unit Dimensions - 3.94 x 1.97 x 0.63 (H x W x D) PC Connection - Built-in flip-out USB arm (up to 2.0 USB speed) TV Out - NTSC (cable included) Battery Life - Rechargeable lithium ion battery, charges using built-in USB arm Operating System compatibilikty - Windows XP, Windows Vista, and Mac OSX
|
| Customer Reviews: Read 128 more reviews...
 A Review for Mac users November 15, 2008
238 out of 245 found this review helpful
The camera
The camera has a 1.5 inch screen that is vibrant but small. The camera is thin and can easily be slid into the front pocket of your jeans. It is extremely light. The buttons on the back are touch sensitive and are not typical buttons that you "press". There is a nice quality built in microphone. Operation is dead simple. Turn it on and push the large red button to start record and then press it again to stop.
The video quality:
The video quality from this camera is phenomenal considering its price tag. No its not a Canon HV30 but its not supposed to be.There is very little motion blur and the colors are nicely saturated. Due to the higher quality video shakiness is more pronounced in the videos but its not terrible. The more still you can hold this camera the better. The sound is crisp and clear. I can easily say the quality of this camera trumps all other flash based camcorders in this price bracket.
The Software
Mac users rejoice! The Mino HD's video files ( MPEG4) are natively supported by Mac OS X, Quicktime, & iMovie 8 or iMovie HD. The software (Flipshare) even allows stitching the footage together, adding music and transitions and exporting the finished result directly to Youtube or just onto your desktop. I am very impressed Pure Digital rewrote the software package so that the features for Mac Users were the same as PC users. When you first plug in the camera iPhoto will open and offer to import the video's. You can override this in iPhoto's preferences. From then on the Flipshare will open automatically.
Final Conclusion:
The Flip Mino HD billed as the worlds smallest HD camcorder (as of 11/14) is worth its weight in gold. Especially if you have a Mac! If I had to choose one con for this camera I would say that I wish they would've added an external microphone jack to it-but thats really reaching. It's a wonderful camera for the money and they say the best camera for the job is the one thats with you when you really need it.
It is HD and does a fine job for what it is November 12, 2008
232 out of 241 found this review helpful
Amazon should really consider only allowing those who actually purchase the product to review it.
Contrary to D. Knapp's inaccurate claim of false advertising(do your research), this unit is indeed capable of High Definition video at 1280x720 and it looks quite stunning, more so than I expected. I was satisfied with the original Flip Mino's video and audio quality. This is icing on the cake.
The software seems to be improved over the original and regular Flip devices. I found it to be much snappier too.
My only gripe is low level lighting situations. It would be nice to see an add on infrared light system or a light accessory attachment. I'm sure battery issues might play a role in the decision to leave that option out though.
If you're like me and only drag your real camcorder out on the holidays, or you always seem to miss those Kodak moments with the kids, the Flip Mino HD is for you!
Score! November 16, 2008
46 out of 47 found this review helpful
There are no more excuses for missing the moment. This camera isn't designed for producing major motion pictures, but it does a terrific job of being available, while being ridiculously easy to use. It will be tossed into the purse for recording moments at gatherings.
I would say that the "HD" designation is mildly exagerrated, but the picture quality is better than what I get from the Sony miniDV Handicam (which does a nice job), but with far less aggravation when it comes to importing and viewing. And I have never thrown the miniDV into my purse to capture a moment at a gathering. This Flip MinoHD, I doubt if I'll ever leave home without it.
Auto-focus is first-rate. It automatically adjusts for lighting conditions and does a good job in dim light. The sound quality is not exceptional, but it isn't exceptional on any home video camera I've ever used, either. Still, it picked up my granddaughter's voice from across the yard without distortion. I haven't tried to edit the video yet, but the included software is straightforward when it comes to storing and viewing videos. The camera also comes with a cord to connect to your TV.
It is what it is and at a very reasonable price. This thing...this is truly a score. Oooo oooo, I have to get a DryPak so I can use it in the pool...!
UPDATE:
A potential customer asked a question in the discussion area. I answered, but include it here as well in case others are curious, too. The question -- how does the video compare between TV or HDTV, and a computer monitor.
I tried four different screens -- a 42" plasma flatscreen, a 42" lcd flatscreen, a regular old-style TV and an lcd computer monitor.
The old-style TV, I wasn't surprised, was "grainy," to use an old-fashioned term. The plasma was disappointing. The particular model I own didn't allow me to shrink the video to its natural size, so the picture was blown up edge to edge and that caused the picture to degrade. (DVDs on that TV are great, by the way.) Your plasma might operate differently and therefore, offer better results.
The lcd TV allowed viewing the videos at natural (large) size, best quality of all, although even full size it looked great. And the computer monitor was great, too.
If your potential gift recipient is a casual videographer as most of us are, they won't be disappointed. Fancy themselves as the next Baz Luhrmann and the Flip will promptly find itself on the return pile.
PERFECT SOLUTION FOR BUSY FAMILY WITH KIDS November 20, 2008
25 out of 25 found this review helpful
I also posted to [...], but wanted to post here to to share my wonderful experience with other Mac users.
Just received this camera today and have been playing with it. It works wonderfully! Great picture for such a small camera. It does a funky auto white balance adjustment on the fly, depending on the type of lighting (i.e. going from a room with fluorescent to a hallway with incandescent, or even changing the viewing angle in the same room . . . but this is not bad).
MOST IMPORTANTLY: If you have a PowerMac and are looking for a streamlined solution for getting HD video onto your computer and/or Apple TV, THIS IS THE PERFECT SOLUTION!
Several reasons:
-No need to transcode: I've uploaded clips directly onto the desktop and directly into iTunes by simple drag and drop, and clips play perfectly both within iTunes and in standalone QT. No more transcoding with Voltaic!! WooHoo!
-Apple TV has max HD resolution of 720p anyway, so I don't have to downconvert my captures from 1080/60i or 1080/30p or 1080/24p to 720/24p to play on the Apple TV, like I currently have to with my Canon HF10.
For the cost and size, this camera takes really very very nice images. MUCH nicer than the video captures on my point and shoot camera. And surprisingly, very nice even compared to the Canon HF10!
Overall, I am incredibly pleased, this device is the perfect, perfect solution for us: compact and portable, we can take it anywhere all the time and capture those short fleeting moments of joy with the kids, then upload instantly on a PowerPC Mac and view instantly on an Apple TV connected to our plasma, where it looks wonderful. No transcoding, no downconverting, no AIC, no AVCHD to h.264 to blu-ray or whatever. Just simple. I love this camera.
Did I say I really love this camera?
UPDATE 11/28/08: I must inform others that my review above is flawed in one way. I thought the clips from this camera worked flawlessly with both iTunes and AppleTV. They DO work flawlessly on BOTH Intel Macs and PowerPC Macs in iTunes (which is a godsend . . . no need to convert AVCHD to AIC using Voltaic, which is currently the only AVCHD solution for PowerPC Macs), but in order for the clips to play on AppleTV, they do have to be converted from 720/30p (what the MinoHD natively records) to 720/24p (the max framerate the AppleTV will support, for now anyway). Audio as recorded works fine.
So to upload and watch on any Mac: simple, flawless.
To upload and watch on AppleTV: upload to computer, open in QT, [edit if desired], choose Export Movie and change just one thing, make frame rate 24fps (I choose high bitrate 2500kbps, and audio pass-through). Not exactly "one step", but still just about the easiest way to get homemade HD video onto your plasma TV.
Easy + Compact = perfect for parents, like us
Great HD Camcorder! November 20, 2008
23 out of 23 found this review helpful
I loved my previous Flip so much, I could not resist the impulse to buy it in HD.
This camcorder could not be any easier to use. The personalization options make this thing even cooler!
The HD Mino is light, making it easy to carry around to capture important moments. As opposed to my other camcorder, I find myself actually using the Flip.
All you have to do it flip out the USB, plug it in (works great with Mac) and you can edit away with nifty software contained on the device itself. The software is much better than the previous generation; easy to use, lots of cool features.
The battery life is decent. I find that I plug in the Flip frequently enough to download footage that it's rarely low on batteries.
The footage looks great, even in somewhat low light, although night filming was a little more problematic. I found the sound quality crisp. Distortion caused by breezes was surprisingly minimal. You will not find better video quality for the money. The autofocus works fantastically.
My only complaint is that the screen is on the small side. I'd prefer to be able to see the benefits of the higher resolution on the device itself.
A perfect present for the holidays in my opinion.
|
|
|
