Posts tagged camcorders

Description

Heads up, adrenaline junkies. The KODAK PLAYSPORT has as much appetite for adventure as you do. And it’s not afraid to get wet. This audacious little camera can plunge up to 10 ft under water and capture the entire experience in full 1080p HD. And you don’t need to worry about blurry footage when things get a little shaky. With built-in image stabilization, the KODAK PLAYSPORT will stay steady as a rock. From the waves, to the slopes, to the mud-soaked trails, this baby was made for the extremes. Show them what you’re made ofin HDTake the plunge with the waterproof digital video camera capable of shooting up to 10 ft under water Go anywhere rugged design enables full 1080p HD video recording in just about any environment Start bragging with amazing 5 MP, 16:9 widescreen HD still pictures Make a colorful statement The KODAK PLAYSPORT Video Camera was designed with you in mind, right down to the colors it comes in. We took cues from the environment—from nature, to climate, to the adrenaline rush it provides—and transformed it into attention-grabbing colors that help you stand out from the crowd. Don’t let sun glare ruin your recordingSimply use your camera settings to turn on the LCD Glare Shield feature LCD Glare Shield feature gives you two filters to choose from that help you see your subject on the display screen in reflective outdoor situations These filters are only applied to your display screen, not your footage, so everything you record will look as great as the moment you shot it Smooth, stable, and always able Get sharper videos and less blur thanks to built-in electronic image stabilization Accidents happen luckily the PLAYSPORT isn’t afraid of a little fall, it can take it Capture your friends in all their glory with smart face tracking technology See more details and accurate colors with incredible low-light perform

Features

• Waterproof up to 10 ft. (3 m)
• Full 1080p HD video
• Electronic image stabilization
• Brilliant 2.0 in. color display
• Capture 5 megapixel HD stills (16:9)

Reviews

Excellent camera for water sports

by M. Dikov from East Bay, CA on 2010-07-31
I bought this camera to replace an older MiniDV camera. I wanted to have a low cost replacement that produces wide screen HD video and is suitable for water sports. Our family goes to the pool a lot. My son is on a swim team and the water proof part is a real benefit. I can make a movie of his swim meets, or dive for an underwater movie. Then he can see his performance and improve.

We also used the camera in outdoors swimming in a river. The still camera came in handy where no other camera can go. The quality of the video seems to be a bit below the FlipHD, however the materials are much better quality and the camera comes with all that’s needed including HDMI cable. There is also a remote control for $10, which is really nice when you want to review the movies on the TV.

The format of the movies is MOV, which is a bit of a hassle. MPEG would’ve been better.

In low light the camera performs inconsistently, but meets my expectations. I bought the camera with an Amazon offer for a free 8GB memory card, so with that the price was comparable with Flips, but in addition you get water proof, 720p/60 frames video for faster action, cables, great kodak rechargeable battery high quality built unit, no cheap materials.

Great little camera

by Rita Stoufflet from Lewisville, TX United States on 2010-07-29
This is exactly what I wanted in a camera and for the right price. I didn’t want another large bulky camera to carry around since I won’t give up my Nikon D5000 and that goes everywhere. The Kodak camera is great for just the short videos of the kids I want, I am not filming an entire family vacation. Though I put an 8 GB memory card in the camera and it will take over 2 hours of video. I have never really used a video camera and having an image stabilizer was important to me so my shaky filming wouldn’t make me sick, it works great.
The only two things I don’t like so much – the battery life isn’t that great so you have to be careful to make sure it is charged if there is something important to film. I plan on getting another to have on hand. The second thing is that filming close up isn’t that easy cause you can’t zoom out very far. But other than those two things I love this little video camera and the fact that I can take it around water is great since my Nikon isn’t going anywhere near water.

GREAT HD VIDEO FOR UNIVERSAL STUDIOS (Flip HD Killer!)

by D. PADILLA from The Alamo City on 2010-07-28
Watch Video Here: http://www.amazon.com/review/R32PTFSM7PEYF9 After spending several days researching HD cameras I decided on the Playsport and for the most part I was not disappointed. I won’t bore you with a long review but rather point out what I found to be most important. I used this camera for a week in Orlando Florida at Universal Studios Islands of Adventure, Universal Studios, and Wet N Wild. I bought a neck lanyard and was good to go.
POSITIVES
1. Very Very light and Compact, fits in small pockets. A+
2. Very Very easy to use controls and buttons. A+
3. Video quality is amazing. I primarily used 780p 60 Frames Second setting A+
4. Purchased a 16 GB Card and was able to record up to 3 hours 780P video. Over 6 hours standard video A+
5. Software was easy to install and use.
6. Good still picture quality, face recognition, OK zoom, and image stabilization. A-
7. Comes with an HDMI cable!
8. WATERPROOF, although was having to constantly un-fog the lens A-
NEGATIVES
1. Average battery life. BUY AN EXTRA BATTERY! I ran out of battery after 6 hours in Universal Studios with only moderate use. C+
2. Low light video and still pictures are poor quality C+. (This is not a huge drawback because I planned to mainly use this outdoors)
3. Does not come with an SD card.

My daughter loves this camera!

by Helen B from long island,ny on 2010-07-28
My 10 yr old daughter wanted a camera that she could use and I was tired of worrying about her using my video and digital camera. She takes great pictures with it and especially loves the underwater video feature!! The video is so clear, I think it is a really great camera for the price.

Poor Battery Life

by Vilma B. Decena from Hercules, CA on 2010-07-28
Like the Features. Has quick startup (about 3 seconds for screen to come on and 5 seconds for starting of recording from off position). Have brought it to waterparks and have dropped it several times and still records and plays like new. When you bring the camera out of the water make sure to shake off excess water from the mic area, or you will have a muffled sound being recorded…. like water in your ears. Keep screen away from sand and keys. It is very clear playback and I have received compliments from many friends and relatives from simple recordings I have made. Sunny outside recording is great, but viewing through window can be difficult even with the proper selection setting for viewing outside. Under cloudy condtions, works excellent, no problems. Although under low light conditions picture can be somewhat grainy, this camera is really meant to be used in adequate lighting.

Controls are simple, even my 7 year old can figure it out. But under playback, when you pause a clip and want to forward or skip to next one, it can get kinda tricky… I always seem to have difficulty with this task. Also During playback I notice that even if I record in 1080P…if hooked up to the tv directly… it comes up 720p. It only comes up 1080p when I move the clip to a cpu, then dvd. Then replay thru playstation 3.

What I did not like was the battery life. While recording my son’s 1 hour basketball game, was only able to catch the first 3 quarters, then battery died and had to be recharged. I was recording at 720p at 60 fps, and did not record continuously. I gave the camera small breaks as I started to watch the battery meter get low. I have only had the camera since May 25, 2010. I would suggest purchasing several extra batteries and a external charger for as the camera (when plugged in) does not seem to charge when in playback mode or recording. I do notice a slight temperature rise during playback.

I would only hope that Kodak would lower the price of batteries and also include a small floater cable with this. Camera does not float, sinks very fast.

I hope this review helps a bit.

Would I buy this again?… Yes escpecially for the value of waterproof HD.

Description

Heads up, adrenaline junkies. The KODAK PLAYSPORT has as much appetite for adventure as you do. And it’s not afraid to get wet. This audacious little camera can plunge up to 10 ft under water and capture the entire experience in full 1080p HD. And you don’t need to worry about blurry footage when things get a little shaky. With built-in image stabilization, the KODAK PLAYSPORT will stay steady as a rock. From the waves, to the slopes, to the mud-soaked trails, this baby was made for the extremes. Show them what you’re made ofin HDTake the plunge with the waterproof digital video camera capable of shooting up to 10 ft under water Go anywhere rugged design enables full 1080p HD video recording in just about any environment Start bragging with amazing 5 MP, 16:9 widescreen HD still pictures Make a colorful statement The KODAK PLAYSPORT Video Camera was designed with you in mind, right down to the colors it comes in. We took cues from the environment—from nature, to climate, to the adrenaline rush it provides—and transformed it into attention-grabbing colors that help you stand out from the crowd. Don’t let sun glare ruin your recordingSimply use your camera settings to turn on the LCD Glare Shield feature LCD Glare Shield feature gives you two filters to choose from that help you see your subject on the display screen in reflective outdoor situations These filters are only applied to your display screen, not your footage, so everything you record will look as great as the moment you shot it Smooth, stable, and always able Get sharper videos and less blur thanks to built-in electronic image stabilization Accidents happen luckily the PLAYSPORT isn’t afraid of a little fall, it can take it Capture your friends in all their glory with smart face tracking technology See more details and accurate colors with incredible low-light perform

Features

• Waterproof up to 10 ft. (3 m)
• Full 1080p HD video
• Electronic image stabilization
• Brilliant 2.0 in. color display
• Capture 5 megapixel HD stills (16:9)

Reviews

Excellent camera for water sports

by M. Dikov from East Bay, CA on 2010-07-31
I bought this camera to replace an older MiniDV camera. I wanted to have a low cost replacement that produces wide screen HD video and is suitable for water sports. Our family goes to the pool a lot. My son is on a swim team and the water proof part is a real benefit. I can make a movie of his swim meets, or dive for an underwater movie. Then he can see his performance and improve.

We also used the camera in outdoors swimming in a river. The still camera came in handy where no other camera can go. The quality of the video seems to be a bit below the FlipHD, however the materials are much better quality and the camera comes with all that’s needed including HDMI cable. There is also a remote control for $10, which is really nice when you want to review the movies on the TV.

The format of the movies is MOV, which is a bit of a hassle. MPEG would’ve been better.

In low light the camera performs inconsistently, but meets my expectations. I bought the camera with an Amazon offer for a free 8GB memory card, so with that the price was comparable with Flips, but in addition you get water proof, 720p/60 frames video for faster action, cables, great kodak rechargeable battery high quality built unit, no cheap materials.

Great little camera

by Rita Stoufflet from Lewisville, TX United States on 2010-07-29
This is exactly what I wanted in a camera and for the right price. I didn’t want another large bulky camera to carry around since I won’t give up my Nikon D5000 and that goes everywhere. The Kodak camera is great for just the short videos of the kids I want, I am not filming an entire family vacation. Though I put an 8 GB memory card in the camera and it will take over 2 hours of video. I have never really used a video camera and having an image stabilizer was important to me so my shaky filming wouldn’t make me sick, it works great.
The only two things I don’t like so much – the battery life isn’t that great so you have to be careful to make sure it is charged if there is something important to film. I plan on getting another to have on hand. The second thing is that filming close up isn’t that easy cause you can’t zoom out very far. But other than those two things I love this little video camera and the fact that I can take it around water is great since my Nikon isn’t going anywhere near water.

GREAT HD VIDEO FOR UNIVERSAL STUDIOS (Flip HD Killer!)

by D. PADILLA from The Alamo City on 2010-07-28
Watch Video Here: http://www.amazon.com/review/R32PTFSM7PEYF9 After spending several days researching HD cameras I decided on the Playsport and for the most part I was not disappointed. I won’t bore you with a long review but rather point out what I found to be most important. I used this camera for a week in Orlando Florida at Universal Studios Islands of Adventure, Universal Studios, and Wet N Wild. I bought a neck lanyard and was good to go.
POSITIVES
1. Very Very light and Compact, fits in small pockets. A+
2. Very Very easy to use controls and buttons. A+
3. Video quality is amazing. I primarily used 780p 60 Frames Second setting A+
4. Purchased a 16 GB Card and was able to record up to 3 hours 780P video. Over 6 hours standard video A+
5. Software was easy to install and use.
6. Good still picture quality, face recognition, OK zoom, and image stabilization. A-
7. Comes with an HDMI cable!
8. WATERPROOF, although was having to constantly un-fog the lens A-
NEGATIVES
1. Average battery life. BUY AN EXTRA BATTERY! I ran out of battery after 6 hours in Universal Studios with only moderate use. C+
2. Low light video and still pictures are poor quality C+. (This is not a huge drawback because I planned to mainly use this outdoors)
3. Does not come with an SD card.

My daughter loves this camera!

by Helen B from long island,ny on 2010-07-28
My 10 yr old daughter wanted a camera that she could use and I was tired of worrying about her using my video and digital camera. She takes great pictures with it and especially loves the underwater video feature!! The video is so clear, I think it is a really great camera for the price.

Poor Battery Life

by Vilma B. Decena from Hercules, CA on 2010-07-28
Like the Features. Has quick startup (about 3 seconds for screen to come on and 5 seconds for starting of recording from off position). Have brought it to waterparks and have dropped it several times and still records and plays like new. When you bring the camera out of the water make sure to shake off excess water from the mic area, or you will have a muffled sound being recorded…. like water in your ears. Keep screen away from sand and keys. It is very clear playback and I have received compliments from many friends and relatives from simple recordings I have made. Sunny outside recording is great, but viewing through window can be difficult even with the proper selection setting for viewing outside. Under cloudy condtions, works excellent, no problems. Although under low light conditions picture can be somewhat grainy, this camera is really meant to be used in adequate lighting.

Controls are simple, even my 7 year old can figure it out. But under playback, when you pause a clip and want to forward or skip to next one, it can get kinda tricky… I always seem to have difficulty with this task. Also During playback I notice that even if I record in 1080P…if hooked up to the tv directly… it comes up 720p. It only comes up 1080p when I move the clip to a cpu, then dvd. Then replay thru playstation 3.

What I did not like was the battery life. While recording my son’s 1 hour basketball game, was only able to catch the first 3 quarters, then battery died and had to be recharged. I was recording at 720p at 60 fps, and did not record continuously. I gave the camera small breaks as I started to watch the battery meter get low. I have only had the camera since May 25, 2010. I would suggest purchasing several extra batteries and a external charger for as the camera (when plugged in) does not seem to charge when in playback mode or recording. I do notice a slight temperature rise during playback.

I would only hope that Kodak would lower the price of batteries and also include a small floater cable with this. Camera does not float, sinks very fast.

I hope this review helps a bit.

Would I buy this again?… Yes escpecially for the value of waterproof HD.

Sale Price: $169.95

  Eligible for free shipping!
Availability: Not yet released

Features

• Full 1080P HD recording
• 8 MP HD stills
• iFrame recording format
• Skype audio and video enabled
• LED light for low light recording

Sale Price: $169.95

  Eligible for free shipping!
Availability: Not yet released

Features

• Full 1080P HD recording
• 8 MP HD stills
• iFrame recording format
• Skype audio and video enabled
• LED light for low light recording

Description

Heads up, adrenaline junkies. The KODAK PLAYSPORT has as much appetite for adventure as you do. And it’s not afraid to get wet. This audacious little camera can plunge up to 10 ft under water and capture the entire experience in full 1080p HD. And you don’t need to worry about blurry footage when things get a little shaky. With built-in image stabilization, the KODAK PLAYSPORT will stay steady as a rock. From the waves, to the slopes, to the mud-soaked trails, this baby was made for the extremes. Show them what you’re made ofin HDTake the plunge with the waterproof digital video camera capable of shooting up to 10 ft under water Go anywhere rugged design enables full 1080p HD video recording in just about any environment Start bragging with amazing 5 MP, 16:9 widescreen HD still pictures Make a colorful statement The KODAK PLAYSPORT Video Camera was designed with you in mind, right down to the colors it comes in. We took cues from the environment—from nature, to climate, to the adrenaline rush it provides—and transformed it into attention-grabbing colors that help you stand out from the crowd. Don’t let sun glare ruin your recordingSimply use your camera settings to turn on the LCD Glare Shield feature LCD Glare Shield feature gives you two filters to choose from that help you see your subject on the display screen in reflective outdoor situations These filters are only applied to your display screen, not your footage, so everything you record will look as great as the moment you shot it Smooth, stable, and always able Get sharper videos and less blur thanks to built-in electronic image stabilization Accidents happen luckily the PLAYSPORT isn’t afraid of a little fall, it can take it Capture your friends in all their glory with smart face tracking technology See more details and accurate colors with incredible low-light perform

Features

• Waterproof up to 10 ft. (3 m)
• Full 1080p HD video
• Electronic image stabilization
• Brilliant 2.0 in. color display
• Capture 5 megapixel HD stills (16:9)

Reviews

Excellent camera for water sports

by M. Dikov from East Bay, CA on 2010-07-31
I bought this camera to replace an older MiniDV camera. I wanted to have a low cost replacement that produces wide screen HD video and is suitable for water sports. Our family goes to the pool a lot. My son is on a swim team and the water proof part is a real benefit. I can make a movie of his swim meets, or dive for an underwater movie. Then he can see his performance and improve.

We also used the camera in outdoors swimming in a river. The still camera came in handy where no other camera can go. The quality of the video seems to be a bit below the FlipHD, however the materials are much better quality and the camera comes with all that’s needed including HDMI cable. There is also a remote control for $10, which is really nice when you want to review the movies on the TV.

The format of the movies is MOV, which is a bit of a hassle. MPEG would’ve been better.

In low light the camera performs inconsistently, but meets my expectations. I bought the camera with an Amazon offer for a free 8GB memory card, so with that the price was comparable with Flips, but in addition you get water proof, 720p/60 frames video for faster action, cables, great kodak rechargeable battery high quality built unit, no cheap materials.

Great little camera

by Rita Stoufflet from Lewisville, TX United States on 2010-07-29
This is exactly what I wanted in a camera and for the right price. I didn’t want another large bulky camera to carry around since I won’t give up my Nikon D5000 and that goes everywhere. The Kodak camera is great for just the short videos of the kids I want, I am not filming an entire family vacation. Though I put an 8 GB memory card in the camera and it will take over 2 hours of video. I have never really used a video camera and having an image stabilizer was important to me so my shaky filming wouldn’t make me sick, it works great.
The only two things I don’t like so much – the battery life isn’t that great so you have to be careful to make sure it is charged if there is something important to film. I plan on getting another to have on hand. The second thing is that filming close up isn’t that easy cause you can’t zoom out very far. But other than those two things I love this little video camera and the fact that I can take it around water is great since my Nikon isn’t going anywhere near water.

GREAT HD VIDEO FOR UNIVERSAL STUDIOS (Flip HD Killer!)

by D. PADILLA from The Alamo City on 2010-07-28
Watch Video Here: http://www.amazon.com/review/R32PTFSM7PEYF9 After spending several days researching HD cameras I decided on the Playsport and for the most part I was not disappointed. I won’t bore you with a long review but rather point out what I found to be most important. I used this camera for a week in Orlando Florida at Universal Studios Islands of Adventure, Universal Studios, and Wet N Wild. I bought a neck lanyard and was good to go.
POSITIVES
1. Very Very light and Compact, fits in small pockets. A+
2. Very Very easy to use controls and buttons. A+
3. Video quality is amazing. I primarily used 780p 60 Frames Second setting A+
4. Purchased a 16 GB Card and was able to record up to 3 hours 780P video. Over 6 hours standard video A+
5. Software was easy to install and use.
6. Good still picture quality, face recognition, OK zoom, and image stabilization. A-
7. Comes with an HDMI cable!
8. WATERPROOF, although was having to constantly un-fog the lens A-
NEGATIVES
1. Average battery life. BUY AN EXTRA BATTERY! I ran out of battery after 6 hours in Universal Studios with only moderate use. C+
2. Low light video and still pictures are poor quality C+. (This is not a huge drawback because I planned to mainly use this outdoors)
3. Does not come with an SD card.

My daughter loves this camera!

by Helen B from long island,ny on 2010-07-28
My 10 yr old daughter wanted a camera that she could use and I was tired of worrying about her using my video and digital camera. She takes great pictures with it and especially loves the underwater video feature!! The video is so clear, I think it is a really great camera for the price.

Poor Battery Life

by Vilma B. Decena from Hercules, CA on 2010-07-28
Like the Features. Has quick startup (about 3 seconds for screen to come on and 5 seconds for starting of recording from off position). Have brought it to waterparks and have dropped it several times and still records and plays like new. When you bring the camera out of the water make sure to shake off excess water from the mic area, or you will have a muffled sound being recorded…. like water in your ears. Keep screen away from sand and keys. It is very clear playback and I have received compliments from many friends and relatives from simple recordings I have made. Sunny outside recording is great, but viewing through window can be difficult even with the proper selection setting for viewing outside. Under cloudy condtions, works excellent, no problems. Although under low light conditions picture can be somewhat grainy, this camera is really meant to be used in adequate lighting.

Controls are simple, even my 7 year old can figure it out. But under playback, when you pause a clip and want to forward or skip to next one, it can get kinda tricky… I always seem to have difficulty with this task. Also During playback I notice that even if I record in 1080P…if hooked up to the tv directly… it comes up 720p. It only comes up 1080p when I move the clip to a cpu, then dvd. Then replay thru playstation 3.

What I did not like was the battery life. While recording my son’s 1 hour basketball game, was only able to catch the first 3 quarters, then battery died and had to be recharged. I was recording at 720p at 60 fps, and did not record continuously. I gave the camera small breaks as I started to watch the battery meter get low. I have only had the camera since May 25, 2010. I would suggest purchasing several extra batteries and a external charger for as the camera (when plugged in) does not seem to charge when in playback mode or recording. I do notice a slight temperature rise during playback.

I would only hope that Kodak would lower the price of batteries and also include a small floater cable with this. Camera does not float, sinks very fast.

I hope this review helps a bit.

Would I buy this again?… Yes escpecially for the value of waterproof HD.

Sale Price: $169.95

  Eligible for free shipping!
Availability: Not yet released

Features

• Full 1080P HD recording
• 8 MP HD stills
• iFrame recording format
• Skype audio and video enabled
• LED light for low light recording

Description

The S20 fits in every pocket! At 2/3 thin and 3.5 oz this tiny video camera is about the same size as a Smartphone and can go wherever you do. Don’t sacrifice size for power! High Definition made easy. The Camileo S20 sports 1920×1080p Full High Definition Video, 4x digital zoom, and video stabilization in 720p mode. The S20 also doubles as a 5 Megapixel still digital camera. The S20 has 4 different recording modes: Macro mode for close up shots, motion detection mode for surveillance, slow motion for sports, and time elapse mode. Don’t be constrained by a device’s built in memory! The S20 takes SD/SDHC memory cards up to 32GB (not included) for extended recording time. Each 32GB card will record an estimated 5 hours at 1080p. The S20 can also charge with a standard USB 2.0 cable so you won’t need to bring extra cables or power adapters on your travels. Capture, Edit, Share. Previewing, watching and sharing your videos doesn’t get any easier. Camileo S20 is equipped with a large 3swiveling LCD for previewing and controlling your videos and pictures. Share your memories with your family and friends with the one-touch YouTube button or watch them directly on your screen with the included HDMI cable.

Features

• 1080p Full HD resolution video
• 4x digital zoom in 720p, 1x in 1080p
• HDMI digital AV output
• 3.0-Inch LCD Monitor
• Easy YouTube upload button

Reviews

Contains lead

by J. Ly from on 2010-06-15
Purchased this product to record the birth of my baby. What I got in the box was shocking: a yellow warning pamphlet that indicated the electric cords contain lead and to keep the camcorder away from pregnant women and infants. Why would a reputable company sell this in the market, knowing the product contains a carcinogen. This makes me question all Toshiba products, and Amazon for not labeling it clearly on the website. Dislike! Needless to say, I returned this immediately, losing $6 for shipping fee. POed!!!

Great Pocket Video Recorder

by G. T. Olson from The Duke City on 2010-06-12
The whole premise behind pocket video recorders is small size and portability assures accessibility and more spontaneous use when compared to a full size video camera. For the size and ease of use, however, you make some sacrifices. I did a fair amount of research into this product class to find a pocket video camera that was loaded with features and had the fewest trade offs when stacked up against a full size video recorder. I pulled the trigger on this product and absolutely love it. Here’s the highlights:

1) Size. This thing is small. It’s only a few millimeters bigger than the Flip and Kodak offerings. It’s sized just right to hand hold comfortably, but not too big that it takes up too much valuable purse or bag real estate. It also comes with a very nice cordura carrying case! It’s only about 4 oz. and some reviews have criticized the Camileo for a “plasticy” feel. Not so, this unit feels solid yet light. True the body is made of plastic, but the weight trade off is worth it, and who cares as long as it’s solid. Plus a lighter plastic unit is much more likely to survive the inevitable drop than a heavier metal one (lighter and more pliable).

2) Video Quality. I don’t own another pocket video camera so I can’t intelligently comment on the video quality compared to other units. That being said, the video looks fantastic on the big flat screen. I actually use the 720p mode mostly to have the option to zoom and image stabilize (both not available at 1020p), and I cannot tell a difference between the two modes when displayed on 52″ flat screen. The video is honestly as good as my three year old full size HD video camera in normal light. In dim light there is a little graininess to the video, but there’s an integrated light to help with this and I really don’t take many recordings in dark conditions anyway.

3) Ergonomics (including the screen). The fold out screen is awesome and I have no trouble viewing it in direct sunlight. It’s great to preview videos and twists around for the ubiquitous self portraits too. The Flip and Kodak models are just little boxes that you hold up facing “out” to record. The Toshiba Camileo S20 feels like a real video camera (albeit a really small one) in your hand. It just feels natural to me to record video in this manner.

4) Features – The built in LED light is a nice touch but it’s really only useful in very dark conditions for close up subjects. I think it’s main utility is to augment the light in low-light situations like around dusk or in a dim room. Useful under some situations and a good feature to have when you need it. The time lapse and slow motion are really fun. You won’t find yourself using them very frequently but capturing a great sunset or cloud movement is pretty cool. Why not have the option? The YouTube upload button is a big “who cares?” for me, but users that are interested in this sort of thing may like it. The digital zoom is smooth and doesn’t pixelate stuff too much. I’m also surprised at how much I DON’T use the zoom on this camera. The default capture angle is pretty good. Kid’s sporting events are the only time I’ve found that I’ve used it a lot, and for this application the digital zoom works fine. If I know I’ll need the intensive use of optical zoom ahead of time, I bring my regular HD camcorder anyway. The built in 5MP camera isn’t great. That being said, I’ve yet to see a camcorder with a decent still camera integrated into it. It will do for snapshots, but you won’t be using the pics for your holiday cards. I’m not sure why this is, probably something to do with the image processing and metering on still cameras. Anyway, I didn’t expect too much here as my regular size HD camcorder takes stills that are pretty bad too. Bottom line with still pics is that we always have a small point and shoot camera with us in our bag or purse anyway, so this isn’t an issue for us. Other features are great, like custom white balance (think skiing or other situations with unique light) and ISO settings. Also the battery is removable and one could conceivably get extra batteries to use when chargers aren’t available.

5) Price – at $150 this is a steal, especially when compared to the Flip SlideHD Camcorder which is presently $280! The Sony MHS-CM5 bloggie HD Video Camera has optical zoom but is much larger and more expensive. (It also does not image stabilize in HD mode). The Sanyo VPC-CS1 High Definition Camcorder, which also has optical zoom, is big enough at over an inch thick, that I don’t really qualify it as a true pocket video camera model. It’s also over one hundred dollars more expensive.

6) Extras. Wall charger included, mini-HDMI cord included, mini tripod included, RCA AV cord included, ArcSoft software included (it’s actually pretty decent too), nice case included. What’s not to like here!

7) Recording Media and Format. One great feature is the SD card format which means that on vacation you can take multiple cards with you rather that a laptop for archiving. The Flip doesn’t have removable/changeable media, which for me was an absolute deal breaker. The recorded file format is AVI which I like for video editing applications. Oh also, the lack of an integrated USB connector is actually a big plus for me. I’d rather use a cord to connect to the computer, and the USB mini port doubles as a charger. Our cell phones use this format, so I already have car chargers for this camera! Who want’s to struggle with plugging the recorder body directly into the computer – my computer is on the floor in a cabinet. The Arcsoft software is pretty darn intuitive for burning DVDs and uploading to the web. Any minimally computer literate individual will not have an issue and the user manual for the camera and software is really quite good – it was obviously written by a fluent English speaker and not software translated from Japaneses.

Criticisms:
A lot has been written in on-line reviews about the confusing menu system. The menu system structure is fairly intuitive and resembles that of most full sized video cameras, but the navigation buttons within the menu tree are not. OK, so I had to remember that when in the menu mode one of the buttons advances, a different one goes up one level, and the record button selects choices. It’s really not that hard or big a deal. As much as we find ourselves using this video recorder, we have no issues with remembering navigation buttons and navigation.

I wish . . .
1. there were optical zoom (but I’m willing to live with digital zoom and a much smaller unit – a trade off that’s worth it in my opinion. I’ve found that I don’t use zoom all that much anyway.)

2. there were zoom and image stabilization available in 1080p mode. (Most pocket video cameras don’t have this either. . . no big deal to me really as I’ve found 780p mode looks great and saves on recording space on the SD card. The recorders that have the features at 1080p are much larger units and really not honestly classifiable as “pocket” video recorders)

3. this took better still shots, but as I mentioned, no video recorder does this well. If you want to take still photos, use a camera that’s made for the job.

In all, I’m very satisfied with this purchase. This unit is small and light and packed with features, some you’ll use and others that you may experiment with once in a while, but are nice to have when and if the need arises. Compared to other models referenced and linked in this review, this model has almost every feature but optical zoom, and the ones having this are much larger and not really “pocket” models (and they are a lot more expensive). I expect to get about 2 years out of this product and by then the next generation of pocket video cameras will integrate even more features (wireless transfer, optical zoom, smart phone integration etc. . ). Until then this product is perfect for my needs.

A good buy!

by Jimina from Atlanta, GA on 2010-06-11
I was looking for a mini cam that was priced well and a good value. When I took a look at this Toshiba, it only had one review of 5 stars, so after doing a little research on the FlipHD, which is what I was ready to buy, I decided to take a chance on the little-known Toshiba. I’m definitley glad I did. If you’re looking for the same high quality from this as you would a mid-full size video camera, you will not find it in any mini cam. Again, they are just too small. If you are looking for something that is well made with a large screen that rotates, good picture quality (especially outdoors!!), reasonable 5x zoom, and a decent price, this is the one for you. The fact that this comes with a case, stand, hdmi cable (some things that you have to buy separately for other minis), etc., is just icing on the cake. I couldn’t give it a full 5 stars because in a perfect world, the interior video quality would be sharper. Overall it’s a keeper.

Amazing HD video camera!

by Lunar Dragon Gamer from USA on 2010-06-10
The Toshiba Camileo S20 is amazing. Simply amazing.

The 1080p HD it records is stunning! Incredible details and vibrant colors, all in a small size that you can fit in your pocket!

This truely is a quality camera. The only flaw to it is that it doesn’t record too well in low-light and dark rooms/areas.

Best of the Pocket Camcorders out there!

by Robert M. Matthews from Atlanta, GA. on 2010-05-18
Have friends that have the new Kodak model Z8 and I have had the Flip ultra. My neighbor has the new Sony model PM5. Here’s the thing on pockets. You are never going to get great pictures with the 1080 in that small of a package. The Kodak does not hold up for the long haul as friend had two that broke with in three months and my Flip gave up the ghost in about eight months and battery charging was a joke! It may charge and it may not….it was a crap shoot. Neighbor has sent his Sony back three times in five months with problems.Sony takes pictures in low light are just terrible. My little Toshiba just plugs right along. Picture quality at 720 is just fine and low light is certainly acceptable. This little unit is tough and a work horse. If your looking for a pocket camcorder that takes a good picture loads right up with no prblem, another issue I had with the Flip and simply does a good job for a reasonable price…….well the Toshiba is the way to go. It is well made and tough, which seems to be the big issue with pocket models. Sadly, not many reviews on this model but believe me I did my home work and I will admit I did purchase this camcorder simply from my experience with Toshiba. Man, I am so glad I did becuase this little work horse is really the way to go. You want something small that takes good decent movies and is very simple to use and most importantly hold up to much use……….this little guy is perfect. I hope more folks pull the trigger on this little camera and give their remarks as well. If you want high picture quality then don’t waste your time with any pocket camcorder regardless of what the company or others tell you. If you want something that is light, small, well made and takes good picutres but nothing on a grand scale…….well this little camcorder is it! Bar none!!!! Oh…….and got it in three days from Amazon with their usually dependable delivery.

  Eligible for free shipping!
Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours
Average Rating:

Description

Kodak Zi8 Pocket Video Camera Black

Features

• Record High Definition video (1080p at 30 fps with 16:9 aspect ratio)
• Easily upload recorded footage to YouTube with built-in USB and software
• Expandable SD/SDHC card slot up to 32 GB; Rechargeable batteries and charger included
• Vibrant 2.5-inch viewfinder; Watch footage on HDTV with included cables
• Edit and share videos with included software

Reviews

couldn”t be easier

by Trish from New Hope in the world on 2010-07-30
I purchased this camera to video a wedding – easy, easy, easy!!! It took about 10 minutes to figure out, record a test video and voila!!! played on the TV. The picture quality in both video and still camera format was great. The download of the “viewing” software took a bit longer – not very non-geek friendly, but I managed it on the 2nd go round. I would recommend this product to anyone wanting a simple, easy to use and understand video camera that it a hair bigger than my blackberry – I should have gotten a different color because I tried to answer the camera when my phone rang. By the way, the price was $50 less than the same model at Best Buys.

great for the electronically challenged

by Rebecca Swann from DE on 2010-07-28
My husand purchased a camcorder last year and threw out the manual since he just figures these things out. I would have had trouble even with the manual but now I was totally stumped.

I kept reading reviews on the point and shoot camcorders and finally tried the Zi8. It was irrisistable at the price on Amazon. Even I could figure out some things withot the book. SIMPLE controls and buttons. To comprehend this you shold know I really am a moron when it comes to gadgets. I took it to church and recorded a skit for practice. My husband snatched it to put on the computer and was amazed at the quality, especially since it was my first time holding and following movement with a camcorder. Then he said he couldn’t believe it had CMOS (huhh??) at that price. He spun it on a Cd and the pastor said it was good enough to put on the internet.

Soon he borrowed it and the battery lasted over 70 minutes of steady shooting at a seminar, although it already had some time on it.
Now he borrows it frequently and I would bet we will own another one soon.

Won’t Find A Better HD Camcorder For This Price!!!

by Kevin M. Woolery from Omaha, NE on 2010-07-28
Watch Video Here: http://www.amazon.com/review/R1Q0WSX7Q6U7P5 I’ve had my Kodak Zi8 for a little over a week now. I am simply amazed at the video quality for such a cheap camcorder. This is my first HD camcorder (except for my T1i DSLR). I searched around for reviews on which pocket HD camcorder to get for a good 3 weeks until I finally decided on the Zi8.

I finally decided on the Zi8 for a couple of reasons.

1. External mic opportunity
2. The ability to use my own memory cards (up to 32gb)
3. I thought the picture quality was better than that of the comparable Flip models when watching over 100 different videos

The results I have got so far are absolutely wonderful in my opinion. There are a couple of things I suggest you steer clear of.

1. Low light. This isn’t a $5,000 camcorder. Like most other “cheaper” camcorders the Zi8 does not like low light at all. It’s best to be outdoors or in a well lit room.
2. Don’t zoom. The Zi8 only has digital zoom. It does not have optical zoom. When you use the digital zoom you can most definitely notice the picture degrading.

There are some things I don’t like about the Zi8 or wish it had. For one, the lens is always exposed. This can cause dust, smudge, fingerprints, etc. to get on the lens. If you watch the video I posted you will notice a smudge in the upper right hand corner of the video when the bonfire is going. Since the camera is so portable and easily gets put into your pocket, it’s quite easy for it to get dirty. I don’t want to carry around a camcorder bag as the whole purpose of getting such a small camcorder was it’s portability. With that in mind, I did buy a small neoprene carrying case for it, but it’s a little bulky in my pocket now. I just wish there would have been some kind of lens eye that would open and close when in use or not in use.

I haven’t been able to get the software that is preloaded on the Zi8 to install on my PC. I am running Vista 64-Bit and meet all the requirements listed. Since I already had video editing software loaded on my PC I didn’t care too much about it not working. Although from reading other reviews, apparently the software on the Zi8 is absolutely worthless anyway. I would suggest purchasing your own video editing software.

As far as the layout of the Zi8. It’s extremely easy to use and it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out how to change the settings. There’s really nothing you need to know to make it work better or more efficiently. I pretty much left everything the same as far as the settings. It has the option for “face detection” and “image stabilization” neither of which I believe work that well. There is really no need for these to be on but it doesn’t really change anything if you turn them off.

Choosing which setting for video is a matter of personal preference. I tinkered around with each and decided to leave it on 720p @ 60/fps. This, in my opinion, gives the smoothest video at the best quality. The 1080p option would be OK if you had the camera mounted on a tripod and were using it for a presentation of some sorts or recording something that didn’t have a lot of movement. The 720p 30/fps wasn’t too bad. You can notice the video and/or panning isn’t quite as smooth. This is why, like stated before, I always keep mine set at 720p 60/fps. The video quality is awesome and when panning, either with a tripod or handheld, it looks smoother than the others. You can see examples of this in the video.

The sound on the Zi8 is very sub-par. This is to be expected for a cheaper camcorder. I definitely wasn’t expecting great sound recording from the Zi8. It only has mono capabilities, BUT, you can plug in an external mic. I purchased a Sony ECM-DS70p off eBay for around $4. This exact mic sells for around $40-$50 on Amazon. I have yet to test out the mic outside, but inside the sound is vastly improved.

Overall, I am extremely happy with the Kodak Zi8. I would recommend this to anyone looking for a well priced HD pocket camcorder. You really can’t go wrong with it. Just keep a steady hand and you’ll have great results.

Kodak Zi8 vs. Flip MinoHD

by Stephen Evans from on 2010-07-28
I have both the Kodak Zi8 and Flip MinoHD at work. When buying one for home use, I chose the Kodak Zi8. The image quality is much better. I like the microphone jack on the Kodak as neither of these cameras have great microphones. Image stabilization is better on the Kodak if the zoom is not used. On both cameras, a steady handheld image is nearly impossible when using the zoom. I like the included editing software too.

This is such a good product, the shortcomings are really disappointing. To keep the cost down, the Kodak comes with almost no memory. When adding in the cost of buying a memory card, this is a more expensive camera than the Flip. I wish this recorded mp4 instead of Quicktime. The base of the camera is rounded, precluding the possibility of setting this camera on a table while recording – which can be done with the Flip. If you have a laptop with a USB port exactly where the one in the Kodak instructions indicates, then the USB connection on this camera is convenient. Otherwise…I have to prop up my computer, turn my camera upside down, and use other objects to hold the camera in the awaward position needed to connect this camera to my computer. Wish the editing software included some free stock music like the Flip software has. Many of these design flaws seem so obvious, I am hoping Kodak will fix them on a newer model soon. Despite knowing these flaws, I still bought this over the Flip MinoHD.

kodak

by happycust from on 2010-07-26
I have used the camera very little so far, but it has been fun. I love the easy to learn directions. It is so easy to use.

  Eligible for free shipping!
Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours
Average Rating:

Description

Catch the perfect snowboarding stunt, your baby’s first steps or your kid’s graduation, share it online and save it for a lifetime with Creative’s new Vado HD Pocket Video Cam. The third generation of Vado HD camcorders introduces a sleek new industrial design, the latest Vado Central software, improved light sensitivity, optional stereo microphone input, and availability in multiple colors. The thin, lightweight Vado HD is small enough to fit easily in a pocket, purse or the palm of your hand, and it captures video in 720P high-definition quality video at 30 frames per second with just the touch of a button. Sharing videos online is simple with built-in software that helps you post videos to YouTube, Facebook, Photobucket or Box.net. The Vado HD includes an HDMI output (cable not included) for a superior viewing experience on an HDTV. Take the Vado HD Pocket Video Cam with you everywhere you go and never miss a moment. Product specs include 720p high-definition video at 30fps, wide-angle glass lens, 2.0 inch LCD, still picture capture, touch buttons, 2x digital zoom, 4GB of video storage capacity, up to two hours of recording in HD, up to four hours of recording time at 640×480 at 30 frames per second, HDMI and RCA connections for TV, HDMI and A/V cable sold separately, removable and rechargeable lithium battery, Vado Central software for simple video editing and sharing. System requirements include Windows Xp Service Pack 2 or Vista, Intel Pentium III or higher, 512MB of memory, USB port, 500MB free hard disk space, and 16MB of Video Memory or above. Product ships with Vado camcorder and battery.

Features

• High definition 720P pocket video camcorder with 4GB of video storage capacity
• Fits easily in your pocket purse or the palm of your hand
• One touch recording with a spacious 2 inch display and touch capacitive buttons
• Record up to two hour of HD video footage at 30 fps
• Works with PC and Mac

Reviews

Very Good Product

by Richard Lefebvre from Richford, Vermont, US on 2010-07-09
Very good product. Very handy and easy to manipulate. The option permitting to flip from photo to video is a great feature that my 1st generation VADO-HD doesn’t have.
Unfortunately, I bought it for $179 and it became $129 two days after without any possibility to get reimbursed for the difference from Amazon.

NIce, but with reservations

by Darrell J. Lew from Oakland, CA on 2010-07-06
First I tried a refurbished one; it had the same problem as a new one so I’m pretty sure it’s because of the firmware or something.

Positives: the video quality is one of the better ones out there (IMO), color balance is pretty good in both daylight and low light, nice wide screen lens to capture a lot, size and weight are nice, still pictures are good too.

NOT SO GOOD: no buttons so you don’t know you’re hitting them during playback or recording (having to hold strangely to avoid the flush “buttons”), even at its widest zoom you have to very careful of camera shake, case gets scratched super easy, when camera goes into standby you normally hit a button to wake it up – only sometimes it freezes and a power cycle is the only way to get it back.

The latter negatives made me return it. It’s really too bad, b/c I like would’ve kept it had it not been for those issues.

Not Happy

by Dave Z from Rochester NY on 2010-06-24
This Camcorder is hard to use, hold the thing in the wrong spot when you are taking a video a you screw it up , My phone takes better video

You Have to Hang In There….

by Mooncat from on 2010-06-23
I ordered the Vado 3rd Gen after reading a gazillion reviews and watching an equal number of clips on YouTube. I had certainly been warned about people’s perceived negatives, but the video clips and the fact that the camera has options that similar camcorders do not motivated me to give it a try. I have to say right off the bat that IMO Creative is shooting itself in the foot by not making its user guide more comprehensive, and not addressing a lot of the concerns and “what the …..?” issues many, many people have expressed about operating the device. Neither the firmware nor the software were designed to be particularly intuitive – and I’m not a newbie either to devices or computers. I almost put it right back in the box and returned it due to these issues, and I know a lot of people leaving these reviews have done exactly that. However, after an email to Customer Support (which was answered within 24 hours) my major problem was solved and I was okay with the rest. I have experimented with a few videos, mostly indoor shots, and I’m not bowled over by the indoor quality, even in HD+ (which takes FOREVER to process on my core 2 duo with 3GB of RAM). The outdoor quality seems fine. I very much appreciate, however, and think I will be able to adjust to and work with the ability to increase or decrease exposure, and the zoom. Those two features, plus the wide angle, make it a keeper for me at this point. I do definitely see what people mean about the buttons. Sigh. I tried the lock, but it wouldn’t shoot the video if you lock it before you start – which is what most people would want to do, to avoid pushing a button once you do start to shoot. I guess you have to start shooting and THEN push lock. Still experimenting with that. The upload to Facebook was a snap, very easy, and relatively quick for a 10 sec video shot in HD. The very latest issue of Vado Central 3.0.02 has enough function for me, though it’s nothing fancy. It does more than I thought it would, from people’s comments. It’s pretty close to what I got out of Moviemaker when I had a Flip. At this point, I give the Vado 4 stars for quality, and I give Creative 1 star for really dropping the ball with their instructions on use. Will update this in a week or so as far as video quality.

Creative Labs Vado 3rd Gen -Excellent Widescreen Pocket Camcorder

by Denise Hamlin from Coralville, Iowa on 2010-06-22
Mostly I agree with what others have written here. Despite a couple of minor irritations, like the easily smudged casing and the over-sensitive buttons this is a fantastic camcorder for the price. The fact that it’s wide screen puts it light years ahead of the rest. (Image stabilizer would be nice, but you can’t have everything). I would have given it 5 stars if it wasn’t for the fact that it’s impossible to find 3rd party editing software for it and the included software sucks. Before you buy this be aware of that. There’s probably something out there, but up to now I haven’t been able to find it. Like I said though, apart from that this is a great little pocket cam.

Description

Catch the perfect snowboarding stunt, your baby’s first steps or your kid’s graduation, share it online and save it for a lifetime with Creative’s Vado HD Pocket Video Cam. The thin, lightweight Vado HD is small enough to fit easily in a pocket, purse or the palm of your hand, and it captures video in 720P high-definition quality with just the touch of a button. Sharing videos online is simple with built-in software that helps you post videos to YouTube, Photobucket or Box.net. The Vado HD is the only pocket video cam to feature true HDMI connectivity and an included HDMI cable for a superior viewing experience on an HDTV. Take the Vado HD Pocket Video Cam with you everywhere you go and never miss a moment. Product specs include 720p high-definition video, wide-angle glass lens, 2x digital zoom, 8GB of video storage capacity, up to two hours of recording and playback per charge, up to eight hours of recording time at 640×480 at 30 frames per second, HDMI and RCA connections for TV, HDMI cable included, A/V cable sold separately, removable and rechargeable lithium battery, Vado Central software for simple video editing and sharing. System requirements include Windows Xp Service Pack 2 or Vista, Intel Pentium III or higher, 512MB of memory, USB port, 500MB free hard disk space, and 16MB of Video Memory or above. Product ships with silicon skin, HDMI cable, and USB cable.

Features

• High definition 720P pocket video camcorder and 8GB of video storage capacity
• Fits easily in your pocket purse or the palm of your hand
• One touch recording with a spacious 2 inch display
• Record up to two hours of HD video footage or up to eight hours of video at VGA resolution
• Connect your Vado HD to any HDTV with included HDMI cable

Reviews

died way too quick

by michael from on 2010-07-29
Bought this in October 09.

Recorded about 30 minutes of video since then. Charged the battery four times.

The unit is now dead: wont take a charge, wont power on.

I am pursuing a refund. I consider this to be junk.

Michael

Built in Microphone?… Very low sound!…

by zafer demir from Istanbul on 2010-06-24
Watch Video Here: http://www.amazon.com/review/RGEEB10LQVXO4 Great camcorder except sound record!!!…No external microphone part….price was 111$ on 22 march 2010…Here it is short video taken at Rumelihisari (Rumelian Castle) is a fortress located in the Sariyer district of Istanbul, Turkey, on a hill at the European side of the Bosporus. Rumelihisari is situated at the narrowest point with 660 meters of the Bosporus strait..

Better than Zip….

by J. Font from Nutley, NJ USA on 2010-06-21
I’ve been using the Vado video camera for a few months now and I am very happy with it. The High Definition quality is excellent and the accompanying video editing software is adequate for my amateur needs. I highly recommend the product. I have a friend who uses the Zip and for the price and picture quality, the Vado wins hands down.

Great Value Video Camera

by David Majdanski from Charlotte, NC on 2010-05-28
Awesome video camera – great value for under $150. I have used it at sporting events, parties, and trade shows. Ideal for close ups. Video and audio quality are excellent. Small camera size was a major factor for me since it can fit in my pocket. Great for Facebook material and for customer interviews – love the fold-out USB cable . Also bought a carrying case and mini tri-pod (Jobe)as accessories, well worth it.

Be aware when trasfering the files to your computer.

by O. Kasabof from Miami, fl on 2010-05-28
Be warned – Once you transfer the videos to an external PC and rename the files while the Vado is still being connected to the PC, the Vado cannot longer recognize them and play them on its own. The files are still inside the Vado, they take out of the memory, but when trying to play them back you get one big NO FILE! on the screen.
The other thing is that the video player and the pluggins that are part of the Vado’s internal memory work only within the device, meaning you cannot install them on external PC and play, manipulate or create movies and burn dvds from files already being transferred to the PC, only whatever you see being inside vado’s memory, and as I said before – do not rename the files before disconnecting Vado from your PC.
Also 4GB is not that much considering that a 3 min. HD+ video file is close to 200MB, so do the math. And by the way there is really no point of shooting less than the HD+ format, the difference in the quality of standard def, hd, and hd+ is noticeable.