The people at Pure Digital Technologies were kind enough to send us a Flip Mino HD to review and I've spent the last several days testing the device in a variety of circumstances and shooting conditions to help provide you with what you can expect if you're thinking about purchasing one of these little HD camcorders. Released last week, the Flip Mino HD can record an hour's worth of 720p high definition video encoded in H.264 MP4 at 30 frames per second on its 4GBs of internal storage. The device measures 4 x 2 x 0.6 inches, weighs only 3.3 ounces, and connects to your computer via a flip-out USB plug, no cables required. I tried a variety of shooting circumstances over the past several days, including recording in the rain, attaching the device to a fan and turning it on, attaching the Flip Mino HD to my dog for a dog's eye view, hanging the Flip Mino HD out the window of a moving car on a tripod, and standard shooting on a tripod. Read on to discover what I found.
The Build
The Flip Mino HD feels solid but is extremely lightweight for its size, and, therefore, one wants to think it is fragile. Having dropped it several times during my test, I can say that it's pretty sturdy and nicely scratch resistant. Feathers rarely break when dropped. The Flip Mino HD isn't featherlight of course, and doesn't slowly float to the ground, but having dropped it several times from about four feet at the highest and about a foot at the lowest, I can tell it's well enough built to survive the normal tumbles that cellphone-sized devices tend to take from time to time as they're knocked off desks or dropped out of pockets.
The USB connection flips (Flip, get it?) open via a switch on the side like a mini-switchblade. I flipped it open and closed it repeatedly over a 100 times straight just to see if it would start to fail or break, but even this moving part is well designed and consistently springs nicely out with no difficulty. The only part of the entire device that feels a bit flimsy is the small black plastic facade that folds down over the USB when closed. When closed, it feels fine, but when it's open and hanging loosely out from the device the light plastic-ness of it with no support structure is clearly the part of the device that would be prone to snap off under the right set of unfortunate, clumsy circumstances (something like knocking your laptop off the desk while the Flip Mino HD is plugged into a USB port). Thanks to the light weight of the Flip Mino HD, the device can hang from a laptop's USB port nicely without any sort of give or noticeable pull that could damage the port over time.
The Body
The body of the Flip Mino HD is made from a very shiny plastic that is like a magnet for your fingerprints. You can most likely spot a few smudges in the pictures accompanying this review. These are both inevitable and unavoidable no matter how clean your hands, so if fingerprints are a pet peeve of yours, this alone may be a deal breaker for you. Despite it's ultra-shininess, the device isn't slippery in the least and has a nice grip. The plastic is also nicely resistant to water so some slights bit of moisture splashing on the device won't hurt it, although getting the device really wet, as with most electronics will probably short it out and make it unusable.
The Flip Mino HD's form-factor is like that of a small candybar cellphone, slightly thicker than an iPhone but not as wide or tall as the iPhone. The lens on the front of the device looks like a much bigger version of the kind seen on several camera phones. You could definitely manage to shoot some footage of someone without them knowing it, by holding the device up to your ear as if you were talking on it and pointing the lens in the person's direction. It slips comfortably into nearly any pocket you may have, and I was able to slide it into my front left pant pocket next to my iPhone with no difficulty. It's comfortable to hold in the palm of your hand. When filming, you end up holding the device like you would hold a cellphone while dialing. People accustomed to filming with "regularly shaped" camcorders will have to make some adjustments to get used to the Flip Mino HD, as the rectangular shape is a bit odd. It's quite easy to move the camera about much more than you would if you were holding a regular camcorder with an eyepiece up to your eye and filming directly where you were looking.
The Screen
Measuring only 1.5 inches corner to corner, the screen on the MinoHD is not just small, it's tiny. Since the device records in 16:9 aspect ratio, the video doesn't even take up the full height of the screen. The strips at the top and bottom of the video give you metadata like how much recording time is left, whether you're recording or not, how far along in play back you are, and a battery indicator. The screen serves as live viewfinder on the device, showing you what you're recording as you record it, and because of this, the Flip Mino HD is not designed for filming yourself. Turning the device towards oneself for filming is a bit of a guessing game without someone else around to tell you how the shot looks.
The Speakers
The speakers sit on either side of the screen and actually do a pretty decent job of playing back the audio recorded. Unfortunately, unless there is a TV around for attaching to the Mino HD via the included composite video cable, the internal speakers on the device are your only option, as there is no headphone jack for monitoring the audio.
The Controls
The controls are pretty basic. There is one switch on the left top side when holding the screen towards you that flips open the USB. There are two clickable buttons on the device, the power button on the top right side when holding the screen towards you and the red button, which is used for starting and stopping recording and for opening the settings menu by holding down this button when powering on the Flip Mino HD. The rest of the controls are touch sensitive controls: a pause / play button used for pausing and playing videos; a delete button for deleting videos; left and right arrow buttons for navigating forwards and backwards from one pre-recorded video to the next or for fast-forwarding or rewinding a video during playback by holding them down; and a plus sign and minus sign for turning the volume up and down during playback and for zooming in and out while recording or using the screen as a viewfinder when preparing to record.
Ports
On the bottom right corner of the Flip Mino HD (if you're holding the screen facing you) there's a place to attach the included wrist strap. On the bottom left corner of the Flip Mino HD (if you're holding the screen facing you) there's a plug for the included TV composite cable adapter. Unfortunately, the plug is a mini plug and not a standard-sized plug, so you won't be able to pick up a replacement easily should you lose it. I was also disappointed that I couldn't stick headphones in this jack to listen to video playback when you're on the go. That being said, hooking the device up to a TV via the included cable worked well on my 32-inch Sony WEGA HDTV.
On the bottom of the device is a standard thread for attaching to a tripod.
Video Quality
The Flip Mino HD records in 720p 16:9 aspect ratio video, so it is capable of recording very highly detailed video. One of the best features of the Flip Mino HD, its diminutive size and ease of carrying, is also one of its greatest weaknesses. The Mino HD shot best when held completely still on a tripod. If you're a star cinematographer in the making with a very steady hand or a tripod, you'll no doubt shoot lots of great footage with the Mino HD. If you're more the type to pull a camera out of your pocket and start filming while running, you're going to experience some mixed results.
Because of the large amount of detail at the Mino HD's disposal and the small size of the lens, even the slightest movements when filming can appear very jarring. Also, highly detailed views with lots of motion tend to create an imagined bit of noise. The picture is crystal clear, but it naturally should be more blurred and not as sharp as the picture produced by the Mino HD. This is evident in the first segment of the below video where my pet pug is running through a lot of leaves and I'm recording the action by simply holding the Mino HD.
Additionally, extremely vibrant and bright colors tend to wash out somewhat on the Mino HD, as can be seen in the video segment of my bright green and red Eclectus parrots, where some of the details of their feathers are lost due to their bright colors.
The Flip Mino HD would not be a good camcorder for illegally making copies of a motion picture, even though it is quite easy to sneak into a movie theater, thanks to its small size. Granted it can only record an hour of video, so you would have to bring more than one Mino HD with you if you intended to capture an entire movie. Even if you were to do this, you would find too much flicker in the video you shot as can be seen in the movie theater segment from the video below.
The Flip Mino HD, like most cameras, loves light, and low-light shooting results in the colors veering towards red and some slight noise being added to the picture as can be seen in the dinner segment from the video below.
The bulbous casing around the lens on the Flip Mino HD would appear to have a slight wide angle lens effect that can manifest in certain situations. When filming the car test footage, you can see that shapes passing by lean, morph, and are distorted by a combination of the fast movement and the shape of the lens on the Flip Mino HD. This optic distortion is most likely happening to a lesser degree with any quick movements by the camera or any time things being filmed by the camera move quickly.
Despite these minor issues, the Flip Mino HD is a very versatile high definition video camera simply because of its small size. It was easy to stick the device on a tripod and hang it out the window of a moving car without worry about dropping it, simply because of how light the thing is, and, thankfully, the tripod thread on the bottom of the device is extremely sturdy. Near the end of the video below, I attempted three times to provide you with a "doggie eye view" by tucking the Mino HD into my dog's collar. This was only mildly successful for a few seconds, as Thatcher inevitably shook her head and dislodged the device. The Mino HD wasn't hurt or scratched by any of this and if I had actually spent some time constructing a way to attach the diminutive camcorder to my dog, it could be used to get this type of footage. At the very end of the video below, I added a warning, because I strapped the Mino HD to my GorillaPod tripod which has bendable legs that can be wrapped around things, and wrapped the tripod around the ceiling fan in my office. Then I turned the fan on. The result was some very motion-sickness inducing footage, but the light Mino HD held on with no difficulty. One thing I didn't try that I think would work would be duct-taping the Mino HD to the front or rear bumper of a car to film some footage that way. I'm sure it would work fine, but didn't get a chance to try it because of how rainy it was during the weekend I had the camcorder for testing.
Below is an embedded flash video of the different videos that I shot, but because of the flash compression, you won't get a full feel for the detail unless you watch the higher definition video file on Blip.TV. Even the version on Blip is a slightly resized version of the video, still in high definition but not in 720p. I believe it is still an accurate portrayal of the issues that I outline above.
Obsessable contributor Scott McNulty did a little test of his own, strapping the Flip Mino HD and a Kodak Zi6 together for side by side comparison. From the looks of it, the white balance is better on the Zi6 and at 60 frames per second versus the MinoHD's 30 frames per second, (UPDATE: The Zi6 can shoot either 30fps or 60fps and Scott tells me that he shot the video below in the 30fps mode) the video looks a bit crisper. Of course, the Zi6 is larger and weighs more than the Flip Mino HD.
Flip Mino HD vs Kodak Zi6 from Fork You on Vimeo.
Battery Life
I didn't conduct any hard and fast testing of the battery life, but I did shoot quite a lot of footage, reviewing it on the camera, hooking it up to my television to see how it looked there, deleting bad shots, and recording new shots. In short, I used the camera much in the same way that any new owner of the device enamored with using it all the time would, and during that time, it never ran out of battery. I did run out of space for recording several times and was forced to plug the Flip Mino HD back into my computer so that I could copy files over and then delete all the files to begin shooting again. Of course, every time I plugged the device into my computer, it began charging again while I was copying files off of it.
Bundled Software
The Flip Mino HD mounts as a flash storage device on both PCs and Macs, so getting the MP4-formatted video files off of the device can be as simple as navigating to the 100VIDEO folder on the device and dragging it over to the computer to copy the files. You can even drag MP4 files back into this same folder on the device for watching on the go.
Both iMovie and iPhoto on OS X recognized the Flip Mino HD. iPhoto recognized the device but could not render thumbnail previews of the video files on the Mino HD. However, iPhoto did import the videos without any difficulty. iMovie, on the other hand, recognized the device, generated thumbnails for all the videos and then consistently failed to import any of the files at the very end of the import process. If you choose Import Movies from iMovie, however, and navigate to the 100VIDEO folder on the Flip Mino HD, the videos import to iMovie without any problems whatsoever.
If you're not familiar with any of these tools and you're totally new to the world of video recording then you'll be pleased with the FlipShare software that comes on the device and works with both Windows and OS X. You can preview files, copy them to your computer, trim the beginnings and endings, and upload them directly to sites like YouTube via the software. You can also take snapshots from the videos to act as still pictures, play the videos at fullscreen, and burn DVDs of the videos directly from the easy to use FlipShare software.
Overall Convenience
The best thing about the Flip Mino HD is that it's an HD camcorder that fits in your pocket and doesn't need anything else. Sure it comes with a TV composite cable if you want to hook it up to your TV, but you don't have to pack that cable. If you're looking for a nice little on the go video studio, all you need is your laptop, the Flip Mino HD, and perhaps a small portable tripod for setting up your shot. There's no AC adapter to keep track of, although if you love AC adapters, Pure Digital Technologies is coming out for one for the Flip Mino HD. There's no specialized cable you need to connect the device to your computer. There's no insanely difficult to learn bundled software.
What's missing?
I think the two glaring things missing from this device are the lack of a headphone jack and the lack of a snapshot mode for taking still pictures. Sure, you can use the FlipShare software to take a still from a segment of video that you shot, but considering how streamlined for convenience the Flip Mino HD is, this added cumbersome measure looks like an oversight by the designers. I could also use an audio-only mode for taking voice notes, but this somewhat defeats the simplicity of this device.
What we hope to see in future models
A standard-sized port for the TV cable that also works with a standard set of headphones. A way to take a digital still photo with the device.
What would make this a truly killer device
If Pure Digital Technologies were to partner with Sprint to add a WhisperNet always-on EV-DO connection to the device, like Amazon added to the Kindle, so that it could be used for live streaming video online to services like Ustream and Qik, the Flip Mino HD would become a truly amazing device for broadcasting video. As is, the quick convenience of shooting, plugging into a computer, and quickly uploading to services like YouTube is still nothing to sneeze at.
Obsessable Recommendation
If you're looking for a really small video camera that can fit in your pocket and handle high definition video, then for only $229 the Flip Mino HD won't disappoint. If you're looking for a device that can be used for unique shooting situations like duct-taping to the front of a car, then the Flip Mino HD may be the ideal camera for you. If, however, you're just looking to upload videos to YouTube, then the high definition of the device won't really be serving you well and you'd probably be better served by buying a less expensive camera from another manufacturer or the Flip Mino or Flip Video Ultra from Pure Digital Technologies.
Obsessable Rating: 7 out of 10
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Comments (131)
Add a comment Inappropriate or promotional comments may be removed.
Scott McNulty
(9:23 AM on Tue Nov 18, 2008)
Hey C.K., great review! I just wanted to point out that the Zi6 can film in either 30fps or 60. The footage I shot for my silly little video was in the HD30fps mode.
C.K. Sample III
(9:25 AM on Tue Nov 18, 2008)
Hey, Scott,
Thanks and thanks for the update. I'll update the review now.
Cheers,
C.K.
Judith Meskill
(9:47 AM on Tue Nov 18, 2008)
the shots of thatcher racing about in all of those leaves were surprisingly good - just might get myself a mino hd, thanks, c.k.!
VitaminCM
(8:40 AM on Tue Nov 18, 2008)
Would you recommend this or the Kodak?
C.K. Sample III
(2:43 PM on Tue Nov 18, 2008)
Well, it really depends on what you're looking for. As you can see from Scott's video above, the Kodak is larger, so if you're looking for the smallest HD camcorder, go for the Flip Mino HD. The Kodak can film at 60 frames per second however, which gives it a bit of an advantage over the Flip Mino HD. Also, the software that comes with the Kodak is Windows only. Hopefully, Scott will write a review for us of the Kodak so we can provide you with a better comparison of the two devices *hint hint, Scott*.
Clark (5:00 PM on Tue Nov 18, 2008)
Hey there,
Very helpful review overall, and I am looking to buy one of these in the next few days. I just had one question though that I can't seem to find the answer to anywhere. Does this have the capability to stream directly to recording on your computer? I would obviously need US extenders, but it would be great to be able to shoot longer than 60 minutes without having to stop and upload it to my computer. Not a deal breaker, but would like to know.
Thanks!
C.K. Sample III
(8:52 AM on Thu Nov 20, 2008)
Hi Clark,
Unfortunately, no, it does not have the ability to directly stream to your computer. Sorry.
Robert (6:00 PM on Wed Nov 19, 2008)
I found that while my Zi6 can go up to 60, it looks like it drops down to 15 in low light situations and still looks a little more grainy then my MinoHD which is odd because you'd think the 15 fps frame rate would blur all the motion and so the noise would be less. *shrug* I find 30 to be the minimal acceptable rate though and don't want the extra size involved with 60 unless the scene has some fast paced action going on.
So high speed in bright light -> Zi6 advantage
low light -> MinoHD advantage
I take the Zi6 to 49er games and the MinoHD everywhere else.
C.K. Sample III
(8:53 AM on Thu Nov 20, 2008)
Cool. Thanks for the info, Robert!
Anonymous (11:50 PM on Sun Nov 23, 2008)
Hey Man,
Just wanted to say "THANK YOU!" for the very detailed and thoughtful review. I particularly like the posting of sample video to check out, and for the pictures of the actual device. Very good to have before buying! Sounds like a cool device.
JB Sims
(10:07 AM on Tue Nov 25, 2008)
C.K.
I understand that the camcorder shoots in 720p, but it is my understanding that you cannot get 720p out of a standard AV cable to a TV. Did you try plugging the camera into an HDTV? If so, was the video widescreen HD?
C.K. Sample III
(1:03 PM on Tue Nov 25, 2008)
Hey JB,
I did plug it in to my Sony 32-inch HDTV. It did not auto-adjust the size of the video to fit the screen, but when I used the TV's ZOOM feature to toggle through it filled the screen nicely, but lacked the crisp quality that I'd expect from 720p HD.
Cheers,
C.K.
JB Sims (4:17 PM on Tue Nov 25, 2008)
CK,
Not seeing the post I replied to you with. Sorry if it is a duplicate. I purchased the Ultra Flip. Is the HD version worth the $100 difference. What does it give that the Ultra does not? If it is not 720p on HDTV, then I am confused as to the benefit. Also not sure what the limitations on Youtube in regards to resolution. Thanks so much for your help!
JB Sims
(1:54 PM on Tue Nov 25, 2008)
CK,
Thanks for the reply. I just purchased the Ultra version. Do you think the HD version is worth $100 more? I guess I am unclear as to what the benefit to the "720p" really is with this camera. I would think it would give you better resolution with Youtube but I am uncertain of the limitations with Youtube with respect to resolution. Lastly, I would imagine you would have better resolution if you burn the data from the HD to DVD as opposed to the Ultra version. What are your thoughts? Thanks in advance for your help.
C.K. Sample III
(4:23 PM on Tue Nov 25, 2008)
I think if you're looking for high resolution you cannot go wrong with the MinoHD, but as I note in the review above, the added detail can create a bit of odd visual noise when there is a lot of movement of the camera. With YouTube, they're displaying videos at low res by default though they have recently added a high resolution option. Now, recording to DVD will maintain a higher resolution than with the Ultra, but it really depends upon what type of video you're wanting to shoot and what you're using it for. Grainy 8mm films from my youth still have character, so if you like what the Ultra produces there's no real reason to upgrade.
Anonymous (11:36 AM on Sun Dec 7, 2008)
now youtube has added 720p HD so a mino hd would be the best option
SaVon (7:57 PM on Wed Nov 26, 2008)
I just picked up my Flip Mino today. It's still in the box. I happened to be watching Entertainment Tonight and I saw Mary Hart with a Mino HD. I'm debating whether to return my camera for an HD. Two concerns...only a 2 hour record time. I wonder why they would design a camera with less recording time than the previous model (4 vs. 2)?
Two...after viewing the Mino HD side by side with the zi6, the zi6 comes out on top. However, being the techincally challenged person that I am, I understand the Mino to be a lot easier to operate. Btw, I'll be using a windows Vista OS and it's mainly for my blog.
Comments please!
C.K. Sample III
(6:18 AM on Fri Nov 28, 2008)
SaVon the MinoHD only records one hour of video, not two, so it's drastically less recording length than its predecessor.
zaka (12:40 AM on Fri Nov 28, 2008)
YouTube has 720p video now.
Paul
(9:42 PM on Sat Nov 29, 2008)
Do you think this camera will be fit to capture snowboarding footage? I'm mostly worried about capturing quality footage in the daylight from a terrain park -- with the person holding the camera stationary or moving slightly. The small size & fast boot-to-record time are a huge plus.
I like that the Zi6 has a flash memory slot & 60fps option, but I absolutely love the design of the MinoHD. Plus I primarily use Mac for editing. Do you think fast-paced snowboarding grinds & spins will result in a dizzy blur? Does either camera have threading for attaching a wide-angle or zoom lens? Is there anything else that might sway my decision one way or the other? Thanks!!
Anonymous (1:03 AM on Sun Nov 30, 2008)
This review was very helpful, detailed and elaborate. I wasn't sure if I was going to get the Flip Mino HD or not, but I'm convinced that it'll be my next purchase. Thanks!
Bahram Varjavand (6:26 PM on Sat Nov 29, 2008)
Do you think it would be able to substitute for an iSight webcam? What I mean is that it would be nice if one could use its high def lens to capture framegrabs in real time during lectures using a chat program or something like MulleSight.
C.K. Sample III
(9:39 PM on Sun Nov 30, 2008)
Sorry, Bahram, the Flip Mino cannot work as a webcam.
Shaun Thompson (3:14 AM on Sat Nov 29, 2008)
Hey, i just wanted to know, what you use to edit your videos with the Zi6.
The Audio doesn't load in Sony Vegas, and after i've managed to convert a file that works.. i lose quality when i render the video for youtube.
So i guess i'm in need of new Video Editing software for this Cam?
Yours, Shaun
Phil (6:24 PM on Thu Dec 4, 2008)
Grear review! These HD camcorders are truly awesome, for nice looking customized designs I suggest checking out: http://www.cafepress.com/flipminohdcams
Anonymous (3:45 PM on Mon Dec 8, 2008)
I should be carefully noted that the "HD" moniker on the Mino is a misnomer. 720p/60 is a legal and defined high definition format, while 720p/30 is not. There is a very large temporal resolution improvement with 60 fps formats such as 720p/60 when compared to a legacy 30 fps HD format such as 1080i/60. Since the Mino HD employs H.264 image compression, however, the advantage of the 60 fps frame rate is lost in the compression algorithm. Nevertheless, if you wish to display the image on an actual 720p/60 monitor, such as a plasma TV, then each frame will have to be doubled in editing in order to convert the video into an actual HD format. 30 fps 720p looks a bit smeary during handheld work, but it is still adequate for most users. It is not an actual high definition format, however. Günter Marksteiner, Dipl. Ing.-Dr., Chief Engineer WHDT
Jan K (8:41 AM on Wed Dec 10, 2008)
I want to shoot (from a tripod) some how-to steps of fairly fine detail and imbed them in a Powerpoint presentation. Is this file format compatible? Will the HD files broadcast OK from a standard (not HD) digital projector?
C.K. Sample III
(10:42 AM on Wed Dec 10, 2008)
Jan K, yes MPEG-4 should load fine in Powerpoint. Also, the files will broadcast fine on a non HD digital projector (they just won't be as amazing HD as they would be normally).
Thad (8:42 PM on Thu Dec 11, 2008)
Was your workflow done in iMovie08? If so, can you give a brief rundown?
Thanks
Jerry Winter (2:13 PM on Sat Dec 13, 2008)
Great review! I had been looking all morning for a complete review and you gave it. I just placed my order for the Mino HD at Amazon
Thanks
Jerry
Dina DuBois (6:54 PM on Tue Dec 16, 2008)
Editing questions.With either the Flip Mino or the Flip Mino HD can you edit more than just the head and tail of a shot? Can you do voice overs in imovie? If you wanted to do take 1 as a long shot and take 2 as a close up of the same action can you add a sound track on imovie to match the edit?Can you cut into the middle of the long shot add some of the close up and come back to the end of the long shot? In other words do I have to get the HD to get more editing options?
Anonymous (4:44 AM on Tue Dec 16, 2008)
Vado Hd is better imho.
Anonymous (4:42 PM on Mon Dec 15, 2008)
that was really informative. thank you! i am interested in the flip mino, actually. i suspect it is similar to the HD but with not quite so many bells and whistles. in any event, i was wondering if you could answer a question for me...
once i shoot the video and download it to my computer, can i then save the video from the computer to a memory stick, card or dvd? my computer skills are basic, but if it is possible to save this way, i am sure i could do it. i just want to know if it's possible.
thanks, pinkie
jeff (11:21 PM on Fri Dec 19, 2008)
could you comment on how your video looked when connected directly to an hdtv? I have a recollection (perhaps faulty) that the Mino HD doesn't output to a tv in hd. Am I wrong?
Stephen Schenck (12:45 AM on Sun Dec 21, 2008)
You're right. Flip's video recorders only ouput NTSC video, which means you'll be stuck with a standard-def output.
http://www.theflip.com/products_flip_ultra_specs.II.shtml (under "Additional Specifications")
Anonymous (8:46 PM on Sun Dec 21, 2008)
After editing my scenes with FLIP Mino's software I got a large .wmv file on my laptop. Then I connected my laptop to my HDTV with a VGA camera and played back a very high quality HD video full screen with Windows Media Play. You should set your laptop resolution to 1280x768 which is close enough to 1280x720 to almost fill the HDTV screen. So with the right cables you can quickly share your home HD movies on your HDTV set this Christmas.
Devasa (3:26 PM on Fri Feb 20, 2009)
Hi Thanks for this info - just got my Mono HD today - done a bit of testing and with the cables provided connected it to my HD TV - results very disappointing; looks very grainy - but then I'm thinking its not connected via a HDMI input so when you refer to 'the right cables' do I have to buy some others to give me the proper HD resolution? Many thanks in anticipation of your reply.
C.K. Sample III
(3:36 PM on Fri Feb 20, 2009)
Hey Devasa,
Although the device does record in true HD the cables that come with it don't deliver the HD experience. You have to either show the file via a device connected via HD cables that can handle the file format or burn to DVD to get an actual HD picture.
Cheers,
C.K.
Devasa (4:12 PM on Fri Feb 20, 2009)
Many thanks - thought (and am glad) that was the case - will get the proper cables and go from there.
Lots of respect - thanks again
Devasa
NYCPaul (8:55 PM on Sun Dec 21, 2008)
I posted the previous message about the VGA "CABLE" instead of "camera" sorry. Connect your laptop to your HDTV set with a VGA cable and play back your edited FLIP Mino HD .wmv file on Windows Media Player at full screen. You will be pleased with the results. SORRY FOR GOOFING UP ON THE VGA CABLE.
Jan McLaughlin (6:37 AM on Fri Dec 26, 2008)
I'd love to see the capacity to use the Mino HD Flip as a web cam...
Troy Garcia
(10:15 PM on Sat Dec 27, 2008)
I ordered my Mino HD today. Might not ship for 2 weeks. I was impressed with the design options. You can make or pick an exsisting design. I was able to upload my own picture to be printed onto my mino HD, very cool.
Anonymous (1:28 PM on Wed Dec 31, 2008)
can anyone tell me how to hook up the Mino to my Apple iMac (intel) so that I can see what the camera sees on the monitor while filming?
Anonymous (9:54 PM on Sat Feb 14, 2009)
you cant
Bennett Landsman
(10:37 AM on Thu Jan 1, 2009)
As a new owner of the Flip mino HD I have a couple of observations. I've used the Flip both indoors and outdoors. It will "washout" in strong light. The zoom must be digital since the video looks much worse when zoomed and viewed full screen. I bought the device for $209 from B&H Photo in NYC mailorder (no tax or shipping charge). I love this device. It's so small and people think I'm taking a still photo with my cell phone. I strike up a conversation with someone and then after I stop recording I play it back for them. They're truly amazed.
The feature I would like to see is the editing ability to strip off frames of the video that are not just at the beginning or end of the video. I realize that at this price and size I can't have image stablization or a true optical zoom capability.
This is really a neat gadget.
Anonymous (8:23 PM on Wed Dec 31, 2008)
I just got the Mino HD its fantastic. tripod for sure makes a big difference. but i use the small gorilla tripod its small enough to fit into my bag and wraps around anything. i agree it really does need a headphone jack. the mic is good and seems to catch the right things but the convince of it is a bit lost with having to wait until you upload to hear the actual audio..
nice review.
Larry Wolfe (1:42 PM on Mon Jan 5, 2009)
I bought the MinoHD to use with my desktop (AMD Athlon 3000+, said to run at 2.1 GHz, 1.5 GB RAM, XP SP2). The BuyDig.com catalog page showed no minimum system requirements so I figured that while my desktop wasn't the most capable machine, it had enough stuff to run the MinoHD built-in software. Wrong. The software will not run on that machine.
I had some exchanges with Pure Digital trying to find a fix or a workaround, but in the end Pure Digital said my CPU was too slow. If you go to Flip's website and look carefully enough, you'll see that the minimum CPU requirement for the MinoHD is a 3 GHz Pentium 4 or faster.
If you haven't bought yet, make sure your machine, meets the MinoHD minimum system requirements. I've asked BuyDig.com to post the minimum system requirements with its ad copy, but so far it has not.
Anonymous (12:15 AM on Mon Jan 26, 2009)
umm my computer wont read the mino. and my comp is vista. So what should i do??
C.K. Sample III
(8:14 AM on Mon Jan 26, 2009)
It should show up as a regular attached flash storage device. It won't show up as an actual camera connected to the computer. Also, Picasa seems to recognize it okay on my Vista machine.
Anonymous (11:22 PM on Tue Jan 27, 2009)
I would of liked to see less failed doggy cam video and more functional testing like lower level lighting and night time shots. What about the sound, how is the sound?
C.K. Sample III
(11:35 AM on Wed Jan 28, 2009)
I have the night-time shot in the bar scene that shows how everything veers red a bit in low lighting. The sound, as I note in the scene where I'm walking down the noisy street is pretty good at picking up everything but giving priority to things that are closer without letting noisy background noise drown out the rest.
Jersey Shore (5:06 PM on Fri Jan 30, 2009)
Thanks for the review, it was a big help. I own the original Flip Video, not sure if HD makes me want to spend the extra money for my purposes...however if they ever make one with a screen that you can see on the beach, that would be worth it.
Dan Wilt (12:32 PM on Sat Feb 7, 2009)
Great review, guys. I'm needing to use this for professional web work, and am looking for two things:
1) that it could record right to my hard drive, i.e. not limited by the 4 GB drive,
and
2) that the audio could receive a mic (lapel) in. They do that, and why do I need my $4000 camera to mini dv anymore?
C.K. Sample III
(2:35 PM on Sat Feb 7, 2009)
Hey, Dan,
The Flip Mini HD cannot do either of the things you are suggesting. The only port is for the video out connection to hook up to a TV and a USB connection that simply treats the device as a flash drive and doesn't allow the camera functionality of the device to work when plugged in.
Cheers,
C.K.
Dan Wilt (3:35 PM on Sat Feb 7, 2009)
Thanks for that. That's what I thought. It's still an amazing little machine though.
richard (7:31 AM on Mon Feb 9, 2009)
Thanks for the great review. Is it straightforward to burn a dvd from a pc? I saw an icon for that in one of your screen shots but have read elsewhere that you have to upload to Flip and they post you a dvd...it would be so much easier (and cheaper) to do this myself.
Also, does the software allow you to downscale the MP4 file so that it can be played on an iphone?
Thanks
Bela (12:22 PM on Fri Feb 13, 2009)
I bought my Mino HD about 3 days ago. What a difference from my old camcorder which was mini DVD based. The GREAT thing about this camera is that you don't need to rip the files so you lose less quality. It records to MP4 format which is native to quicktime and therefore to iTunes. I own an apple TV and stream most of my content over my wireless from my upstairs Mac (works the same for PC). Once you import your movie into itunes, select it and click on advanced and go to make an iphone or ipod verson. That's it. There is also an apple tv conversion also. The software is very easy to use and both the pc and mac versions are almost identical. The only difference is when you "make a movie" in the software, when you are using a Mac, it exports in .mov file while the pc version exports .wmv (windows media video). I have a 50" plasma and the quality is great.
I am also saving a ton of money on dvd's which add up after a while. The bundled software resides on the camera, so if you are out of town, you can plug it into a family or friend's computer and install the software instantly. The editing software is simple, you can add titles at the beginning and credits at the end. Still easy to use.
I haven't tested out using other software, ie: imovie or movie maker but should work fine.
Melissa (10:13 PM on Wed Feb 11, 2009)
First, thank you so much for an honest and incredibly in-depth review; I have been searching all over the internet for one! I am not sure if you give advice to individuals, but I really need some help choosing which version of the Flip camera to buy. I am not sure if the new HD version or the Flip Ultra would be better for my needs, and was wondering if someone could tell me? I am looking to use this camera to mainly take movies of my dog. I do not think I will do much with them online and I want to mostly view them on my TV and save them to DVDs. I have a small TV that is not HD. I have read that the HD one produces more shakiness and I do not want to use a tripod. But if the HD one produces better quality and movies that will archive better, maybe that is better for me? Can anyone help? I would really appreciate it! Thanks!
C.K. Sample III
(11:48 AM on Sun Feb 15, 2009)
Hi Melissa,
I actually have the regular Flip Mino, non-HD model, and from what you're describing, I think it would fit your needs nicely.
Anonymous (1:28 PM on Sat Feb 14, 2009)
Dear Mr. Sample: I am seeking a handheld device that can help us... My neighborhood is becoming a high crime area-transients, drug addicts, renters, etc. We have 16 security cameras on our home..some high res..some infra red with audio... but they are not very effective in a low light situations where you need facial recognition and the ability to read license plates. We have had our tires slashed once, our neighbor has had her tires slashed twice and other acts of vandalism....the cameras only show a person but there is no ability to determine who he is...and this is at close range.... Our idiot city has just passed a very restrictive light ordiance for residential areas. .5 footcandles at the lot line when read with a light meter...the light throughout the neighborhood varies from probably 1 to 2 footcandles...we are seeking a handheld device that has a good zoom option, good audio component and very high resolution (without costing a million bucks)...and is relatively light to carry....Moving is not an option in this economy-we are at retirement age...we are literally staying up nights trying to protect our home and property.....I have talked to everyone in the city-mayor, police, etc.. There is really little they can do or seem to be interested in doing... I was looking at the Mino HD as a possible option, but it appears to have limitations...we have a particular issue going on right now...someone pulls into our driveway and then backs out at 4:45 AM every morning....the driveway is about 25 feet in length from the garage to the street ....two vehicles trade off doing this......this is now the 6th day of this harrassment and we know something is getting ready to happen.....there is a pattern to this action...they pull through the intersection down the street, pull through a side street and then make the loop past our house, pull into the driveway and back out... ...any suggestions you can make would be appreciated...my husband would like to be able to stand in our garage and get some useful footage at 4:45 AM in the morning so we can figure out who these criminals are without having to run down the road after them after they pull out of our driveway to see the tag number...thank you
C.K. Sample III
(11:47 AM on Sun Feb 15, 2009)
The Flip Minio definitely isn't going to be able to handle this, as it's not good in low light scenarios. I'd look for a camera with a night-vision feature. I know older model Sony DV camcorders used to have this feature. I'll look into this a bit and reply with a better answer if I can find any specific recommendations.
Melissa (1:43 PM on Sun Feb 15, 2009)
Thank you so much for responding, and I hate to bother you again, but what do you think would be better- the Flip Ultra or Mino? I liked how the Ultra took regular batteries, but is the quality from the Mino better? Also, I have a mac and I do not know if one works better on them over the other? I am new to the digital video world- sorry for all of the questions! Thanks!
Anonymous (2:06 AM on Mon Feb 16, 2009)
they are the same the difference is that you can customize the ultra I prefer the mino
Anonymous (2:03 AM on Mon Feb 16, 2009)
i love my flip mino
Anonymous (8:49 AM on Wed Feb 18, 2009)
is there any way to turn off/paint over the red recording light on the lens side of the Flip?
C.K. Sample III
(10:24 AM on Wed Feb 18, 2009)
I think I saw where someone used black duct tape to cover up the red light online.
Melissa (2:00 PM on Sun Feb 22, 2009)
Hi C.K. Sample - I have a question specifically for you since I am very impressed by your expertise! I know I have bothered you before with questions (see above) but hopefully this will be the last one. I just really would love the bottom live on what the differences are between the quality of the video you get from the Flip Ultra and the regular Flip Mino. I know the Ultra is larger but that doesn't bother me but if there is a significant difference between the quality of the results (mostly for TV viewing, I would consider the mino. Please let me know when you geta chance- I knos you are swamped with questions. Tjank you so much!!!
C.K. Sample III
(10:09 AM on Tue Feb 24, 2009)
Video quality should be the same VGA 640x480, although the Flip Mino is supposed to have an improved microphone that captures audio somewhat better than the Ultra. Most of the differences between the two devices are in design: size of the device, an internal battery vs AAs, and the location of the flip out USB.
Cheers,
C.K.
Melissa (2:29 PM on Wed Feb 25, 2009)
Thanks so much for answering my question! I will try not to bother you again. I feel so lucky to have stumbled upon this web-site; thank goodness for google!
Orki (5:26 PM on Sun Feb 22, 2009)
I bought the Mino HD a few months ago and it mostly gets used when I perform in church. I am not happy with the sound quality of those recordings and the ones that were taken today have been the worse. The bad noise I hear is a metallic-like sounds swishing in the background. To get a better idea of what I mean, you can check out my videos. http://blip.tv/file/1802372 ; http://blip.tv/file/1802396 ; http://blip.tv/file/1802421 ; http://blip.tv/file/1802439
C.K. Sample III
(10:04 AM on Tue Feb 24, 2009)
Yeah, although it works well enough for picking up you talking in noisy environments, the lack of an external mic really makes it a poor choice for recording musical performances.
lesley purdie (6:24 AM on Mon Feb 23, 2009)
Some advice please!
I'm thinking about buying a Flip Mino (SD) but have heard from some reviewers that you can only get DVDs by purchasing them through the Flip website - i.e. you cant copy your files from your laptop straight onto your own DVD. Is this correct? Thanks. Lesley.
C.K. Sample III
(10:02 AM on Tue Feb 24, 2009)
Hi Leslie,
The FlipShare software gives you two options. You can either prepare your videos for DVD and burn your own DVD using your own DVD burner and DVD-creation software or you can pay for and order a "professionally-produced" DVD from Flip. You can copy the files wherever you'd like, but you cannot simply copy the files to a DVD to make them playable on a standard DVD player. They have to be prepared and burned to DVD using software capable of creating DVDs, like Apple's iMovie. So if you have a software solution like that and you have a DVD burner, then there's no reason to send off and buy a DVD.
Cheers,
C.K.
lesley purdie (10:49 AM on Tue Feb 24, 2009)
Hi CK
Thanks for getting back to me on this. LP.
Anonymous (4:13 AM on Thu Feb 26, 2009)
Thanks for the review. I'm having difficulty understanding how to playback the 720p format on my HDTV. I understand that it is not possible to use the built-in connector and supplied cable to playback at the highest quality 720p format so you HAVE to download the file into the computer to do so.
BUT
Maximum resolution on DVD format is only 480p so if you burn to a DVD then play, you still can't see the full res of 720p. So is the ONLY way (on a Mac system) to show the highest quality from the Flip HD is to play directly from the DVI connector of my Macbook Air to the HDTV? I've never done this before, what is the process for this and what connectors do I need?
Also how do we know the output is 720p rather than the inferior 720i format? From the sample movie shown, fast moving objects are shown as slanting (the cars on the bridge) so this suggests that the movie is being taken interlaced (half page by half page) rather than progressive (page by page). I would have thought that if the format was 720p, you wont have the problem of the slanting cars.
Thanks.
C.K. Sample III
(7:55 AM on Thu Feb 26, 2009)
With an upscaling DVD it can fake 720p or if you have a DVD player that is capable of playing back MPEG4 video files and upscales to 720p and above, it should be able to display the files on a DVD in 720p HD.
You can connect your MacBook Air to your HDTV if your HDTV has a DVI connector via a cable, but if you only have HDMI and composite / component connectors on your HDTV, your only option would be to purchase a DVI to HDMI adapter. At that point, you may want to consider purchasing a media appliance, like the Apple TV, so that you can stream the HD files wirelessly from your computer to the device for playback on your TV.
As I note in the review, I think the sheering is a distortion caused by the plastic bubble shape of the cover surrounding the lens of the Flip Mino HD.
Anonymous (1:57 AM on Thu Feb 26, 2009)
would love u to review/ test The Xactis DMX-CA9, DMX-CG10, DMX-WH1, HD2000 and FH1?! got anything planned c.k.?
C.K. Sample III
(7:44 AM on Thu Feb 26, 2009)
I'd love to review them. Just need Sanyo to send me them!
Anonymous (1:47 AM on Thu Feb 26, 2009)
very helpful review and answers! thank you c.k.!
Question for you:i am looking for camcorder to shoot a personal 'freeform' doc over the course of two years in many different situations/locations. The Flip Mino HD vs Kodak Zi6 test demonstrates the latter superior by far - picture quality as well as audio. Do u agree? alas, Kodak Zi6 not suitable for mac? (I'm on mac/edit on fcp) do u think mino hd picture quality better than any consumer minidv out there? best, anon editora
C.K. Sample III
(7:48 AM on Thu Feb 26, 2009)
The mino HD is nice for a camera in your pocket, but it is limited because of that. You can't use external mics for example. If I were beginning a two-year project, I'd look into investing some more money into something like the Sanyo Xacti line of HD camcorders that record to SD cards (and therefore are easy to import the files to a Mac): http://www.obsessable.com/search/?q=sanyo+xacti+hd
Pete De Vasto (1:13 PM on Sun Mar 8, 2009)
Sorry for the duplicate post, as I said earlier I'm a totally blind user and my special software didn't pick up the fact I could ask to receive e-mail when someone responded. My sighted wife and I are seriously thinking of getting a Flip MinoHD, I actually had a friend let me borrow one this weekend so I could check it out. I tried blindly pointing it at my wife and got a great picture, and I'm getting used to knowing where the touch buttons are so could replay what I shot to at least hear what I got. Only thing is, I don't have the TV cable and all the videos online seem to be mono sound, yet the unit has speakers on both sides. Does anyone know if this records in stereo, or is it mono? thanks for any help, Pete De Vasto.
Anonymous (12:21 PM on Sun Mar 8, 2009)
Hi, my wife and I are seriously thinking of getting a Flip MinoHD. The catch in our situation is that I'm TOTALLY BLIND so I'm looking for the best sound quality to go along with the video for my sighted wife. I actually did get a chance to "look" at one, and I'm sure I can work the buttons for those times I want to shoot a picture of my wife, and the review indicates there are speakers on both sides of the unit, does that mean the sound is recorded in stereo? It's a little hard to tell listening standalone and the person who let me borrow it didn't give me the TV cable. If not, are there any similar camcorders that do record in stereo sound? Pete De Vasto
Anonymous (10:00 PM on Sat Mar 7, 2009)
I think the camera is cool and I have been using it. The problem is with the Flip Share software. It seems to not want to run on Windows Vista computers. Both my Vista 32 bit desktop and 64 bit laptop go into an endless loop at the Flip Share menu screen. Pure has no answer for me.
Anonymous (9:17 PM on Thu Mar 5, 2009)
I have a new flip mino hd and it keeps freezing on me. Once a recording is started it simply stops and won't respond to any command. It won't even turn off. Over a period of a few hours, it eventually turns itself off. Does anyone have a solution for this? L.G.
Kyle Webs
(11:44 PM on Mon Mar 9, 2009)
This camcorder is pretty good. I got my first one at Best Buy for $230 which with tax come to $245 so it's not too bad. Also, the plastic part on the USB plug cracked because I had it pluged in to my computer and since it's so thin it was hanging there and it cracked. Also it wouldn't turn on all the time so I exchanged it for another. They didn't even open the box to see if it was broken or anything so my new one is pretty good. The main problem that I'm having with it is the lens. It gets dirty and I end up cleaning it everyday. I just use something like a microfiber. I have no idea how else to clean it. But that's the only problem I have with it.
David Golden (11:19 AM on Tue Jun 30, 2009)
The way to avoid the flimsy plastic pop out is simply to close it after you pop out the usb port.
Kyle Webs
(2:30 PM on Tue Jun 30, 2009)
No, the plastic part around the usb cracked.
but i'm just using a usb cable now so its all good.
Julee Williams (9:07 AM on Wed Mar 11, 2009)
We're using our FLIPs at a middle school. Teachers want to import to PowerPoint on Dell PC's (Windows XP), but we can't seem to get PowerPoint to recognize the videos. Anyone else have that problem?
Anonymous (5:46 PM on Sun Mar 22, 2009)
I'm not sure why it isn't working for you, but worst case scenario is that you can convert the MPEG-4 files to WMV format using the included software and it should work in powerpoint.
Anonymous (9:32 PM on Sun Mar 15, 2009)
hey dude thanks 4 the tips this really helps me out considering i might buy the flip mino hd.you really convinced me into now buying this camcorder.thanks alot!!!
Tatiana B (8:55 AM on Sun Mar 29, 2009)
Thanks for the good review. I don't know anything about tech stuff (I just use it) and therefore rely heavily on other people's opinions. I found your review very helpful and am now about to order the Flip MinoHD. You convinced me. Thanks again and greetings from Europe
Bill Sanders
(5:25 AM on Wed Apr 1, 2009)
You note in the shortcomings that it cannot take still shots. However, for each video that the built-in software stores, it also stores a jpg still. I have no idea why, but it's an easy way to get a still. A simple click-on click-off produces high quality stills with the short video, which you can toss. Great review--lots of useful detail. Thanks.
Anonymous (4:55 PM on Fri Apr 3, 2009)
Does anyone know if mino hd software downconverts hd to sd for upload to facebook or youtube? i know youtube takes 720p but i'm assuming that file will be very big but will take a very long time to upload.
thanks you
Orki (2:28 PM on Sat Apr 4, 2009)
I haven't converted any of my HD to ST, I don't even know how to do that. My videos upload just fine to youtube. Facebook has a 2 minute max for videos so I only have my short videos on my facebook.
Bennett Landsman
(6:40 AM on Sat Apr 4, 2009)
Did you mention the reset feature of the device? Where the tripod screws in this is also a small hole in which you have to stick a pin and hold it down for a few seconds to reset the Flip when it is inoperable. I had to do it a couple of times. The last time I never got it to come on again. I contacted Flip and after trying to get the reset to function properly unsuccessfully they gave me a Return Merchandise Number. They have had it almost a week now and I'm awaiting its' functioning return hopefully.
Anonymous (2:15 PM on Sun Apr 5, 2009)
A full and concise account on this produce. This will certainly help when choosing my nect recorder.
Shawn (9:37 PM on Sun Apr 5, 2009)
I've been making dvd of all our family minidv tapes and of course am disappointed with their playback look on our new large screen. I don't want to spend a $1000 on a cutting edge hd camcorder though. After your great review and one from wired.com that showed mino hd next to zi6 also, I would be sold on the Zi6 based on sound and video quality. My main question is that I am a novice on video editing but I will be using mac imovie and idvd. I saw a previous comment that this is not for a mac user. Did they mean just the kodak program won't work with the mac (which is fine since most program that come with cameras aren't that good) or with this camera video files not be supported by the mac? I don't want to have to covert to another file that may degrade the image in order to the files into the correct format for the mac. Thanks for any reply. I don't want to buy they find out the mac doesn't support this camera at all.
Shawn (10:12 PM on Sun Apr 5, 2009)
One more quick question. I see the Zi6 take up to a 32gig card. How large of a card would I need in order to capture 1 hour of hd 720p 60fps video?
Orki (12:27 AM on Mon Apr 6, 2009)
The flip mino hd has it's own program for editing but all you can do with it is choose the start and end times. There is no media card with the flip mino hd, it is all self contained. It comes in a one hour version and a half hour version. The program will also publish your video to youtube and a couple other sights. If you select "other", the program will convert your video into a .wmv file. I do have three of my files that were converted to .mp4, I don't remember how that happened.
jeff (4:15 AM on Thu Apr 9, 2009)
I just bought one this these mino hd, but every time i view it on my pc the video skips, why is that? I also viewed it on windows media player and still skips like its buffering or something. I have brand new laptop with 3gigs of ram so it should be enough. Does any one have this problem? Or is it the product.
IB (7:40 PM on Thu Apr 9, 2009)
What a great detailed review! But I do still have one question - how is the quality when video is burned on a dvd? I will be recording a 5 minute audition (pretty much standing still so movement won't be an issue) but I need to know if the quality of the dvd will be good enough for someone to review - to be able to see my face clearly and clearly understand what I am saying. I currently don't own a camcorder but need one to make this 5 minute dvd - I would like to get the Flip as it is small and the price is lowish. Please help me out. Thanks.
mike d (11:57 PM on Tue Apr 14, 2009)
I really want to pull the trigger on one of these but what's the chances of an upgrade the next 90 days?
C.K. Sample III
(8:40 AM on Wed Apr 15, 2009)
There's no way to be sure, and this is complete conjecture, but I'd guess a new model arriving in the next 90 days is unlikely, though they may announce something to arrive just before the end of the year holiday season. Then again, they were recently acquired and it's unclear whether that will speed up production of new models (more money and more resources) or slow it all down (more levels of management for approval).
Anonymous (8:51 PM on Tue Apr 14, 2009)
How do you view HD video when it does not have an HDMI output.
C.K. Sample III
(8:37 AM on Wed Apr 15, 2009)
On your computer.
Garrett (12:34 AM on Mon Apr 20, 2009)
One thing I would like to point out. Battery life. Apparently it is entirely possible to get a faulty battery when you buy your Mino HD. I had mine for a month and after 2 weeks the battery was running out faster and faster. By the end of the month the battery would not recharge at all. The other annoying aspect of this is that to change the battery out, the camera must be sent back to the manufacturer. I sent it out last Thursday and will post a second comment to keep you updated.
Bennett Landsman
(10:47 AM on Mon Apr 20, 2009)
I had the same thing happen to me after 2 1/2 months. I reset it a couple of times but finally it wouldn't take a charge at all. Sent it back to the manufacturer after getting a Return Merchandise Authorization OK from them. They had it a couple of weeks and finally are sending me either a replacement or a new battery in the original Mino HD. I'm supposed to receive it this coming Wednesday, the 22th. More comments when I receive my replacement.
Garrett (8:26 PM on Wed Apr 22, 2009)
Cool...let me know what happens. I guess I probably have another week or so before they send mine back. I sent it out last Thursday.
Bennett Landsman
(12:03 PM on Thu Apr 23, 2009)
I received my either new or refurbished Flip Mino HD back yesterday. It even came with a new set of cables and pouch. I tried it out indoors yesterday and outdoors this morning. It seems to work ok. I just noticed that after you stop recording it not only tells you the remaining time left to record on the bottom left of the screen by also gives you a battery charged indicator level on the bottom right of the screen. Did this indicator on the right always exist or is it a software update?
The rest test is some hard use and recharging from a low level.
Garrett (12:18 PM on Thu Apr 23, 2009)
The Time and Battery indicators were always on mine. Perhaps they did do a software update though. Don't know. That's good that it seems to be working well. So no info on what sort of work they did to the camera? That kinda sucks. Would like to know what exactly was wrong with the camera and how to prevent it in the future.
Bennett Landsman
(2:55 PM on Thu Apr 23, 2009)
Garett,
They just said is was a new replacement device and they were sorry they couldn't retrieve any videos I had on the device I sent in.
Betsy (4:33 PM on Wed Apr 22, 2009)
Didn't see a response to the query about MinoHD's editing capabilities. Is it truly only front and back of the video can be snipped off? What about editing different footage into the middle of the video or adding music? Probably not? thanks for the help, Betsy
C.K. Sample III
(4:45 PM on Wed Apr 22, 2009)
Hey Betsy, it only has limited editing on its own, but you can edit the files in programs like iMovie on a Mac.
Tom C. (12:44 PM on Sat Apr 25, 2009)
I have had a Mino HD for about a week now, and I love it, but did notice a few little issues. I have had a couple of videos that have little jitters in them where the video seems to jump while the audio stays fine. Also, the device has hung up on me twice while recording where I had to hold the power button down for about 15 seconds to power it off and restart it. Otherwise, it has been a great little camera for capturing family moments.
Jareed (1:21 PM on Mon Apr 27, 2009)
Please help me guys, i got the flip mino HD and i recorded a video and put it on youtube from the flip software. But its not in HD on youtube please help
Anonymous (6:13 AM on Tue May 5, 2009)
I've been looking at "helmet cam" options and eventually my searches led me to the Flip Mino HD. Can anyone who's tried it comment on how it would do in that role? Any suggestions on how to mount it to a helmet? Thanks!
Kay (6:13 AM on Thu May 7, 2009)
I would like a machine specifically to make decent quality, good sounding live videos of a band that plays in bars. I would then upload these videos to a Youtube site. The software and flip attachment of MinoHD seems to be a plus for this but what about the sound and picture quality? Has anyone used the MinoHD to make live band recordings? I am wondering if the MinoHD is really the machine for this purpose or if there is another product on the market that would give better results and is still user friendly. Thanks for any and all advice.
Kay
fahad
(5:54 PM on Thu May 7, 2009)
I've written my personal review of this cam on my blog @ http://fahadzone.com/wordpress/?p=1059
I hope it helps.
lori (12:23 PM on Sun May 10, 2009)
I am looking for the right pocket camcorder to be used indoors to record wrestling meets. I am unsure what to buy since it is for the sole purpose of being inside a gmy.
Trance
(3:12 PM on Tue May 19, 2009)
Hi dude,
Thanks you very much for this excellent review.
I had a lot of fun with the dog videosequences lol
Regards,
Matt
C.K. Sample III
(4:58 PM on Tue May 19, 2009)
Glad you liked it!
Laurie (6:52 PM on Fri May 22, 2009)
Thanks so much for your very informative review. I was most curious to find a sample of the video output, and your sample video featured on this page (and the uncompressed one at blip.tv), was exactly what I was looking for. The video quality is better than I expected and I'm quite impressed! I also appreciated your in-depth coverage of the various features. I learned quite a bit from this article... the verdict? I'm totally sold! $200 and change for such a cute little video camera with some pretty amazing detail - you can't beat that. Adorable pug, BTW :)
Mr. Lee (3:04 PM on Sun May 24, 2009)
RE: the battery - the one tidbit of information I was trying to find out about, eluded me till I actually bought the device. I wanted to know "how long it takes to re-charge a discharged battery". The answer: 3 hours. Also, there is an optional power adapter that can charge the battery in 2 hours. Thought this might be of interest to anyone considering a purchase.
Tim (2:44 PM on Thu Jun 4, 2009)
Very impressive analysis!
Tanya (7:36 AM on Tue Jun 9, 2009)
I just got my Flip Mino HD but when I plugged the USB into my Macbook, the charging LED light did not turn on or blink. Do you know why this is?
jwb (11:30 AM on Tue Jun 9, 2009)
great little cam,just cant get it to turn on.im having trouble getting computer to understand, AKA~@%#*#%^#@&*%~STUCK OUT LIKE A TROUT (: PLEASE HELP. NO HELP IN SAN FRANCISCO
Bennett Landsman
(12:20 PM on Tue Jun 9, 2009)
Try resetting it. To do this just get a pin , turn the Mino HD Flip upside down and look at the place where you would mount the cam on a monopod or tripod. You will see another much smaller indentation. Push the pin in that indentation and wait a few seconds. Pull it out You should then be able to turn it on.
Let us know if this works for you.
Todd Charske (2:00 PM on Sat Jun 20, 2009)
I have the Flip HD and I'm having a hard time burning to a DVD. Does it require HD DVD's or can any old blank DVD work?
Hemant (1:45 PM on Sat Jun 27, 2009)
I used the camera for 2-3 weeks. It is a wonderful camera to have. Today morning it froze and I am in a situation exactly like JWB. My computer does not recognize it and I cannot turn it on. Tried resetting by pushing the reset for few seconds. SO far nothing.
Bennett Landsman
(1:19 PM on Mon Jun 29, 2009)
You may have to send it back to Flip and see if they can fix it. I suspect they have battery problems. I sent mine back and I got it returned. So far (a couple of months) I've only had to reset it once. Contact them to get a return authorization.
Good luck!
David Golden (11:30 AM on Tue Jun 30, 2009)
The solution to the flimsy usb cover is to close the cover after you pop out the usb port connector.