Tag: "kodak"

Need Help Choosing A Pocket Camcorder!?

I found this question being asked by Morgan on Yahoo Answers where he’s on a quest to find a pocket camcorder for himself and I thought I’d give my answer here on PocketVideoCameraHD.com in case you’re interested. Following is the question that Morgan asked:

I currently have the Sony Webbie, but I am tired of the mediocre video quality. Even so, I’ve fallen in love with the rotating lens – I like being able to see where I am in the frame while vlogging. I also like to do short films. But with Christmas coming in a few months, I want to buy a new camera. I’m estimating that I’ll have a budget of at least $200.

What I REALLY want:

  • Preferably a flip camera of some sort, because I’m used to holding a Webbie.
  • Great (not just ok) HD quality that can handle action and low lighting. Image stabilization would be wonderful. A 60fps option isn’t necessary, but it’d be nice.
  • Great battery life, as well a memory card slot. I’d prefer that videos could be as long as the space left on the card.
  • A screen to see myself while recording myself… if that makes sense.
  • Quick startup and minimal time between pressing a button and the function being executed. (Shutter speed, etc.)

It should be able to stand up on its own without a tripod, and it can’t be too conspicuous. I often vlog in public and I don’t want to get any weirder looks than I do already.

I know this is a lot to ask for with a budget of Christmas cash; but I’m not going to buy something and be disappointed. I want a pocket camcorder that I can use for years to come without (m)any regrets.

Our Answer To His Quest To Find A Pocket Camcorder

Now, that’s a lot of requirements and needs that Morgan has. Not all of them can be completely fulfilled but I think that there’s two great options for him. First of all, all of the pocket camcorders will help him as they are small and convenient and hopefully will keep down the ‘weird looks’ he’s getting for vlogging in public.

Kodak and Sony Pocket Camcorders

The need for a memory card slot already takes all offerings of Flip Cameras out of this. That leaves us with Kodak and Sony pocket camcorders to look at. Based on all of his requirements we’d go with either the (see our Sony Bloggie Touch (MHS-TS20/B) Pocket Camcorder Review) or the Kodak PlayTouch Zi10 (see our Kodak PlayTouch Zi10 Pocket Camcorder Review).

I’d probably give the Kodak PlayTouch Zi10 a slight advantage here as it has some cool video recording features like Black and White and stuff that will allow to shoot some really cool videos for vlogging. Having said that, there’s also one requirement that Morgan probably hasn’t really listed but should be considered. As he’s vlogging a lot in public he might actually have to consider using a pocket camcorder that is somewhat rugged and could get wet. I somehow think it would be strange to only vlog in public when it’s nice weather…

The Best Pocket Camcorder

Anyway, that does bring up the probably overall strongest contender for his needs. Which one is it? Well, it’s another Kodak model, the Kodak PlaySport Zx5 (see our Kodak PlaySport Zx5 HD Waterproof Pocket Camcorder Review). It has pretty much all the features of the Kodak PlayTouch Zi10 plus it’s rugged and waterproof.

Check out the pocket video cameras we mentioned in this post here:

Check out our other Pocket Camcorder Reviews and make sure you can make an informed decision before you buy a pocket camcorder for yourself or for friends and family.

You can find Morgan’s question on Yahoo Answers by clicking here.

Kodak PlaySport Zx3 HD Waterproof Pocket Video Camera Review

Kodak PlaySport Zx3 HD Camera – An Overview

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Kodak PlaySport Zx3 HD Waterproof Pocket Video Camera

If you’re searching for a rugged mini pocket video camera then the Kodak PlaySport Zx3 HD Waterproof Pocket Video Camera is a great choice. This compact pocket camcorder is waterproof up to 10 feet. This makes it a great video camera for snorkling. You can capture the beauty of the under-water or above-water world in Full HD at 1080p. The Kodak PlaySport Zx3 HD Waterproof Pocket Video Camera fits in your pocket – it’s compact and lightweight. It lets you capture high definition video and still images in nearly any environments.

Kodak PlaySport Zx3 HD Waterproof Pocket Video Camera – An Overview – Recording Features And Expansion

The memory on the Kodak PlaySport Zx3 HD Waterproof Pocket Video Camera can be expanded with high speed SDHC memory cards. You can use SDHC memory cards up to 32 GB. This allows you to record up to 10 hours of high definition video at 720p!

Another great feature that the Kodak PlaySport Zx3 HD Waterproof Pocket Video Camera has is the built-in image stabilization. This feature allows you to take video with no shaking at all. You’ll shoot videos that look like a professional had made them! Be aware though that images stabilization does result in reduced battery life. The battery life on the Kodak PlaySport Zx3 HD Waterproof Pocket Video Camera is up to 90 minutes. Overall that’s sufficient for most uses. You can always purchase a Kodak battery as a backup battery.

The Kodak PlaySport Zx3 HD Waterproof Pocket Video Camera allows you to capture video in Full HD with 1080p. The video at that mode is captured with 30 frames per second (fps). This frame rate is sufficient for most uses. However, if you want to film action or sport events then you might want to consider using the 720p recording at 60 fps. This uses reduced, but still HD, resolution but takes more frames per second resulting in a much cleaner video. If your main use for this pocket camcorder is to share your videos on YouTube, Facebook or other video sharing sites then you should use the 720p mode with 30 fps. This conserves memory and is in line with the standards that these video sharing sites support. Finally, you can use the Kodak PlaySport Zx3 HD Waterproof Pocket Video Camera to shoot 5MP still images with a 16:9 format.

Kodak PlaySport Zx3 HD Waterproof Pocket Video Camera – Built-In Screen, Anti-Glare And Zoom

The Kodak PlaySport Zx3 HD Waterproof Pocket Video Camera has a 4 time digital zoom. Due to the fact that the recording is up to 1080p, this zoom is rather good with an acceptable level of reduced image quality due to the zoom. In most cases you won’t even notice that the video might be slightly more grainy at the full 4x zoom setting. This mini camcorder also provides a HDMI port and comes with a HDMI cable so you can connect the Kodak PlaySport Zx3 HD Waterproof Pocket Video Camera directly to your HD TV!

The LCD display on the Kodak PlaySport Zx3 HD Waterproof Pocket Video Camera is 2 inches in size. The LCD offers an anti-glare mode that allows you to view your videos on the built-in LCD screen even in the brightest sunlight. This anti-glare mode does not affect the video you take but it reduced the glare on your screen artificially. The Kodak PlaySport Zx3 HD Waterproof Pocket Video Camera has both microphone and speaker built-in.

Kodak PlaySport Zx3 HD Waterproof Pocket Video Camera – Customer Reviews

You can find a lot of customer reviews for the Kodak PlaySport Zx3 HD Waterproof Pocket Video Camera. These reviews are overwhelmingly positive and the Kodak PlaySport Zx3 HD Waterproof Pocket Video Camera has a very high rating from customers on Amazon.com. Here’s a few things people have said that purchased the Kodak PlaySport Zx3 HD Waterproof Pocket Video Camera on Amazon.com:

“Just opened the camera from the box. Easy to use buttons, just charge the battery and you are good.”

“I just got back from the weekend at the river and this camera is the perfect combination of durability and quality.”

“The video quality is very good. I connected the playsport directly to my HDTV and the quality was really good, it looked like it was shot with a $500 camera.”

“I’m very happy with this camera and can’t believe the quality of HD video recordings.”

“Why do I love this thing? Well with this camera, I find it very easy to shoot, edit and share videos. The software is actually preloaded in the device so when you plug in the USB cable for the first time, it automatically starts to install the software.”

Read more customer reviews of the Kodak PlaySport Zx3 HD Waterproof Pocket Video Camera

Kodak PlaySport Zx3 HD Waterproof Pocket Video Camera – Conclusion

The Kodak PlaySport Zx3 HD Waterproof Pocket Video Camera is a feature rich, rugged mini camcorder. It offers great video and image quality at up to Full HD at 1080p. It’s rugged design allows you to shoot videos underwater and the Kodak PlaySport Zx3 HD Waterproof Pocket Video Camera allows a little fall without breaking. A slight negative is that you have to use Kodak specific batteries and cannot use standard batteries from your store around the corner.

Read more about the Kodak PlaySport Zx3 HD Waterproof Pocket Video Camera

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List Price: $149.00 USD
New From: $84.95 In Stock
Used from: $58.00 In Stock

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Kodak PlaySport Zx5 HD Waterproof Pocket Video Camera Review

Kodak PlaySport Zx5 HD Waterproof Pocket Video Camera – An Overview

The Kodak PlaySport Zx5 HD Waterproof Pocket Video Camera is a rugged little pocket camcorder that goes where you go. This pocket camcorder is waterproof, dust-proof and shockproof. It is waterproof up to 10 feet so it’s a perfect companion for some beautiful underwater shots near the beach. And while you take this pocket video camera with you on your diving excursions you will be able to capture everything in Full HD at 1080p. The versatility that this pocket camcorder offers is stunning. Its rugged design also forgives a fall onto the floor without any damage to the camera. The Kodak PlaySport Zx5 HD Waterproof Pocket Video Camera fits in your pocket but it is built to be used even in extreme environments. It’s your trusted partner to capture high definition video and still images.

Kodak PlaySport Zx5 HD Waterproof Pocket Video Camera – Recording Features And Expansion

The Kodak PlaySport Zx5 HD Waterproof Pocket Video Camera features built-in image stabilization. This little pocket camcorder allows you to take amazing underwater and surface video with little or no shaking. There is also a standard tripod stand connector on this camera. As with all other pocket camcorders with image stabilization, this feature does drain your battery life. Battery life on this pocket video camera is up to 2 hours. More that sufficient to use on your diving excursion or to record a wedding.

You can expand the memory on the Kodak PlaySport Zx5 HD Waterproof Pocket Video Camera with high speed SDHC memory cards. For good video results in HD you will have to make sure to use a high speed SDHC card with Class 6 or higher, preferably Class 10. This will ensure that the Kodak PlaySport Zx5 HD Waterproof Pocket Video Camera will continuously record without interruptions and errors.

You can capture Full HD videos with 1080p with the Kodak PlaySport Zx5 HD Waterproof Pocket Video Camera. This allows you to make breathtaking underwater videos in case you take the camera underwater with you. The 1080p mode captures the video with 30 frames per second (fps). This is sufficient for all non-action shots. Use the 720p with 60 fps for action and sports scenes with quick movements or for real slow motion captures. The best mode to capture video and then share it on YouTube, Facebook or any other video site is to use the 720p mode with 30 fps. The last mode that is supported by this pocket video camera is WVGA which allows for the longest recording time on any memory card. The Kodak PlaySport Zx5 HD Waterproof Pocket Video Camera also lets you shoot 5 MP still pictures in addition to the different video modes.

Another new feature that the Kodak PlaySport Zx5 HD Waterproof Pocket Video Camera sports is the macro mode. With the macro mode you can shoot and focus on small objects. The focus range starts at around 4 inches so you can get the pocket video camera really close to your object you want to film and get great results!

Kodak PlaySport Zx5 HD Waterproof Pocket Video Camera – Built-In Screen, Anti-Glare And Zoom

The Kodak PlaySport Zx5 HD Waterproof Pocket Video Camera has a built-in microphone and speaker. The LCD to view your video captures is 2 inches diagonally. The screen and the speakers allow you to quickly view the video you’ve taken. A nice feature is the anti-glare mode for the LCD screen. It artificially reduce the glare from your screen without affecting the video you shoot. This allows you to view the video you shot even in the brightest sunlight.

This pocket camcorder also has a 4x digital zoom which is surprisingly good. You will barely notice the picture getting grainy even at the extreme 4x zoom. The built-in HDMI port allows you to play your videos directly on your HD TV. Kodak provides a HDMI cable free of charge when you register the Kodak PlaySport Zx5 HD Waterproof Pocket Video Camera and pay for shipping and handling.

The battery on the Kodak PlaySport Zx5 HD Waterproof Pocket Video Camera is built-in and cannot be removed. You have to charge the battery through the camera and thus you have to make sure to bring the AC adapter with you when you bring the camera!

Kodak PlaySport Zx5 HD Waterproof Pocket Video Camera – Capture Modes

The Kodak PlaySport Zx5 HD Waterproof Pocket Video Camera offers a few very interesting and fun capture modes. You can film in black and white, with high saturation to bring out vivid colors and a 70′s film mode which contains muted colors, a little graininess and slightly green cast for captured video in a retro look. A very nice feature is the ‘Share’ button on the camera. When you’re in review mode you simply press the share button, then choose your sharing destination and when you connect the pocket camcorder to your computer the videos or pictures are automatically uploaded to the selected destinations. The share destinations include Facebook, Flickr, YouTube, Twitter and many other video and picture sharing sites.

An interesting little side-note is that the Kodak PlaySport Zx5 HD Waterproof Pocket Video Camera has the software for your PC preloaded. The first time you connect the pocket camcorder to your PC with the USB 2.0 connector you can download the software for the pocket video camera. MAC users will have to download the software through the web though.

Kodak PlaySport Zx5 HD Waterproof Pocket Video Camera – Conclusion

The Kodak PlaySport Zx5 HD Waterproof Pocket Video Camera is a more than solid pocket camcorder with many built-in features. The video and image quality is great for a pocket video camera at this price point. The ruggedness of the Kodak PlaySport Zx5 HD Waterproof Pocket Video Camera allows you to bring and use it nearly everywhere. The dimensions are 2.3 (W) × 0.7 (D) x 4.4 (H) inches which makes this camera small and handy and it basically fits in any pocket. A negative in our opinion is that the battery is built-in and cannot be charged outside of the camera. Another negative is that the HDMI cable is not included in the box. You have to request it from Kodak and pay for shipping and handling.

Read more about the Kodak PlaySport Zx5 HD Waterproof Pocket Video Camera

Pocket Video Camera Reviews:




List Price: $159.00 USD
New From: $98.99 In Stock
Used from: $65.00 In Stock

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