Help Me Decide: Flip Mino HD or Kodak Zi6 HD?
Update: The Kodak Zi6 HD is coming with me to Inauguration Day! See updates below.
I’ve got a bit of a dilemma on my hands. I’m planning on going to Obama’s Inauguration in a couple of weeks and want to bring an HD camera with me to capture the day. I have a standard-def Flip Ultra now, so I figure this is as good an excuse as any to upgrade to HD.
So here’s the dilemma: Flip and Kodak both have two pocket-sized HD cameras available now (the Flip Mino HD and the Kodak Zi6 HD) and I’m having trouble figuring out which one to buy. Their specs are very similar.
Both capture H.264 video, but the Kodak Zi6 HD has an expandable SD memory card slot, and the Flip has four gigabytes hard-wired, giving the camera 60 minutes of record time. The Zi6 has a 2.4-inch LCD, bigger than the Flip’s 1.5, but I don’t mind the smaller screen on the Flip so that’s not a deal-breaker for me. But the Zi6 has a closer focus range at .7 meters to infinity, compared to the Mino HD’s 1.5 meters to infinity. I’m not sure how noticeable that would be. But the Zi6 apparently has a “close up” mode or range of focus, so things two inches from the lens will theoretically be in focus. Again, without getting my hands on a Zi6 to test it out, I can’t really know for sure.
I’ve developed a bit of brand loyalty for Flip. My Ultra has been super-trustworthy. I like it a lot and take it everywhere. From what I’ve read, it sounds like the Flip Mino HD is as dependable as my Ultra. I know the Flip cameras work great in loud situations because I’ve gotten some wonderful footage from rock shows. Also, I like its simple interface.
Not being able to test out these cameras side-by-side, it’s really tough for me to make a decision on what to buy. I’ve read some scattered complaints about the Zi6 dropping frames, but haven’t really found enough examples or specific evidence to suggest it’s a widespread problem. My favorite comparison of the two cameras is this Andy Ihnatko video:
The color on the Zi6 seems over-saturated and the Flip seems like it adjusts its exposure a bit better. Also, in all of Andy’s shots inside the bagel shop, the Flip seems to produce a much warmer, truer-to-life image than the Zi6. The Zi6 has much higher contrast, and some of the mid-tones seem to get lost.
On the audio side of things, it might just be the camera’s on-board compression, but the Zi6 sounds louder. Although there’s some gain boost or something going on, it also sounds like it picks up more wind noise than the Mino HD.
As of this writing, The Kodak Zi6 HD is $154.65 and the Flip Mino Ultra is $209 on Amazon. For a little over $50 more, I personally think the Mino HD has superior video quality. But the Zi6 has the bonuses of memory card expansion and running off of AA batteries. When I’m at the Inauguration all day, I don’t want to have to ration my recording time and worry about losing my charge halfway through the day. Still, I’m leaning toward the Mino HD.
Have you had experience with either (or both) of these cameras? Is there one you prefer over the other? I’d love to get some feedback, comments, or guidance. After all, this site is where all the videos from the new camera are going to end up, so if they look crappy it will sort of be all your fault.
[Update 1: Chef Mark helpfully pointed out the Creative Vado Pocket Video Cam HD, which is aimed squarely at the same consumers looking for something like a Mino HD or Zi6. He also showed me some great videos shot by Mr. Brown at Marina Bay in Singapore. Thanks, Mark!]
[Update 2: Thanks to the friendly folks at Kodak, I'll be taking a Zi6 with me to Inauguration day! They contacted me within a couple hours after I posted this and helpfully pointed me toward some Zi6 press info. Of course, it's on Kodak's site, so it's largely pro-Zi6 material, but I hadn't seen WIRED's Gadget Lab review before and found it quite helpful to see the two cameras operate side-by-side. The Flip looks sleek, but with the Zi6 I won't have to worry about charging it or running out of space when I'm in DC all day on January 20th, thanks to AA batteries and SD memory cards. Plus, there's just something solid about the Zi6. I'm looking forward to putting the camera through its paces when it gets here. I'm particularly excited about the level of enthusiasm with which they back up their product, especially through social media channels. Look for Zi6 video and a full report coming here soon. Thanks Tom, Julie, and Jennifer at Kodak!]
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