Computer Corner
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Have an HD holiday with pocket-size camcorders 
03:55 PM CST on Monday, December 1, 2008
This is the year of high definition.
After years of hearing that phrase, more and more of us actually have a wide screen HDTV set at home.
A new study by Leichtman Research shows that one out of three U.S. households is now enjoying HD — about double the number of just two years ago.
So now the holidays are here; are you going to settle for a boring old low-definition camcorder to capture all those once-in-a-lifetime moments? There are a growing number of HD camcorder alternatives out there, and in this edition of Computer Corner, we'll take a look at two of them: the Flip Mino HD and the Kodak Zi6.
The Flip Mino HD is the smaller option. This sleek 3.3 ounce unit makes a pack of cigarettes look decidedly bulky.
If the name sounds familiar, you may be a Computer Corner regular. We looked at this camera's older cousin, the Flip Mino, last June. And like the original Mino, the Mino HD is engineered with simplicity in mind.
Charge it up (it has a built-in rechargable battery), turn it on, and you're ready to start shooting within four seconds. You'll see a brief "Flip Video" logo, then the reassuring word "Ready" on the screen.
There's a big red button just under the 1.5 inch color screen; tap it and you're recording in 1280 by 720 pixel HD quality. An onscreen timer counts up until you press the red button again to stop recording.
Its rapid response time means the Mino HD is ideal for recording spontaneous situations that might be gone by the time a "traditional" camcorder is out of the carrying case and fired up.
This is a point-and-shoot camera. It has a fixed focus lens that provides a clear image from about 4-and-a-half feet to infinity. It does have a 2X digital zoom, but the image suffers when you use this option because you're simply enlarging pixels. Move in closer to your subject for better results.
Many of today's still cameras and larger camcorders come equipped with an "image stabilization" function to smooth out hand-held shots. That is not a feature of the Mino HD, and it can be difficult for many users (myself included) to get a nice, steady result simply because the camera is so tiny and because it has a vertical orientation. I think it would be easier to manipulate if you had the option of holding it horizontally like a traditional film or digital still camera.
I found, however, that leaning against something — a tree, a fence, or a doorway — can provide added stability that really improves the results, especially if your creation is going to be viewed on a big screen. The Mino HD does have a standard tripod socket, and while you might think it's overkill, I guarantee you'll be amazed at how much more professional your final product will look with the camera on a rock-steady platform.
I am not a fan of the "touch sensitive capacitive buttons" used on both Mino models for functions other than starting and stopping the camera. I find them a bit too sensitive for my burly paws and would much rather see buttons more like the start/stop switch that have a distinct tactile "click" when activated. Flip's pre-Mino models had more user-friendly control buttons, in my opinion.
Because of its diminutive dimensions, the Flip Mino HD doesn't record on tiny tapes or DVD discs. It has four gigabytes of internal memory, capable of capturing up to 60 minutes of action before you have to transfer the footage to your computer (PC or Mac).
The Mino HD continues the tradition of its predecessors; it has a built-in USB connector that "flips" out from the camera body with the touch of a button. Plug it in and built-in software "talks" to your computer so even if you have to use someone else's PC, you'll be able to download your clips and share them with the world on YouTube and other Web sites.
Here is the major shortcoming (and biggest irony) of this high definition wonder: It's really hard to see your HD masterpiece in HD on a TV set.
An included cable provides only standard definition composite video output from the camera, so even if you plug it in to the biggest, sharpest plasma display, you won't see an HD picture.
The video clips created by the Mino HD are in an "MP4" format that the DVD creator in Windows Vista doesn't recognize. Unless your computer comes equipped with more versatile software (like iMovie on a Mac), you'll need to invest in a third party program to burn a standard definition DVD suitable for playback on any TV.
Flip offers an online service to create a DVD from your Mino clips; the price is $20 (plus shipping) for up to 60 minutes of footage. That lets you watch it on your TV, but again — not in high definition.
So if you want to view your Flip Mino HD clips in glorious HD, you'll have to settle for a computer screen unless you can plug your computer into a TV set. Many flat screen receivers have a VGA, HDMI or DVI input suitable for this purpose (as long as you have the corresponding output on your computer).
My "wish list" for the Mino HD incorporates a lot of features that you'll find on larger, heavier and more expensive camcorders: auto-focus; optical zoom; image stabilization; a headphone jack; a microphone jack; user-replacable batteries; and expandable memory.
These last two items make it hard to recommend the Mino HD for use on extended vacation trips, especially if you'll be away from a computer. After you record for 60 minutes, the Mino HD runs out of room. If the camera had a slot for a removable memory card, you could pop in a new one like a fresh roll of film.
Flip does not offer a portable USB charging unit. I've been successful, however, using a generic USB charger designed to refresh the batteries of an iPod.
The Mino HD ($230) would make a great gift for new parents or even a student with an interest in movie-making. If you don't need the widescreen HD output, consider another Flip model; the basic Flip Video starts at $130.
Buy the Flip direct from TheFlip.com and you can even personalize it with a colorful "skin" or your own photo or artwork at no additional charge.
The introduction of the original Flip camcorder last year triggered a response at photo giant Kodak, which is struggling to find its way in a world that has moved beyond film to digital photography.
In September, Kodak beat Flip to the punch with its own HD camcorder — the Zi6 Pocket Video Camera — and it shares many features with the Mino HD:
• Both are designed with simplicity in mind
• Both take high definition video clips
• Both are small enough for pocket or purse
• Both feature a flip-out USB connector that sends your video to a desktop or notebook computer (PC or Mac)
• Both have built-in software to send your creations via e-mail or to share them online
So far, so good. But the Zi6 has a number of other bullet points that should enter your decision-making process if you're in the market for an impossibly compact camcorder.
Most importantly, if you want to view your high definition videos on an HD television set, the Zi6 is really your only choice. It comes with a component video cable that makes it compatible with almost every high definition TV on the market. Just plug it in and you're watching your movie clips on a big screen.
Kodak's Zi6 is also more versatile. Unlike the Mino HD, which has a fixed built-in 4 gigabyte memory good for up to 60 minutes of shooting, the Zi6 has a standard SD memory card slot that can accomodate up to 32 gigabytes of storage. While a card is not included, they are widely available. I just purchased an 8 gigabyte card for $40; I've recently seen a 1 gigabyte card for $10.
Removable memory is especially important for anyone thinking about taking a pocket camcorder on a family vacation. The design of the Mino HD means that when you've used up its storage, you have to download your clips to a computer to make room for new ones.
With the Zi6, you can just pop out a memory card filled with images and pop in a new one, wherever you are; no need to have a PC in tow. Unfortunately, the Zi6 display does not have a gauge that lets you know exactly how much room is left on your memory card; it just tells you when there's no room left.
The Zi6 also runs on standard AA batteries, available just about anywhere. It comes with two ready-to-use rechargeable cells (and a charger). If you anticipate a lot of shooting, just take along some extra batteries.
Other things I like about the Zi6:
It has a generous 2.4-inch LCD display screen that makes it easier to frame your shot; the Mino HD screen is just 1.5 inches diagonally, and that's a big size difference.
The Zi6 defaults to shooting in 1280 x 720 pixel progressive HD at 30 frames per second (fps), suitable for most purposes. But you can also select a 60 fps setting for even higher quality and smoother action. This is very handy when analyzing a golf, tennis or baseball swing. You get instant playback on the large Zi6 screen, and you can even play back in slow motion to analyze every move in detail. The slow-motion function also works when the camera is plugged into a big screen TV.
Let's say you're creating content for YouTube and you don't need HD quality. That's no problem with the Zi6; just set it to VGA mode, which offers less image detail but gives you a correspondingly smaller file size suitable for online streaming (and making more efficient use of your storage). The Mino HD has just one video mode.
And that's not all. The Zi6 also adds a mode for shooting "still" images, so this pocket camcorder is also a pocket camera. That means you can take out the memory card and plug it into a kiosk at the corner drug store to print out your photos. I just tried it with my home printer that has an SD slot, and it worked perfectly. Of course, you can also export any of the images to your computer for further editing or printing.
The specifications for the Zi6 say it captures 3 megapixel still images (interpolated), which means that the actual resolution isn't quite that high. However, I tested it by snapping an image of a Texas Historical Marker with 24 lines of tiny descriptive text; it came out sharp and clear. This is not a single lens reflex camera for professional picture-taking, but you'll find the Zi6 is just fine for everyday snapshots.
And one other note about taking still or video images with the Zi6: It comes equipped with a macro lens option; flip a switch and you can get extreme close-ups just 2 inches from your subject.
Like the Mino HD, the Zi6 does not have an optical zoom lens, which means you have go physically get in close to the action, and that's not always possible. A "traditional" camcorder with an optical zoom lens could be a better option if your primary use is documenting your son's football triumphs or your daughter's ballet recital.
I can enthusiastically recommend either the Flip Mino HD or the Kodak Zi6 as a great camcorder for everyday use. Both feel solidly constructed, although I prefer the Zi6's black matte enclosure which is more "grippy" than the Mino HD's slick and shiny finish.
Both cameras power on almost instantaneously — you can start shooting in a matter of seconds.
Overall — for a camcorder that slips into a shirt pocket with room to spare — the Flip Mino HD is an ideal companion to document the "little things" in everyday life that might otherwise go unrecorded. You'll be sure to take it places you wouldn't consider taking other cameras. It is so unobtrusive that others would be forgiven for thinking you're using a cell phone instead of a high definition video camera.
For dead-simple usability, the Mino HD has the edge. It is thoughtfully designed from the standpoint of someone who just wants to turn it on and go.
But I find that the wealth of added features and functions available on the Kodak Zi6 — led by its ability to actually display the output on an HDTV set — make it my choice for a pocket-sized high definition camcorder.
While I would love to see things like an external microphone jack and a real zoom lens in both products, the Zi6 packs a wealth of useful features at a bargain price: $180 (although it's available from some online sources for about $20 less). Even after adding a 4 gigabyte memory card (to match the Mino HD's storage capacity), the Zi6 is still about $30 less than its capable Flip cousin.
I guess the ultimate endorsement of the Kodak Zi6 is that I just bought one for myself!
E-mail askwalt@wfaa.com
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