It is a very difficult task to take a gadget like the Flip Camcorder, which is celebrated for its low price tag and simplistic use and evolve it, to add enhancements and improvements without crossing the line that separates it from all the other camcorders on the market. With their latest generation Pure Digital has managed to keep that balance, introducing new HD models that are slightly more expensive, offering better video quality and a few stylish tricks while still maintaining the same simple shooting controls and quick USB connection to a home computer.

 

What Makes A Flip A Flip?

A Flip is a general-purpose camcorder of convenience manufactured using basic components and its quality reflects that. All Flips are limited to a weak 2X digital zoom, no option to change focus (it’s a fixed focus lens) and automatic brightness, contrast, and low-light detection. In terms of video quality, it’s best not to have high expectations and remember that it’s appeal is as a bargain camcorder.

Flip UltraHD

At $250, the Flip UltraHD is the more affordable of the two HD models. It looks identical to the original Flip Ultra, with the same casing, 2” screen, simple mechanical controls, flip-out USB connector, and use of traditional AA batteries. It even has the same recording time of just 120 minutes. The change is the video quality, which is now recorded in widescreen, at High Definition resolution, and takes up more storage space (8GB instead of 4GB). As a result, battery life is shorter, lasting just 2.5 hours instead of the previous’ 4.5.

 

Compared to the original, you’re paying an extra $70 for a Widescreen Flip with better video quality, although questionable High Definition (see explanation below). Its big advantage over the MinoHD is its HDMI port which allows it to properly display its movies on an HDTV. As an upgrade to the original Flip Ultra, it isn’t quite the steal, but still offers the qualities Flip fans love.

Flip Mino and Flip MinoHD

The Flip Mino is available in two models, a standard definition model for $220 and an HD model for $280. The most expensive of the Flips, the Mino offers the most enhancements. Nearly half as thin and half as light as the others, it has a sleeker, glossy design and includes touch controls, a lithium-ion battery that can be charged through USB, and the option to design your own casing decoration using online software and uploaded graphics. Its battery life lasts for only two hours, the shortest of all the flips, but then it can only record 60 minutes of footage at a time anyway.

The personalization option is one of the best I’ve encountered for any product. When you order either of the Flip Mino models online, you can use their website to create your own casing design with controls that have that signature Flip simplicity to them. You’re free to upload your own photographs or pictures or take from their own stock library. They even include a fantastic program for randomly generating your own tattoo patterns. The results we’ve experienced have been spectacular.

UPDATE: Pure Digital has informed me that they have had to delay the launch of their Mino customization service until the middle of June. You can buy a regular Mino or MinoHD at stores starting May 26th, but if you wish to order one with your own customized design, you'll need to wait until the middle of June for the launch of Ca.TheFlip.Com

The Mino uses touch-capacitive controls, there’s no button to press, merely the heat from your fingertips is enough to activate them and I found them to be precise and accurate. I had little difficultly changing settings and switching between pause and record. The buttons are the same as other flips and shooting is just as easy.

Like the UltraHD, the MinoHD offers higher video quality in widescreen format. There are two drawbacks with the Mino, it has a smaller 1.5” screen, making the task of gauging your shots harder, and its TV-Out option supports only a composite connection for Standard Definition playback, limiting your options for viewing your clips in HD.

Compared to the original Flip Ultra launched here in Canada last June and still available, you’re paying $50 for a lighter, customizable Flip with half the recording time. The touch controls and rechargeable battery are fun accents, but do not deliver a better bargain, the main draw of the Flip camcorders. Even with the MinoHD, you’re paying $100 extra for a sleeker widescreen Flip with questionable High Definition quality (see explanation below), not a big steal.

The expectation of High Definition.

Both of the new HD Flip camcorders include the ability to record in 1280 x 720 resolution, enough to technically fulfill the requirements for HD, but without the necessary enhancements to deliver results that match the experience we come to expect with High Definition. The screen may be composed of nearly a million pixels, but the camcorders lack the use of image stabilization and adjustable focus to fill each pixel with the sharpened detail needed to deliver that sense of clarity and stunning quality. You can upload your clips to YouTube, the easiest solution included, and although the online video-sharing network does support HD playback, its own standards may not recognize your clips as such and are just as likely to present them in their high quality or “HQ” format instead. Importing the clips into video-editing solutions such as iMovie does provide better results, but generally those who are excited at the prospect of an inexpensive solution for shooting in HD should brace themselves for some disappointment.

This is not to say that the video quality isn’t improved from the original Flip model, indeed its better and in a widescreen format plus the included FlipShare software allows you to pick out still frames and save them as still photos. There’s value here for sure, but not the one being marketed with the letters “HD”.

Sample Video 

Here's a sample video I shot for Canada AM using the Flip MinoHD. I used FlipShare to edit the footage, add the opening title and credits, and upload it directly to YouTube. The widescreen results are certainly an improvement over those of the original Flip Ultra, but are no comparison to the High Definition results of a $600 -$800 semi-pro HD camcorder.  

The Royal Ontario Museum's Brad Millen, who performs Database Prep for the Ornithology Department, takes me on a special behind-the-scenes tour of the museum's private bird collection. I will be adding a post later that will be dedicated to my visit to the museum that will include a second video on the museum's infamous "Bug Room" and articles offering more information on the collection and species featured.   

Another test clip. A street performer entertains the crowds at the opening of the Toronto Harboufront WaveDeck

FlipShare Software

One of the delights of the Flip Camcorders is their software included within the camera itself. Simply flip out the USB connector, plug it into your computer and the FlipShare program automatically launches, prepares your clips and readies them for editing. It’s fairly easy to cut clips into sections, stick them together with a basic transition effect, titles and credit screens, and from there upload them to MySpace, AOL, or YouTube. FlipShare 4.0 includes the ability to burn DVDs, create video greetings, and send clips as an e-mail attachment. It works identically on both a Mac and a PC. Of the many software packages included with various cameras that I have tested over the years, this remains the easiest and most trouble-free to use.

Bottom Line

While all of the Flips perform well, are very appealing, and live up to their designs, the best value remains the original $180 Flip Ultra. Introducing High Definition to the Flip family creates an expectation that their budget-components struggle to live up to and while the simplicity of the controls and built-in software may be enough to inspire and justify paying a higher price for more features, its not enough to say that Flip fans are missing out if they don’t make the upgrade.