looking for a flip video camera replacement
March 19, 2012 4:56 PM Subscribe
Looking for a gift for my sister and her husband. Their Flip video camera recently died and they want a new portable video camera. Any recommendations?
Ideal features in order of preference (I realize that finding all these features in a single camera is a tall order):
1) good performance in low light
2) image stabilization
3) optical zoom
4) AA or AAA batteries - so they can replace batteries mid-day if they're on an outing with their kids. Barring that, a camera with good battery life.
Size should definitely be in the neighborhood of a flip cam.
Anyone have good experience with current models?
I guess I should also mention that they are Mac users, so Mac integration would be necessary as well.
Ideal features in order of preference (I realize that finding all these features in a single camera is a tall order):
1) good performance in low light
2) image stabilization
3) optical zoom
4) AA or AAA batteries - so they can replace batteries mid-day if they're on an outing with their kids. Barring that, a camera with good battery life.
Size should definitely be in the neighborhood of a flip cam.
Anyone have good experience with current models?
I guess I should also mention that they are Mac users, so Mac integration would be necessary as well.
Response by poster: Thanks. Consumer Reports seems to highly regard the Playsport as well. I wanted to avoid it because Kodak is getting out of the digital camera business and support will be petering out over time. But it still looks like one of the best ones to go with right now.
posted by pahool at 9:06 PM on March 19, 2012
posted by pahool at 9:06 PM on March 19, 2012
I just picked up a Playsport. I'm enjoying it for what it is, which is a fun cheap go-camera. Do your best to get the older ZX3 model, as the battery on the newer ZX5 can't be swapped at all. With the ZX3 you can buy a few cheap li-on batteries to keep with you for long days.
(I checked out a Playtouch too, but the build quality is much worse, and the touchscreen doesn't add much to the camera experience.)
posted by Wulfhere at 10:04 PM on March 19, 2012 [1 favorite]
(I checked out a Playtouch too, but the build quality is much worse, and the touchscreen doesn't add much to the camera experience.)
posted by Wulfhere at 10:04 PM on March 19, 2012 [1 favorite]
3rd for the Playsport ZX3. I have the Playtouch/Zi10, and its build is, um, strange which causes some quirks in handling. But its video is fine, its sound is fine, the digital IS is as good as I've ever seen for digital IS, its quick swap battery is great, and the Playsport is as good or better in every way and watertight for just a little more. (There was no Playsport when I bought mine.) The Playsport will be much better than any model Flip ever was.
One thing, it uses SD/SDHC cards, and get Class 6 or Class 10 because this is HD video with a lot of fast data being written to the card. Class 2 will just lock up the camera. Class 4 is iffy depending on the card. From my experience.
posted by caclwmr4 at 10:32 PM on March 19, 2012 [1 favorite]
One thing, it uses SD/SDHC cards, and get Class 6 or Class 10 because this is HD video with a lot of fast data being written to the card. Class 2 will just lock up the camera. Class 4 is iffy depending on the card. From my experience.
posted by caclwmr4 at 10:32 PM on March 19, 2012 [1 favorite]
I have the Playsport as well - great stuff if you're going to be in wet situations.
posted by rich at 5:51 AM on March 20, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by rich at 5:51 AM on March 20, 2012 [1 favorite]
ZX3 again. Only drawback is no AA or AAA, but the battery is cheap enough to buy a few. Excellent HD video.
posted by Gungho at 6:59 AM on March 20, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by Gungho at 6:59 AM on March 20, 2012 [1 favorite]
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