Short Version: Joining the ranks of the Flip family, the UltraHD is one of the easiest-to-use digital camcorders on the market. This version features 8GB of storage, high-definition video capture, the ability to use an included rechargeable battery pack or off-the-shelf AA batteries, and HDMI output.
At $200, though, it’s pretty expensive considering its feature set.
Long Version:
Let’s get one thing out of the way. Flip camcorders — no matter which model — aren’t for the budget-conscious shopper. They’re targeted at people who want to casually shoot video without fumbling around with a bunch of settings and memory cards and cables. And even though Flip camcorders are priced at almost double what you’d be able to pay for competing compact camcorders with similar features, they’re still selling like hotcakes. So, yes, they’re too expensive for people who know how to use camcorders and want a bunch of features at a decent price, but they’re apparently priced just right for everyone else. And so we dance.
Features:
- 1280×720 H.264 video recording, 9.0Mbps average bitrate
- 8GB of memory (not expandable), 120-minute recording time
- 1/4.5″ HD CMOS sensor
- Two-inch 960×240 LCD
- 2x digital zoom, no optical zoom
- Up to 2.5 hours battery life, 6 hour recharge time via USB
- HDMI output (cable not included)
- Built-in video editing software with YouTube upload
- MSRP of $199
The Good:
The Flip UltraHD is a decent portable camcorder that features a big red record button, a four-way rocker, and play, delete, and power buttons. Put it in the hands of someone who rarely, if ever, shoots video, show them where the power button is located, and watch them go. It honestly couldn’t be easier to use.
The switchblade-style USB connector flips out for quick and easy connection to your computer and the included software (stored in the camera’s memory) makes simple edits and YouTube uploads a relatively painless process. Video quality is decent provided you have adequate light available. Audio quality is also acceptable assuming you’re not dealing with too much wind or ambient noise.
Again, the main focus for these cameras is ease of use and, in that respect, the UltraHD shines. You can do everything with one hand and the camera fits easily into an average pocket, purse, or small bag. The addition of user-replaceable batteries is a big plus; if the internal rechargeable battery pack runs dry, you can pop in a couple of store-bought AA batteries and you’re back in business.
The Bad:
While the ability to output video to your TV via HDMI is a nice, easy, and welcome addition, the UltraHD doesn’t come with an HDMI cable. And if you have an older HD television with RGB connections, you’re out of luck. Flip sells an HDMI cable for $25 on its website and considering the average person who buys a Flip camcorder probably isn’t all that technologically savvy, that’s going to be an unwelcome added expense. Even worse, I picture people buying this thing at Best Buy and getting talked into buying HDMI cables for $30 and up.
Also, aside from recording video, the UltraHD does little else. There’s no still photo feature (you can grab stills from video footage using the included software, though), the 2x digital zoom is an afterthought, there’s no optical image stabilization unless you mount the camera on a tripod, and taking videos of yourself is a no-go since the camera contains a fixed, non-swiveling LCD.
The Ugly:
Video quality, while decent, is certainly nothing to write home about. Your best bet for this camera is to shoot something outdoors with the camera mounted on a tripod, with as little side-to-side motion as possible. And while daylight and quality indoor lighting make this camcorder usable, low-light video is downright atrocious, producing a grainy mess.
Here are three sample clips. The first was taken outdoors on a somewhat overcast day with a bit of motion and some digital zooming, the second was taken indoors in my well-lit office with a fair amount of side to side motion, and the third was taken in a dark stairway, also with a fair amount of side to side motion. These are the actual clips from the camera, unedited and uncompressed.
Clip One: Outdoors, overcast
Clip Two: Indoors, well-lit
Clip Three: Indoors, low light
Conclusion:
The Flip UltraHD is an easy-to-use and very-portable camcorder that works well for casual video capturing by novice technology users. More experienced users, however, will likely find the camcorder’s high price tag, lack of features, and poor low-light performance to be a deal-breaker.
Flip UltraHD [TheFlip.com]
Could somebody please write a review that compares this Flip HD product and compares it to their previous HD product – the Flip MinoHD.
What does this guy do better/worse compared to the older one? This one is $30 cheaper, why?
Hey Robert, here are the main differences:
- MinoHD has 4GB storage, UltraHD has 8GB
- MinoHD has 1.5-inch 528×132 screen, UltraHD has 2-inch 960×240
- Video compression, codec, etc. is exactly the same between the two: 1280×720 resolution, 1/4.5″ CMOS sensor, 9.0Mbps bitrate, H.264 codec, etc.
- Lens type is the same
- MinoHD has non-replaceable, rechargeable battery that lasts two hours and charges in three, UltraHD has rechargeable battery pack and can also use regular AA batteries, batteries last 2.5 hours and take six hours to charge
- MinoHD measures 3.94″ x 1.97″ x 0.63″ and weighs 3.3 ounces, UltraHD measures 4.25″ x 2.19″ x 1.17″ and weighs six ounces
- MinoHD uses composite cable output, UltraHD uses HDMI output to connect to TVs
- MinoHD shell can be customized with tattoo-like designs, UltraHD just comes in black or white shell colors
That’s about it. All things considered, I’d go with the UltraHD over the MinoHD if size isn’t an issue for you. They’re both pretty small anyway. For $30 less you get double the storage, HDMI, a bigger LCD, longer battery life, and the ability to use AA batteries in a pinch.
Here’s a picture of the two of them next to each other for a size comparison:
The HD Creative Vado is the best easy-to use camcorder on the market! No point in looking at the flip…
So what type of camera do you recommend then? I want something cheap, easy to carry around and get videos of my 3 yr old.
Has anyone tried using the videos generated with the zx1 on Adobe Premier Elements? I have always struggled with this on my Flip Ultra (the original Ultra) and wondered if this is any better? I am considering either the zx1 or the Flip UltraHD and this is one of my deciding points since the bundled software for both is rather limited.
For what it’s worth, I just purchased the Ultra HD as a quick-turnaround videocasting tool. In this capacity, the fact that it’s under-featured is it’s best selling point, as video quality is less important than ease/speed of use. (Though I should note that, assuming the right lighting, the video quality is better than the $400 Mini-DV cam I bought about 3 years ago)
I can record a 5-minute video, slap the Ultra HD into my USB port and have the video up on the web inside of 15 minutes (depending on your internet connection, of course).
The Ultra HD’s value is less about video quality or camera features and more about how and where you intend to shoot/use the video…. so keep that in mind. And the fact that it’s portable means I can carry it right in my laptop bag everywhere I go.
A great buy for the right user/purpose.
OK, just bought the new UltraHD, and love the portability and easy to use computer interface. What I don’t like is it doesn’t play on my HDTV, despite its claims to (and yes, I bought the correct cable and it’s plugged correctly into the HDMI port, and the input is set to the correct HDMI port, etc.).
I get an “invalid format” error on the TV. I can view the contents of the camera if I plug it in to my TV’s USB port, but the HD playback functionality is a no-go.
Just curious where the reviewer thinks he can get a camera with the same specifications for 1/2 the price. This basically means $100. And that means: 720p / user replaceable batteries (AA’s) / STEREO sound / Excellent low light video response all in one package?
The Vado uses Lithium batteries which is useless when you’re out camping or something, the Zi6 /Zx1 are fine and all, but suffer from low light response and mono sound (and bad mon sound at that), and anyways they are all priced in and around $200.
There ARE a few pocket cams aroud $100, but they are all SD.
So if you have any magical competitors, I’d like you to list them.
Doug, when your creating a sample video can you please try not moving the camera around so much? I want to get an idea of how the camera is when I’m going to use it and I don’t think I’m ever going to record myself spinning around in circles and then zooming into the ground and spinning some more; else than that great write up.
Compared to all the Kodak pocket cams, the Sony MHS-PM1, the Mino HD and the Samsung R10 this is the one I settled with after trying everything out (and returning everything). What sold me on this was the AA batteries. I already knew the flip would be good because of my experience with the flip mino and minoHD. The Kodaks drop frames like crazy, and the video is way too close. Also this cam uses a PC friendly format for its videos which Kodak fails to do for some reason. The SAMSUNG R10 which is well above this in terms of price has GREAT quality video but the BLURRING on motion is REALLY BAD. Also, the electronic image stabilization does not HELP at ALL. I prefer the smaller, lower quality cam because theres less blurring with movement so I can still use this thing good with Virtual Dub and DeShaker… And again, the double A battery thing… big.
I see cheaper HDMI cables than the $24 Flip sells theirs for. Are these cheaper cables likely not as good or the wrong ones, etc? Since I’m not very technical, I’m inclined to just pay the money and get one that I know will work.