So, before I replaced the Flip with another I checked out the competition and decided to try Kodak Zi6. There were only four other mini camcorders on the market other than the Flip that I found: RCA, DXG(a Kodak knock off I saw at Walmart) Creative Vado HD, and the Kodak Zi6. The DXG, knock off offered a 2GB memory card, re-chargeable batteries, battery charger, carrying case and tri-pod which sounded good. However, when I tried it out the picture quality was very poor. I moved on to other stores to try the others out.
The Flip Mino HD was on display at another store but would not turn on. I took that as an omen and moved on to the Kodak Zi6. In the store the Kodak Zi6 worked well enough and was on sale. I decided to buy it since I couldn't try out the RCA or Creative Vado. I opened the box in the car. It took me about ten minutes to figure out the controls but deleting was not so easy to figure out. It was simple when I stopped to flip through the manual, something the Flip did not have. Of course, the Flip is so easy you don't need one.
After I got home I started trying out the camcorder in earnest. This is what I've found out so far about the Kodak Zi6:
It has a 1 year guarantee. The structure seems more drop proof, though time will tell. It has a SD memory card slot and can record almost 2 hours on a 4 GB card and will take larger memory cards for more recording time. So far I have not found a way to completely erase and format a memory card. Though directions are suppose to be on the software's website. You can not delete more than one image/clip at a time--within the Zi6 unless the clip is on the Kodak's built-in memory and you do not have a memory card inserted. Kodak expects you to delete video/clips when connected to the PC via its bundled software and I can't get that to open on my home PC.
Moving on, I was able to open the video files in Quick Time and delete them from there. The Kodak has some built in memory but the review said it was only 128 MB but with the memory card that is fine with me-if I can figure out how to format my SD memory card. It is an HD camcorder and actually records for VGA, HD, HDTV. When you enlarge the viewer to full screen the quality is decent. It is, of course designed to format at resolutions more geared to uploads to the web then television viewing. It records .mov files instead of the .wmv file format that Flip uses.
So far it records pretty well though the controls are a little more tricky to use than the Flip. There's a joystick button in the center of the controls with a video/playback button and a stop/delete button on either side of the joystick. My son only had to watch me use it for 5 minutes before he mastered the controls. He liked the quality of the videos and encouraged me to keep it even if I was having problems getting to the editing software.
The Kodak Zi6 does adjust to lighting changes pretty well I think. Though a few reviewers thought it could be better. When you pan or move the camera, it seems to be less shaky than the Flip. It records more smoothly than some but not as well as more expensive full-size camcorders. The video clips my son made were clear and even with a lot of sudden movement, the images did not jerk around like they did with the Flip. I think it might even handle lighting changes better than my Flip. The images are sharper but this is because the Kodak Zi6 is HD.
The drawbacks for me at the moment: the Kodak camcorder doesn't turn on when you plug the USB into your computer, the way the Flip did. It can not be charged through its USB. The editing software is not pre-loaded onto the camcorder the way it is on the Flip and you have to load the software first on your PC then to the camcorder. That is, if you can get it to open and save to your PC. My computer would not recognize the .exe file to set-up and install the software. I'm still working on this.
At work now, the software loaded right away. My office computer runs Windows XP. Not sure if that had something to do with it. After trying to import with the Kodak Zi6 software for 15 minutes, I've given up trying to import. This is not looking good for kodak Zi6. With the Flip you just plugged the camcorder into the USB port and the software opened. It provided quick menus to import and to edit video either on the camcorder or the PC.
I just tried turning on my Flip again and Voila! It is working but for how long I wonder. It must have sensed my trying out the competion. Kodak Zi6 if I don't figure out how to import my videos and edit with your software-you're going back!
Here is another jewel sent my way from one of my friends. I thought I'd share it with you. It seems almost harsh to call it a website when it seems to me- to be more like a work of art. I hope you enjoy it.
