Flip UltraHD – YouTube-friendly video recorder
Sum and Substance:
Thumbs Up:
The unit is powered by AA sized rechargeable batteries which can be charged through USB, you can also but standard AA sized batteries, the camcorder has a user friendly interface and bundled software can be used with both Mac and PC.
Thumbs Down:
No still capture mode, a bit heavy with the AA batteries, the unit has HDMI slot but there is no HDMI cable included, lacks memory card slot.
Inside the Trunk:
Utilities and driver, include accessories – wrist strap, carrying case.
The Whiz Kid Speaks:
Flip UltraHD is a 720p camcorder, with 2x digital zoom, videos are stored in H.264/MPEG format, optical sensor size is 1/4.5”, the unit has 8 GB flash memory but doesn’t have external card slot for more memory, camcorder sensor resolution is 0.92 megapixels, Flip UltraHD has F/2.4 lens, minimum focus range is 5 feet.
Additional features include In-camera movie editing, USB 2.0 compatibility, YouTube capture mode, Built-in speaker, Date/time stamp, Auto power save, USB charging. Connectors on the camcorder include HDMI output, USB. The unit has 2 inch TFT LCD.
For the software Apple Mac OS X 10.4 or later, MS Windows Vista, MS Windows XP are the supported operating systems. The camcorder is powered by AA NiMH rechargeable battery.
Razzle Dazzle:
Flip UltraHD looks a lot like Flip’s first generation Ultra on the outside. This device has a bigger LCD (2 inches) as compared to the previous model (1.5 inches) The buttons are larger on this unit, the exteriors have rubber body which lets you grip the device easily. The camcorder is 2.2 inch wide, 1.2 inch deep, 4.3 inch high and weighs 6 oz.
Inside Dope:
Flip have been known to make good compact camcorders, we were fans of MinoHD which was released last year because it didn’t confuse us with too many functions and was a great solution if you wanted to put the videos on sites like YouTube. This time, they are back with two new models Ultra HD which records at 720p video with resolution of 1280X720 and the Ultra which records at 640X480 VGA resolution. The latter is cheapest among the two in terms of price.
Flip UltraHD comes with AA sized rechargeable batteries which can be charged from the unit itself by connecting it to the USB. You can also put standard AA sized alkaline batteries in to the camcorder. We really liked the options and the fact that the rechargeable batteries could be charged within the camcorder. However, there is a catch; the rechargeable and alkaline batteries are heavier as compared to standard lithium ion batteries. Ultra HD weighs 6.1 ounces as compared to the MinoHD which is 3.3 ounces.
The exteriors of the camcorder has a glossy look which means you will be wiping fingerprints all the time on the unit. A brushed metal body would have been better. The unit has HDMI port but Flip doesn’t bundle in a cable.
The camcorder records at 720p resolution at 30 frames per second, the videos are encoded as MPEG-4. The camcorder has 8 GB internal memory but it cannot be expanded due to lack of external card slot. The 8 gig memory can last for two hours of shooting after which you will have to empty the video in a computer to get back space.
We really love Flip’s products because of the simplicity of usage. Even newbie will make out how to use it in no time. You press the record button to start recording and play button to play what you have recorded. Other than the 2x digital zoom, there are no advanced settings, not even a photo capture mode. However, the bundled software lets you take stills from videos. Flip’s software supports both MAC and PC. The editing features are pretty basic; Mac users can transfer the videos on Apple’s iMovie for more video editing options.
You will be satisfied with the video quality as long as you don’t expect kick ass videos from this web friendly camcorder. Outdoor shots were saturated and sharp and in low light clips didn’t have too much blurriness or noise. Audio was also recorder quite clearly. However the quality is miles behind a full-fledged HD camcorder. The video shakes a lot so you will have to it absolutely still while shooting videos. However the video quality has improved as compared to MinoHD. The camcorder has the same hardware inside like image sensor and optics but still manages to give better videos.
Nitty Gritty:
Flip UltraHD is neither the sexiest nor the cheapest when it comes to competition. But the video quality is certainly good for its class. If you intend to buy Ultra, we recommend you to put $50 extra and get the UltraHD. The most attractive feature of the unit has to be the battery set up which lets us use rechargeable or alkaline batteries however it increases the weight. If heavy camcorders turn you off, get Creative’s Vado HD or MinoHD.
