Comments on: Kodak Zi6 HD Video Cam Hands On

By: Konan

Konan — Fri, 22 May 2009 11:17:25 +0000

i just realize this is a good HD versionwith the price about 150$ http://review.4guild.net/kodak-zx1-review/the only one i want to know is the price, is there any difference beetwen flip and not flip one?

By: Dave Zatz

Dave Zatz — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 16:54:43 +0000

My Zi6 story has concluded. I swung by Radio Shack to see about maybe picking up a higher speed SD card to possibly reduce the stutters or exchange the camera (which had been a floor model). The manager said it was an issue with my computer… which is a brand new, sufficiently powered machine and despite seeing the same effects using the camera’s component video out to my plasma. He wanted me to return it. Whatever, I’ve got a lot of CES prep to take care of and, instead of wasting time debating it, I accepted his strange offer. So it’ll be another year of low-res, shaky CES video from my Panasonic digital still camera.

(Related, I don’t like returning gear. It’s bad for the retailer, it’s bad for the manufacturer, and it drives all prices up. Bring on the restocking fees, I say, and limit return windows and reasons. For it to work, we’d need a coalition of retailers to agree otherwise a more liberal policy will become an advertising angle.)

By: Ken

Ken — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 05:19:58 +0000

the Zx1 looks interesting, i’ll be picking one up for the weatherproofing alone.

By: Dave Zatz

Dave Zatz — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 03:42:01 +0000

jon, I rode (saw?) Soarin’ a few years back at EPCOT. Really enjoyed it. This was a just day trip to the Magic Kingdom, primarily for the little ones, and there wasn’t much interesting for me. I’m more of a Universal Studios/Islands of Adventure, or even Sea World, patron these days… having OD-ed on Disney when I was younger.

By: jon

jon — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 03:34:10 +0000

did you hit up soarin at disney?

By: Kevin C. Tofel

Kevin C. Tofel — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 01:19:23 +0000

“At the end of the day, both the MinoHD and Zi6 are basic recording devices.”

Completely agree. These aren’t meant to compare to an $800 HD video camera. For high quality content, those will clearly perform better. But for a pocketable, drop-dead simple device at this price, I think these provide a good value.

By: Dave Zatz

Dave Zatz — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 00:02:37 +0000

I did shoot better daylight video, where I manage to hold the camera still. But it’s probably not cool to post clips of my niece and nephew on YouTube.

Forgot to mention that the Zi6 isn’t nearly as sexy as the MinoHD’s form and glowing, touch sensitive buttons. Also, the Zi6 display gives no indication of how much storage or recording time remains on your SD card – which is my biggest nit, beyond the stutters.

Overall the cam is pretty cool for what it does. But I’d rather just upgrade my digital still camera over the next few months… Samsung and Panasonic already make decent pocketable cams (under $300) that also do HD video and I assume Canon will announce similar this week. Given the stuttering and non-USB charging, I may just return this tomorrow. I’ll sleep on it.