[Macworld]

Post your comments for Kodak Zi8 here

[twisty]

Which SD card was used? Did you try recording the 1080 video with another card?

[pcharles]

With the rapid growth of 1080p on still cameras, this market is doomed.

[RosscoR]

Still no tripod mount?

[Tomofcollegepoint]

Too bad. Kind of a lack luster review. If the feature improvements where more substantive, it might be a viable upgrade from the zi6, another well reviewed Kodak offering.

Still, I can wait. At some point, these hand held point and shoots will get some of the killer features found on their larger brethren. When that happens--in a year or two--I'll be there with a couple of c-notes to buy.

I think this model does have a tripod mount. It is on the side of the unit rather than the bottom, meaning, you'd have to reorient the tripod head from horizontal to vertical.

[Chris Breen]

RosscoR, on 07 September 2009 - 09:44 AM, said:

Still no tripod mount?

From the review:

" As with all of today’s pocket camcorders, the Zi8 has a 1/4-inch tripod mount on the bottom of the camera."

[Chris Breen]

twisty, on 07 September 2009 - 06:48 AM, said:

Which SD card was used? Did you try recording the 1080 video with another card?

I tested the camera with two SanDisk cards -- a 2GB Extreme III and 4GB Ultra II. 1080p playing framerate with each often dipped in the 20 - 24 fps range.

[TBlueMax]

Would like to see a 720p comparo between the Kodak Zi8 and the Flip UltraHD. 1080p would be great in theory but I'm still rockin' a boob tube tv with HD converter box and rabbit ears on top so 1080p is not a priority. I am, however, looking for a reliable pocket camcorder that shoots great (smooth and crisp) video and won't break the bank.

[EmilSkoda]

Does iMovie 09 import and edit the video output by the Zi8?

I'm perplexed by this review. Every other major review I've seen (Cnet, GDGT, Wired) says unequivocally that the Zi8 bests the UltraHD. In particular, it the low-light performance is better and 1080p is good quality. No mention of Chris Breen's concerns, especially stuttery video.

But this review also feels the most hands-on. The others tend to have a reiterate-the-spec-sheet feel to them.

I'm perplexed. I mostly need it for office-lit recording (for my Toastmasters club).

[Chris Breen]

EmilSkoda, on 28 October 2009 - 05:03 AM, said:

Does iMovie 09 import and edit the video output by the Zi8?

It shoots H.264 video, so yes, it can be imported and edited with iMovie.

Quote

I'm perplexed by this review. Every other major review I've seen (Cnet, GDGT, Wired) says unequivocally that the Zi8 bests the UltraHD. In particular, it the low-light performance is better and 1080p is good quality. No mention of Chris Breen's concerns, especially stuttery video.

But this review also feels the most hands-on. The others tend to have a reiterate-the-spec-sheet feel to them.

I'm perplexed. I mostly need it for office-lit recording (for my Toastmasters club).

I can't speak to others' reviews, but mine accurately reflects my experience with the camera -- a lens that requires you stand too far away from your subject, 1080p video at low framerates, and a stuttering zoom. The specs do look good, but it doesn't deliver.

As for the UltraHD, it's good, but the new Flip MinoHD is better. You can read that review here.

For your purposes I have to wonder if a "real" camcorder isn't a better solution. If this is for the Toastmasters I have to think that good audio is important. A real camcorder offers you the option of using an external microphone, which will improve the sound over a pocket camcorder's built-in mic.

[fishycomics]

Browse through the many pocket camcorder reviews we’ve published and you learn that these camcorders are limited in significant ways—no image stabilization, no exposure or white balance controls, no optical zoom, no support for using external microphones....

Question, was this before the cam was out, or after, and have you owned one to test out what Kodak already has inhouse people for . I say Please rewrite the review, and correct, so others do not learn from your errors. dam I do not have to check spell LOL.

[Chris Breen]

fishycomics, on 28 November 2009 - 06:04 PM, said:

Browse through the many pocket camcorder reviews we’ve published and you learn that these camcorders are limited in significant ways—no image stabilization, no exposure or white balance controls, no optical zoom, no support for using external microphones....

Question, was this before the cam was out, or after, and have you owned one to test out what Kodak already has inhouse people for . I say Please rewrite the review, and correct, so others do not learn from your errors. dam I do not have to check spell LOL.

I'm not sure I follow you. The bit you pulled is a straight comparison -- this is the way it was, and this is what the Zi8 brings to the table. It then goes on to explain what the cam is and isn't capable of.

And yes, of course I've owned one to test. You can't very well write a review without having a camera to review.

Now, specifically what errors do you find with the review?

[documentaryman]

Based on my experience with the Zi8, this review is completely accurate. I have a FLIP Ultra HD which is excellent. But the FLIP is limited in many obvious ways. I was hoping that the Zi8's features such as external mic, adjustable microphone gain, still image capture, choice of video resolutions etc. would make it a better camera than the FLIP. However, this is not the case. The build quality is lower, the video captured is vastly inferior, the stills are awful, the macro feature is only good at 6 inches and so on. The video looks great on the large LCD on the camera (which has a limited viewing angle) but not when transferred to the computer. Okay, it takes SD cards, that's a plus, but that's the only plus. I am disappointed and will probably try to dump my Zi8 on Craigslist. Any takers? PS. The FLIP Ultra HD will take AA batteries but we've never run its internal battery down during normal use.

[phranky]

I find my iPhone4 does a great job at 720p, though I wish that I had a 1080p iPhone 4S. Time to unload the Zi8, I guess. And to find where my Flip made off to.