Flip Ultra HD 3rd Gen (4/5)
The newest Flip handheld camcorder. The Ultra HD 3rd generation. I chose the 8GB in black.
The Flip Ultra is a small, high-definition camcorder that fits comfortably in your hand and pocket. It comes at a reasonable price of £150 which makes it cheap for a HD camcorder, however it does have a low budget feel to it.
The video quality is good and the pictures are clear and crisp, especially in high light. The camera copes well with low light, however there is some white noise with it. I have used it in low light outside and indoors and its biggest weakness is still of good quality.
Panning shots come out smooth, however it does blur the background with the slightest movement but stays well focused if you’re tracking a particular object. I found when filming my dog it kept my dog in sharp, clear focus while the background blurred.
The worst feature is that it is near impossible to use the camera while walking as it is very sensitive to footsteps. When walking very careful it is possibly to film with only a slight bounce showing up but I find it unlikely that you will be that conscious when filming. In my YouTube video I include a section of walking and running while filming.
However with this being the weakness it leaves a lot of great points. Filming without moving, hand-held and on a tripod, is extremely clear and crisp and I have so far found no need to film while walking.
With the 8GB it gives you 2 hours of filming and the battery lasts for over 2 hours. I used it to film a large number of short videos for a couple of days in a row and then 2 x 15 minute videos consecutively and the battery was quite low at the end of it all.
The flip out USB is useful, however the charm of it seems to have worn off on some flip users. It does mean that you can plug it into any computer and charge it up. Also it means you do not need to carry any leads with you if you have access to a USB port. However when it plugs into my computer it plugs in upside down, so that the display screen is pointing down. This is an inconvenience as the screen displays the battery level, however I can tell when the camera is fully charged as it makes a noise and the light goes off.
The flip is easy and comfortable to hold in your hand, with a nice rubber feel coating that looks stylish and gives good grip. Some people will find the screen small, however it enables you to hold the camera easily without covering the screen. And for basic day-to-day filming it is of perfect size, unless your eyesight is really poor. Although it is pocket-size the Flip Ultra is a little bit chunkier than the average smartphone such as my Nokia 5800 and it is definitely bigger than an iPhone. I would recommend going into a store where you can hold one before purchasing.
The Flip is very simple and easy to use. If you like your tech packed with gadgets and little features you will not like the Flip. I do miss it being gadget packed but I also like how simple it is. It has an on/button, record, menu, delete, left & right and + – .
Overall I find the Flip a nice, easy camera with great quality video for still filming of people, landscapes and any moving objects such as animals. You can take it anywhere and its great for whipping out and snapping a video. However the lack of features, digital zoom and shaking when moving means you may want to invest in a higher priced, normal sized video camera if that’s what you are looking for. However for a pocket-sized camcorder it is the best buy.
Visit my YouTube profile for a video of the quality of the Flip. I have filmed in a number of different environments such as indoors and outdoors in different light levels. I have viewed many videos of flip’s quality and found most of them are filmed in bright sunshine which gives a misleading level of quality. I am proud to say my video gives a broad experience of the flips quality including sound quality.
Ruth Turner on Youtube (Username: Middnight)
Direct link to video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7JnEILhnqVA
