subject: Kodak Zi8 HD Camcorder Review [print this page] Kodak Zi8 HD Camcorder Review
The Kodak Zi8 HD Camcorder is a small video recorder which provides its users with video recording capability of up to 1080p HD resolution. Attractively priced under $200, it is a direct contender to the Flip Video Camcorder Ultra HD and Mino HD.
Whether your a novice or a pro, you will appreciate the Kodak ZI8 camcorder's rich user experience. It allows two modes of standard video capture at 30 fps: WVGA (848 x 480) and 720p (1280 x 720). A 60 fps mode in 720p is also provided which is very useful for capturing fast moving action. The prominent video capture mode of course is the HD mode which offers the 1080p (1920 x 1080) resolution at 30 fps. The 1080p/30fps mode makes beautiful sharp, clear video but it requires a larger amount of memory using up to 150MB per minute of 1080p video.
Still capture is built-into the camcorder permitting the Kodak ZI8 HD to take still five megapixel photographs. A 4X digital zoom feature is provided for all of the video capture modes as well as the still capture mode; unfortunately, it sometimes can create rathershaky motion blurs when employed in any of the video modes. The Kodak ZI8 does employ image stabilization to lessen video shake.
The camcorder only has 128MB of internal memory and there is no SD card bundled with the unit. The camcorder can hold SD cards up to 32GB, which is plenty of storage for most users. The Kodak camcorder has built-in image stabilization to lesson video jerkiness due to camera shake.
The sound quality with the ZI8 is very good using its internal microphone giving crisp sound with good detail as long as there is minimal background noise. When recording outdoors with a noisy surrounding like wind noise or loud vehicles, sound quality like most flip type camcorder is fair to good. In the latter situation it is probably best to make use of the external microphone jack which is supplied on the Kodak Zi8 HD. Many camcorders especially the flip type or pocket camcorder does not offer this feature and it is an exceptional addition to the Zi8.
This review would not be thorough if it didn't acknowledge the truly small and compact profile of the Kodak ZI8 HD camcorder. At a just under an inch thick, measuring 2.4 inches wide by 4.5 inches long and weighing 4.8 ounces it is one of the and lightest pocket camcorders being sold. In order to obtain this degree of portability the unit employs a low-profile lithium-ion battery as opposed to rechargeable AA batteries.
The Kodak ZI8 HD Camcorder is an excellent value for the price. The camcorder can record in best quality 1080p HD reselution. It is truly compact, making it a pocket camcorder in more than just name only. Unlike many of its competitors it offers an external microphone jack that will allow better sound quality especially when professional quality sound is required. As an added bonus, both the HDMI and composite cables are included with the camcorder. The only negative is that digital zoom performance is not the perfect and there is no bundled Mac software. Aside from that, it would seem to be an affordable and well performing pocket camcorder.
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