Flip Video MinoHD M3160 4 GB Camcorder - Silver

The second generation FLIP Ultra was a great camcorder. You could keep it in your pocket ready to record any spontaneous moment and forget it's there. But the standard definition 480 line resolution lacked the visual punch of today's high definition world. The Ultra is almost identical to the Flip Mino, but it's bigger. Why buy bigger? First, there's the recessed lens that blocks sun glare better than the Mino. A few extra features like an HDMI connector and replaceable battery pack make it more usable. Perhaps the biggest reason for the Ultra over the Mino is the underwater housing. It's made specifically for the Ultra, and it won't work with the Mino.

The new FLIP Ultra HD shoots in high definition video mode at 720 lines (vs 480 for the non HD Flip). Although 720 is not full 1080 HD, the image is very clean and sharp, especially outdoors. The video is widescreen mode only, and fills the screen on a high definition TV. As the light level becomes lower, the image still retains a good deal of quality and does not get grainy until light levels become very low.

There are no manual over rides on any of the camcorder's white balance, exposure, focus, scene mode or audio. This is the most basic point and shoot camcorder. From three feet to infinity, the image is always in focus. The color is accurate under almost any lighting so you really don't need manual control. Back lighting can be a problem, so you need to frame your shots to avoid back lighting whenever possible.

If there's a weak link of this camcorder, it's keeping the image steady. There is no image stabilizer. The camera shoots 30 frames per second in progressive mode. The nature of progressive mode tends to make any image look jittery during pans or fast motion. Because of it's tiny size, you need to learn to hold this camera rock steady with both hands when you shoot, and pan very slowly.

The Ultra lacks any optical zoom like all previous Ultras. The digital zoom is nearly useless as it just magnifies the pixel size, losing sharpness as you zoom. You are limited to one hour on the internal memory, and two hours on the internal battery. The memory and the battery are not user removable. However, the built in USB plug lets you charge the camcorder on any computer as well as transfer the files to the hard drive.

Audio is very crisp and clear. Loud sounds are automatically lowered to prevent distortion. There isn't much bottom end (bass frequencies) to the audio, but this is an advantage when recording voices in a noisy environment as it prevents rumble from wind, traffic, etc. There are no audio inputs or headphone outputs. The audio/video connector that connects the Flip to a TV is only standard definition.

In order to view the video in high definition, you'll need to view it on a computer or copy it to a Blu Ray disk. A standard DVD is only 480 lines and is not high definition. But standard DVD's made from the Flip Mino HD look as good as the DVD format can deliver.

Yes, the Ultra HD has limitations. But not many high def camcorders fit in a small pocket or purse so well. The best camcorder is the one you have with you, and the Mino can be with you all the time. For it's intended purpose, casual video, it's an excellent camcorder. By learning it's strong and weak points, and with a little practice, a capable user can create some pretty fantastic videos with a Flip Ultra HD. I used it to create a music video and a wedding video.

What I like best about the Flip Mino HD is that it is as simple and convenient as I can imagine to take excellent HD video. Carrying it around is easy. Turning it on, pointing, and clicking to start taking video is easy. Charging it is easy (just flip out the USB plug and stick it into the USB port on any PC - no cables to hassle or lose). Transferring the videos you take to your PC is easy (same as charging it). It even takes great video with great sound in most average or even dim light conditions. It even has a tripod mount on the bottom, and I'd recommend using it when possible, because with HD, high quality video, jitter is more noticeable.

The price of simplicity is, of course, that it lacks bells and whistles. No optical zoom. No fancy effects. No titling. No stereo sound. No big deal, if you ask me, unless you're doing professional shots.

So if you don't mind giving up advanced features in exchange for simple, great video from an inexpensive, convenient package you can keep in your pocket (just keep it in the nice protective velvet sleeve it comes with), I heartily recommend the Flip Mino HD. I use it more often than my more expensive camcorder, and I suspect you will too.

This is my 2nd Flip camcorder. My first was the ULTRA and my brother liked it too so I gave it to him and bought this MinoHD. They are almost the same except that MinoHD is thinner and slicker. The advantage of ULTRA could be that it runs on AAs, you have to charge Mino using the USB via your computer (and both comp and cam need to be on). So if you are thinking of getting a Mino make sure you also purchase the separate wall charger for convenience. Functionality wise, they are the same. Flip is known for that anyway...simple, no fuss buttons. No wonder, big companies are copying them. The pic quality is sharp. I still would like to see a higher zoom range, but I guess for this small handy unit, that technology is not yet available. For the price I paid, its all worth it. This is one handy camera that fits in your pocket and can be carried everyday.

I bought 2 Digital Flip MinoHD, 60 min. once i got them my wife and i fall in love with it. its perfect size makes you take them with you every where and you dont have to worry about where to put it, because it fits on your pocket. they are so easy to use that you don't need a 100 page manual to understand how it works. easy to record with a press of a button, even when you erase a clip you don't like. the only thing i don't like it's that it doesn't have a light so you can use it on the night, only where is light. other then that it has a good video quality and the fact the you can hook it up to your TV and watch the videos. the usb makes it easy to put it in your computer that you don't need a geek or special software to install it. i hightly recomend it you don't have to spend hundreds for a good camera and so hard to use.

We purchased a Flip with the idea of portability and affordability in mind. This camera was everything we were looking for in both. It records very high quality home video and you can stick it discretely in your front pocket. There is only a 2x digi-zoom on it so it won't be the choice camera to film your son's football game from the 30th row on the 45, but it's perfect for impromtu recording while you're out and about or filming the latest rendition of 'happy birthday' around the dinner table. Dropping video into your PC is simple and the editing software loaded on the camera is useable, but not fancy.