Kodak Pocket Zi8 128 MB Camcorder - Black

The Kodak Zi8 is a pocket-sized video camcorder that can shoot in 1080p HD, 720p and WVGA, and can take still images. I purchased the camera to record training and promotional videos. It works well for this application - just mount it on a tripod, hit "record" and go.

Panning is pretty choppy, though, at least at 1080p. I wouldn't want to use it for any professional use that involves moving the camera. For vacation recording, though, the panning quality wouldn't bother me much.

I've heard quite a bit of complaining about the mic. It's a bit above what I expected from a compact unit, but if you're doing outdoor recording with narration, you can plug a corded (or wireless) lavalier mic into the Zi8's 3.5mm external mic jack and get better sound with less background noise.

The flip USB is nice - you can just plug it into your laptop/desktop and import your images and videos.

A few niggles - you can't flip/rotate the display, so if you're the one in front of the camera, you can't see what's going on. Also, the software tends to freeze up, at least for me. I use it only to import from the camera, and then use other software to edit.

Also, still images are hit and miss. The lighting seems to have a lot to do with that, and since it doesn't have a flash, you either get good stills or you don't.

Overall, if you're looking for an inexpensive, portable video recorder for posting to personal/business websites or video sharing sites, the Kodak Zi8 is one of the better choices. You can't expect perfection at this price point.

I had a specific need for a camera that had the capability to use an external microphone as well as the internal mic. The Kodak Pocket Zi8 128 Mb Camcorder is the only camera in its class that has that capability. All others use an external microphone only. The fact that this camera has focal zoom as opposed to digital zoon is also a plus. I observed the picture quality greatly exceeded my expectations, and found the ease of use to be excellent. The controls and setup software was very intuitive, and easy to figure out. I also like the feature of the self contained USB connection which can be used instead of an external cable. If I had to come up with something on the down side, I would have to mention that the internal mic is very susceptible to any amount of wind buffeting and interference. All in all, I’m very happy with the Kodak Pocket Zi8!

I actually bought more than one of these cameras (I have been using this same model for over 6 months now), and it is a great tool for You Tube videos especially, and any small projects you may have. It is small and very portable, as well as easy to use. The battery life could be better, and the zoome is limited (but that is to be expected on a small camera like this). But the camera has a lot of great features as well. First, the ease of downloading since the USB connection is built right into the camera. Also the expandability allows it to be more customized to the specific needs of the user. you can expand the storage. It also has a port for a microphone if you want better quality sound than the microphone that is already in the camera. Plus, a feature that is especially good for ameture filmakers, you can sync more than one of these cameras to start and stop recording at the same time by remote. So you can have the exact same material from multiple angles and edit in post-production accordingly. I have used a few other cameras that have the same specifications, but just don't live up to the quality of picture and sound, and ease of use as this camera at the same price range. Sure you can pay more for something that is better. But with a limited budget, this is a great camera to get some bang for your buck.

The product came in a bit dirty and greased up with dust and dirt pieces stuck in nooks and cranny's of the camera. But the biggest issue is there is a permanent little dot mark on the lens of the camera that shows up in every video.

Still, I have to say, this is one of the best hand held camcorders on the market today! The external mic works fine so far and everything else appears to be in fairly good condition.

Even with its quirks and problems I'll take it over any of the new junk Kodak is currently rolling out!

The Kodak Pocket Zi8 is a brilliant pocket camcorder. It has the best full hd 1080p I've seen in a compact camera. Better than you'd expect from a non-professional device. The battery lasts a long time and can be charged via the wall charger or the usb connector. The video length at 1080p on a 16GB sdhc card is 2 hours, which is better than a lot of sd based camcorders. All In All it is a perfect pocket camcorder. I purchased this one because I had one just like it go missing and tried another product supposedly running full HD and the same overall specs like EIS, but I still missed the quality this camera provided.