New Flip Ultra video cameras might flip your switch
LOS ANGELES -- If you haven't already flipped for the Flip, you might now.
Pure Digital Technologies, which turned the video business around with its line of small, handheld video cameras, today unveils a major revamp of the Flip Ultra camera.
The two new models are the $149 Flip Ultra SD and $199 Flip Ultra HD.
What's new: High-definition video footage for the $199 model, a bigger LCD screen (2 inches instead of 1.5 inches), longer recording time and battery life.
The enhancements add a lot. People ask me all the time about purchasing a video camera. For non-pros, the Flip has been my top recommendation, and remains so. It's the top-selling video camera, according to the NPD Group.
The Ultra is a pocket-size camera that aims to make videomaking easy. It's a perfect companion for traveling or recording life on the go. It's not a good choice for major events such as school plays or recitals, weddings or sporting events where you need longer recording times and a strong zoom lens to bring you closer to the action.
The Ultra isn't as inexpensive as it once was. You can buy entry-level camcorders from Canon, Sony and others in the $300-to-$400 range, where the big advantage is longer recording time and major zooms.
Sony's DCR-SR85, which sells for $365 on Amazon, has a 25X zoom, compared with 2X on the Flip. Samsung's $249 SC-MX20 has a 34X zoom.
However, most of the entry-level video cameras don't shoot in high-definition, which offers brighter colors and a wider image. The Ultra HD shoots in the 720p resolution, one step below the top 1080p format.
Pure Digital, recently acquired by tech giant Cisco, first brought high-def to its line of compact video cameras with the slim Mino, introduced in 2008. The Mino sells for $229 and has a 1.5-inch LCD preview screen. The difference in body size is slight, but the extra half inch for the LCD is major — with these little cameras, you need all the help you can get. I greatly prefer the Ultra.
More new features on the new Ultra:
•Both models run on AA batteries. If you spring for the HD version, you also get a rechargeable battery that will last for three hours on that model. The proprietary battery is available as a $24.99 accessory for the standard-def model and will last five hours.
•Another new accessory is a $24.99 mini HDMI cable to plug the camera directly into a high-def TV. You must buy that separately.
As with past Ultras, the zoom is ultra skimpy, and it's a really hard camera to hold steady. Pure Digital provides a tripod slot, and if you're shooting anything serious, you'll want to take advantage of the feature.
Sound is always an issue. The built-in microphone isn't great and will act up if you try to hear people talking outside, especially on a windy day.
It would be great to see Pure Digital add a slot to plug in an external microphone to solve those issues.
But if you're looking for a fun, easy and highly compact video camera to capture baby's first steps, your European vacation highlights or a family reunion, you can't go wrong with the Flip Ultra.
I recommend getting the HD model, even if you don't have an HD television set. Odds are, you will within the next few years. And if you like to post clips online, sites such as Vimeo and YouTube present them now in high-def, which essentially means widescreen.