Affordable, Basic, Cool… HD!
For the average internet enthusiast, your social netwoks have become an irresistable pass-time and these can be nothing but boring if not for the capability to share experiences through digital media. I happened to meet
John Kinyanjui of internews.org at a skunkworks meeting who was showcasing the latest craze in media capturing which is simply called the Flip-Cam.
There’s no doubt that the look of the Flip Digital Video Camera reflects its cheap as chips price tag of $180(approx. Ksh. 16,000). The Flip Digital Video Camera measures a tiny 104x54x29m, which really is small enough to fit in your pocket. At 97g we thought it felt too flimsy and plasticky for a device that would be capable of producing good quality clips.
However this look certainly doesn’t reflect well on the camcorder’s capabilities.
There’s no complicated setup needed, it’s simply a case of sliding the front cover off and
inserting the two AA batteries needed to power the Flip Digital Video Camera, then you can
start shooting. The Flip Digital Video Camera’s very few buttons are large and responsive
despite the pint-sized camcorders dimensions, so we found the Flip simple and easy to use.
The Flip Digital Video Camera’s 2GB internal memory is capable of capturing up to one hour
of footage at a resolution of 640×480 in MPEG 4 format while the 2x optical zoom is clear
and concise.
You can view your video clips on the Flip Digital Video Camera’s 1.5in display. Alternatively, you can use the Flip’s integral USB connector that ‘flips’ out at the touch of a button. While the USB connector is a great idea and removes the need for cables, the mechanism seemed flimsy and we suspect that it may break quite quickly.
We simply plugged the Flip Digital Video Camera into a USB port and we were then able to view and save the clips, email them to friends and family, upload them to a web page and even edit them into a movie complete with soundtrack using the software, which is pre-loaded onto the device.
Colours in the video clips we captured were bright and clear and we found the Flip also lived up to its claims that it excels in low-light conditions. We love the fact that it automatically turns itself off if left unused for more than a minute, conserving precious minutes of the Flip Digital Video Camera’s 2.5 hour battery life.
The Flip is available in several different colour schemes, and comes bundled with a TV connector cable, wrist strap, carry case and two AA batteries.