Flip Mino HD Review
Posted on 24. Sep, 2010 by Scott Carnegie in Blog
A few months ago I decided that it was time to replace my little standard definition mini-DV handycam that I’ve been using for vacations and home video for the past few years with a file-based, HD capable one.
When I bought the original handycam, a Canon zr800, it was to take on our vacation to Mexico. It was small and could fit in my pocket, a nice combination when heading out.
My motivation for buying the Flip was similar; we were heading to LasVegas and I wanted something small and compact that would be easy to carry around. I didn’t shop around very much, I already knew that I was leaning toward the Flip Mino HD based on hearing good things about it. I picked one up at FutureShop for $200 just a few days before we left, it comes in one hour or two hour versions, I picked up the one hour model.
The results? Mixed. Knowing it’s limitations is very important in using it right.
- fast to turn on and start recording, about 3 seconds
- compact, can easily fit in your pocket
- USB built in
- no moving parts
- very nice picture when shooting outdoors
- shoots MP4 video with the H.264 codec, a good quality combination
- it’s HD (720p) in a small package
- it looks sexy
The Cons’s
- small, narrow lens
- does not do well with indoor light, even well lit indoor, picture gets very noisy
- the narrow lens is limiting, to get a shot of two people talking you need to get about 6 feet away from them
- microphone does not pic up objects in front of it very well, so if you move back in order to get the 2 shot, it is hard to hear them
- no removable memory
- very shaky, any hand movement on the camera is exaggerated
Some of these things can be corrected for, for example I know that I won’t even bother shooting in poor light, and instead of getting a 2 shot if I am recording a conversation I go back and forth on close-ups.
To solve the shakiness of the camera I have attached a GorillaPod which is a small, flexible tripod that I will hold onto; it steadies the Flip and reduces the amount of shake coming from my natural hand movements.
Is it suitable for business?
I know that some business people are using the Flip to do their own internal videos; the Flip is a tool and can be used in even professional applications, but it is no replacement for a professional camera and professional camera operator. But it is just a tool, it is the creative person behind the camera that really counts!
I can see it being used as a throw away camera on a shoot for b-roll, and it can get into very small spaces which gives it some uses. Perhaps it could be used for a company video blog provided it is well lit and the subject is not too far away from the camera so that the audio is decent.
For business though I would not want to shoot a video of the CEO that will play at the corporate event with it; you have a built in mic for audio and that is all; if you can’t plug in a quality mic then it really limits it uses in that regard.
With all of that said, here is a little video I shot for fun with the Flip Mino HD on a GorillaPod attached to my steering wheel, done somewhat as an experiment. You certainly couldn’t do this with nearly any other camera, so like I said, knowing how and when to use it, and not to use it, is the important thing.
Caution: Some loud heavy metal is in this clip, watch your speaker volume.
