Father’s Day Gift Alert: Flip Video Mino Released Today
Looking for a good Father’s Day Gift? Check out the Flip Video Mino. Flip Video is a brand of camcorders that are small, compact and incredibly portable. Small and simple to use, they basically are the point-and-shoot of video cameras. The new one that’s out today, the Flip Video Mino, records full VGA video in a camera that’s a pocket-sized 4″ x 2″ x 1/2″.
I’ve had a Flip Video camera (the Flip Video Ultra) for a few months now, and It’s been really great to have. I keep it in my pocket most everywhere I go with the kids, and it’s perfect for recording the spontaneous moments that you want to remember – without having to go dig the camcorder out of the closet.
The software to download the video to your computer (or do simple edits) lives on the video camera itself, and the USB plug “flips” out of the camcorder, making the whole thing really easy to operate. It’s Windows and Mac compatible, and has 2GB of flash memory which records one hour of video. The Mino has a rechargeable battery (like an iPod) while the Ultra takes AA batteries (and personally, not having to worry about it being charged or not is something I like better).
Check out the Flip Video Mino, $179.99 at Amazon.com. (The slightly larger version, the Ultra, is $129.99).
I’m happy with the quality personally. It’s 640×480, not HD of course, but it still looks good. It has a simple digital zoom that isn’t great, but gives you something. I’m not big on using a zoom anyway (I only use it if what I’m trying to shoot is very far away – other than that I try to walk up to whatever I’m shooting).
I can’t speak to a comparison with the Canon Powershot, but my guess is it’s very similar in quality (maybe better?) but it’s probably way easier to use than the video feature on a digital camera.
My oldest (almost 4 years old) has even started taking some video, and it’s the sort of thing where you don’t mind, because it would be really hard for her to break.
I’m interested in the Flip, particularly because of its convenience, but what’s the quality like indoors? From a distance? No zoom, right? Is it much better than the video feature on something like the Canon Powershot?