We Like Big Red Record Buttons, Flip Mino Review - Yanko Design

I got my hands on Pure Digital's latest camcorder, the Flip Mino and came abroad impressed. It's a mini version of its bigger brother the Flip Ultra only thankfully quality has not been compromised. In fact quality is up in terms of build and video. At 640×480 pixels per inch, information technology's not meant to compete with bigger and more expensive camcorders. This is for those candid moments when spontaneity is required. It'due south small, pocketable, and easy to use.

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First don't brand fun of my cinematography skills. The point is this video literally took me 10 minutes, correct from pressing the record button, to downloading to my estimator, and and so uploading to Vimeo to share with all of you. It's piece of cake to employ and makes video recording equally simple as taking digital photos.

It's about the size of a candy bar fashion mobile telephone with two GB of congenital-in memory adept plenty for 1 hour of video. It's made mostly of shiny plastic framed in metal. The lithium ion bombardment charges via USB which pops upward from the height. The same USB lets you download video onto you computer to do as yous delight.

To use the Mino, just press the big ruby-red tape push in the middle. A cheerful bleep tells you it's recording and when you're finished, press the same push again. Yous tin can't edit video on the Mino simply you can preview what y'all've recorded and shuffle between multiple recordings via the touch on sensitive controls surrounding the tape button.

The video and audio quality are superior to other camcorders at this price point. Remember this is not for the Steven Spielberg wanna-be. This is for capturing moments at the park with the kids, friends at schoolhouse, for YouTube, a concert or festival, or any other occasion where an inconspicuous camcorder is needed. Think of it as a loftier-end webcam that isn't tethered to your computer. There's no prototype stabilization only y'all practise get a 2x digital zoom.

What we liked:

Small and compact, very lightweight.
Exceptional build quality, doesn't feel cheap.
Easy to apply controls.
Built-in battery charges via USB.
Comes with software to upload directly to YouTube, MySpace, and AOL.
Expert battery life. (3.5 hours in our tests)
TV out to picket video direct from your Mino.
Comes in both blackness and white
Screen can nonetheless be seen under bright sunlight.
Snap notwithstanding photos from video.
Tripod mount.

What could be improved:

Uses AVI video format. We would accept preferred MP4.
Lens is exposed. Nosotros similar all lenses to have a sliding iris cover.
Poor low light operation.
No prototype stabilization.
Screen is tiny.
Should be $40 cheaper. (Currently $180)

On a scale of 1-10, I give it an viii. I accept a hard drive based camcorder that's pretty small merely it's however non as convenient to acquit around equally the Mino. This footling device easily slips into a pocket or handbag. Whip it out when something catches your center, i.due east. that moment when you true cat launches a sneak attack on your friend sending him tumbling to the floor. I'm certain the YouTubers would dear that. On a serious note, I've plant it quite useful for us designers. I discover inspiration everywhere I go and information technology's been and so much easier to use the Mino to record my muses instead of pulling out pen and pad. It'southward totally pricey at $180 since there are some digital cameras that will do video now hovering just above that price point, but if you want something fun and like shooting fish in a barrel to utilise, and want to start capturing moments on video without dealing with complex software or cumbersome controls, you will probably dear the Flip Mino.