Kodak Zi8 HD Pocket Camcorder Review
Zi8 Review YouTube
Contents |
Summary:
The Good:
- Great value for money (less than $180/£120)
- External (stereo!) microphone input
- Image Stabilization
- Tripod screw thread on base
- HDMI output to HD TV
- Good quality video especially 720p (30 & 60 frames/second)
- 5MP still camera mode produces excellent natural colo(u)r tones & low noise in low light conditions
- Macro setting for close up video & still images
- SDHC memory slot (up to 32 Gb) great. Approx. 1Gb/10 minutes of high quality video
- Very light (<200g)
- Built in Media converter & viewing software on camera for video editing/conversion
- Very quick for taking snapshots
- Remote control available from Kodak as an addon
The not-so good:
- Lion Battery life <2 hours (you can get replacement batteries here)
- Sometimes internal rubberized USB plug feels a bit short when other devices connected to your computer in neighbo(u)ring USB ports
PERSONAL OVERALL RATING: 9/10
First Impressions
I first used the camera on 19 November 2009, ten minutes after winning it at an internet marketing conference in Las Vegas. Mike Koenigs from Traffic Geyser was one of the main speakers at the training event, and after being one of the 3 people chosen to do a quick presentation on how to use video, he gave me a boxed Kodak Zi8 as a prize. When I got back to my seat, I unpackaged it straightaway, plugged it in to my EEEPC 900 via USB & charged up the battery for around ten minutes & was using the device easily from there on.
My overall initial impression was that it’s light, very easy to use and fits snugly in my trouser pocket.
The quality of the videos is pretty amazing considering it’s such an inexpensive device, and although there is some video stutter at 1080p if you scan around too quickly or suffer from shakey hands, at 720p 60 frames per second, the Kodak zi8 is an outstanding little device.
To record, I just press the simple red button/joystick in the middle of the Zi8, and then press it again to stop. Simple and effective.
My Experience So Far…
A lot of people complained about the Zi8 zoom problem. Well, since upgrading to the Kodak Zi8 1.06 firmware, the zoom has been much smoother (it was a joke before the upgrade), and is definitely in the "good-enough" category now. I personally don’t like using zoom in videos as it happens, as it rarely looks good and is often distracting. But at least Kodak have listened to users’ complaints and fixed the issue, and the zoom works well now.
The biggest things that I continue to feel wowed by the Kodak Zi8 (after having used it like crazy for the last month since winning it) are:
- It’s speed: I whip it out of my pocket, turn it on, and can be videoing within 5-10 seconds. Not as fast as a high end TTL digital camera I know, but pretty good for something so small and light
- The colo(u)r balance when videoing & taking still images is VERY realistic – not too saturated, pleasantly rich, with very natural skin tones
- The still imaging is great for a 5 MP camera & is very decent even in low light conditions with no flash
I’ve taken a lot of images & videos in the last 30 days or so (nearly 32Gbytes already), and over 95% of the shots have been good to excellent, with very few suffering from camera shake or motion blur. Admittedly I’m a fairly seasoned photographer & I have a steady hand, but I now feel confident that I can get some great shots almost anywhere and stand a better chance of capturing those precious moments.
The only thing that is a downer is the short battery life, but I’ve got some replacement batteries (4 of them) on order from Ebay, so I’ll add those to the review in due course.
I did struggle with importing the .mov video files into Sony Vegas Movie Studio for while – the videos had the issue of no sound, but I’ve found a freeware utility which converts the videos to high quality avi files for which Sony Vegas Movie Studio will recognize the sound. The freeware is called Format Factory 2.20 and you can download it here. PLEASE PLEASE virus & malware check BEFORE using this freeware utility. I use it, but I CANNOT vouch that it is virus or malware free. IF YOU ARE NOT HAPPY TO TAKE THE RISK THAT YOUR COMPUTER COULD BECOME INFECTED, ***DON’T USE IT***. I cannot be held responsible for any loss or damage to your data on your computer as a result of downloading &/or installing Form Factory 2.20 or any subsequent updates/releases that the owner of that software might release.
One thing I’m still impressed with is that the Zi8 has a very good dynamic light range – it seems to cope well with bright lights in the same shot as other objects not so brightly exposed. Maybe Kodak are doing some clever hardware processing, but whatever it is, it actually beats my Samsung VP HMX20C (which is a compact full HD camcorder I use a lot) in those conditions.
Image Gallery
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Images of the Kodak Zi8
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Conclusions
The Kodak Zi8 portable HD camcorder represents amazing value for money, especially with features such as an external stereo microphone jack, and SDHC slot. If you haven’t yet taken the plunge, you really should consider purchasing the Zi8 – or if your budget allows, buy 4, for multi-angle videoing in HD. Combined with a set of wireless microphones, you’ll have a truly portable studio at a similar cost to a single high-end HD camcorder.
Where to Buy
Amazon USA |
Amazon UK |
Accessories
Replacement Batteries
Inexpensive replacement battery
Links here for Amazon USA, Amazon UK & Ebay coming soon!
External Stereo Sony Microphone (Amazon UK) |
External Stereo Sony Microphone (Amazon USA)
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