[SouthCali]

Hi all. This is my first post.


I was looking into getting the Kodak Zi8 this weekend. It seems like the best pocket camcorder from different reviews I've read and threads on this site. It's retailing for $199.99 at Best Buy, where I intend to buy it. I have a 10% off coupon plus $45 in Reward Certificates so, after tax, I'd be paying $147. $147 isn't bad for the camera itself, but I'd also have to buy an SD card, which is additional $40 (Patriot Iris 16gb Class 6 from Amazon) plus I keep reading that an external mic seems almost necessary due to the whine. That would be an additional $50 (Sony ECM-DS70P on Amazon). So, I'd be paying nearly $240 for the Zi8 setup whereas I could get a Flip UltraHD, on sale at Best Buy for $160, apply all those discounts and pay ~$130 for a "complete package."


My main interest is in quality, recording capacity, and battery life. Please provide your feedback. Thanks.

 

[davyo]



Quote:
Originally Posted by SouthCali /forum/post/18112033


Hi all. This is my first post.


I was looking into getting the Kodak Zi8 this weekend. It seems like the best pocket camcorder from different reviews I've read and threads on this site. It's retailing for $199.99 at Best Buy, where I intend to buy it. I have a 10% off coupon plus $45 in Reward Certificates so, after tax, I'd be paying $147. $147 isn't bad for the camera itself, but I'd also have to buy an SD card, which is additional $40 (Patriot Iris 16gb Class 6 from Amazon) plus I keep reading that an external mic seems almost necessary due to the whine. That would be an additional $50 (Sony ECM-DS70P on Amazon). So, I'd be paying nearly $240 for the Zi8 setup whereas I could get a Flip UltraHD, on sale at Best Buy for $160, apply all those discounts and pay ~$130 for a "complete package."


My main interest is in quality, recording capacity, and battery life. Please provide your feedback. Thanks.

I own the Zi8 and the Ultra HD, both are great camera's in my opinion, but if I had to choose between them the Zi8 would be the winner.


Click on the thread link below for more about the Zi8 vs the Ultra HD, if you read my postings you will see why I think the Zi8 is the better choice.
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=1225296


Cheers

Davyo

 

[Ach3r0n]

$147 isn't bad though it was selling for $130 directly from Kodak a couple months ago.

 

[SouthCali]

Do you know if they go on sale like that regularly from the Kodak site?

 

[SouthCali]

I think I'm going to hold out for the Kodak PlaySport. It seems exactly like the Zi8 but a little more rugged which is good because I wanted to take it to the beach. I'm going to use all my coupons and certificates towards the Sony CX150. Hopefully I'll be able to get it for less than $400 out of pocket.

 

[SouthCali]

According to Kodak's website, the ship date for the PlaySport is March 17.

 

[davyo]



Quote:
Originally Posted by SouthCali /forum/post/18120264


I think I'm going to hold out for the Kodak PlaySport. It seems exactly like the Zi8 but a little more rugged which is good because I wanted to take it to the beach. I'm going to use all my coupons and certificates towards the Sony CX150. Hopefully I'll be able to get it for less than $400 out of pocket.

The PlaySport is nothing at all "exactly like the Zi8",,,, the PlaySport has a smaller screen, only shoots in 1080p, does not allow shooting in 30 or 60 FPS, wont shoot in 720p or shoot in WVGA mode and also has no stereo mic input,,,, how are they exactly the same ????


I would take the Zi8 over the PlaySport anyday of the week,,,, just my opinion.


Cheers

Davyo

 

[markr041]

No.


The Playsport only differs from the Zi8 in that it has no mic in and the smaller lcd (and no macro maybe). It does have all of the compression, frame rate options as the Zi8. Moreover, on one site there was an indication there was a menu backlight option, which is not on the Zi8.


As we know, you cannot go by the official Kodak web site for specs - it used to say the Zi8 had the same sensor as the Zi6, for example.


See the camcorderinfo.com preview of the playsport for more details. But take their review of the Zi8 with a lot of salt.

 

[SouthCali]

Maybe not exactly the same but pretty close. I looked at the info on camcorderinfo.com, as mentioned above, and it still shoots the same resolutions and frame rates. I don't know what the H.264 codec. Smaller screen and no external mic input isn't a big deal to me.

 

[SouthCali]

Here's a little blog/post article I found on CNET about the PlaySport.

http://ces.cnet.com/8301-31045_1-10423907-269.html


It seems like it performs and shoots nearly the same as the Zi8. No external mic input. No macro mode. No USB plug attached. All those I can do without.

 

[davyo]

All the differences I listed between the Zi8 vs the PlaySport is from information I got off of Kodaks website.


Review site's OFTEN get specs wrong and publish incorrect information, I would double check with Kodak for the specs.


Cheers

Davyo

 

[markr041]

It's a great idea to double check. Too bad you did not. The "review sites" actually handled the new Kodak, as the video in one proves. You just passed on incorrect information gleaned from blurbs on the Kodak web site as fact. Now you reveal how you got your "facts."

 

[davyo]



Quote:
Originally Posted by markr041 /forum/post/18128012


It's a great idea to double check. Too bad you did not. The "review sites" actually handled the new Kodak, as the video in one proves. You just passed on incorrect information gleaned from blurbs on the Kodak web site as fact. Now you reveal how you got your "facts."

Ya know Mark, its also a great idea to choose your words carefully when posting, other wise your post could be taken as being mean spirited,,which it was.


Im not quite sure of the reason for your harsh-ness in your post but its not cool at all.


This is a fact,, most review sites OFTEN quote wrong spec's on stuff they are reviewing,, do you denie this happens often ???


I was not "gleaning blurbs" on the Kodak website, I was passing on what Kodak, the manufacturer of the Zi8 has listed on their website as the specs for the Zi8.


Your statement of "Now you reveal how you got your "facts",,,, what is that spose to mean,,, ya Mark,, like Im tring to keep it a secret that I went on the website of the company that makes the camera,,,, wow !!!!


So let me see if I have this right Mark,,, I suggested on this thread that the person interested in the Zi8 should double check the Zi8 specs because of the conflicting information on the review site and on Kodaks site and you slam me in your post for tring to be helpfull to that person.

Then you suggest that Im tring to hide where Im getting the specs from and also accuse me of passing on false information !!!!!!


All I can say Mark is you have much to learn about being on a forum.


Davyo

 

[tdogroeder]

I got my zi8 for my wife for christmas and we have not really used much. We are not really liking it that much since getting quality video from it is not as good as I have seen on the internet. I'm not sure how to get quality out of this, maybe somebody could point us in the right direction. I'm thinking of selling it and getting a "normal" video recorder.

 

[davyo]



Quote:
Originally Posted by tdogroeder /forum/post/18133123


I got my zi8 for my wife for christmas and we have not really used much. We are not really liking it that much since getting quality video from it is not as good as I have seen on the internet. I'm not sure how to get quality out of this, maybe somebody could point us in the right direction. I'm thinking of selling it and getting a "normal" video recorder.

Not sure what you mean by not getting good video quality, as in, perhaps you could be more specific.


Are you not getting good video quality on the LCD screen of the Zi8 ?

Or when played on a display with an HDMI hook-up ?

Or when played on your computer ?

Mac or PC ?


Cheers

Davyo

 

[tdogroeder]



Quote:
Originally Posted by davyo /forum/post/18133328


Not sure what you mean by not getting good video quality, as in, perhaps you could be more specific.


Are you not getting good video quality on the LCD screen of the Zi8 ?

Or when played on a display with an HDMI hook-up ?

Or when played on your computer ?

Mac or PC ?


Cheers

Davyo

In macro mode the lcd screen is fine, when in landscape mode everything is blurry.

 

[davyo]



Quote:
Originally Posted by tdogroeder /forum/post/18134518


In macro mode the lcd screen is fine, when in landscape mode everything is blurry.

Sorry, but again your not really saying much to go on in your asking for help.


You say, "everything is blurry" in landscape mode, is that when you are holding the camera close to object's you are shooting ?


Are you saying the footage looks bad just on the LCD screen on the camera or does it also look bad when played back on your computer ?


If you could give us all some better information of what your doing with the Zi8 that would help greatly.


Kinda hard to offer any help when all you are saying is "everything is blurry" or that your getting "bad video quality".


Cheers

Davyo

 

[tdogroeder]



Quote:
Originally Posted by davyo /forum/post/18136330


Sorry, but again your not really saying much to go on in your asking for help.


You say, "everything is blurry" in landscape mode, is that when you are holding the camera close to object's you are shooting ?


Are you saying the footage looks bad just on the LCD screen on the camera or does it also look bad when played back on your computer ?


If you could give us all some better information of what your doing with the Zi8 that would help greatly.


Kinda hard to offer any help when all you are saying is "everything is blurry" or that your getting "bad video quality".


Cheers

Davyo

When viewing lcd screen of zi8 in landscape mode everything is blurry whether things are far away or close.


When in macro lcd screen of zi8 is fine no issues at all.


I have not loaded any video over to computer, but if I did would it & should it look the same as me viewing it on the zi8? Will I need editing software for my computer when I load it on my computer to have the best looking videos I can get from the zi8.

 

[davyo]



Quote:
Originally Posted by tdogroeder /forum/post/18136943


When viewing lcd screen of zi8 in landscape mode everything is blurry whether things are far away or close.


When in macro lcd screen of zi8 is fine no issues at all.


I have not loaded any video over to computer, but if I did would it & should it look the same as me viewing it on the zi8? Will I need editing software for my computer when I load it on my computer to have the best looking videos I can get from the zi8.

The footage on the Zi8's LCD screen should not look bad and you should also check out the video on your computer to see how it looks.


As far as editing software, as I recall its built-in to the Zi8, just plug it into your computer and it should load up, or run the Kodak install disc.


You dont need the Kodak software to view the video files though,, just open the view the video files the same way you would open pictures from a digital camera on your computer.


If things look blurry I would exchange the camera for another one, or call Kodak tec support for help.


Cheers

Davyo

 

[SouthCali]



Quote:
Originally Posted by davyo /forum/post/18120624


The PlaySport is nothing at all "exactly like the Zi8",,,, the PlaySport has a smaller screen, only shoots in 1080p, does not allow shooting in 30 or 60 FPS, wont shoot in 720p or shoot in WVGA mode and also has no stereo mic input,,,, how are they exactly the same ????


I would take the Zi8 over the PlaySport anyday of the week,,,, just my opinion.


Cheers

Davyo

Were you able to watch some of the hands on previews? Would you agree the PlaySport is probably going to perform, at least video wise, very comparably to the Zi8? I figured the audio performance may differ considering the PlaySport doesn't have the external mic jack but hopefully Kodak realized the issue with the whine with the Zi8 and improved the internal mic on the PlaySport. So maybe the potential audio performance will differ and be better on the Zi8 due to the external mic jack and capability to add a stereo mic, but the internal mic on the PlaySport might be better than that on the Zi8 if Kodak improved the mic on the PlaySport. The Kodak site also states that the PlaySport has a close-up (macro) mode, which I don't believe is true based on some videos I watched. But again, macro mode is not a concern with me. Neither is the smaller LCD screen or the lack of an external mic jack, as long as Kodak improved the internal one.