Storymix uses Flip Cameras extensively in our business for brides to shoot their own DIY wedding video. While at WPPI (see my post from a few weeks ago) I was fortunate to win a competitor camera, the Kodak PlaySport! This gave me the rare opportunity to do an apples to apples comparison of the functionality of each camera.
Two weeks ago I brought both cameras to a meeting of ChickChat Chicago, a women’s networking soirée in downtown Chicago. The meeting consisted of some delicious food and drink, donated by the vendors of French Market Chicago, a motivational speech by Carolyn Ou, and some fabulous networking.
Functionality
The Kodak has many more options. You can take photos as well as video. Heck, you can even use that thing under water!
You have many choices with video resolution; standard def for small file size, or 3 different HD options. 1080P is “true” high definition to the purists, but not everyone can view it over the internet. There is also 720P at 60 and 30 frames per second. 60P has large file sizes, but looks awesome in slow motion.
The Flip does one thing. It takes 720P video at 60 frames per second. There are no options; which is not necessarily a bad thing.
Usability
Well, you can’t get around it. The Flip is much simpler to use. Just hit the big red button and it will record video. The Kodak has several buttons on it. Many of the buttons have options when you push them. Getting it into video mode isn’t obvious, but once there, it’s simple to take a video.
Connecting the Flip the computer is dead simple. Plug in the USB connector. This also means that you have to download your footage or you will fill up the camera.
The Kodak has an SD card. This is great because if you fill it up, you can just get a new one and use the original as a backup (they’re cheap), but it does add another level of complexity.
The Video
I used both cameras in shooting the short movie below. Can you tell which camera was used where?
How to Choose?
You really need to think about how you would use the camera. Do you value simplicity or function?
As a consumer who wants to take both photos and video, I would pick the PlaySport. As a business owner who wants her clients to be able to simply pick up a camera and shoot some video, I would absolutely pick the Flip. Which one would you choose?
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Kodak ZX-5 launched online this month, A super capable camera with Social network Kodak’s Share button and waterproof, dustproof and shockproof and more features beyond the ZX-3 that i got and in this review
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