The Kodak Zi8 is a pocket-sized video camcorder that can shoot in 1080p HD, 720p and WVGA, and can take still images. I purchased the camera to record training and promotional videos. It works well for this application - just mount it on a tripod, hit "record" and go. Panning is pretty choppy, though, at least at 1080p. I wouldn't want to use it for any professional use that involves moving the camera. For vacation recording, though, the panning quality wouldn't bother me much. I've heard quite a bit of complaining about the mic. It's a bit above what I expected from a compact unit, but if you're doing outdoor recording with narration, you can plug a corded (or wireless) lavalier mic into the Zi8's 3.5mm external mic jack and get better sound with less background noise. The flip USB is nice - you can just plug it into your laptop/desktop and import your images and videos. A few niggles - you can't flip/rotate the display, so if you're the one in front of the camera, you can't see what's going on. Also, the software tends to freeze up, at least for me. I use it only to import from the camera, and then use other software to edit. Also, still images are hit and miss. The lighting seems to have a lot to do with that, and since it doesn't have a flash, you either get good stills or you don't. Overall, if you're looking for an inexpensive, portable video recorder for posting to personal/business websites or video sharing sites, the Kodak Zi8 is one of the better choices. You can't expect perfection at this price point.Read full review
It takes excellent videos in very clear picture quality even in 720p mode. I find that I don't have to use 1080p. 720p is more than enough for a clear video. The only thing I hated about it is it takes terrible video and pictures at night. But then again, many basic camcorders don't take great night video anyway. Also, I found that my Kodak digital camera takes better focused pictures than this camcorder. I don't recommend taking pictures with it. Especially, when you have to zoom into something. It doesn't have the same clarity as a basic digital camera does. But I give it four stars because its a pocket camcorder and it does exactly what its supposed to ....take great quality video.
Love this little camera!! Very easy to use! Wish it had some type of built in lighting for evening videos. Also, had some trouble with blurry videos, make sure you read the manual to avoid this happening! Better late than never! Actually bought a second one for the kids. My favorite thing about this camcorder is being able to take snapshots from the video! No more waiting to get the perfect shot! Just stop,crop,and print exactly what you want!
Just used for a trip to Italy and France. Was reliable, and took great video, even in non -HD mode. Picking up sound was at times an issue. The SDHC card flexibility was a great feature not available on other similar products. I was able to record about 4 hours with the 16GB card I received with the camera. The portability was fantasitc as we were going in an out of museums, and sites and to different cities.
I needed a video recorder to record bible lectures then send them to a cloud service. This little device was perfect. It will record up to 90 minutes on one charge. It also has 4 settings that allow me to choose the quality of recording I want. The best things about this little guy is that you can actually plug a microphone into the 3.5 mm jack to record the sound from up close while having the camera at a distance. It doesn't get much better than this.
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: Pre-owned
Current slide {CURRENT_SLIDE} of {TOTAL_SLIDES}- Best Selling in Camcorders
Current slide {CURRENT_SLIDE} of {TOTAL_SLIDES}- Save on Camcorders