Flip Video Ultra (60 minutes, black)

Manufacturer: Pure Digital Technologies, Inc. Part number: F260B

Compare with most popular

CNET Editor rating:
3.5 stars Very good
Average user rating: 3.0 stars out of 15 reviews

More product information:: Editors' review; User reviews; Specifications; Product series; Manufacturer info

Bottom Line:: With improved video quality, a slightly trimmer design, and upgraded software package, the Flip Video Ultra is becoming a force to be reckoned with in the emerging low-end digital camcorder category.

Where to buy

store	customer rating	inventory	tax & shipping	price
	Rate this store See store profile	In stock	Enter zip code to get total price: Price +Tax +Shipping =Total price	$119.99 Shop now as of 10/11/2008
	Rate this store See store profile	In stock		$149.99 Shop now as of 10/11/2008 New
PREMIER SOURCE of cutting edge electronics since 1973.	Rate this store See store profile	In stock Free! MasterWorks DVD: Jumpstart Guide to Shooting and		$119.95 Shop now as of 10/11/2008
	Rate this store See store profile	In stock Free Shipping on $24 and up		$139.99 Shop now as of 10/11/2008
	Rate this store See store profile	In stock Order Now-Ships Today		$129.99 Shop now as of 10/11/2008
	Rate this store See store profile	In stock Order Now-Ships Today		$129.99 Shop now as of 10/11/2008
Trusted by millions for over 33 years!	Rate this store See store profile	In stock Money-back Guarantee!		$129.99 Shop now as of 10/11/2008
	Rate this store See store profile	In stock		$152.61 Shop now as of 10/11/2008
Amazon.com	Rate this store See store profile	See Site		$179.99 Shop now as of 10/11/2008
	Rate this store See store profile	In stock		$126.99 Shop now as of 10/11/2008

*Total price for the Flip Video Ultra (60 minutes, black) are estimated and may vary slightly based on exact tax, shipping, manufacturer rebate or any sale/promotion on the merchant site.

show

CNET editors' review

Flip Video Ultra (60 minutes, black)

price range: $119.99 - $179.99

Reviewed by: David Carnoy
Edited by: Philip Ryan
Reviewed on: 10/02/2007
Released on: 10/16/2007

The good: With its Flip Ultra series, Pure Digital has upgraded the design, video quality, viewing LCD, and software of its lightweight video camera that makes it very easy to capture and share low-resolution video via e-mail and the Web; we also appreciated that there's now one-touch video uploading to YouTube and AOL Video and that the Ultra is compatible with Macs.

The bad: No SD/MMC card expansion slot; don't expect video quality to match that of a MiniDV camcorder's. The Muvee editing features only work with PCs, not Macs.

The bottom line: With improved video quality, a slightly trimmer design, and upgraded software package, the Flip Video Ultra is becoming a force to be reckoned with in the emerging low-end digital camcorder category.

Read full review

At the time of this writing, the best selling camcorder at Amazon.com isn't a model from Sony, Canon, or Panasonic. It happens to be the Flip Video Ultra, the third iteration of Pure Digital Technologies' simple plug-and-play video camera that features a hideaway USB connector and built-in software that makes viewing and sharing your videos incredibly easy. That may be a little surprising to some, but the fact is that cheap sells--the Ultra starts at $149. And when you combine cheap with easy, you can see why the Flip and its RCA relative, the RCA Small Wonder EZ201, are finding success in the marketplace.

The first thing you should know about the Flip Ultra is that it doesn't use tapes but records the video you shoot to the device's internal flash memory. For the Ultra, Pure Digital has doubled the amount of internal memory available from the previous Flip--there are 1GB and 2GB versions. What's noteworthy is that the company hasn't increased the amount of video recording time, which means the video you're shooting (the 1GB version gives you 30 minutes of video recording while the 2GB model gives you 60 minutes) is less compressed and has a higher bit rate that results in better-looking video. Unlike the Small Wonder EZ201, you can't toggle down the video setting to "LP" or "good" quality and double your capacity in the process. But that's not a big deal--we'd prefer to shoot at the best possible setting anyway because the video isn't stellar to begin with.

While there wasn't really a design change between the first and second versions of the Flip Video, Pure Digital has made some significant alterations to differentiate the Ultra from the standard Flip, which remains on sale. The Ultra is about the same thickness as the standard Flip but it's a bit narrower, which makes it a little easier to hold in your hand. It also comes in multiple color themes: white, black, pink, and orange. The battery compartment has been shifted in the new design (the unit is powered by two AA batteries) and a metal threaded mount for tripods has been added. But otherwise the camera has a lot in common with its predecessor and the two weigh in right around 5 ounces.

Like the previous model, there's a 1.5-inch LCD screen on back of the camera, which allows for instant review, so you can delete any undesirable clips right away. Pure Digital has upgraded the LCD with one that offers greater resolution (read: sharper) and is "transflective," which enables you to still see what's on the screen in bright daylight. The unit also has a video output, so you can view clips on any TV with a composite-video input. Like its predecessors, the Ultra ships with a felt protective carrying case--and you'll need to use it because the camera's finish easily scratches if you leave it unprotected next to a set of keys in your pocket.

Currently, there are several inexpensive cameras on the market whose sole purpose is to capture MPEG-4 video, which is more compressed--and, thus, lower in quality--than the MPEG-2 video recorded by MiniDV camcorders. As noted, Pure Digital continues to incrementally improve the video quality with each new model. For the Ultra, the company's moved to what it calls the "Pure Digital Video engine 2.0." In our review of the original Flip, we noted that raw footage seemed slightly sharper and the colors more vibrant--and we'd say the same is true for this model. We were also impressed by its low-light performance. We shot one subject in a poorly lit cubicle at work, yet she appeared well-lit in the video.

One of our biggest gripes with earlier models was that there was an audible clicking sound whenever you press the button to zoom in or out (it's a 2x digital zoom). That's fixed in this model. Still, it's worth noting that you're better off "manually" zooming by simply moving closer--or farther away--from your subject.

One area that Pure Digital has sought to improve is the camera's built-in software. Not much was done for the previous Flip, but this time around Pure Digital's made a couple of key additions. First, it's even easier to get your videos uploaded to YouTube and now AOL Video. Previously, it was a two-step process to upload to YouTube; now it's down to one.

Just as importantly, the company's incorporated some automatic editing software from a company called Muvee, though the Muvee features only work with PCs, not Macs. Before, you had the ability do some limited manual editing and stringing together of clips. But the Muvee software takes the movie-making process to a new level. You simply select the clips you like, click a button, and a few minutes later, the software spits out a movie "mix," complete with transitions and special effects and even some background music (you can also choose to add your own background music).

We'd seen demos of Muvee's full desktop application and have been impressed with its capabilities. It can take fairly boring video and make it seem pretty jazzy--or, better yet, amusing. A handful of movie-mix styles are currently available, some more stylized than others. With its standalone PC software, Muvee offers you the option of buying additional "StyleLabs," but it's unclear at this point whether Pure Digital will include new ones with future software upgrades. It's important to note, however, that owners of earlier Flip Video cameras will be able to download and use the upgraded software package starting in early October.

As we said, one of the key selling points of the Flip Ultra is how easy it is to get videos off the camera and distribute them. To get started, you flip out the USB connector and plug it into the USB port on your Windows PC (Windows 2000/XP or later)--a link to the camera's integrated software quickly pops up. On a Mac (OS X or later), the camera appears as another drive on your desktop, and you must install the software the first time you use it. After that, it operates the same as it would on a Windows PC. You can play back one clip, string several together to make the aforementioned movie mix, pull a single frame (still photo) out of the video, and share your clips with selected viewers via e-mail or the Web. When sharing via e-mail, instead of attaching a large file (even short 20-second clips can result in a 12-13MB file), recipients are sent a link to your compressed video. It looks worse than your raw video footage, but it doesn't look bad.

Aside from the fact that it can take several minutes for your video file to be "processed," sharing a file is very simple. Click on the Share Video button in the software interface and you're taken to a screen that asks you to select a video clip and choose to share it via e-mail, share a greeting (send a private video card), or share it online.

To publish directly to YouTube or AOL Video, you'll need to create an account for each service and log in. But once you do, you can automatically upload your videos to the Web for private or public viewing with a click of a button. If you're allied to some other video-sharing site, a click of a button allows you to prepare the video for uploading--but unlike with YouTube or AOL Video, you'll have to manually upload the processed file from a folder on your desktop.

Truly a technophobe? You do have the option of bringing the camera to any CVS, Rite-Aid, Duane Reade, Longs Drugs, or Ritz/Wolf Camera store and having the folks there make a DVD of your footage for around $13. RCA offers its owner DVD-burning accessory for its Small Wonder EZ201, but Pure Digital currently doesn't.

In the final analysis, the Ultra is a nice step forward for the Flip Video series. We'd still like to see a flip-out LCD and, more importantly, some sort of expansion slot for more memory (RCA's Small Wonder EZ201 offers these features). While Pure Digital maintains that its user surveys show that Flip owners aren't demanding an expansion slot, the fact is that people do take video cameras on extended vacations and don't necessarily have a computer with them to offload their photos. If you shoot videos over a week--or even a few days--60 minutes gets used up quicker than you'd think. But even with those small knocks against the Flip Ultra, its newly upgraded software and superior video quality make the Ultra the current leader in the budget digital camcorder space.

Editor's note: For a full comparison of the standard Flip vs. the Flip Ultra, check out this chart.

See pricing

show

User reviews

Write Review

Average user rating: 3.0 stars out of 15 reviews
My rating: 0 stars

Showing opinion 1 to 10 out of 15

Sort by:
10 stars

A tremendous value for the price and easy to use!

by rskolin on November 21, 2007

Pros: Easy to set-up, use and download

Cons: Didn't find any yet

Summary: The whole concept of Flip Video is simplicity. Open the box, drop in the included (regular) batteries, shoot, review, download, done! The camera works great!! If you're looking to ...

Read more

Summary: The whole concept of Flip Video is simplicity. Open the box, drop in the included (regular) batteries, shoot, review, download, done! The camera works great!! If you're looking to become the next Spielberg, or you want to film an 8-hour epic that you plan on boring your family and friends with, this camera is NOT for you. But if you want a fun and easy to use device that fits in your pocket, you'll love this. The video quality is very good and makes great videos in a normally lit room, with no need for one of those spotlights that blind the subject. Also simple is downloading. Flip out the USB connector, plug it into your computer and voila! The software begins to download on your computer and you're watching your videos in a matter of minutes. There is no software disk or manual needed. Cables are also included so you can watch them on your TV. Even the product registration is simple. All you do is send an email to the company with your particulars and it's done. No surveys and boxes to click and unclick. I rated this product a "10". I don't see any reason why I would need additional memory, but again, I don't plan on filming the next Hollywood blockbuster.

Show less

5 out of 5 users found this user opinion helpful.
1 stars

do not buy it

by WendellUrth on October 11, 2008

Pros: cheapest I ever saw in camcordeers.

Cons: not even good as a door stop

Summary: couldn't even get to see the video at all

Summary: couldn't even get to see the video at all
9 stars

great for on-the-go storytellers!

by JeffDoden on July 31, 2008

Pros: portable, pocket-sized, user friendly - great quality!

Cons: not great for macs

Summary: we love this camera - the non-profit i work for - Christopher Coppola's (nephew of Francis Ford, brother of Nicolas Cage) PROJECT ACCESSIBLE HOLLYWOOD - has fallen in love ...

Read more

Summary: we love this camera - the non-profit i work for - Christopher Coppola's (nephew of Francis Ford, brother of Nicolas Cage) PROJECT ACCESSIBLE HOLLYWOOD - has fallen in love with this product - we are now using them for our traveling new media film festivals - we empower the everyday person to tell their story - so these cameras are perfect - easy to use and can go anywhere! great for video bloggers!

Show less
3 stars

A wolf in sheep's clothing

by halleyscomet on July 23, 2008

Pros: Easy to operate -- even my 4 year old niece can film videos, play them back, and delete those she doesn't want; cheap; small.

Cons: Software bugs are devastating....check the blogs on this one. the only way to save videos is to go to a pure digital service provider

Summary: 3 problems, 2 big ones:
1) If you only want to have 60 minutes of video forever, this is for you. However, if you want to download videos and save
...

Read more

Summary: 3 problems, 2 big ones:
1) If you only want to have 60 minutes of video forever, this is for you. However, if you want to download videos and save them, you can't save more than 60 minutes worth. You can "save" them to your desktop, but your camcorder will still show as full. You can delete the files you've saved in the library or delete them in the camcorder, but then they are permanently gone. Really. The intended use is taking vidoes, posting them, then deleting them....hmmmmm. Customer Service is also pretty lame...of course you can't speak with anyone, you only get an email response that is unclear.
2) Software bugs....Now my videos automatically close after 1 second of play time...quick time says it's encountered a problem...this is even with the firmware update. Please don't frustrate yourself and buy this...it's deceptive...it sounds like a great product -- I was one of the first to buy one -- and you will love the videos you shoot, but you may never be able to access them or to shoot more than 60 minutes worth. I don't know about you...but I don't like some souless corporation messing with my videos...
3) Customer support is lame...but what do you expect?

Show less
9 stars

GREAT SMALL UNDERWATER

by jetsandmets93 on July 2, 2008

Pros: SMALL CHEAP GOOD LOOKING QUALITY

Cons: audio, small screen, no rewind on it

Summary: I love this camera and although the new Mino came out recently I opted for this for a couple reasons. One it's cheaper. Two is that the underwatercase is ...

Read more

Summary: I love this camera and although the new Mino came out recently I opted for this for a couple reasons. One it's cheaper. Two is that the underwatercase is only available for the the ultra and thats a large reason I got this in the first place is for when I go snorkeling in the Carribean. Three - it has a soft to touch finish not the shiny leave fingerprint one that the Mino offers. ALthough there are some downsides - I cant use the built in software to its full advantage with my mac and the audio isnt the greatest but for 150 bucks its well worth it and I am not worrying about taking thousands of dollars of eqipment into the water

Show less
7 stars

Great for a novice

by Barb1024 on June 29, 2008

Pros: Small size - good video for the price

Cons: not much range with zoom and sound quality could be improved

Summary: For me, a complete novice in the digital video field, this device is great for me to practice with. The price was right, and I was able to learn a ...

Read more

Summary: For me, a complete novice in the digital video field, this device is great for me to practice with. The price was right, and I was able to learn a few tricks. I captured my bus ride to work, but the voices were drowned out by the diesel sound. A bargain for the price.

Show less
2 stars

Ugh! Noise in the background!!!

by bagelfool on June 20, 2008

Pros: Seems like a good value. Easy to use.

Cons: Annoying background noise

Summary: I purchased this for my teenaged daughter. She loved it for its ease of use and uploading to You Tub. But! - and this is a BIG BUT - replaying ...

Read more

Summary: I purchased this for my teenaged daughter. She loved it for its ease of use and uploading to You Tub. But! - and this is a BIG BUT - replaying videos always resulted in a humming, buzzing, and or mechanical type noise in the background. Regardless of where the recording took place.

A visit to the Amazon forum on this device was crowded with similar experiences.

I have no choice but to return it. A great disappointment given all of the positive reviews I read before purchasing it.

Show less
2 stars

Piece of junk

by blooknight on June 13, 2008

Pros: Great toy for kids

Cons: Good luck when the USB connector snaps off

Summary: Most decent digital photo cameras already come with this same video feature incorporated into the camera. The resolution it very low compared to true digital and all you need to ...

Read more

Summary: Most decent digital photo cameras already come with this same video feature incorporated into the camera. The resolution it very low compared to true digital and all you need to do is add $50 and you have any number of digital camera on the market to choose from.True it is easy to use but it appears marketed to the mentally challenged who have to use velcro on their shoes and still think the 3 Stooges are funny. Spend the extra few dollars and get a decent name brand camera.

Show less
5 stars

Good value for the money ...but

by marcucco on May 28, 2008

Pros: Easy to use, works well with Intel Macs and iMovie

Cons: Image quality is disappointing.

Summary: The quality of the video is no better then one shot on a cellphone, which is fine for the money, but don't expect your videos to look anything like ...

Read more

Summary: The quality of the video is no better then one shot on a cellphone, which is fine for the money, but don't expect your videos to look anything like the clips they show in the on-line ads or on the website. The focus is soft and the images are low contrast and low resolution.

Show less
8 stars

Not bad, simple to use- audio could be better...

by Hoat4u on January 25, 2008

Pros: ease of use, cust. service & support excellent!

Cons: Audio lacking a bit-one tiny condenser mike. memory not expandable.

Summary: Great for the price! ($149 Wal-Mart.com; shipped to local store for free.) The one I received had a defect w/software communication via USB. Emailed online support, and got ...

Read more

Summary: Great for the price! ($149 Wal-Mart.com; shipped to local store for free.) The one I received had a defect w/software communication via USB. Emailed online support, and got a call within a day. Tech(who was fantastic!!!) determined it was product defect, and sent replacement via 2-day UPS, with RMA return label. new one works great. The tiny condenser microphone is good close range, without lots of extra background noise, but it would be nice if I could plug in a hand-held or shotgun mic. With no removable or expandable memory, if filming a 1 hour meeting, you may lose the end if the meeting runs long. I also bought Flip Video tripod and Action-Mount, very pleased with both of those. MU-VEE software lacks fade/ title functions, so I need to find alternative editing software, but I figured that I would.

Show less

Showing opinion 1 to 10 out of 15

See pricing

show

Specifications

Manufacturer: Pure Digital Technologies, Inc.
Part number: F260B
Description: Pure Digital Flip Video Ultra Series is the next-generation line of highly compact digital camcorders to make it easier than ever for on-the-go consumers to shoot and share high-quality video. Slim-sized to fit neatly into any pocket, the Flip Video Ultra Series provides unmatched portability and simplicity for capturing, editing and sharing video - anytime, anywhere. The Flip Video Ultra Series is the newest member in Pure Digital's popular Flip Video family of digital camcorders, the world's first camcorders with on-board software to enable editing, organizing, and seamless video uploading to AOL, YouTube and other video sharing sites. Flip Video Ultra showcases Pure Digital's next-generation video processing technology, which delivers stunning video and sound quality, even when played on large-screen TVs. The Ultra Series continues Pure Digital's pioneering of a new category of camcorder that puts the power to instantly capture, edit and share video in the pocket of everyday consumers. The Flip Video Ultra Series incorporates a wide range of advanced new features, including a 1.5 inch transflective, no-glare display screen for clear viewing in even the brightest sunlight, next-generation video processing, and increased on-board memory.

General
Product Type Camcorder
Enclosure Color Black
Digital Zoom 2 x
Effective Sensor Resolution 5.6 megapixels
Optical Sensor Size 1/4 in
Optical Sensor Type CMOS
Analog Video Format NTSC
Digital Video Format MPEG-4
White Balance Automatic
Main Features
Camcorder Sensor Resolution 0.31 megapixels
Camcorder Effective Video Resolution 0.31 megapixels
Camcorder Effective Still Resolution 0.31 megapixels
Color Support Color
TV Tuner None
Video Capture MPEG-4 - 640 x 480 - 3600 sec
Memory / Storage
Flash Memory 2 GB Flash - Integrated (soldered memory - 2 GB )
Floppy Drive None
Media Type Flash card
Lens System
Type Lens - F/2.4
Lens Aperture F/2.4
Lens system type Lens
Focus Adjustment Focus free
Min Focus Range 31.5 in
Zoom Adjustment Automatic
Additional Features
Additional Features Built-in speaker, In-camera movie editing, Tripod mountable
Software Drivers & Utilities
Included Accessories Wrist strap
Viewfinder
Viewfinder Type None
Display
Type LCD display - LCD passive matrix - 1.5 in - Color
Microphone
Type Microphone - Built-in

Connections
Connector Type 1 x Composite video/audio output, 1 x USB
Audio Input
Audio input type Microphone
Microphone type Built-in
Microphone Operation Mode Mono
Microphone Technology Electret condenser
System Requirements for PC Connection
Operating System Support MS Windows Vista, MS Windows XP, Apple Mac OS X
Miscellaneous
Carrying Case Pouch
Cables Included 1, 1 x A/V cable

Flip Video Ultra (60 minutes, black)

Where to buy

CNET editors' review

User reviews

Submit your review

Specifications

General

Main Features

Memory / Storage

Lens System

Additional Features

Viewfinder

Display

Microphone

Connections

Audio Input

System Requirements for PC Connection

Miscellaneous