Simplify your laptop buyingKodak Zi8 Pocket Video Camera (black)
Manufacturer: Eastman Kodak Co. Part number: 8796062
- More product information:
- Editors' review
- User reviews
- Specifications
- Product series
- Manufacturer info
- Bottom Line:
- With the Zi8, Kodak finally surpasses Flip Video's video quality and feature set.
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CNET editors' review
Kodak Zi8 Pocket Video Camera (black) price range: $149.95 - $179.99
- Reviewed by: David Carnoy
- Edited by: Lori Grunin
- Reviewed on: 07/30/2009
- Released on: 09/01/2009
The good: Video capture up to 1080p HD resolution; image quality is quite good for a mini camcorder; SD card slot; removable, rechargeable battery; bundled composite and HDMI cables; strong low-light performance; external mic jack; electronic image stabilization; 5-megapixel still capture; macro focus mode.
The bad: Bundled software isn't Mac compatible but necessary for smooth playback of 1080p video; price doesn't include an optional memory card.
The bottom line: With the Zi8, Kodak finally surpasses Flip Video's video quality and feature set.
Over the last few years, as the pocket camcorder market has taken off, pioneer Flip Video has narrowly hung onto the lead it built by offering models with arguably superior designs and slightly better video quality. A few companies, including Creative, Sony, and RCA, have been nipping at its heels for a while, but none has been able to overtake Flip's offerings. Until now. While Kodak's Zi8 may not be perfect, it has a lot of the little extras we've been asking for--including electronic image stabilization and external mic support--and delivers very respectable video for a mini camcorder well under $200.
For starters, Kodak improved upon the design of last year's Zi6 and this year's ruggedized Zx1, both of which we thought decent, but not great. The Zi8 looks slicker than the Zi6, and while it's far from the smallest or lightest pocket camcorder we've tested, it is fairly compact, measuring 2.4 inches by 4.5 inches by 0.9 inch and weighing 4.8 ounces.
This model comes in three colors Kodak dubs black, aqua, and raspberry, and it has a sharp and generously sized 2.5-inch LCD on the back. The only noteworthy drawback is that all three models are fingerprint magnets and you'll find yourself constantly wiping down the camcorder. The plastic finish is also susceptible to scratches, so you'll probably want to keep the unit in a protective cover, particularly if you've got keys in your pocket. Unfortunately, Kodak doesn't ship the Zi8 with any sort of case, though it does sell one, as well as a remote control.
To trim down the chassis, Kodak has gone with a slimmer lithium ion rechargeable battery instead of the AA NiMH rechargeables that ship with the Zi6. That's a good move, but you don't have the luxury of swapping in a standard pair of alkaline batteries should you run out of juice on the road. Like most competitors, you can charge the Zi8 directly from your computer via the flip-out cable, but the camcorder also ships with an AC adapter to connect it to a wall outlet.
As we say about all these pocket camcorders: while they may be billed as HD models, they really can't be compared with true HD camcorders that cost hundreds of dollars more and have superior lenses and sensors. However, the image quality is getting better and the Zi8 is the first pocket camcorder on the market to boast 1080p 30fps video capture and 5-megapixel still-image capture, thanks to its integration of a 1/2.5-inch 5-megapixel CMOS sensor. Like the Zi6, this model also records video in 720p resolution at up to 60fps, which Kodak says is "best for sports and action," as well as 720p/30fps ("best for sharing on YouTube or Facebook") and WVGA ("best for conserving memory card space").
Like the Zi6 and Zx1, this model comes with a trivial amount of internal memory and Kodak doesn't include an SD card in the box. We still wish Kodak would throw in a 1GB SD card, but the margins on these products are tight, so we can understand that Kodak needs to cut some corners to hit an attractive price point. Anyway, the long and short of it is, you have to supply your own SD card (the Zi8 accepts SDHC cards up to 32GB, so it can store a ton of video and still images). We calculated that when you record video at the highest level (1080p), you eat up anywhere from around 110 to 150MB per minute, depending upon video content, or about 14 to 18 minutes of video on a typical 2GB card. (Kodak quotes 20 minutes per gigabyte, but that's for 720p.) Similar to most competitors, videos are encoded as generally compatible QuickTime MPEG-4 MOV files, using H.264 compression.
As with all these mini camcorders, the Zi8 is designed to be easy to use. Kodak has made some improvements to the interface, and the inclusion of a four-way rocker control makes navigating the device's menus that much simpler. That said, it's a good idea to consult the manual to figure out exactly what the icons stand for in the settings menu and to make sure you have everything set correctly.
We like its four speeds of fast-forwarding and rewinding, and you can advance or rewind your footage frame by frame, if you want. The 2.5-inch LCD looks sharp and the sound plays back loud enough through the Zi8's little speaker as long as you crank up the volume. The mic seems sensitive enough as long as the subject is only a few feet away. But if you want to improve your recordings, you should opt for an external stereo mic, which will do a better job at picking up sound. (External mics range in price from about $16 to well over $100). For the moment, anyway, the external mic option is one of the Zi8's key differentiating features and will appeal to everyone from journalists to amateur documentarians.
We're pretty impressed with the Zi8's video quality. As with all these pocket camcorders, it significantly boosts the quality if the unit stays as still as possible while shooting (sticking it on a tripod will offer the best results), but this model is the first we've seen to include electronic image stabilization. We can't say it makes a huge difference, but for reducing small hand jitters when shooting, it does help. The downside to engaging it is that it drains the battery faster, so if you do mount the Zi8 on a tripod, turn it off.
We shot mainly in 1080p mode; the clips were sharp (for an HD pocket camcorder) and the colors vibrant and relatively accurate. Though it's not superfast, the Zi8 does adjust exposure fairly quickly when panning from brightly lit to darker scenes, and it compensates appropriately for backlit subjects. Using the face-detection feature (you can choose to turn it on or off), you can lock in on a subject and the camcorder will adjust its exposure if, say, the face you locked on is too shadowed. However, it's worth mentioning that in making the adjustment, the Zi8 does tend to soften that portion of the image as it boosts the gain.
The still photos aren't great, but they're a step up from what a typical camera phone produces and overall pretty usable. Lowlight performance was also good and Kodak appears to have made some nice improvements in this department. The Zi6 did well enough in low light, but the Zi8's image quality is better, with less visible noise. Unfortunately, when you press the joystick, which doubles as the shutter button, it jerks the camcorder, making it hard to get good shots.
It's also worth pointing out that the Zi8 has a macro mode that allows you to focus on subjects at close range. One of the issues with pocket camcorders, including those made by Flip Video, has been their inability to focus on subjects that are a foot or two away from the camcorder. But toggle the little switch on top of the Zi8 to the macro mode and you'll be able to come in tight and focus in on objects or people.
The Zi8 defaults to 720p recording, predominantly because most computers probably won't be able to smoothly play the 1080p video, which is encoded at a relatively high bit rate of around 20Mbps. We played our videos on a Samsung 50-inch LCD HDTV via HDMI, and the video looks quite decent blown up. Kodak and ArcSoft optimized the included MediaImpression software--it's in the camcorder's memory and automatically installs on Windows machines when you plug the Zi8's USB connector into your desktop or laptop PC--for high-bit-rate playback. With it, we had no problems. This limitation may pose issues for some users, though, especially software-unsupported OS X users. You can still edit the 1080p video in third-party software, however.
The ArcSoft MediaImpression software includes the usual shortcut upload to YouTube, as well as some editing features that allow you to trim your clips, adjust contrast, color, and brightness, and splice you clips into a cohesive "movie," complete with customized background music and titles. As we said, this software is Windows only. If you own a Mac, you can copy your video and still images to your computer by dragging and dropping the files from the camcorder as you would with any USB storage device (and upload them to YouTube easily enough) and then edit your videos using iMovie.
In the final analysis, while we have a few nitpicks for the Zi8, we have to say it's the best pocket camcorder we've reviewed to date, with superior image quality and the best features. Today, we'd have to recommend it over the Flip Video models, though we can't say what the future holds--for instance, we've yet to see Samsung's contender--as Flip and other manufacturers will undoubtedly offer their own new pocket camcorders with these types of appealing new features and 1080p video capture.
User reviews
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Sound issue
by lukega on August 26, 2009
Pros: Easy to use, pretty good video.
Cons: Sound issue - high pitched whine while recording.
Summary: Received unit today and there is an audible high pitched whine in the background while recording. Contacted Kodak and they acknowledged a sound issue with some units. Attempting to return ...
Summary: Received unit today and there is an audible high pitched whine in the background while recording. Contacted Kodak and they acknowledged a sound issue with some units. Attempting to return the item.
5 out of 6 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Incredible Picture
by beatenintern on August 28, 2009
Pros: I got this camera for the birth of my baby and wanted something with good quality that was also portable. I was astounded how good the pictures looked on my 48 inch television on the 1080 mode.
Cons: The only problem is that my computer cant run the picture smoothly at 1080 so I have to play it through the recorder for now (I assume faster processors in the future will make this run more smoothly). Also remember you have to purchase a memory card
Summary: A great camera that is a little ahead of my computer.
Using "Any Video Converter" and changing the format from .mov to NTSC movie (.mpg) ...
Updated on Aug 28, 2009Summary: A great camera that is a little ahead of my computer.
Using "Any Video Converter" and changing the format from .mov to NTSC movie (.mpg) I have found video to be good on the computer although not quite as good as directly playing it through the camera onto the TV.
Updated on Aug 28, 20094 out of 4 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Wonderful Performance
by bajadaze on September 25, 2009
Pros: Received this camera a few days ago. Video quality is fantastic. The image stabilization works but don't expect miracles. I've had no sound issues. Low light performance seems quite reasonable. Easy to operate. Just copied files to my mac and played.
Cons: Need a large SD card. Pictures reasonable but just ok quality.
Summary: This is a fantastic little video camera. For well under $200 to think you can get a device that is this convenient to take everywhere that takes high quality video. ...
Summary: This is a fantastic little video camera. For well under $200 to think you can get a device that is this convenient to take everywhere that takes high quality video. IMHO it beats the FLIP HD hands down. Kodak is certainly going to push it's competitors with the Zi8. This product is a winner.
3 out of 3 users found this user opinion helpful.
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outstanding, replaces camcorder and digital camera
by steinbej on October 9, 2009
Pros: picture, size, ease of use
Cons: sound is mediocre, but what do you expect from tiny built-in mic, at least it has jack for external mic
Summary: I am really very very happy with this product. I went from a bulky miniDV cassette camcorder and a bulky old digital still camera to the Nikon Zi8. It's ...
Summary: I am really very very happy with this product. I went from a bulky miniDV cassette camcorder and a bulky old digital still camera to the Nikon Zi8. It's lightweight, it takes brilliant movies in multiple resolutions, and it takes great still pictures, which is all I would ask of a point-n-shoot digital camera anyway. Buttons and screen icons are intuitive and easy to use, I haven't had to use the manual even once. Transfer to my computer is sooooooo easy with the built-in USB connection, no searching for where I left the cord like the old days. Battery could be better but that's what I'd expect for such a small battery in a device which drives a nice screen constantly, and battery is easy to replace with spare if no time to charge the one I have. Does pretty well in low lite. The sound isn't great, but it's good enough for simple shooting, and if I really want the sound better, I can attach an external mic which I own to the mic-in jack. I wanted a Flip, but when I saw this could take good still images and had better ease of use, I took a chance on this new product and I'm very glad I did. Because it's lightweight and small, I'll bring it to many more activities with my family and pull it out for use more frequently, and that's the whole point of having something to record special moments -- ease of actually doing so. I'm very pleased.
2 out of 2 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Bad design
by saamvapi on September 17, 2009
Pros: 1080P, image stabilization, still pictures, external memory and removable battery support
Cons: Worst indor video, and bad sound
Summary: I had flip for 3 weeks, loved it and only complaint was image stabalization. when I saw ZI8 review from CNET editor, I just returned flip and order ZI8... Big ...
Summary: I had flip for 3 weeks, loved it and only complaint was image stabalization. when I saw ZI8 review from CNET editor, I just returned flip and order ZI8... Big mistake.. Not sure CNET did enough testing befor posting it's review.
Do not go for Kodak ZI8, 4 of my friends ordered it along with me and all of us returned the ZI8 within 3 days. Couple of major issues as follows
1 Indoor(with full light) video quality is very bad, Flip is way much better.
2 Internal Mono microphone is just next to the image stabilizing motor which end of picking up (chiiiii) noise all the time while playing video, which is very annoying, Kodak accept this technical issue and suggest us to use external microphone. Ya sure..
3 Zi8 is pretty wide model, it is not comfortable to hold in hand while recording video in compare to flip if you have used in past.
4 Button of ZI8 are not as friendly and soft as Flip.
Flip's lens is very good in compare to ZI8, I hope by end of the year Flip comes out with new product which support 1080P, image stabilization, still pictures, external memory and removable battery support3 out of 7 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Amazing Video Quality, Great Options, Beats the Flip
by Luke_K on December 2, 2009
Pros: Lots of video choices including 720p/60 and 1080p. I love the big screen viewfinder. Great plug into TV options. YOU must upgrade to firmware 1.06 and then it fixes the sound and screen line issues. After that upgrade it blows away the competition.
Cons: Not many. The sound is just okay and the still pictures could be a bit better but they are more than acceptable for casual shooting.
Summary: All in all I couldn't be happier. I've owned numerous versions of the Flip over the last few years and this is markedly better. The feature back and ...
Summary: All in all I couldn't be happier. I've owned numerous versions of the Flip over the last few years and this is markedly better. The feature back and cables, not to mention the extra charger and that the videos are formatted in .mov files and ready for your mac (YES, it does work fine with a mac now) makes this the perfect camera for shooting my family. I mix these videos in with my regular Canon Vixia HD cam and they make great home movies. All in all one of my favorite purchases in a long time.
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Great feature set for the price but poor indoors
by Charles Mitchell on November 30, 2009
Pros: 1080p and 720p shot outdoors looked great on my TV. Mic input is unique and valuable if you want audio without background noise (outdoors) or echo (indoors). Ideal for small time video productions in a school, church, or for video blogging.
Cons: Indoors, even with good amount of light the HD video had a lot of noise. Color balance appears to be fixed for sunlight. Indoor video had a yellow cast. The digital zoom operates in steps instead of being smooth like in a camera with optical zoom.
Summary: A great feature set for under $200, but certainly not comparable to cameras that cost more and better optics (smooth optical zoom, optical image stabilization, and faster f-stop).
Summary: A great feature set for under $200, but certainly not comparable to cameras that cost more and better optics (smooth optical zoom, optical image stabilization, and faster f-stop).
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Great camera but trouble with software.
Pros: I love the 1080 HD and the ability to change batteries and use memory cards instead of only internal memory.
Cons: There is very little information for setting up your camera.
Summary: Love using the camera but ran into some problems when I tried to connect it with my computer. I updated the firmware on it and it erased the software for ...
Summary: Love using the camera but ran into some problems when I tried to connect it with my computer. I updated the firmware on it and it erased the software for importing videos to my computer but was never warned of this.
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Excellent camcorder, decent camera.
by turbosaurus-wrex on November 8, 2009
Pros: Excellent video quality in indoor setting.(Only used indoor)
Hoping for the same outdoor.
Still photos are decent as long as they are not action shots.
Comes with alot for the price.(HDMI, and video cables that aren't included in other cameras)Cons: Don't try action shots with the camera.
Short battery life.
No optical image stabilization.Summary: I have only used this for recording BMX racing in an indoor arena. I have watched the video on my 42" HDTV with the includes HDMI cable and I am ...
Summary: I have only used this for recording BMX racing in an indoor arena. I have watched the video on my 42" HDTV with the includes HDMI cable and I am very impressed with the video quality. Just using the digital image stabilizer has been sufficient for my use so far, even without a tripod. I can see it being a problem at full zoom, and not on a steady platform. I have only used the 720P-60f/s setting, but it is more than enough for my biggest TV.
If you are looking for an inexpensive digital camera that uses flash memory I would definitely give this one a try. -
A great camcorder, with a few easily fixable flaws
by awong01 on November 4, 2009
Pros: The 1080 HD is outstanding, the picture quality through HDMI is amazing. The fact it can take still pictures is a plus. Picture stabilization and the low light capability are decent.
Cons: The sound is a bit off, but the use of a microphone fixes that. The actual device itself is bulky and difficult to hold. The zoom makes the quality of the picture significantly drop. No internal memory is excusable
Summary: I eventualy bought a tripod and a microphone to go with this purchase, after that it became much easier to get the video I wanted. My 1GB cards really didn'...
Summary: I eventualy bought a tripod and a microphone to go with this purchase, after that it became much easier to get the video I wanted. My 1GB cards really didn't work well for lengthy recordings, so I eventually bought a 8GB SDHC card. Now I love this product, I am always amazed at the picture quality.
Specifications
- Manufacturer: Eastman Kodak Co.
- Part number: 8796062
- Description: Whether you're out on the town or just hanging with friends, the KODAK Zi8 Pocket Video Camera captures every experience in stunning 1080p HD video. Stay in focus while you're on the move with integrated image stabilization. Then kick back and watch all the action on your HDTV or share your scene on Facebook or YouTube with a flick of the built-in USB arm. The Zi8 has all you need to define yourself in high definition.
General
- Product Type Camcorder - 1080p
- Enclosure Color Black
- Digital Zoom 4 x
- Total Pixels 5 megapixels
- Optical Sensor Size 1/2.5"
- Optical Sensor Type CMOS
- Digital Video Format H.264
- Shooting Modes Digital photo mode
- White Balance Automatic
- Exposure Modes Automatic
- Camera Flash Built-in
- Widescreen Video Capture Yes
Main Features
- Camcorder Sensor Resolution 5 megapixels
- Camcorder Interpolated Still Resolution 5.3 megapixels
- Color Support Color
- Still Image Format JPEG
- TV Tuner None
Memory / Storage
- Flash Memory 128 MB
- Supported Flash Memory SD Memory Card
- Integrated Memory 128 MB
- Media Type Flash card
Lens System
- Type Lens - 6.3 mm - F/2.8
- Focal Length 6.3 mm
- Lens Aperture F/2.8
- Lens system type Lens
- Max focal length 6.3 mm
- Focus Adjustment Focus free
- Min Focus Range 3.3 ft
- Macro Focus Range 15cm
Additional Features
- Digital Still Camera Function Yes
- Additional Features Built-in speaker, YouTube capture mode, USB 2.0 compatibility
- Software Drivers & Utilities, ArcSoft MediaImpression
- Included Accessories Wrist strap
Viewfinder
- Viewfinder Type None
Display
- Type LCD display - TFT active matrix - 2.5 in - Color
Digital Player (Recorder)
- Type None
Microphone
- Type Microphone - Built-in
Connections
- Connector Type 1 x USB, 1 x HDMI output, 1 x Composite video/audio output, 1 x DC power input, 1 x Microphone
- Expansion Slot(s) 1 x SD Memory Card
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 SP2, Apple Mac OS X 10.4 or later
- Peripheral Devices USB port, CD-ROM drive
Miscellaneous
- Cables Included 1, 1 x A/V cable, 1 x HDMI cable
Power
- Power Device Power adapter - External
- Battery type - Lithium ion
Battery
- Supported Battery Kodak KLIC 7004
- Supported Battery 1 x Li-ion rechargeable battery ( Included )
Manufacturer Warranty
- Service & Support 1 year warranty
- Service & Support Details Limited warranty - 1 year
Viewfinder / Display
- Display Form Factor Built-in
Physical Characteristics
- Width 2.4 in
- Depth 0.9 in
- Height 4.4 in
- Weight 3.9 oz
Product series
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Kodak Zi8 Pocket Video Camera (black)
Manufacturer: Eastman Kodak Co.
Specs: Camcorder, CMOS, Flash card, 3.9 oz
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Kodak Zi8 Pocket Video Camera (raspberry)
Manufacturer: Eastman Kodak Co.
Specs: Camcorder, CMOS, Flash card, 3.9 oz
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Kodak Zi8 Pocket Video Camera (aqua blue)
Manufacturer: Eastman Kodak Co.
Specs: Camcorder, CMOS, Flash card, 3.9 oz
Manufacturer info
- Eastman Kodak Co.
- Manufacturer profile
- Browse Eastman Kodak Co. products on Shopper.com
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- Website: http://www.kodak.com/
- Address:
343 State St.
Rochester, NY 14650 - Phone: 800/521-0788
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