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Technical Details
Size Name: 8 GB | Color: Black
- Carry it anywhere with its sleek and slim design that fits in any pocket or purse
- Shoot up to 2 hours of stunning HD video (720p / 60fps) on 8 GB of built-in memory; no additional memory needed
- Keep your video steady on the go with MinoHD's newest feature, image stabilization
- Connect the flip-out USB arm directly into your PC or Mac to launch pre-loaded FlipShare software
- Organize, create and share your videos with FlipShare software
Product Details
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Product Description
Size Name: 8 GB | Color: Black
From the Manufacturer
Flip MinoHD (2 Hour) Overview
- Shoot up to two hours of best-ever HD video—now with image stabilization for incredibly clear and steady video
- Carry it anywhere with its sleek and slim design that fits in any pocket or purse
- Comes with 8 GB of built-in memory, letting you capture 2 hours of HD video; no additional memory required
- Power on, press record and start recording—it's that simple
- Watch your videos on the large, 2" anti-glare color display
- Connect the flip-out USB arm directly into your PC or Mac® to launch pre-loaded FlipShare™ software
- Use FlipShare software to organize and edit your videos, capture photos, send video greeting cards and create custom movies
- Share videos privately using FlipShare's attachment-free email or by creating Flip Channels; post publicly with direct video shares to Facebook™, YouTube™ and Twitter™
- Charge the internal Lithium-ion battery through the built-in USB arm; also recharges quickly when connected to Flip Video Power Adapter [sold separately]
- Watch your videos on your HDTV through the Flip Video HDMI™ Mini Cable (type C) [sold separately]
- Features a flat-back panel with touch-sensitive, backlit buttons
- Records high-quality H.264 videos that are compatible with most video-playing applications, including Windows Media Player, QuickTime Player and iTunes
- Video: 16:9 widescreen, HD 720p (1280 x 720) at 60 frames per seconds (fps) progressive scan; recorded as MP4 files
- Included in package: Flip MinoHD video camera, wrist strap, soft protective case, user guide
Flip MinoHD Highlights
Best-Ever HD Video
The all-new Flip MinoHD combines signature Flip simplicity with enhanced video technology for best-ever HD video. The new MinoHD features built-in image stabilization and incredible 720p resolution, now with double the frame rate (60 frames per second), for HD video that is remarkably clear and steady. MinoHD thrives in all types of lighting environments, meaning your video will look stunning no matter the condition. Premier AAC audio makes your video sound simply amazing, too.
HD Video Redefined. Image Stabilization helps provide better HD video quality.
Sleek, Pocket-Sized Design
Super-sleek MinoHD features a matte front and soft, rounded edges. Its pocket-sized design means you can take your MinoHD with you everywhere you go. Whether you're enjoying an adventurous vacation, hitting the town with friends, or just taking it easy at home, your MinoHD will let you capture all the action.
Easy to Use
Like all Flip video cameras, the new MinoHD is incredibly easy to use. Power on, press record and start capturing high-quality HD video within seconds. It's really that simple. Included HDMI output lets you watch your crisp, vibrant HD videos directly on your HDTV. When you're ready to share your video, flip out the signature USB arm and connect MinoHD to your PC or Mac to launch pre-loaded FlipShare software.
Pre-Loaded FlipShare Software—Now with Direct Upload to Twitter
MinoHD comes pre-loaded with FlipShare software, which makes it easy to organize, create and share your videos:- Organize your videos by dragging and dropping into folders you've created, or use the automatic date-stamped folders
- Edit and trim your favorite videos clips or even add your own music, all using FlipShare's easy editing tools
- Create video greeting cards or use the Magic Movie feature to make movies with the click of a button
- Capture photos using the easy Snapshot feature. You can grab a still-image photo from any of the 60 frames that comprise each second of your video
- Share privately using FlipShare's attachment-free email. Or create private Flip Channels, the easiest way to share videos and photos with groups of friends and family
- Post online by sharing directly to Facebook™, Twitter™ and YouTube™
Recommended Accessories:
| This compact adapter's USB port connects to your Flip camcoder’s USB arm. | FlipShare TV offers the ultimate home movie experience by making it easy to watch your entire Flip Video library wirelessly on your TV or HDTV. | Watch HD video shot with your MinoHD 2nd Gen or Flip UltraHD camcorder directly on your HDTV. | The tripod screws into your Flip, and flexible legs let you take steady video almost anywhere. | Flip Video USB Cables  Connect your Flip camcorder to any computer, even those with hard-to-reach USB ports. | Unfold tripod legs and for stready video or use attachable straps to record action-packed video. |
Product Description
The new Flip MinoHD combines signature Flip Video quality with improved technology to offer HD video that is better than ever. MinoHD features incredible 720p resolution, now with 60 frames per second, and built-in image stabilization to produce incredibly clear and steady HD video. The new MinoHD has a simple user interface and a super-slim, pocket-sized design. Easy-to-use pre-loaded FlipShare software lets you organize, edit and share your videos to your own private Flip Channels or directly to Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.
Available Warranties for This Item
Size Name: 8 GB | Color: Black
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
777 of 861 people found the following review helpful
=======================================================
===> PLEASE READ IMPORTANT UPDATES AT THE END OF THIS REPORT (which is as I wrote it on October 28, 2010) AND CONSIDER CAREFULLY BEFORE BUYING AN 'ORPHAN' PRODUCT <===
=======================================================
This Flip MinoHD Video Camera - Black, 8 GB, 2 Hours (3rd Generation) NEWEST MODEL is well-constructed and takes decent video and sound. It was offered to me by Amazon Vine and I wanted to obtain it to see why it has been stated that Flip Video 'rules' the pocket camcorder field.
Unfortunately I am very disappointed with this model for the following reasons:
1. It offers only one level of picture quality: 720P [1280 x 720 60fps H.264/AVC with an MP4 file extension]; while this is good, the files obtained are quite large - I took just 143 seconds of video and the total file size is 169.9 MB. A person could convert this to something smaller if desired but that is, at the very least, time-consuming and I think that many persons for whom this camcorder is intended might be intimidated by the necessity of doing this. A choice should be offered as it is on other similarly-priced pocket camcorders.
2. It does not take still pictures. If you have a Microsoft Windows or Mac-equipped computer, you can extract stills from your videos using the free included software - but, again, this is an extra and time-consuming step and may also be intimidating for some.
3. Its USB connector is very badly designed; unless you have one laying about, you MUST purchase an AmazonBasics USB 2.0 A-Male to A-Female Extension Cable (9.8 Feet / 3.0 Meters) or similar. If you attach the camcorder directly to your computer, you will find that the weight of the camcorder puts an inordinate strain on the USB port as well as the USB connector on the camcorder.
4. I appreciate that the camcorder comes with a cloth bag as standard but this bag offers no real protection to the camcorder nor any means of attaching it to a belt or other connection point. The bag could have been much better designed and I'm sure that many, if not most, people will want to buy an after-market case.
---> The following is the most important design defect, in my opinion, and would be a 'deal-breaker' for me:
5. This camcorder uses a built-in rechargeable battery instead of a user-replaceable one. Not only that, its battery life appears to be somewhat short and the camcorder CANNOT be operated when connected to either AC or a USB port (these can be used only for recharging the battery).
I did not know that it came with such a battery prior to ordering it and, had I known, I would NEVER have ordered it!
What does this mean to the user? It means that, if you want to take video for an extended period of time and your battery goes flat, you will have to wait while you recharge it, possibly missing some situations you would have liked to capture.
Just imagine having that happen during the middle of recording a wedding ceremony and reception, or your daughter's first dance recital, or your son's first school play, or your children opening their Christmas presents ...
And don't think "it can't happen to me" - oh yes it can!
I can't stress enough that this is a MAJOR disadvantage and is the main reason for my disappointment with this unit.
In addition, these built-in rechargeable batteries have a finite and relatively short service life, generally about three or four years. After that, you will either have to send the camcorder back to the manufacturer (at a high cost including shipping) for battery replacement or, more likely, you will just discard it.
In other words, after only a few years, you will probably have just an expensive paperweight.
If this were some twenty-dollar 'wonder' the defects I list above might be acceptable (even the short battery life in use; at twenty dollars you could afford to buy two, using one while the other is recharging).
But this camcorder costs TEN TIMES that! And at that price it does not offer good value for money, again in my opinion.
So for whom is this camcorder intended? As it is extremely easy to set up (with few choices to have to consider in its menu) and very easy-to-use when 'filming,' it may be fine for someone's great-grandmother (no offense intended) or for someone who is completely technophobic. A wealthy person could buy one for a small child as a first camcorder. After all, as I stated, it does produce decent video and sound (stereo, by the way).
But at its price it faces formidable competition, two of which I own (both courtesy of Amazon Vine): the Creative Labs Vado HD Pocket Video Camcorder 3rd Generation,120 Minutes (Black) - NEWEST MODEL and the Kodak PlaySport (Zx3) HD Waterproof Pocket Video Camera (Black) NEWEST MODEL. both of which I consider to be five-star products.
Neither of those two have any of the functional shortcomings of the Flip MinoHD; they both feature relatively inexpensive user-replaceable batteries (I have bought spares for both) and you can buy an external charger for them. Thus you can recharge one battery while using the camcorder with the other, something you CANNOT do with this Flip model. (If you are interested in further details about either or both of these two, I refer you to my and others' reviews on Amazon's product detail pages.)
In addition they offer the user a choice of multiple levels of video quality (three levels in the case of the Creative, four with the Kodak). Plus both can take still pictures. And the Creative's low-light performance is exemplary, mostly due, I think, to its very fast f2.0 lens.
The Flip does not use a media card; it holds about two hours of video. The Creative also does not use a media card; via its three quality options, it holds from one to four hours of video (at the Flip's quality level, the Creative also holds about two hours - but with HALF the file size!). The Kodak does use a media card and it is an absolutely necessary option; at the same video quality level as the Flip, a 16 GB SD card holds over four hours and twenty minutes of video. Transferring the video to a computer is easy with all of them; some may find removing an SD card and inserting it into your computer's card reader to be somewhat more convenient than needing to physically attach the entire unit to a USB port, but that's a matter of personal preference and would not affect my own choice in any way (though the necessity of buying an SD card is indeed an extra expense).
At the same level of video quality, the images produced by all three are similar. But, if you wish, you can take full 1080P video with the Kodak. And you can take VGA-format [640 x 480] video with the Creative (this size is appropriate for placing videos on YouTube).
While this Flip Video camcorder has an image stabilization circuit, it appears to do little; the images produced by all three, when taken at the same quality level the Flip offers, are practically the same (except under those low-light situations where the Creative REALLY shines; if low-light performance is important to you, I believe that the Creative Vado is the best one to buy).
You will see a number of videos taken with the Flip MinoHD contained in reviews here; I do not say that this camcorder cannot produce fine videos - it certainly can, but it won't do so for long! Once the battery goes, goodbye Flip! (In the reviews for the other two camcorders you can also see some of their video examples and you will see that there are no real differences in overall picture quality.)
I do like the fact that the controls light up on the Flip when the camcorder is in use - but I wish there were some way to turn off the lights when they're not necessary; they do drain the battery unnecessarily. They would be helpful only at night or in a dark room.
All in all, I find the Flip MinoHD to be an unsatisfactory product, at least for me. In order to make it 'easy to use,' Cisco (Flip) has left off too many features. Since the other two cost no more (when tricked out with recommended accessories), I suggest that anyone interested in such a pocket camcorder investigate them. They are just as easy to use as this Flip but they offer more operational choices for the user should s/he desire to take advantage of them.
While I have purchased many accessories for the Creative and the Kodak (thus bringing their overall price to the same level as the Flip MinoHD with no accessories), I have no intentions of buying anything extra for this Flip as it will become useless in just a few years. (Of course, as I own it and did not pay for it, I'll use it from time to time until it does 'die' completely.)
In conclusion, let me state that, as I said, this camcorder DOES produce excellent quality video with very good sound quality and it IS very easy to use. I think that some people will be completely satisfied with it. HOWEVER for all the functional reasons I mentioned above (especially in comparison with the two lower-priced competitors I own) but primarily because of the fact that a user will NEVER know on any given day whether s/he will have enough power to be able to record all that s/he would want, I am sorry to say that I CANNOT give this Flip camcorder my recommendation. I wish it were otherwise. Read more ›
===> PLEASE READ IMPORTANT UPDATES AT THE END OF THIS REPORT (which is as I wrote it on October 28, 2010) AND CONSIDER CAREFULLY BEFORE BUYING AN 'ORPHAN' PRODUCT <===
=======================================================
This Flip MinoHD Video Camera - Black, 8 GB, 2 Hours (3rd Generation) NEWEST MODEL is well-constructed and takes decent video and sound. It was offered to me by Amazon Vine and I wanted to obtain it to see why it has been stated that Flip Video 'rules' the pocket camcorder field.
Unfortunately I am very disappointed with this model for the following reasons:
1. It offers only one level of picture quality: 720P [1280 x 720 60fps H.264/AVC with an MP4 file extension]; while this is good, the files obtained are quite large - I took just 143 seconds of video and the total file size is 169.9 MB. A person could convert this to something smaller if desired but that is, at the very least, time-consuming and I think that many persons for whom this camcorder is intended might be intimidated by the necessity of doing this. A choice should be offered as it is on other similarly-priced pocket camcorders.
2. It does not take still pictures. If you have a Microsoft Windows or Mac-equipped computer, you can extract stills from your videos using the free included software - but, again, this is an extra and time-consuming step and may also be intimidating for some.
3. Its USB connector is very badly designed; unless you have one laying about, you MUST purchase an AmazonBasics USB 2.0 A-Male to A-Female Extension Cable (9.8 Feet / 3.0 Meters) or similar. If you attach the camcorder directly to your computer, you will find that the weight of the camcorder puts an inordinate strain on the USB port as well as the USB connector on the camcorder.
4. I appreciate that the camcorder comes with a cloth bag as standard but this bag offers no real protection to the camcorder nor any means of attaching it to a belt or other connection point. The bag could have been much better designed and I'm sure that many, if not most, people will want to buy an after-market case.
---> The following is the most important design defect, in my opinion, and would be a 'deal-breaker' for me:
5. This camcorder uses a built-in rechargeable battery instead of a user-replaceable one. Not only that, its battery life appears to be somewhat short and the camcorder CANNOT be operated when connected to either AC or a USB port (these can be used only for recharging the battery).
I did not know that it came with such a battery prior to ordering it and, had I known, I would NEVER have ordered it!
What does this mean to the user? It means that, if you want to take video for an extended period of time and your battery goes flat, you will have to wait while you recharge it, possibly missing some situations you would have liked to capture.
Just imagine having that happen during the middle of recording a wedding ceremony and reception, or your daughter's first dance recital, or your son's first school play, or your children opening their Christmas presents ...
And don't think "it can't happen to me" - oh yes it can!
I can't stress enough that this is a MAJOR disadvantage and is the main reason for my disappointment with this unit.
In addition, these built-in rechargeable batteries have a finite and relatively short service life, generally about three or four years. After that, you will either have to send the camcorder back to the manufacturer (at a high cost including shipping) for battery replacement or, more likely, you will just discard it.
In other words, after only a few years, you will probably have just an expensive paperweight.
If this were some twenty-dollar 'wonder' the defects I list above might be acceptable (even the short battery life in use; at twenty dollars you could afford to buy two, using one while the other is recharging).
But this camcorder costs TEN TIMES that! And at that price it does not offer good value for money, again in my opinion.
So for whom is this camcorder intended? As it is extremely easy to set up (with few choices to have to consider in its menu) and very easy-to-use when 'filming,' it may be fine for someone's great-grandmother (no offense intended) or for someone who is completely technophobic. A wealthy person could buy one for a small child as a first camcorder. After all, as I stated, it does produce decent video and sound (stereo, by the way).
But at its price it faces formidable competition, two of which I own (both courtesy of Amazon Vine): the Creative Labs Vado HD Pocket Video Camcorder 3rd Generation,120 Minutes (Black) - NEWEST MODEL and the Kodak PlaySport (Zx3) HD Waterproof Pocket Video Camera (Black) NEWEST MODEL. both of which I consider to be five-star products.
Neither of those two have any of the functional shortcomings of the Flip MinoHD; they both feature relatively inexpensive user-replaceable batteries (I have bought spares for both) and you can buy an external charger for them. Thus you can recharge one battery while using the camcorder with the other, something you CANNOT do with this Flip model. (If you are interested in further details about either or both of these two, I refer you to my and others' reviews on Amazon's product detail pages.)
In addition they offer the user a choice of multiple levels of video quality (three levels in the case of the Creative, four with the Kodak). Plus both can take still pictures. And the Creative's low-light performance is exemplary, mostly due, I think, to its very fast f2.0 lens.
The Flip does not use a media card; it holds about two hours of video. The Creative also does not use a media card; via its three quality options, it holds from one to four hours of video (at the Flip's quality level, the Creative also holds about two hours - but with HALF the file size!). The Kodak does use a media card and it is an absolutely necessary option; at the same video quality level as the Flip, a 16 GB SD card holds over four hours and twenty minutes of video. Transferring the video to a computer is easy with all of them; some may find removing an SD card and inserting it into your computer's card reader to be somewhat more convenient than needing to physically attach the entire unit to a USB port, but that's a matter of personal preference and would not affect my own choice in any way (though the necessity of buying an SD card is indeed an extra expense).
At the same level of video quality, the images produced by all three are similar. But, if you wish, you can take full 1080P video with the Kodak. And you can take VGA-format [640 x 480] video with the Creative (this size is appropriate for placing videos on YouTube).
While this Flip Video camcorder has an image stabilization circuit, it appears to do little; the images produced by all three, when taken at the same quality level the Flip offers, are practically the same (except under those low-light situations where the Creative REALLY shines; if low-light performance is important to you, I believe that the Creative Vado is the best one to buy).
You will see a number of videos taken with the Flip MinoHD contained in reviews here; I do not say that this camcorder cannot produce fine videos - it certainly can, but it won't do so for long! Once the battery goes, goodbye Flip! (In the reviews for the other two camcorders you can also see some of their video examples and you will see that there are no real differences in overall picture quality.)
I do like the fact that the controls light up on the Flip when the camcorder is in use - but I wish there were some way to turn off the lights when they're not necessary; they do drain the battery unnecessarily. They would be helpful only at night or in a dark room.
All in all, I find the Flip MinoHD to be an unsatisfactory product, at least for me. In order to make it 'easy to use,' Cisco (Flip) has left off too many features. Since the other two cost no more (when tricked out with recommended accessories), I suggest that anyone interested in such a pocket camcorder investigate them. They are just as easy to use as this Flip but they offer more operational choices for the user should s/he desire to take advantage of them.
While I have purchased many accessories for the Creative and the Kodak (thus bringing their overall price to the same level as the Flip MinoHD with no accessories), I have no intentions of buying anything extra for this Flip as it will become useless in just a few years. (Of course, as I own it and did not pay for it, I'll use it from time to time until it does 'die' completely.)
In conclusion, let me state that, as I said, this camcorder DOES produce excellent quality video with very good sound quality and it IS very easy to use. I think that some people will be completely satisfied with it. HOWEVER for all the functional reasons I mentioned above (especially in comparison with the two lower-priced competitors I own) but primarily because of the fact that a user will NEVER know on any given day whether s/he will have enough power to be able to record all that s/he would want, I am sorry to say that I CANNOT give this Flip camcorder my recommendation. I wish it were otherwise. Read more ›
116 of 130 people found the following review helpful
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Flip MinoHD Video Camera - Black, 8 GB, 2 Hours (3rd Generation) NEWEST MODEL
The presentation after opening the outer box is really nice and certainly makes for a great gift!
We didn't even have to read the directions. My 13 year old just started using it right away. The set up (time and date, etc) was a breeze. I love the fact that it had a charge right out of the box and is immediately ready to use. No media card needed.
We played around with it for quite awhile and the video here shows the quality and zoom.
The size is so convenient and easy to hold, it fits in the palm of your hand. All you have to do is turn it on and click the red button to start recording. Even though the screen is small (approx less than 2 inches) it has a quality display to see what you are taping. The sound quality is excellent as well.
You can zoom with this but I don't know by how much. It didn't seem like a lot to me. I show that on the video attached here.
Also, every time that you plug in the camera it automatically turns itself on and charges.
As far as the software goes, it allows you to make a movie and edit it by adding a title, credits and music. You can add more effects with Windows Movie Maker. You also use the software to share videos by emailing them or putting them online.We emailed a 48 second video and it took 6 minutes to send using the Flip software. There is also an option for making greeting cards. You can select holidays, birthdays, new baby, love and friendship, travel, etc The video is placed in the greeting card and then you can share it. All this is done with a couple of clicks.
I absolutely love this flip video camera. It is simple to use and makes sharing videos super easy. I think the quality of the video is better than some regular cameras and definitely better than my cell phone.
If you go to their website you can purchase the Flip and customize your flip's look. I love the idea that you can customize it with your own picture. If you have any questions feel free to comment and I will answer them as best as I can.
The presentation after opening the outer box is really nice and certainly makes for a great gift!
We didn't even have to read the directions. My 13 year old just started using it right away. The set up (time and date, etc) was a breeze. I love the fact that it had a charge right out of the box and is immediately ready to use. No media card needed.
We played around with it for quite awhile and the video here shows the quality and zoom.
The size is so convenient and easy to hold, it fits in the palm of your hand. All you have to do is turn it on and click the red button to start recording. Even though the screen is small (approx less than 2 inches) it has a quality display to see what you are taping. The sound quality is excellent as well.
You can zoom with this but I don't know by how much. It didn't seem like a lot to me. I show that on the video attached here.
Also, every time that you plug in the camera it automatically turns itself on and charges.
As far as the software goes, it allows you to make a movie and edit it by adding a title, credits and music. You can add more effects with Windows Movie Maker. You also use the software to share videos by emailing them or putting them online.We emailed a 48 second video and it took 6 minutes to send using the Flip software. There is also an option for making greeting cards. You can select holidays, birthdays, new baby, love and friendship, travel, etc The video is placed in the greeting card and then you can share it. All this is done with a couple of clicks.
I absolutely love this flip video camera. It is simple to use and makes sharing videos super easy. I think the quality of the video is better than some regular cameras and definitely better than my cell phone.
If you go to their website you can purchase the Flip and customize your flip's look. I love the idea that you can customize it with your own picture. If you have any questions feel free to comment and I will answer them as best as I can.
The manufacturer commented on the review below
110 of 124 people found the following review helpful
Color Name:Black| Size Name:8 GB|Amazon Verified Purchase
FLIP video has done a great deal to prove to me as a repeat customer that they heavily weigh simplicity and ease of use when designing their products. My family owns two FLIP camcorders and it is clear to me that the previous version:
-Flip MinoHD Video Camera - Brushed Metal, 8 GB, 2 Hours (2nd Generation) OLD MODEL
is a much better value for the money as I do not believe the minor updates on this "new" model warrant a $70 plus price increase (a nearly 50% premium!!!!)
The new generation has maintained the small size and easy use of the second generation. They have added a new sensors and image stabilization to 720p video at 60fps. (Second gen-720p 30fps)
I bought the 2nd generation flip minoHD (ASIN: B002R5AM7C) as a present for myself and my family to use for many different applications. The kids have used it for making YouTube videos with their friends. We have used it to record Birthdays, Christmas and many other random filmable occasions all with great results. It has become a favorite of all of the members of my family and me.
My son recently moved away to college and I decided to give the second generation family minoHD to him for school. Conveniently for our Flip-Lacking family, the new 3rd generation minoHD just came out so I ordered it to replace the second generation.
I would be kidding myself if I did not acknowledge that the new features do add some recording benefits but the basis of this review is that my family and I have decided that these improvements just ARE NOT worth the extra $70.
The recording quality is still 720p; the fps increase is hardly noticed. I would feel much better about the price increase if 1080p recording had been incorporated but with the newest round of cell phones producing HD video now, FLIP needs to give us more upgrade for the money.
For now, IMO, the 2nd generation Flip minoHD is a much better value.
-Flip MinoHD Video Camera - Brushed Metal, 8 GB, 2 Hours (2nd Generation) OLD MODEL
is a much better value for the money as I do not believe the minor updates on this "new" model warrant a $70 plus price increase (a nearly 50% premium!!!!)
The new generation has maintained the small size and easy use of the second generation. They have added a new sensors and image stabilization to 720p video at 60fps. (Second gen-720p 30fps)
I bought the 2nd generation flip minoHD (ASIN: B002R5AM7C) as a present for myself and my family to use for many different applications. The kids have used it for making YouTube videos with their friends. We have used it to record Birthdays, Christmas and many other random filmable occasions all with great results. It has become a favorite of all of the members of my family and me.
My son recently moved away to college and I decided to give the second generation family minoHD to him for school. Conveniently for our Flip-Lacking family, the new 3rd generation minoHD just came out so I ordered it to replace the second generation.
I would be kidding myself if I did not acknowledge that the new features do add some recording benefits but the basis of this review is that my family and I have decided that these improvements just ARE NOT worth the extra $70.
The recording quality is still 720p; the fps increase is hardly noticed. I would feel much better about the price increase if 1080p recording had been incorporated but with the newest round of cell phones producing HD video now, FLIP needs to give us more upgrade for the money.
For now, IMO, the 2nd generation Flip minoHD is a much better value.
The manufacturer commented on this review
(What's this?)
Ronald, thanks for being a loyal Flip customer; we truly appreciate your business. We wanted to take this opportunity to shed some additional light on the enhanced features of our new 3rd Generation MinoHD video camera. The 3rd Gen MinoHD provides significant improvements in video quality, which creates video that is clearer and steadier than before. This new MinoHD has a electronic gyro that adjusts the frames captured from the sensor to greatly reduce shake that can occur from slight hand movement. The benefit of the algorithm that Flip uses with the gyro is that it measures true movement of the camera, not the movement of objects within the frame. This makes for a more consistent and smoother video capture. In addition, the 3rd Gen MinoHD records 720p video at 60 frames per second (fps), which is twice as many fps, making for smoother movement in sports- or action-oriented video. Also, because the new video features twice as many frames per second, you'll likely find more still image shots you will want to capture using the Snapshot feature in the FlipShare software.
Prior to releasing our new products, our engineers spent a lot of time investigating 1080p vs. 720p video to determine which resolution would provide the highest-quality video viewing and sharing experience. The challenge with 1080p video from any video camera is that most PCs do not have the processing power to play back 1080p video without significant shuddering in the playback. This makes for an almost unwatchable video on the PC in most cases . This issue is made even worse when you want to upload or share videos via the web or email. This is why we have chosen to continue capturing HD video in 720p. For all forms of sharing over the web, we optimize the video for high-quality playback while avoiding large file uploads or downloads for the person who receives your videos. We feel confident that our new line of video cameras feature our best-ever HD video and that our enhanced FlipShare software allows users to maximize how they organize, edit and share their videos.
Finally, we'd like to point out that MinoHD 3rd Generation is available in 2 hour and 1 hour configurations at suggested retail prices (SRPs) of $229.99 and $179.99 respectively. The 2nd Gen MinoHD 2 Hour was also released at $229.99 SRP before the 3rd Generation product was released, so you are able to take advantage of a price discount on the old version while supplies last. One consideration might be to buy the new MinoHD 1 Hour product and get all the features of the new 2 Hour product for $50 less in the 1 Hour configuration. We hope this has answered your questions.
Prior to releasing our new products, our engineers spent a lot of time investigating 1080p vs. 720p video to determine which resolution would provide the highest-quality video viewing and sharing experience. The challenge with 1080p video from any video camera is that most PCs do not have the processing power to play back 1080p video without significant shuddering in the playback. This makes for an almost unwatchable video on the PC in most cases . This issue is made even worse when you want to upload or share videos via the web or email. This is why we have chosen to continue capturing HD video in 720p. For all forms of sharing over the web, we optimize the video for high-quality playback while avoiding large file uploads or downloads for the person who receives your videos. We feel confident that our new line of video cameras feature our best-ever HD video and that our enhanced FlipShare software allows users to maximize how they organize, edit and share their videos.
Finally, we'd like to point out that MinoHD 3rd Generation is available in 2 hour and 1 hour configurations at suggested retail prices (SRPs) of $229.99 and $179.99 respectively. The 2nd Gen MinoHD 2 Hour was also released at $229.99 SRP before the 3rd Generation product was released, so you are able to take advantage of a price discount on the old version while supplies last. One consideration might be to buy the new MinoHD 1 Hour product and get all the features of the new 2 Hour product for $50 less in the 1 Hour configuration. We hope this has answered your questions.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
Flip Vado
Great product! So easy to use and very light weight, I didn't even have to read the manual. The video quality is wonderful. Thanks also for the prompt delivery!
Published 1 day ago by renegade
Movie Time
This little video camera is amazing. I have created short film of my grand boys and videos of a local touristic feature in my town for promotion to the rest of the world. Read more
Published 7 days ago by alh
didn't work at all
I've gotten 2 of these recently, and they were both Dead On Arrival. Not much to review when the product doesn't work at all.
Published 9 days ago by Patrick O'Malley
If your Mino HD died and more information
I've owned both FlipHD and MinoHD to give you some in-depth review on what's better and how to reset your dead MinoHD (towards the bottom). Read more
Published 15 days ago by Sidehop
Watch out - this is a disposable after 12 month warranty.
Mino will not repair/replace camera after 12 months. They do not (no longer) offer any credit toward replacement either. Read more
Published 22 days ago by MostlyAmused
DOA
I had heard good things about Flip Video, and seemed like such an easy, fun format that I wanted to try one out. Read more
Published 27 days ago by Clyde Barlowe
easy to use
easy to use simple point and shoot interface . Easy to upload on the go software is right on the device .. Read more
Published 28 days ago by Trucker Ninja
Stopped Working
It's really simple. Worked for a couple hours of video which was nice. Then it refused to turn all the way on but would not turn off. Read more
Published 28 days ago by James M
Might be cool.... if it worked
Received a Flip Video Mino HD for a Christmas present since my wife and I have a baby on the way and wanted to be able to share videos with extended family. Read more
Published 1 month ago by tedward
Cisco Flip Is A Rip
We like hundreds, maybe thousands of unwitting consumers purchased the Flip MinoHD on Amazon only to find that that it cannot be switched on because the internal battery is dead... Read more
Published 1 month ago by pjdusa
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Size Name: 8 GB | Color: Black
