Pure Digital Flip Video Mino HD

Pure Digital turns out another simple camcorder, but this time, with a twist: HD video recording. Check out our hands-on tests of this intriguing and innovative video recorder and see if it's a solid buy. By Michael Patrick Brady

Pure Digital's Flip Video recorders have proved that most camcorder and camera manufacturers are wrong to think that consumers want more and better features. What they really want is less, and they're willing to pay for it. The Flip Video devices have, until recently, provided exceedingly simple operation and moderate-quality video intended mostly for sharing on the Internet. Their newest model, the Flip Mino HD maintains the simplistic approach but instead greatly improves the video quality to take advantage of YouTube's new higher quality format and the HD capabilities of rival video services like Vimeo.

The Flip Mino HD records video in widescreen 1280 x 720 resolution (that's 720p in HDTV terms). Aside from that, most of the specifications are the same as previous models: 60 minutes of recording time store on internal, non-removable flash memory, a 1.5-inch LCD display, 2x digital zoom (and no optical zoom), non-removable rechargeable lithium-ion battery, and the signature flip-out USB dongle (now, thankfully, on the top of the camera instead of the side).

Design: Generally Impressive with a Few Flaws

The design of the Flip Mino HD is, frankly, excellent, and the attention to detail is carried through not just the device itself but also the packaging. Taking a cue from Apple, Pure Digital has nestled the Mino HD in an attractive, durable box that just conveys quality and care. The Mino HD itself is slim and sleek, exceptionally lightweight and ready to be dropped into a pocket and forgotten about until needed.

Tried and True

Pure Digital Flip Video MinoHD

Flip Mino HD Pros:

• 720p high-definition video
• Simple software and operation
• Stylish, lightweight design

Flip Mino HD Cons:

• No image stabilization
• Small LCD display
• Relatively expensive

The positioning of the flip-out USB dongle is an improvement. The old Ultra models had it on the side, which could result in the body of the camcorder blocking adjacent USB ports. The Mino HD avoids that with a top-mounted dongle, though if you have a desktop computer under a table, you'll still probably want a USB extender cable so you don't have to crawl around on all fours to plug this thing in.

The back panel is as simple as ever, with three buttons (Play, Delete, and Record) and a four-way directional pad used to navigate clips and engage the measly 2x digital zoom. The back also contains the LCD screen which, by any measure, is an extreme disappointment. Despite moving into high-definition, widescreen video recording, Pure Digital has not modified their LCD displays to accommodate the new videos. It's the same square aspect ratio and at 1.5-inches, it's far too small. There is lots of unused real estate on the back of the Mino HD that would've been better used to fit a widescreen LCD display. Since it's the only way to frame and preview videos, the 1.5-inch measurement is woefully inadequate.

Video: High-Definition Looks Good (If You Stand Still)

As for the video quality, I was very impressed. The 720p high-definition resolution really shows, and each video clip is infused with a level of quality far beyond what the Flip Video camcorders have ever been capable of, and certainly outstrips similarly priced standard-definition camcorders. Even in low light situations, though some noise is visible, the video quality is generally excellent. Audio is well-captured and well-rendered in playback. In daylight, the Mino HD really shines, with enough light to faithfully record scenes as you remember them.

The one unfortunate oversight, however, is the lack of image stabilization. With such a small and light camcorder, jitters and shakes from the hand holding it transfer quite easily to the video. It's very hard to keep the Mino HD steady, and this comes across in the clips. Furthermore, it's only possible to get clear, detailed video when entirely still. Any kind of motion will result in a weird, wavy effect that mars clips.

Of course, the Flip cameras also lack optical zoom, leaving you with but 2x of fake, digital zoom. It works alright; at this resolution, 2x is enough to get close without going too far and spoiling the picture with pixilation, and obviously the lack of optical zoom keeps the Mino HD small and unobtrusive. Overall, it's a net positive, or, perhaps, a necessary evil.

Is It Worth the Money?

At present, the Flip Mino HD is available for about $210, with a manufacturer's suggested retail price of $229.99. For a barebones device, that's rather expensive. While most HD camcorders are in the $1,000 range, the Flip Mino HD is perhaps best compared to HD-video enabled digital cameras.

The Samsung TL34HD and the Panasonic TZ5 are both digital still cameras that have high-definition video modes that record in the same resolution as the Flip Mino HD (1280 x 720). They are roughly in the same price range: the TL34HD can be found for around $200, while the TZ5 is on sale for about $225. The video on all three cameras is of comparable quality. The overall differences are significant. Although they are all the same price, the TL34HD and TZ5 offer far more for the money.

The TZ5, for example, has a 10x optical zoom and can take 9.1 megapixel still photos. It also has image stabilization. The TL34HD has a 3.6x optical zoom, can take 14.3 megapixel still photos, and has image stabilization. The Flip cannot take still photos. Both are small; the TZ5 is a bit larger than the Flip, while the TL34HD is actually slightly more compact, albeit heavier.

There are advantages to the Flip, of course, the primary one being simplicity, not having to worry about lots of other functions and features. But it's important to understand what your dollar is buying. With the Flip, you're paying for less, not more. As a consumer, it's up to you whether or not you're comfortable with that.

Conclusion

The Flip Mino HD is a good HD camcorder with some minor flaws, the most significant being the lack of image stabilization which is absolutely necessary for such a small, lightweight camcorder. If it had image stabilization, or were maybe $75 less expensive, it would be easier to recommend it as a solid buy. As it is, I can only recommend it to people who are sure they're going to be doing a lot of web video sharing and know what they're getting into before they buy.