Anyone have a flip? Ultra or HD? do you need it?

[2littleprincesses]

I am thinking about buying a flip. At Amazon now they are $150 for the HD with 2 accessories (extra battery pack, power adapter or tripod or cables) and they have an underwater case that you can buy to go underwater.

Or the ultra (no HD) is $115 with no accessories. Underwater case fits this one too.

I have a point and shoot camera that takes short videos--it cannot go underwater. I don't have an HD computer. Can I use the HD one--will I have to do techy stuff to have the HD work on my computer?

Do you use yours alot? Any advice would be great. THanks!!!

 

[seashoreCM]

You need to bring your computer (laptop) with you on vacation otherwise you cannot unload the Flip when it fills up, to take more video. I don't think there are any camera shops in Disney or its environs that can unload the Flip contents onto a DVD as computer data.

I have never used a Flip but I think it comes with software that lets you play the video on your computer after uploading the Flip contents.

I don't know whether they make Blu Ray recorders yet; if not all you can put on DVD for regular DVD players is a (downconverted) standard definition edition of your video.

 

[twinsplusone]

I'm thinking about the same $115 Flip camera from Amazon, but here is my question. Can you download them to a dvd to play on your tv? I don't want to store everything on our computer.

Sorry to add a question to your thread.

 

[2littleprincesses]

I am pretty sure you can put it on a dvd. That's where I am having trouble. If I get the HD--can I put these on a dvd or does that not work?

Non techy person here.

 

[gacompguy]

Yes, you can certainly burn the videos to DVD. I import all of my Flip HD videos into iMovie and then burn them to DVD.

Here are a few of my observations from owning the HD version: First off, be totally sure the HD will fit in the underwater case correctly. Not all of the Flip's will fit into it. Second, the Mino uses a proprietary codec for the video. The short, non-techie explanation is that you'll probably have issues unless you follow all of Flip's instructions. Every time you shoot a video, you'll have to use Flip's software to export the video so that it will be viewable to computers that don't have the codec installed. The HD model uses standard H.264 files that can be played by QuickTime and edited by most software. I usually just copy the video straight off my Flip without using their software. Third, if you get the HD model, the video will be shaky unless you have a very steady hand. I use iMovie's image stabilization and make sure that my shots aren't too tight. iMovie can chop the edges off and make the video look much steadier than when it was shot.

The final verdict is that I would totally buy another Flip without blinking if I had to do it over again. If you've got the money to spend, I think you'll be happy.