Flip Video Ultra HD Cam - Review

This Flip Video Ultra HD is a very eloquent mini gem and much revised compared to the alternative Flip Video Cameras. As usual with Flips, it's the ideal video recording device for anybody expecting to videotape just about anything at all at a spur of a moment's notice. First of all, it's completely idiot proof: when you get the package, there is absolutely no assembly required. Your first feeling about which buttons are the power switch, record button, and USB connector release etc. will be right on; excellent intuitive design.

It is a bit larger than the alternative Flip Video Cameras, which helps it fit snugly in the hand, though it takes a little bit more room in your pocket. The Flip Video Ultra HD looks and feels great, as other reviewers have noticed, and conveniently fits in your hand comfortably for long periods of time. It turns on and off without delay, unlike your computer or mobile phone, so you don't have to wait long to start recording that precious, brief moment.

Image quality continues to be excellent, and not too shaky/bouncy. The new image stabilization seems to dispose of some vibrations. For example, like when videotaping something on the side of the road while going by it in your vehicle. The screen is big enough and the HD video is amazing on big-screen playback. The new 60 frames per second is noticeably better, and pretty much as smooth as you will ever desire. Frames adapt twice as fast as the eye can see compared to the older 30 Flip Video Cameras, so the Flip Video Ultra HD seems super-smooth to the human eye.

The USB connector is a bit altered, on the side instead of the top, which makes it easier to connect to a laptop. Otherwise it's the same: convenient, easy to connect, and you don't have to go running to find any special USB connector cable like you do for every Digital Camera ever made it seems! But, that is a whole new topic/annoyance. The audio is still good, picking up distant background sounds that I hadn't even seen at the time of recording and picking up simultaneous music and voices with great quality. The 2-hour battery life is more than I will ever need, so it's great. There is a new battery pack that is very simple to set up, but it doesn't seem to change anything for better or worse.

The Flip Video Ultra HD software continues to set the example. It is ridiculously simple to setup. It automatically starts when I plug in the camcorder, and makes it completely clear how to download the videos, play back, freeze frames to make photos, and share. And it's faster because the wait time has decreased for videos to load up compared to the other past Flip Video Cameras. It's all in an easy-to-use, well-organized layout very similar to the iPod control panel. I wish all software was this easy to use.

I highly suggest this gadget. The Flip Video Ultra HD is the most impressive Flip yet and well worth the expense.

Aaron Stevenson is a Flip owner and maintains a web site with Flip Video Camera Reviews where a blog and Flip Video Ultra HD review resides.