Kodak Mini Video Camera Review

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I have a serious fancy for the slim and simple, and this fancy is the reason I’ve written this Kodak Mini Video Camera Review of the zm1 model. All of my gadgets need to be the thinnest, most intuitive, high-quality pieces of technology, and I do a lot of research to ensure I’ll never regret an excellent deal. I’ve got my super-slim laptop, phone, and portable gaming system, and now I want to make one more addition to my collection of perfect toys: The Kodak Mini Video Camera.

I hate to complicate things, and everything that’s uncomplicated should look great. I’m forever bothered if what I buy has that one pesky inconvenience or flaw that keeps jumping out at me when I’m trying to enjoy a beautiful device. Maybe it doesn’t fit in my pocket, the software is a dragging pain to use, I have to carry around extras like a charging cable, it was too expensive, or I need to be constantly worried about protecting my prized possession from danger.

I want my experience to be streamlined in every aspect, with no worry to be had. Fortunately I’ve searched for the camera which meets my standard, and I’ve found the Kodak Mini Video Camera puts every possible worry to a sweet and simple rest.

Click Here For The Full Specs, More Reviews, And The Lowest Price I Found

First, what’s most striking about the Kodak Mini Video Camera is that it’s got that perfect, slim size but it is surprisingly durable, even waterproof up to 3 meters, completely submerged;  Extremely useful for shooting videos near my pool or even while I’m swimming. You can check out a very impressive demonstration of the camera being thrown into a pool and still working perfectly in my post here.

I wear those fashionable skinny jeans too, so my pockets are always tight, and I hate to be forced to carry something around in my hands when I’m not using it. But wonderfully, this camera is:

• The size of a credit card, as thin as a pencil, and will fit in nearly any pocket. (2.3 x 0.6 x 3.5 inches)
• Light as a candy bar. (2.6 oz)
• Looks just like an Ipod, smooth and simple.
• Comes in a very sleek Red or Grey. (The Grey model comes at a special price, the lowest I’ve found. But I prefer the Red model; it’s a much warmer color.)

But most incredibly, it’s designed to survive any drops or slips, even directly into water. Watch this video to see to see another impressive waterproof test:

I won’t ever be annoyed by bulging pockets or keeping it safe through the rough. You can trust your kids with the Kodak Mini Video Camera, and people have even used this camera, no issues, while canoeing and surfing!  Gives me some good video ideas…

But my Kodak Mini Video Camera Review has found a few complaints with the zm1 model… The sound quality playback when you want to watch a video on the screen is less than desirable, but I discovered this is only because the device is totally waterproof, so absolutely worth it. Listening quality on your computer or TV is excellent. Also, the video quality isn’t HD, but the benefit is that you can shoot more video with much, much less memory and it runs zippy between your camera and computer. The still-picture quality is 1.3 megapixels, but buying from Amazon.com comes with a 2gb micro SD card (expandable up to 16gb, the best choice is also on Amazon for the lowest price here) which holds several hours of video, at a very reasonable 640×480 resolution,  and/or thousands of pictures.

But the decision maker for the Kodak Mini Video Camera is that, right out of the box, everything you will ever need is right in the camera itself. No charging or data transfer cables to carry around, no software or driver you have to find and download, and shooting, uploading, and sharing video couldn’t be more intuitive.

• Everything works through the USB which is hidden inside the camera. No ports or plugs around the edges, and the usb stick pops out like your car keys, so you know it won’t snap off accidentally.
• The camera charging happens via the USB and the battery will last you for hours, easily. I won’t have to worry about carrying around a cable, and charging can happen nearly anywhere, especially now that USB has long been the top standard.
• The software and driver is all built in to the device, setting it up takes no effort, and it’s ready to upload and share on Youtube and Facebook. (It works with Macs and PC’s, too.)

The Kodak Mini Video Camera is exactly what satisfies my need for something super-simple. I’m not a professional photographer or anything, but this will definitely get the job done. Nothing will get in the way of any whimsical urge to capture something great on video.

My Kodak Mini Video Camera Review has also discovered that the best deal, by far, is Amazon.com with the price being only $37 with the 2gb microSD card for the Grey Model zm1. I would personally go for the warmer Red, and also buy a larger card (the cheapest one I found is also at Amazon here, and keep the 2gb for when I need extra). Everywhere else sells it for around $100, so Amazon, like always, has the best offer.

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So, I can’t get over how incredible it is that the Kodak Mini Video Camera is waterproof. I found some more pictures and videos which give more impressive demonstrations. You should check them out below and also see my original Kodak Mini Video Camera Review, but Kodak also sells some other waterproof cameras, including an HD version of the original ZM1 model called the ZM2, and the Kodak Playsport:

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These cameras really step above the rest. Not having to be concerned with having your camera threatened by water is an enormous relief, and opens the door for many creative and fun ways to use the camera. Watch these videos testing the camera in a stream and a pool:

Whether I’ll be going to the beach or just through the rain, these waterproof cameras have it handled.

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What about the competition? What about the Kodak Mini Video Camera vs Flip Camera? You can read about all of the features and see video demonstrations of the Kodak Mini Video Camera in my other posts, but how does it compare to its biggest competitor, the Flip camera?

(This is only a comparison of the non-HD versions. Click here for the best prices and reviews for each of the HD cameras I found on Amazon.)

What does the Flip camera have that the Kodak Mini Video Camera doesn’t?

• The Flip camera has a 2.0 inch LCD screen, but that’s only 0.2 inches larger than the Kodak Mini. Not any serious difference.

• The Flip camera has 4 gigs worth of memory built-in, but this is all you get. No expandable memory.
• The Flip camera comes with a cable to watch videos directly from your camera on your television, which could be useful.

So, Kodak Mini Video Camera vs Flip camera, the Flip has a few things, but it’s also an even match to the Kodak Mini Video Camera in several ways:

• Both have 640×480 video resolution.
• Both have out-of-the-box ready, easy-to-use, built-in software for sharing videos.
• Both have a hidden, flip-out USB arm.

Both cameras deliver many of the same features, but the package those features are delivered in are very different. The Kodak Mini Video Camera surpasses the Flip in every other way. Most importantly:

• The Flip camera is twice as thick, taller and weighs nearly 3 times as much as the Kodak Mini. Being only the size of a credit card, the Kodak Mini is the obvious choice for the slimmest and most visually appealing device.
• The Flip camera is not designed to be dropped, and will fry when wet. So, not only is it clunkier; it’s much more fragile. You won’t have the freedom to shoot a video in the pool or feel comfortable letting children use the camera like you can with the Kodak Mini.

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• The Kodak Mini Video Camera has  a built-in rechargeable battery. You’ll be dealing with handfuls of AA batteries again unless you buy an extra rechargeable battery pack for the Flip. You can charge the Kodak Mini anywhere and won’t ever have to worry about buying batteries.

• The Kodak Mini Video Camera has expandable capacity for a 16 gig micro SD card. Manage your memory, shoot more video, and take more pictures.

But, the critical difference is in the price…

For the Kodak Mini Video Camera vs Flip Camera, the Kodak Mini wins because it’s much cheaper. If you buy the Gray zm1 model at Amazon.com, it costs nearly half as much. You can buy the extra micro SD (best and cheapest I found) and the camera, and it still costs less than the Flip camera, and you get much more for your money. You can also read my full review of the Kodak Mini Video Camera zm1 model.

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The Kodak Mini Video Camera ZM1 Model is completely waterproof. Here is a very impressive Youtube video of an underwater test:

As you probably already know, Kodak sells many different camera models. You can find the best-selling video cameras on Amazon here. But after doing some looking around, I don’t think anything beats the bang for your buck the slim and thin of the Kodak Mini Video Camera zm1 model gives you. Being only the size of a credit card is pretty difficult to top in terms of ultra-portability and visual appeal. I am especially happy I won’t have to worry about a camera pressing against my legs. Even more comforted by the fact that the camera is build to be roughed around, so I’ll never have to worry about letting it slip, either. I definitely won’t mind letting my little sister play with the zm1 model, even near the pool. When’s the last time you trusted a child with a camera near water!

I personally prefer the Red camera, because its warmer color is much more pleasing to the eye. It looks a bit sleeker, sexier, and stands out. Although the Red model is a great choice, it costs just a bit more than the Gray zm1, which just happens to be on sale for about $30 dollars less.

Click here to see all the features, reviews and free, extra 2gb SD card at Amazon.com

I nearly can’t decide between the two, but the gray model comes at such a cheap price I think I’ll have to go with the Gray Kodak Mini Video Camera zm1 model. It’s good to know that even though one is at a super low price, you get all of the features, including the free 2gb micro SD card. Charging can happen through the USB port of my laptop, which I also bring around with me everywhere. So, I don’t ever have to worry about a charging cable, or even a data transfer cable.

And knowing the camera is as light as a snicker’s bar, it will be a joy to use and carry around. Technology is becoming so advanced, we’ll soon find anything that’s not as light as a feather to be a serious inconvenience. The Kodak Mini Video Camera zm1 model is definitely ahead of the curve. I know other cameras on the market are hefty and seem like they’re going to break like a brittle brick if you drop them. Not a good feeling for a your prized gadgets, and you would never think of letting those cameras get near any water. One slip and you have a pretty looking paper-weight. I like to not have to constantly worry about my things when I go about my day, and now I get to add shooting fun videos to the list of worry-free activities.

I’ll be posting some more later about the user manual, post some pictures, and compare the Kodak Mini Video Camera zm1 model to the flip camera. You can check out my Kodak Mini Video Camera Review post, too.

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