The latest gadget I’ve purchased is the Flip Video Ultra, a small, cheap (around $139), easy-to-use, video camera that you can easily take with you wherever you go.
The camera does not have a lot of features. It only has a 2x zoom, for example. But what it’s meant to do, be a simple, easy to use, convenient way to capture video and download quickly and painlessly to your computer, it does very, very well.
The camera does not use tape or memory cards. It saves your video (30 or 60 minutes worth, depending on the model) onto a built-in flash memory. From my limited use, the picture is excellent, at least for use on the web. I used the camera for the train video found here: http://daddydan.net/trains-a-comin/. The camera also does not come with a rechargeable battery. It’s powered by two AA batteries.
Another great feature of the camera is that all of the software you’d use to play or edit the videos is built into the camera itself, so no need to download any software to your computer. The camera will work with any computer. Even if you don’t have a computer, you can take the camera to many drugstores and they will download your video to a DVD for about $10. If you do want to download the video, the camera has a hidden, built-in USB arm that plugs right into your computer. It couldn’t be simpler to use.
The back of the camera features just a screen and four buttons (record, play, zoom, and delete). You’ll be using the camera and fully understand all of its features in mere minutes. The camera also comes in a variety of colors (white, black, pink, orange).
I highly recommend this camera if you’re looking for a video camera that you can take anywhere and is simple to use. The picture quality is much better than the video cameras built into most cellphones. And the price can’t be beat. I got mine, a 60-minute version for $139 at Best Buy.
DaddyDan lives in California’s Inland Empire with his wife, 17-month old son, and two King Charles Cavalier Spaniels. You can find his blog, with book reviews, product reviews, posts about his son, and other random thoughts at http://daddydan.net.