Flip MinoHD 120 mins

Just as I’d written a comparison between the Flip MinoHD 4gb and the Flip UltraHD 8gb, Cisco released a brand spanking new Flip MinoHD 8gb with Ultra like features!

My initial conclusion was the Ultra wins over the Mino on several fronts. But now with the new Flip Mino camera they are a lot closer.

So if, like many people I have spoken to, you find yourself stuck, here’s the essential info :

Both the UltraHD and MinoHD 120′s have:

• nice anti-glare 2in screens.
• HDMI out.
• rechargeable Lithium batteries. You can use a power adaptor or charge via USB on your PC.
• 128 x 720 pixels resolution.
• the same sensor.

The UltraHD 120 mins:

• has 2.5 hours of use between charges (Mino has 2 hours).
• is heavier, weighing in at 6.0 oz (Mino is 4.1 oz).
• has a removable AA battery pack which means if you have 2 battery packs you can keep shooting whilst one charges. (The Mino HD can also charge via USB or a power adaptor but this ties the camera up when you charge).
• is cheaper than the Mino  (£50 less in the UK / $29 less in the US)

The Flip MinoHD 120 mins:

• can focus closer (0.8m) compared to UltraHD (1.5m).
• can be customised with designer graphics and your own design at Flip store (US only).
• is available in brushed silver!

So where does this leave you if faced with these 2 options? It’s actually straightforward.

Buy the Flip UltraHD 120 mins:

• If you are short of cash.
• If you are shooting loads of footage and need to change batteries often / have longer battery life.
• If you aren’t worried about size.

Buy the Flip MinoHD 120 mins:

• If you like funky.
• If cashflow is no problem.
• If you want a slimmer, lighter camera to put in your slimline pocket.
• If you want to customise it with company/blog/family branding (via US Flip store, not UK). For example, put a photo of your Kid or pet dog on it or add your countries flag for the World Cup.

Flip UltraHD 120 mins

Personally? I’d go for the Ultra HD, I’m not worried about it being a little chunkier, it feels more robust. It’s substantially cheaper, has better battery options and identical picture quality to the Mino. A quick straw pole of my followers also confirms this view.

Best priced HD Flip Video cameras can be seen here at Amazon UK or Amazon US.

UPDATE: FOR A RECENT COMPARISON OF THE NEW RANGE OF 3g FLIP VIDEO CAMERAS AS WELL AS OLDER MODELS PLEASE SEE MY BUYERS GUIDE!

UPDATE: SINCE I WROTE THIS POST THE NEW MINO HD WAS RELEASED IN THE US AND UK – I SUGGEST YOU HEAD HERE TO SEE THE COMPARISON BETWEEN THE FLIP ULTRA HD 120 MINS AND THE FLIP MINO HD 120 MINS

I get a lot of people asking “Which Flip Video should I buy?” Let me help. Following on from my post for people trying to decide between the Flip UltraHD and the Flip MinoHD here’s a great video that really shows up the size difference between the Flip UltraHD and the Flip MinoHD plus highlights the main features.

As I’ve said, if you want a Flip to fit in your back pocket (unless you wear huge trousers) then you’ve got to go for a Mino but if you want slightly better quality and flexibility with batteries and a bigger LCD you need to go for the UltraHD.

This was made before the new Flip Mino HD 120 mins became available in the US so it features a 4gb MinoHD but if you are in the UK where the Flip Mino 120 mins has yet to be released (no date set either) then all the comparisons in the video are valid. US readers trying to decide between an Ultra HD 120 mins or a Mino HD 120 mins should read this post.

Check out the Flip Video camera I recommend here at  Amazon UK or Amazon US for the best prices I’ve found on the Web. This link will take you direct to the product.

PLEASE NOTE: Looking to compare the new Flip Mino and Ultra HD 120 mins versions? You can read my detailed comparison right HERE

Flip Ultra HD or Flip Mino HD. This is the biggest dilemma you are probably facing right now? Personally I wouldn’t touch any of the older Flip versions so this is your choice.

In one corner the Flip Mino HD, looks sexier, a little smaller than the Ultra HD, around £20 less than the Ultra HD in the UK or $24 more than the Ultra HD in the US (yes it’s odd!).

In the other corner the Ultra HD more storage for you buck but more bulge for you pocket.

Like the Flip Mino HD, the Ultra HD shoots 720p footage and—in many ways—mirrors the Mino HD’s features.

The Mino HD has 4GB of internal, non expandable memory (giving you 60 mins of video madness), the Ultra HD has 2x the space at 8GB of space giving you a splendid 120 mins of video fun and games. The Ultra HD also has a bigger screen than the tiny Mino HD – 2 inches versus 1.5 inches. I was never a fan of the old Ultra screen so every fraction of an inch counts. They both have 2x zoom, but I wouldn’t advise using the zoom too much as it degrades the image quality.

But there’s more … the Mino can only draw its’ power from a rechargeable AA pack but with the Ultra HD the battery compartment is now accessible to you, allowing the use of disposable AA batteries, handy when out and about without the possibility of a recharge. The AA recharge pack is provided as standard on the Ultra HD for connection via USB or power cable so you get the best of both worlds.

Secondly, and this is a killer the Ultra HD has an HDMI-out port, letting you play your masterpieces on your HDTV. Kids love to see their mugs on TV and this can keep them off the Nintendo for at least an hour.

Theoretically the video quality should be the same, but I spotted this Video on YouTube which shows the Ultra HD to be crisper. Can’t guarantee both lenses were nice and clean when they shot it, but here it is: (Ignore the prices, they are changing all the time.)

So where’s this heading – let’s forget the price difference – we are talking about a total of 10 Capuccinos here or 5 in the South of France where I’ve just been on holiday!

Personally I’d go for the Flip Ultra HD (more storage space, can use normal AA’s or recharge the pack plus bigger screen) but have to confess the Silver Flip Mino is a total looker!

Check out  the exact Flip camera I recommend at Amazon UK or Amazon US for fast delivery and for the best prices I’ve found on the Web. These links will take you straight to the product page.

UPDATE: SINCE WRITING THIS THE THE NEW FLIP MINO HD Version II IS NOW AVAILABLE IN THE UK AS WELL AS THE US

It now has 8gb of storage so matches the Ultra HD with 120 mins of recording time plus it also boasts a 2 inch screen and HDMI out. With the same chip and similar specs it really boils down to the looks and the price.

The Mino is currently £50 price more expensive at Amazon than the Ultra HD (+30 US$). The Mino is a sleeker better looking camera but is very similar in terms of tech specs and quality to the Ultra HD.

READ a detailed ULTRA HD V MINO HD 120 MINS comparison right HERE

Using the wizardry of online stats service Google Analytics I can tell which search terms lead you to my site. So in no particular order here are 10 of the most burning issues you are interested in when it comes to Flip Video Cameras:

1. Should I buy a Flip camera?

Well that’s a hard one. Depends on what you intend to do with it. If you are trying to make high end work then no of course not, pay more and get a mic input for a start. But if you are looking for the handiest, easiest to use, prettiest, coolest, budget camera out there then YES! Let’s put it this way: a few items just feel right and work like a dream: the iphone, the Macbook Pro, the Nintendo Wii, the TomTom and I’d add to that hall of fame – the Flip.

2. How do I reset the date and time on my Flip Camera?

Look no further than here.

3. Will a US Flip camera work in the UK?

Yes and No. If you want to use the new HDMI output included with the Ultra HD, US bought Flip won’t play on a UK PAL TV unless your TV has a facility for this or you have a converter. But if all you require is to download to your PC, edit in something like Final Cut (+ most decent software packages) they can handle both PAL or NTSC projects. If your main requirement is to watch videos on your PC screen, share and upload to the Web the PAL/NTSC issue is irrelevant.

4. Where do I buy the best priced Flip in the US and UK?

I’ve been monitoring this for while, and Amazon continually offers great prices, but in the US if want to ‘Pimp your Flip‘ with designer pictures you might want to go direct to Flip.com. Right now at Flip HQ you also get Free shipping and a Free Accessory! In the UK check out Pixmania.com or Play.com

Personally I’ve always found Amazon reliable, so you can head to Amazon UK or Amazon US for the some of the best Flip camera prices I’ve found on the Web.

5. Which Flip to buy?

My advice is buy the top model you can afford, personally I would be investing in an HD model and for me the Flip Ultra HD 120 mins does all I need and has various battery and charge options.

See the Ultra HD on Amazon UK or Amazon US.

6. How well does the Flip work with a Macbook Pro?

Brilliantly – that’s the combo I use. I recommend MPEG Streamclip to render clips before editing or I usually just import and render on the timeline.

7. When is the Flip Mino HD 120 mins going to be released in the UK?

Everyone asks that! No idea but check back here and I’ll post as soon as I find out. Although the Mino is a looker personally if I was a UK buyer right now I’d go for the Ultra HD as I’d want it for Christmas!

8. Are Flip cameras good for children?

You bet. One touch control, no tricky white balance/exposure issues to worry about. Low cost if they trash it, fits small hands and I find Kids like the shape and colour options. My advice is get your Kids to film some of your home movies – that way you can feature in them too!

9. How do I hack a Flip Camera?

If you mean making the lens wider – see this.

10. Do Flip cameras take stills?

Not really, get a stills camera if you want top notch stills. But using the free FlipShare software you can export a decent freeze frame from your footage.