Fan of video or not, that seems to be the direction the web is heading. More and more videos of products, people, or places seems to be popping up and I figure it’s about time I joined in. Now, here’s where I’m stumped: Which pocket camcorder should I be using?
My first choice was the Flip. Viewing the search results for "flip" on Amazon yielded one that seemed right up my alley: The sleek new Flip Mino. Boasting a smaller and lighter design than its predecessors with no loss in quality or features.
The one potential drawback is that it uses a built-in battery like the Apple i-products. Reading the reviews doesn’t give me much indication of just how long that battery life is short and long term (i.e. how long will the battery last while recording or resting and how long the battery will continue to hold a charge).
I’ve had my iPod for going on three years without a single problem with battery life, but then again, it’s usually being charged somehow whether in my clock radio, connected to a charger/player in my car, or connected to my computer. Plus, I also have the wall charger (which I’m assuming could be easily used with the Mino since it’s just a USB wall plug).
The other definite drawback is that it does not have a flip out screen. This would make recording yourself on the go a lot more difficult. Then again, I probably won’t be recording myself all that often considering that I’m camera shy.
The other choice is the RCA Small Wonder EZ210. In terms of features, this little camcorder blows the Flip out of the water completely. However, it is nowhere near as sleekly designed as the Flip and completely lacks its form factor weighing almost double the Mino.
The RCA accepts two AA batteries which are readily available almost anywhere rather than needing to find a wall outlet or a computer and waiting for a recharge. It also has a flip out display which makes self recording a much simpler task; this is helpful if you intend to do a number of instructional videos. It seems that the EZ205 is the one with the flip out screen, so scratch that. Finally, the RCA has 4 times the storage space, plus you can expand it using an SD memory card.
Going clearly with my geek instincts, I’d select the RCA in a heartbeat. Unfortunately, I also like my gadgets to look nice. And therein lies my dilemma. My goal with a pocket camcorder is simply to have it handy in situations where I’d like to snap some quick video (i.e. out with friends, on the road driving, in dance class, or at the gym). It doesn’t need to be spectacular as these videos would most likely be shared on blogs and YouTube rather than distributed on DVDs.
So, my question to all of you is: Which one would you choose? And if you’ve had experience with either one of these camcorders, how was it for you. I’m particularly interested in video and audio quality for both. Anything else you’d like to add is also welcome.
(Yes folks, I am toying with the idea of video blogging. When I do decide, I’ll definitely write a follow up for anyone else who’s looking to get into video blogging.)