Flip Video Ultra Series Camcorder, 60 Minutes (Orange) Camcorder Reviews

Flip Video Ultra Series Camcorder, 60 Minutes (Orange)

Flip video camcorder 2008-11-22

I am very happy with this little camcorder. Works better than my big one.

what a great product 2008-11-22

bought this for my 13 year old son as a gift. what a great product, fun and easy to use.
highly recommend it! Even I can do it!!!!

L-O-V-E this camcorder! 2008-11-22

I bought this camera last Christmas for my 13 year old son. While he has used it himself, I have found it to be so simple that I use it way more than he ever has. Push a button to turn it on, push the red botton to record, and you are off to the races. It cannot be any easier.

At first, I tried uploading my videos directly to Photobucket (photo and video sharing site), but it was painfully slow. Now I just plug the Flip into a USB port on my PC and then upload each file to YouTube or save them to a location on the PC's hard drive. Takes anywhere from 2 to 5 minutes on YouTube, depending on the length of the video. Super simple.

Great item for those who want to cut to the chase. I don't think I would've ever tried loading anything to YouTube had it not been for how easy this camcorder is to operate. It's so easy to share events and holidays with family and friends who aren't near.

Flip Video Ultra Series Camcorder, 60 Minutes (Orange) 2008-11-22

This is THE coolest little camera, bar none. It is about the size of a 110 camera, very easy to use, and the orange and white gives eye-relief from all the traditional black or blue electronics! Very fun video camcorder that will make you a star on Youtube, Metacafe, or Live Leak!

Does not work and no help from company 2008-11-22

I ordered my product in may 2008 but was not able to actually use it until Nov 2008 for various reasons. The first time I attempted to connect my Flip Video to my PC, it did not work. I tried other PCs as well to ensure it was not a computer issue. With nothing working from the camera I contacted customer support. Bottom line answer..too bad, out of warranty, nothing can be done for you. I'm sure the video is a wonderful tool but the fact that the company will not get one to me that actually works taints my opinion about the company. I will no longer recommend this product to any of my colleagues or friends simply by the poor customer support. There are too many other products on the market and companies that do not support their product are off my list. I would have paid to have the camera repaired knowing that it is my fault it was not used prior to becoming out of warranty but that is not an option. Buyer Beware!

GREAT gift idea for a GREAT PRICE 2008-11-19

I bought the black Flip Video for my husbands birthday, which he loved. It is easy to use and fits in your pocket or back. I knew this was going to be a great gift, so I bought my self the pink one and it is great. I taped the husbands birthday party and it was nice to have the freedom of just pulling it out of my pocket when I thought it would be nice to video. Forget the days of getting the V.C. out of the bag. Simple functions and easy to use as soon as you take it out of the box.
If you are looking for that great gift, with out spending a fortune, This is it

A great deal 2008-11-19

I bought the flip a few days prior to birth of my first child. We used in while my wife was in labor and it worked out great. Since all our immediate family came, but they could not all be in the delivery room, we were able within minutes of the delivery to share the video with them.

It works easy, just like it says. The only other comment is that my laptop USB plugs are not at the same height as the USB plug on the flip, so I end up propping up my laptop about 1/3 of an inch so that they line up better.

I love My Flip Ultra Camcorder! 2008-11-17

I absolutely love my Flip Ultra Camcorder! I highly recommend it! I am one of those people who just wants something handy for those special moments that just jump up and demand video. I hate lugging anything big around and this fits in my purse perfectly. I don't expect to make movies like DeMille or Spielberg, I just want to record family and fun and this fits the bill! I've taken my recorder to the river (highly recommend the aquapac), to Disneyland, weddings, sledding in the snow with the grandkids and videotaping just how darn cute they are! My grandkids are always asking me to videotape them now and make a movie-they think they are stars! I also have to tell you that customer service is great! I originally had a problem with my flip video and sent it in to be fixed. They said they couldn't fix it so they sent me back a new one! No hassle customer service. In summary, good customer service, the price is right, easily downloads and shares, and the sound and picture quality is much better than I had expected. All around this was a great purchase for me!

Fun and Easy! 2008-11-17

I love my little Flip video, I take it everywhere and am ready to video anytime. It's easy to download and has a zoom. I recommend this product, what a blast!

Don't Buy This Camcorder! 2008-11-16

For the price, there is no zoom, no ease in taking the video and downloading is a chore. Get extra memory, get another camera!

Flip video 2008-11-16

Great little camera, compact, light, easy to use, good night and low light picture, and overall a great picture.

A+ Customer Service and Awesome Little Camcorder 2008-11-16

This is an awesome little camcorder, just perfect for my 13-year-old to create video projects for school. The unit is quite sturdy and has a nice tripod mount on the bottom. My only concern is with the USB flip-out connector on the side...I think if it was roughly handled, it could present a problem, but so far everything has been really durable.

The only problem we had was installing the pre-loaded software from the camera onto a Dell Inspiron computer running Vista. There was no problem installing it on a system running Windows XP, but the Vista computer was fussy.

We contacted Pure Digital on-line and, true to their word, they replied within 24 hours. After requesting specific information about both the camcorder and computer (they graciously provided step-by-step instructions on how to locate both), they emailed a link with a software upgrade for the Vista system.

Now, the camcorder works great on both computers. Its compact size and truly one-touch ease-of-use makes it kid-friendly with good quality. The built-in editing software was so easy to use that my 13-year-old never had to ask me for help once!

I highly recommend this unit. Good job, Pure Digital! A winning product!

Warning - poor quality control. Camera does not work from the get go. 2008-11-15

This was bought for me as a birthday present and I was delighted to open the box today on what looked like a well presented and easy to use product. However, it does not work! The display is stuck in the 'set time and date' mode and will not budge at all. Removing and reinserting the batteries makes no difference. We are returning to Amazon to get a replacement on the assumption mine was a lemon, so hopefully I'll be able to give this more stars if I ever get a working one. I remain skeptical though, as it appears from other reviews that the technical QC on this product is dreadful. It looks like more care has been spent on the packaging than on developing a consistent product. To paraphrase what others have said: "An excellent idea, dreadfully executed"
Overall, very disappointing.

hate it, no stars! 2008-11-15

IFlip Video Ultra Series Camcorder, 60 Minutes (Pink) I have never been able to download onto a disc for a movie since I got it 6 months ago. My cat I loved, died and his last days are on the thing and I can not get it downloaded even after I bought Video Lab 10.
Waste of your money!

It's a great product! 2008-11-11

The flip video is a wonderful thing. It is small, easy to use, makes a great gift and is reasonably priced.

Terrible product 2008-11-11

I've been thinking about getting a camcorder for a long time, and when I heard about the Flip, it seemed just right. I even paid for one-day shipping because I was so excited to start using it. What a HUGE disappointment. I have a new Macintosh computer, which works perfectly fine, and the Flip immediately had problems interfacing. The software won't download, the videos don't play properly, etc. Total, 100 percent disappointment. I'm planning on spending more money, and getting a real camcorder. How lame: the whole idea behind the Flip is that it's fun and easy to use. Totally untrue.

Update: in the spirit of giving things one last try (before returning the flip for a refund), I've tried it on several computers, all of which conform to the tech specifications for compatibility, and now the flip isn't even able to be recognized by the computer, any computer. I'm not a techo-idiot, and I am really having a hard time understanding how so many people are seemingly having no problems with the flip--is mine a lemon?

The ultra flip 2008-11-09

My husband and I both have one and we just bought this one for our (soon to be new parents) son and daughter-in-law. We love them. I also purchased one for my mother who lives 2000 miles away in Florida, however her computer is so old it doesn't meet the requirements to run a flip. She can show the videos on her TV. Unfortunately, she just can't email them to me until she upgrades to a newer computer.

Very Happy Birthday 2008-11-03

I bought the Flip Video camera for my 12 year old son for his birthday. He had wanted a video camera for months but I was searching for one that was relatively inexpensive, easy to use and small/portable. The camera is so easy for him to use and for him to upload his videos to utube.

Good but not great 2008-11-03

Pros:I love the look of the product and the fact that it runs on batteries. It is also very simple to use because it does not have too many fancy features.
Cons: I was somewhat disappointed by the quality of the video recording. I was also not happy about the flexibility of the zoom. The frame was too small to capture all that you could with other video cameras without having to physically move. Finally, although downloading the videos to your computer is simple, everything after that is not very straightforward.
In short, if you like taking videos with your mobile phone, you might like this product. Unfortunately, as much as I would have wanted to, I wouldn't recommend this product to a friend.

BAD 2008-11-02

THE PICTURE IS FUZZY AND THE SOFTWARE IS NOT COMPATIBLE WITH MY DELL RUNNING VISTA! I AM VERY DISSATISFIED!

flip video ultra great 2008-11-02

I read reviews of all the flip video products before settling on the Ultra. I was reading that the video itself was the same as the mino and I liked the idea of using AA batteries - which I could get anywhere. Got the video flip Ultra and have used several times and love it. And I am still on the same first set of batteries. I used movie maker to link together three videos. I have posted some to u tube and just made short videos at parties. I keep it in my purse or the car all the time. Worth the money! I might get my computer challenged family members one for Xmas. This is a no brainer.

Unhappy 2008-10-31

I bought the Flip camcorder for a family member in RI. She used it for about a week having to call support for help in getting it to work. She finally had to send it back to the manufacture to either get it fixed or get a new one.

Easy to use but not to save 2008-10-31

This product is very easy to shoot a video with, but I found it challenging to save the video and burn it onto a DVD.

The Ultimate Inexpensive, No Frills Video Camera (4+ stars) 2008-10-31

The Flip video camera is the perfect solution for people who want a low cost, extremely portable digital camcorder. It's so small that it can fit in a pocket or handbag, and it can shoot up to 60 minutes of video, with limited zoom capabilities, that is easily transferred to any computer, PC or Mac.

The image quality is surprisingly good, even in low light situations, although it cannot compete with the higher cost, full featured cameras. You have the option of viewing video and deleting on the camera, much the way you would with a still digital camera.

The camera connects with your computer using a USB port. The stubby USB connector pops out from the side of the camera; this can cause a problem if your USB ports don't have enough clearance, both from the bottom and on the sides. Of course, this problem is easily remedied by using an extender. The software for editing and adding music to video requires that the camera be attached to the computer, even if you save your videos to your computer and have (ostensibly) the software in your applications folder. To me, this was the biggest drawback. To edit my videos, using Flip software, they must still be on the camera. Because the editing capabilities are extremely limited (you can change the start and the end only, not edit within each clip), I prefer to save the videos to my computer, then import them to Apple's iMovie. If you want to incorporate your videos in a creative project, you'll need advanced software. You may also want to purchase a case (the "soft case" is made of black cloth that left fibers all over my camera) and a tripod, especially if you plan on using this to record video reviews.

The use of the Flip is so intuitive that you can shoot video right out of the box. Figuring out the (very basic) software and how to save the video takes a few minutes. Although the red stop/start button can be balky, this camera is so easy to use that a child could shoot video.

This camera would make an excellent gift for casual video shooters, college students, and teenagers. The low price should tip off those who want more serious video to look elsewhere.

flip ultra review 2008-10-30

this is a nice cheap camcorder.. however it is limited in zooming in and out and I had difficulty downloading footage to the computer and had to deal with customer support to get that figured out (never fun)..... but now things work well and it is worth the money but resolution is low and don't expect high quality video/audio..... after saying all of this I must state that it is highly effective for personal protection against lying entrapping police and x-wifes as it fits in your pocket and can be quickly deployed to record assaults by enemies....

Customer Service at Digital Tech (bah humbug) Update 11-14-08 2008-10-30

Buyer beware at Pure Digital
I received from Amazon my (Flip Video Ultra Series Camcorder, 60 Minutes (Orange) on July 31st 2008 Initially all went well and the quality was great and no problems with software. however I noticed a problem getting the camera to start and stop, it continued to worsen and I decided to contact tech support on October 11th 2008. After several email exchanges I was given a RMA# but no offer to send a prepaid label, believing that as it was still in warranty, I paid $7.00 to ship UPS. Than on a web search regarding problems with this item I was amazed at the number of very negative responses to their customer service and did discover that some has been issued prepaid labels and when I challenged them about that was told that it was not their policy to pay shipping, however they would make an exception and attached a prepaid label (now was too late as I has already paid shipping and requested a refund which was denied) I requested was action was being taken on my start/stop problem and the only answer I got was that it was being returned to me. They were unable to save any of my video's (that was not an issue)
So I urge you to consider well before you make a purchase
If you ever need customer service, BE AWARE
I am awaiting return to see if the problem has been fixed
I did receive a refurbed item and thus far it has worked fine, however I did not get a refund on my shipping charges therefore I will not rate this item any differently

Flip Video Ultra 2008-10-30

Flip Video Ultra Series Camcorder, 60-Minutes (Black)

I am amazed by the smallness of the Flip and the video that I can get with this. For walking around and capturing short clips this is great.

Next time I will get one that has more than 60-minutes and a tripod to go along with it for shooting longer clips.

easy to use... 2008-10-28

My biggest fear was that SOMETHING about this would end up being hard to use, we are techno challenged to say the least - but this is the easiest to use piece of electronic equipment I've ever owned. Quality seems good so far (dropped and sat on - still works), video is clear, I love it.

Flip Video Ultra 2008-10-28

Takes very clear pictures,easy to use and download to computer. Very satisfied with my camcorder!

Cool little toy 2008-10-28

I bought this as a convenient way to take film and not carry around the "big" video camera. Now I find I take it everywhere. It is super simple to use and it does exactly what I expected it would do. When they figure out how to get a stronger zoom, it will be perfect. A pretty cool little toy for the small investment! (I haven't dropped it yet but it is so light I hope not to find out what would happen - it feels fragile) Took it to a sporting event where video cameras are illegal. I think the security people assumed it was my cell phone!

This Camera Dies Quick! 90 day warentee! 2008-10-27

I fortunately won this item. If I had paid for it, I'd be fuming right now!!! I've only had this thing for 5 months and have never dropped it or had anything bad happen to it so far.

All of a sudden about two weeks ago it started asking for the date setup like it was brand new, it also started sucking up batteries in about 10 minutes. Playbacks stop mid video or I get a screen full of static.

I loved the simplicity of this item, it worked so well. Think of it this way, it's 50.00 a month for three months worth of use. I'm bummed.

Good for the price but NO lens protection! 2008-10-26

I just received the Flip Video Ultra and am quite pleased with the video even in low light it seemed to do well. The video looks quite good on your computer screen however when you email it, the quality goes down quite a bit for obvious reasons. Having said all that, there are two things that are disappointing to me.
1. The red record button is hard to push and activate. I have to push it several times to get it going. It should be a little more sensitive.

2. And the thing that bothers me the most is that there is absolutely NO lens protection! The lens is raised a bit from the body and completely flush with the surrounding bezel making it almost impossible not to scratch the lens. Everything and ANYTHING is gonna hit that lens first! Poor design on the lens. How hard could it be to have just have the lens recessed a bit from the bezel to protect it at least a little or even a small rubber lens hood. COM'ON Guys!

Great- for the 3 months that it worked 2008-10-26

I bought a refurbed. Ultra for 118. and it worked mostly well for about 3 months- the limited warranty expired after 1 or 3 months. The audio/video got buggy and started to be out of sync. Then the view finder got streaky (colored lines). And finally, after 4 months, the camera died. Definitely recommend avoiding refurbished cameras. Buy a new one with 1 year warranty or purchase extra protection. This toy breaks down fast.

Excellent for its price 2008-10-24

It's small and light, hence very portable.
The in built usb connection is a thoughtful build in, saving you the hassle of bringing a USB cable on your trip.

The only limitation I can think of is that when you press record, there is a ~1sec delay before the recording starts.

I choose this over the flip mino as I wanted to use AAA batteries instead of rechargeable.

Awesome!! 2008-10-24

I bought this for my 11 year old son as he is a skateboarder and wanted to take clips for U-Tube! He loves it and it is much cheaper than my camcorder!! Very easy to use and worth every penny!!

Flip Video 2008-10-24

This is a good product for the money.
Gave it to my 10 year old. She likes to film
her toys and make movies.
Very easy to use on a Mac or PC; comes with nice software that allows you
to edit and upload and share etc.
we recommend it.

Great Product! 2008-10-23

The Flip Video cam is just about as simple as you can get. I love it! Quality video and audio combined with ease!

Good value and easy to use 2008-10-21

Start right out of the box! Zoom gets a bit fuzzy and you need to have light to record at night or low light. Uploading to computer is easy and fast. Video is really good considering the price. I can't wait for the next advance for this little recorder..I'll buy it !

Great for Casual Use 2008-10-21

I've been using my Flip for a couple months now, and it does exactly what I was needing it to do. I was looking for something that could catch the cute little things my daughter does, like sing or dance, or even make funny faces because I was the regular camcorder I had was too big to lug around everywhere. It does exactly that and makes it easy to upload to my photo sharing site. It so simple to use even my 3 year old daughter figured it out in no time. She gets a kick out of seeing herself sing on the screen.

It's a pretty simple interface, it has a small screen on the back, with a play button, record button, trash can button, and a directional pad for scrolling through recorded videos. There is also a zoom function in there, but it's really unneeded. You'd probably be better off just moving yourself forward or backwards in relationship to what you are recording.

Sound quality poor if recording > 6 feet away 2008-10-21

Great little camera BUT I tried to use it for recording a presentation to do presentation skills training and the sound quality was just not good enough or loud enough. The picture was good. It is also very difficult to pan smoothly or zoom smoothly when using the little tripod. I wish it had the ability to have an external microphone and remote control. I had to return it because it did not meet my needs for this specific use. For personal use it would be great fun to use casually. Very easy to use on Mac and PC.

Good for money 2008-10-21

Being a systems engineer, I'm a real techie and this product surprised me with it's ease of usage. I own an SLR camera, a highend camcorder already but wanted a quick and easy way to capture videos of my kid. This is the perfect fit for that. It takes clear, crisp videos and copying them to PC is a breeze. The software that comes with the camera is not excellent but really easy to use for novice users. You can't take this camera for trips or depend on it for shooting fireworks or similar stuff. But for shooting kids or other similar usage, this is a perfect fit.

I recommend this camera to anybody who have small kids.

-Sarma.

easy to use 2008-10-20

I was looking for a camcorder that worked like a camera, plug into my computer and let it do the work. The Flip fit that to a t. While the video quality is not super, it gets the job done. I'm able to capture footage of my daughter and post it for family to see.

Not as happy as I thought I'd be 2008-10-19

I bought this Flip Video Ultra in July and today was only the second time I've tried it. When it does work, it makes quite acceptable videos - at least for my uses.

However, for me, it doesn't work most of the time. I turn it on, it says I have 60 minutes to video tape and it is ready. I push the red button and nothing happens. I push the red button again and nothing happens. I might push the red button several times before it ever starts recording. By then, the object of my recording is long gone.

Then I pushed the button again and it wouldn't STOP recording. I pushed the button four times. It wouldn't stop recording. I finally turned it off.

I now consider this a waste of money, a commodity which is getting more and more dear with each passing day. I am very sorry to make this review only two stars, but that is for the only two times it has worked properly. I waited one year for the price to go down to where I could afford it - I should have saved my money and not bought this recorder.

Terrific and easy 2008-10-14

The Flip Ultra is terrific! It is sooo easy to use and the quality of the video is surprisingly high. Altogether a fun product!! I highly recommend it.

'Four Seasons'/ J.P.'s Greatest Hits Vol. .05 2008-10-13

Watch Video Here: http://www.amazon.com/review/R27J5J06MKRIYR You can do better...
You can do worse...
But you'll never get better,
Unless you rehearse.

(The resolution of my videos looks better on my Windows Media Player and from my Flip Video library, so what you see on your own PC will look even better than what it looks like here (off the Internet [e.g. Amazon or You Tube]).

I REALIZE MY 6:02 VIDEO IS LONG, SO FEEL FREE TO CLICK AND DRAG TO SPEED UP THE HIGHLIGHTS. This way everyone can make the sample as long as he or she wants. Enjoy! :>)

Flip Video is convenient, thrifty, and nifty.

***You can record and keep up to 60 minutes of video at one time, but once you save the videos to your computer, you can delete them off the camera to free up space.

On the "Flip" side, while you don't have to focus except to zoom in and out, there are a few times when a manual focus would yield a better picture. You won't hear me complain, though.

***This model requires AA batteries. (My camera model is not the Mino. The Mino looks just like this model except it is "thinner and smaller" than my Flip video camera, and the Mino can be charged up by a USB port. It is a little more expensive, but I'll bet the videos are just as good. :>)

This video contains a version of Vivaldi's "Autumn," from his 'Four Seasons,' featuring Itzhak Perlman, also available from Amazon. Vivaldi: The Four Seasons; Violin Concertos

Very Easy To Use - Pretty Good Quality 2008-10-13

I have only used this a few times so far, but the ease of use is great! This is not for recording HD images to show on a big screen, but to create decent quality videos you want to post online or make your own DVD movies.

Just plug in the USB connection to your computer and the software, saved on the camera, is loaded and run.

There are only two things that I'd love to see: a wider zoom range and a soft USB cable connection so the camera can rest on the desk while you have it hooked up. I would strongly recommend buying one so you don't risk damaging the camera while it is plugged in.

Flip Video Ultra 2008-10-13

The Flip Video Ultra is wonderful!!!! It is very easy to carry around, so you can always have it with you. It works well for teenagers for school projects.

Fun Flip Video 2008-10-12

We LOVE our flip and are so sad we didn't get one sooner.

It small and convient so I can take it everywhere.
It's super easy to use so even the 1st grader can film with it.

One button turns it on one starts and stops and it has limited zoom too!
NO MORE CORDS because the usb pops out from the side so it connects straight to your computer for easy
drop and drag downloading to your desktop or external.

It came with software to maintain the files
and it was easy to use.

The picture quality is good too.
Would make a fantastic gift!

Our only complaint is that we wish the wide angle were a tad wider
but over all we are in love with the flip.

Cannot convert to DVD as promised! 2008-10-12

This is the most frustrating eletronics purchase ever for me. I bought this to put videos on dvd as promised by flipCustomer service also gave me a list of pharmacies that had machines to do this. However, none of them worked when I brought them into the stated locations. One of them even told me that they never told Flip that they could process their videos. I have wasted countless hours trying to find a store to put my family vacation and other precious moments with my kids onto dvd. Customer service has been little or no help at all...they just accused the stores of not knowing what they are doing. If that's true, then why not send a rep there for training. I live in a big city and only 3 stores were on the so called "list." And one never even heard of Flip. This is unacceptable and I would have purchased something different to take on my vacation that I could actually have put onto dvd. Now my memories are tied up into this little camera and I can't delete them to make more videos. Shame on you Flip for taking my hard earned money and making it impossible to preserve my memories of our last vacation with my dad and my kids grandpa. I'm sick over this and can't believe you can take advantage of people this way.

easy to use 2008-10-10

The video camera is so easy to use and down loads quickly into your PC or laptop and the picture quality is great - however I would recomend Lithium® batteries - they will last way longer - a very good product !!!

Good camera to share videos online 2008-10-09

This is a good camera for little videos to share online, no more than that. The image is ok and the camera is very easy to use. I would recommend it, if what you are looking for is an easy and unexpensive way to make videos to share with your friends and family.

Best camcorder value on the planet! 2008-10-06

This camcorder fits in your pocket and the palm of your hand, yet it is packed with incredible features. Record video anywhere, anytime in a very inconspicuous way. The image is broadcast quality SD and if you get the ULTRA you can easily capture an hours worth on content that you can then download to you PC just by plugging the handy USB pop-out into your computer or laptop. The built in software self installs on your computer and allows you to edit the length of your clips before downloading them to your PC and the camera even comes with a cable so that you can plug the camera into your TV and watch what your shot.

I was extremely impressed with the quality of the image. The image is crisp, the color extremely accurate and the camera self-focuses extremely fast as lighting changes. It is truely point and shoot.

A few years ago, I spent close to $5,000 for a camera. I hate to say it, but I can get comparable images from this tiny wonder. I think everyone should have one of these cameras. We took two of them to the Democratic National Convention and got some great footage. If you want to see what we do with it, check our blog at: http://www.michaelmadison.com

Fip Video Ultra Camcorder 2008-10-06

What a great gadget! This product is everything it is claimed to be. Can be used right out of the box. E-mailing videos? No problem! Posting to YouTube? No problem! Marvelous natural light videos. Editing software limited but for 90% of my needs the camera's capabilities will suffice. If more editing is needed, you'll have to switch to another product such as Microsoft MovieMaker. (If only the Microsoft MovieMaker was so easy to use and realiable!)

you'll be amazed 2008-10-06

I bought this after a friend got one. For the price, this camera's picture and sound quality is stunning. As an avid photographer, I believe the exposure metering is phenomenal. From bright sunshine to indoors, this camera handled it all and accurately. The size and shape make it easy to carry in a pocket, ...fun!
I have seen the various colors and they're all very cool. But the black has a very pleasant and sure handling texture.

Great Product 2008-10-05

I have had my flip ultra for about one month. I really like it! It's small size makes me grab it and bring it with me everywhere. The quality of the video is great for everyday recording. Even night video is surprisingly clear. I LOVE the simplicity of the flip. I looked into the mino and the ultra and I picked the ultra because it felt better in my hand. The mino really was too thin for me. I already have 2 friends who have bought this camera after I have raved about it. It is a lot of fun!

great product 2008-10-04

This product is great it is more bulkier than the mino flip series but it has just as much quality. It is great to send videos to your friends or upload them to youtube. It also is a pretty good little video camera for its price. Its worth every penny.

Flip Camcorder LOVE IT!!! 5 STARS! 2008-10-04

How did I ever live without this little gadget? Fits in my purse. I have been recording my daughters volleyball games, chorus concerts, etc. It's so WONDERFUL! The price is right too! The clarity of the video is amazing as well. LOVE IT! I'm giving this as a gift this year to my favorite people!

Brilliant little gadget 2008-10-04

This is a very clever little gadget. If you are looking for a high end video camera, this is not it. But if you want to be able to take a quick video and share it with friends, this is is perfect.

Awesome! 2008-10-04

Super easy to use and we had our first video on You Tube in about 10 min. Love it!

The Flip is easy! 2008-10-03

I have a new baby and she was my main motivation for purchasing this camera. I can just grab the little thing and start recording, upload and email to family and friends very quickly and easily. Sometimes I have trouble getting the record button to start and stop. Not sure if it is just me or the the actual device? All in all, it was worth the purchase, for ease alone.

Great little video camera! 2008-10-03

I bought three of these for my middle school. I then offered a movie making camp during the summer. The kids loved the cameras and made some great movies! I never worried about the kids working with these cameras. They easily attached them to tripods, toted them in their pockets, and learned how to use them in minutes. We then put the footage into windows movie maker and posted the final products on google video. Moviemaker allowed us to add sound effects, special effects, and cool titles and credits. I highly recommend this camera for anyone.

two thumbs up!!!

Quite pleased 2008-10-01

Firstly, this is not a hi end camcorder....and people shouldn't expect it to be.

What this is is a good, low-priced, easy to use point and shoot recorder that doesn't require much in the way of technical skills. I've used this for several months now and I'm quite content with it. The zoom really doesn't work great because of the resolution but thats ok with me. The quality of the standard recording setting does a decent job of capturing the "on-the-fly" things. While this would probably not be the camera I'd take on vacation with me, its a great device to drop into a handbag or backpack for more impromptu things.

I've had no problems with connectivity to my pc. Pop out the arm and it connects fine. The software is pretty basic...nothing fancy at all. But it works! It was a good purchase for me.

Worth it!!! 2008-09-30

I couldnt be happier with the Flip camera!!! The clarity is amazing on the camera as well as when it is hooked up to the TV. It can be a little confusing when you hook it up to the TV because the screen on the Flip turns off (its supposed to do that) but then you have to figure out how to navigate to see the other movies. Other than that we are loving our Flip!!! It was a great purchase...

Great product 2008-09-30

This is a great pocket camera that provides great quality & sound. Not a lot of features but compact, easy to use and great for taking on trips. I took it backpacking and got some great video of everyone. Definitely worth the money.

Great camera 2008-09-30

Excellent, but recommend getting the waterproof case. I didn't have it and missed some good shots of my grandkids in the pool and ocean while on vacation. love the easy connect. You do need a good editing program however, since each time you hit record it is a separate video clip whether it is 1 second or 20 minutes.

Terrific camera . . . while it works 2008-09-28

The color and sound from this little jewel is awesome considering its size and price. But here's the rub -- it only lasted three weeks past its warranty of 90 days. Then it would turn on, but not record or play or anything, even turn off. The batteries had to be removed to shut it down. I managed to make it work one more time by squeezing it so hard something inside must have moved and re-connected, but that only happened once in maybe twenty tries. Very disappointing since so much of today's technology simply works till you get tired of it. I wouldn't buy another one of these.

Love it! 2008-09-26

This camera is great for catching those moments of my 16 month old. It's extremely simple and I love it!

Awesome Fun 2008-09-25

This little camera is so easy to use. I'm not the most tech savy person in the world, so it was important to me to have a camera with only a few features. I bought one for my 13 year old son at Christmas. He really enjoyed using it. In fact, I started borrowing his, so I figured I better just get one for myself.
Here's what I like best about it:
It's cheap. If something happens to it...not a big deal.
It operates on AA batteries...I hate recharging batteries. Even worse, I hate having to buy rechargeable batteries because they're usually really expensive.
It is compact and fits in my shirt pocket so I can take it virtually anywhere. This is especially nice when you go on vacation to some place like Disneyland and don't want to lug a big camera around all day long.
It takes good videos (not great...but good).
The USB pops right out of the side so you don't even have to worry about cables.
Dislikes:
I wish that it would zoom in a little further.
You have to hold pretty still when filming or the video shakes (maybe even worse than some cameras I've used).
I wish it had a PAUSE button.

I haven't had many problems with our cameras. The only problem I have had is that I can't hook mine up to the TV to view for some reason. When I hook it up, the camera shuts off automatically. My son's works fine though when plugged into the TV.

Anyway, good camera and a good price.....I recommend it.

Good recorder, easy to operate. 2008-09-25

I am very happy with this recorder. The video quality is good and it is easy to operate. The night recordings came out very good, if you can see it, this camera will record it.

The only reason I did not give five stars is that I had to buy a USB extension cable to connect it to my desktop PC. The Flip would not plug into the recessed USB ports on the front without the extension cable.

Ken

It's everything promised... 2008-09-24

Excellent product, simple to use, simple to hook-up to your computer and send all your 'bits of life' to family and friends!

I LOVE this camera.

Thanks!

Wouldn't buy it! 2008-09-24

I just got this in the mail. After 2 minutes of use the screen went blank. The only way to get it to work is to remove the batteries and turn it on again. spend a little more and get a real video camera.

Great Bargain 2008-09-23

Great little video camera. Easy to use and fun to share with the family.

compact, functional, convenient 2008-09-23

I bought this for my brother who just had his first baby so that he could easily capture baby moments and share them (with me) on youtube. I also received one as a gift earlier in the year and LOVE it, though it does have some limitations.

Pros:
- compact, wire-free design is very travel friendly (the flipout USB is brilliant)
- very light
- cute
- very easy to use
- cheap!

Cons:
- Quality isn't good enough for full-screen viewing (perfect for youtube) so it doesn't really replace a real camcorder
- I wonder how long it'll be before a video camera of the same quality is imbedded into (an affordable) cell phone

All in all, I highly recommend Flip but it's not for everyone.

Excellent camera for video for the web or ipod 2008-09-22

I purchased the Flip Ultra primarily for web video. I have been using it for the past 5 months and simply love it. It has in many ways replaced my digital video camera for most things. It is particularly good for web video (I like to post short videos of the kids). On a Mac the editing requires a couple of extra steps (I drag to raw .avi files over to my Mac and then use VisualHub to convert them to .dv for editing in iMovie HD or Final Cut Express). You can use the software that comes with the camera to edit, email and post video to YouTube, but I find the quality better when using the VisualHub approach. This is camera is great for catching those little moments that would just take to long with a standard digital video camera.

Fabulous Flip 2008-09-21

This is a great, innovative product. It works out of the box and the download of the videos to the computer was flawless. It delivers on its promise - basic video, simply achieved. Its easy to carry around in a bag or a briefcase and just set up and shoot. Price / performance is superb.

Cool new gadget 2008-09-21

The Flip is as small as My cell phone and takes great video. I was able to put it in My pocket and go. I was pleasantly surprised at how clear the videos came out.

The digital zoom is good but won't be as good as a digital camera or full sized video camera.

I was able to easily import, edit and use the movie file on My Mac laptop's IMovie program though you can also use the Flip's built in software to edit, take stills etc.

Mine runs on 2 AA batteries which lasted My entire vacation(3 days of recording).

If you are looking for a simple, low cost solution for video recording this is it. I was very impressed with this product and would recommend it to anyone for personal recording. There's no complicated controls to learn, turn it on, point and hit the record button. It's really just that easy.

Great little device 2008-09-21

I love this little unit - it is definitely as-advertised. I'm very impressed with the video quality and built-in motion stablizer. I've been using this alot for work to capture impromptu design sessions, whiteboard sessions, etc.'

I was a little put off by the AA battery design - I thought I would have liked a USB chargeable solution better. After seeing how long a set of batteries last, I think it's a non-issue. I like they state - it does make sense to be designed for AA batteries when you think about non-office usage.

I love this little thing

record and shut off malfunctions with poor support 2008-09-20

There's so much to like about the flip ultra camcorder, the video quality, the sound, its portability, it takes two AA batteries and the cost. I read all the other positive reviews on the camcorder and agree, BUT with mine, I had trouble stopping the camera with the red button when done recording. I sent it back to Amazon, and was quite happy with their return policy. The second flip ultra came and this one would also resist ending a recording. In addition, I would have trouble making a second recording after I had a previous shot loaded on the camera. It jammed. Those "precious moments" came and went as I tried to find that "gentle touch" technical support wrote about in their generic response to problems. I sent in my issue to tech support and they requested the version of ultra one can find by pushing the red and trash buttons at the same time. I sent the information back to them and they have never responded. Its been three weeks! I get ready to send the camera back to Amazon, and then it will work. I decide to keep it and then it jams up again. I am beginning to think it may refuse to record when it gets warm, but who knows. I can't afford to be ripped off, but I like the camera when it works, so fool me twice I guess.

Share daily happenings of my baby with my relations 2008-09-20

Worth the price for its ease in recording and sending the clip. We share daily moments of the baby's life with our relations.

Failed After 4 months even with careful handling 2008-09-20

I've pampered my Flip Video Ultra and ordered it from Amazon on May 9, so I probably got it within one or two days later, Amazon usually provides FAST delivery. But this camera worked fine during the Warranty period, but now it has has failed (September 20) and the display is stuck on the opening screen. So be careful folks. These are made cheaply and mine didn't last but four months, conveniently (for Flip) right outside the warranty period. So I'm stuck with a useless piece of junk that I've used very little. I've pampered the camera, so this isn't the result of dropping it or any abuse. It just failed. New batteries didn't help.

Wait till somebody comes out with something more reliable before you purchase one of these. Or stick with a good digital camera.

I put a plug in for the camera when it worked on a blog I write at. Now I'm going to have to give a quite different review to warn people about these things But I've got a support request in with Flip. Maybe they'll try to help me out. Anybody else had bad luck with these cameras? Does flip offer support beyond the 90 day warranty? Or are thse things going to fail within a year? I'd like to know the MTBF rate for these things. Let me know in comments if you have any experience with these cameras failing. I'm not getting the feeling that these are made solid like the Apple computer. If Apple comes out with a video camera similar to this one, I'll spend the extra dough to get one.

I've added a short comment on the famous website Bad Attitudes to express my disappointment with this camera. Please see my blog post for my true feelings on the reliablity of this camera and my attitude about the "staff" at Flip Video:

http://badattitudes.com/MT/archives/2008/09/flipping_the_fl.html

It is what it is, an on the run camcorder 2008-09-19

I'm a noob to videograpghy. I just wanted an inexpensive camcorder since I wouldn't need it much. The Flip is tiny, and can fit in your pocket. It's so simple to use, you don't need a manual. There's 3 buttons and a toggle type pad. Press the red button and you're recording, it's that easy. There's a play and a delete button. The toggle switch allows you to zoom in and out and go forward and backward thru your videos. The Flip cuts out all the bells and whistles to keep the price low. THere's no remote, no light, no strap, nothing. All you can do is zoom in and out X3 but that's digital zoom not optical. The lcd screen is tiny as well, but effective enough. Fine, but how well does it perform? I took some video at a car dealer. There was lots of big windows letting in lots of light. I then transitioned outside to a mostly cloudy sky. The video is surprisingly good. There is some block noise, and graininess, but not that bad. Then I went indoors under incandescent light. Here I was disappointed. The video noise increased severely even in a well lit room. The subject was decently clear, but the background had massive video noise. The Flip does have a mic, but it's internal, and on the front. Anything not within 10 feet or so and facing towards the Flip isn't going to be heard well. The Flip is designed for easy Youtube upload. I had never done this before, yet even I had no trouble. Plug in the Flip to a usb port. Load the software to your computer(it comes up automatically) and then upload video. Very simple. Be aware tho that you'll need a seriously fast upload speed on your internet service. It took 4!hours to upload a 10 minute video! You also lose alot in the upload in video quality. Good videos become decent, and decent videos look like they were filmed with a $120 camcorder. A Flip makes a good child's present. It's handy for taking unexpected videos as well. Of course, most digital cameras have a movie mode, but that works for about 15 minutes, and there's no mic. The Flip runs for an hour and has sound. Still, why bother filming anything if it doesn't look great? If you want to record a throwaway scene that you'll dump on Youtube, the Flip's great, but for archiving things you want to watch again, look elsewhere as I'll be doing.

So easy even a caveman can do it 2008-09-18

It is the easiest and cutest camcorder. Even my three yr-old grandson shot a cute video with it!!!

FLIPPIN GREAT 2008-09-18

The flip camera is great because of the easy size. I took it in my purse and made great videos of friends at a bowling alley. I also took great footage of my friends pets. The audio is great as well. I think the flip is great. A good deal for the price and quality video.

Fun little gadget 2008-09-17

I love this camera. It's really easy to use, really easy to carry around, and really easy to upload your videos onto your computer. It's perfect for trips, horsing around with your friends, or any event which you may want to capture on film. You can hook it up to your TV and watch your footage, which is nice. I particularly like the feature that allows you to make still pictures from your video footage. Fun!

Flip Ultra is easy to use, convenient! 2008-09-15

The Flip Video is super easy to use and very convenient to just grab it and record when the baby does something film-worthy. I have a Sony Handycam that uses DV tapes but it is a real pain to get it out and find a tape, etc. Another selling point is that the Ultra uses AA batteries instead of a proprietary battery like the Mino. I bought a 4 pack of hi-power rechargable 2700 mAh batteries just to use in the Flip Ultra and they work great. I couldn't be happier with my Flip Video Ultra purchase.

Convenient 2008-09-15

I bought this camera for its size and ease of use. It more than fulfilled both. The lighting is great (without flash) and the sound picks up great. I'd buy this camera for a gift also.

flip video 2008-09-15

Flip Video Ultra Series Camcorder, 60-Minutes (White)ok i got the item and it recorded ok but can,t get it to down load on my pc, can,t find the software to come up on my pc, and you go to the help pages and it dosen,t help you that much,it play's on the tv, but thats about all, will keep trying, or have to buy a new pc,

It's so easy. 2008-09-15

It's so easy to use and to download on your PC or Mac. I just LOVE it. It is also GREAT for taking Videos of grandchildrens games.......

Great little video recorder 2008-09-15

I've read the other reviews about the negatives of this little recorder & was hesitant, but decided to take a chance & find out for myself. I bought this for my 13 year old son, who loves it. Frankly, I like it too. And so far, no complaints, it works just fine. My sister also bought one at the same time (a month ago) & she too has no complaints, and loves it. I think sometimes the bad reviews might be the result of operator difficulties.

Convenience and Quality 2008-09-15

The Flip camcorder is wonderful for taking on vacation, etc. It takes up very little room. But the quality of the video is excellent! You can play it back on your computer, or tv screen.It's always there so you won't miss that important moment that suddenly happens.

Short and Simple -- I bought one and then I bought a second one 2008-09-15

A person doesn't purchase two of the same item unless they feel they have a nice product at a fair price. This is a fun little recorder. Easy to use (even my 21 year old daughter, who hasn't figured out her Ipod yet, uses it).

You must make sure you are filming during the day or inside with the lights on. As with many camcorders, there is no light to film in the dark.

Connects easily to the computer without cords (thank goodness--no more cords). Fits easily in purse to have readily accessible.

I'm happy with the two I purchased and would recommend whole-heartedly, especially as a gift for someone you're just not sure what to get. Anyone with a computer would be able to work this and would enjoy it. I've gotten some nice quality little films and it films for about an hour. The batteries also last a long time.

No complaints at all from me!

Simply put, we use it all the time. It's not HQ, but it 85% of what we'd ever want. 2008-09-14

The FLIP really has replaced the casual 'snapshot' still photos I take at parties, events or any casual photography. I really have not pulled out my point-and-shoot still camera in a long time. All those moments have been replaced by whipping out the FLIP and grabbing some video.

The video quality is sub-DVD but it's completely acceptable considering the size and package. The size and package are what make it able to be used as often as it is.

When friends gather around and we watch the various clips I've filmed, we all appreciate those memories. In fact others regret that they only had their still camera with them that day.

I know for more money I could get HD and better quality. But the super easy interface and size are what make the flip the best 'go-to' for me. Even over the cheaper Aiptek HD units out there. The FLIP simply beats even those for size and ease of use.

It's fast, easy to use, rugged, does decent quality and more importantly allows me to capture more memories with little to no hassle.

Easily suggest this camera to anyone looking to caputure those moments with friends and family as often as possible.

Not enough MBs. 2008-09-14

The camera is simple to use, but the snapshots from it are just too small to make good prints from. So I was very disappointed, and I am ESPECIALLY unhappy that I will not get a full refund from amazon.com. I returned the item, but, as I understand it, I will get 80% of the cost, minus their cost of the postage to return it, even though I was signed up for amazon Prime (and so should, I think, have free return postage privileges and full refunds).

I'll shop at a face-to-face store in the future that gives full refunds on their cameras if they do not perform to expectations.

great product!! 2008-09-14

I bought this for my grandaughter and I will quote her note to me:
"I LOVE the camera you got me! I have already used it SO much!"
I had used a friend's before and thought it a great little item so got it for Eloise's birthday
It couldn't have been a better present

The Flip and Macs 2008-09-14

This is an excellent recorder, and I just wanted to confirm that the latest software bundled with it was 100% compatible with my Powerbook and OS/X Leopard.

I was able to convert the AVI files by opening them in Quicktime and saving them as .mov files. Then I could import them into iMovie8 and build a movie from my clips.

Terrific value, and exceptional picture quality in all sorts of light levels.

It was great! But.. 2008-09-13

I love this camera. The moment I bought it I did a test run of just recording everything. The quality is great, and actually the price isn't bad at all. I also love how small it is and it's really really really easy to use.

But. The only flaws I found were that it used double A batteries. I'm a fan of the rechargeable battery so I didn't like that. Also I wish that it had a removable memory card so you don't have to empty out your camera every time it fills up but could just switch memory cards.

Great little camera! 2008-09-13

My husband and I bought this camera to record marching band field shows this season. I must say I am very impressed. The video quality is amazing. The camera is very easy to use. I was able to teach a friend how to use it in less than a minute. Its lightweight and travels well. I only have 2 complaints. One is I'm having a hard time figuring out how to set and display the date and time. I'm afraid I'm going to have to pull the batteries out and start over. Two is the flip arm. It works wonderfully, but I have USB ports on the side of my PC that are above the ground. In order to keep the USB connected to the PC and not cause damage to the arm I have to stack stuff underneath it to keep it level. Not really an issue, more of a nusance. I'm sure it wouldn't be a problem with my laptops USB port. Other than that I love this camera. Its a great little camera for the price and I would definitely recommend it!

flip video ultra 2008-09-13

i love the flip camera and i recomend it to all. it is cheap and takes incredible video. i have used this to video tape on rollercoasters and upload on youtube and quaility is fantastic. its so easy to use. im so happy with mine. its worth every penny.

Flip Ultra Survives Water Twice 2008-09-10

This is my 2nd FLIP & just love the camera. This I bought specifically to keep in my new underwater case made specifically for The FLIP. I replaced the case and that one also leaked. However, the camera dried out after 2 days and I actually was able to get my videos off the camera. After notifying [...] they graciously gave an RMA # for both the camera & the case even though neither was purchased directly with them. Great videos, great company, just might want to stay away from the underwater case :-( (they were great movies too though).

70/30 love/hate 2008-09-10

I really do Like this camera but the Muvee software is crud. To be fair the Flip customer support were helpful and offered suggestion but ultimately, no dice. Use is great, speed and convenience is great but I'm editing everything in Microsoft moviemaker. Meh, it works. The USB linkage seemed flimsy at first but I dug up a 6 inch USB connector and it's all jake now. If the software worked, if the USB linkage was a teeny beefier, if the 3ivx didn't have a trial period you find out about only after it expired, It would be a 10 fer 10. But it doesn't. Don't decide to not get one because of me, I use it almost every day. But if it was a tiny bit better thought out, sayyyyyy like Apple's stuff usually is, then I's be thrilled.

Easy to use - good for recreational use while traveling 2008-09-08

I used the Flip Video Ultra on a trip to Beijing for the Olympics. I used it with a friend and we mainly took short videos on the subway, great wall, etc. Because the camera is so small it's convenient to bring anywhere. The video quality is alright for close shots. Don't expect to zoom in very much. It was great for short and close up videos.

Question?? 2008-09-06

We sent this Cam Corder as a gift. However. we purchased it for $118.53 and were charged on our credit card $120.36 (on August 8th). Please explain.

Awesome Videos 2008-09-05

I was pleasantly surprised given the price that the picture and sound quality were as good as they are. With a one year old, I just don't have the time or patience to lug around a big video camera and set it up. All I need is to throw this in a bag or my purse and I can pull it out and get it going with one hand. The software is really easy to use and I am extremely pleased it stores the videos by date. Highly recommended!

Simply brilliant! 2008-09-05

Finally, a video camera on the market that brings simplicity and sophistication to the forefront. I couldn't be happier with this purchase. Every family needs one of these!

I'm happy that I got it. 2008-09-05

I bought this camera because I wanted one that I could carry everywhere without worrying that it could get lost or stolen. The quality is lower than a regular video cam, but much better than a cellphone or photo cam. The only weak point of this cam is that the image is poor when you move as you film. Slow moves and firm grip will give you quality shots. Otherwise, it is a great camera, I recommend it. Also, I am woking on editing my vacation on Apple iMovie, and so far it is working just fine.

Love it!!! 2008-09-04

Watch Video Here: http://www.amazon.com/review/R191B3T3G41LBG this is a movie mix i did of my son- it was sooo easy.

oh so easy! 2008-09-03

great deal for a portable digital camera when you're on the go and don't have much space. No need to find outlets, or worry if the battery's dead, or finding a blank tape. instant gratification! Especially with easy/fast download to computer. love that you can delete clips separately. wish it had more of a zoom but hey, it was a great deal at $126.

love my flip video 2008-09-03

This camera is great for those with little ones. I am able to quickly capture first rolls, first smiles, first laughs and post them for family immediately. Dropped the camera on the floor (blame it on Mommy-brain) & it wouldn't turn on. I was disappointed thinking I had ruined it, but took the batteries out and put them back in and it works perfectly again. This was a great purchase!

Flip software won't convert videos 2008-09-02

I've enjoyed using this recorder, but I've run into a problem you need to be aware of. I taped a 4 minute video recently, with the intent to use the enclosed software to convert it for email and send it to family. The software would not convert the video. And after many seemingly "canned" responses from tech support that didn't address the problem, I was finally told that 4 minutes was too long to convert and that I should make my videos shorter. WHAT??

So please be aware that you had better not plan on making a vid more than a couple of minutes long if you want to send it to youtube or by email - the software won't convert it. And tech support was very unhelpful.

Flip Video 2008-09-01

The Flip Video is handy and useful. It requires no special setup, just turn it on. It can't replace a more expensive video camera with a lot of bells and whistles, but it does a good job for such a small, inexpensive camera. It can be used relatively unobtrusively and captures the moment. The only drawback is it requires its own software application to view the video. However, it will copy the video in "email mode" which can then be sent to others to view without the special software.

Flip Video Ultra Series 2008-09-01

I purchased the Flip Video Ultra Series from Wal-Mart.com over the summer and will be using it in my classroom to teach video Podcasting. I carry it in my purse, so I have it whenever that special video moment arises. It is very simple to use, even my 80 year old father tried his hand at it. I did have a little problem with getting the camera to snyc with the computer at first, but Pure Digital was very good at email responses, and in the end we just needed to go to the Flip Video site for the newest software. Pure Digital was willing to send my a new camera if that didn't work. I have since purchased another camera for my brother for Christmas, to take videos of his 2 year old. This will be my Christmas gift for everyone on my list. It is fun, easy to use and the price is right! Two thumbs up for Flip Video!

It's a perfect gift 2008-09-01

Flip Video Ultra Series F260P 60-Minute (Pink) Camcorder + Accessory Kit

I bought this camera (not in pink, of course) for my husband's birthday and he loved it. I have since bought 2 more as gifts and the pink one for myself. The only downside for Mac users is that most of the 'fun' editing features don't work with a Mac, just Windows. My sister (for whom I bought one as a gift) has a PC and really enjoys the editing, adding graphics to the corners of her videos, splicing together small videos, and the list goes on. The quality of the image is extremely high, as is the sound. The plug-and-play feature of the videocam is terrific. The size is perfect for a large pocket, fanny-pack, or purse. It makes a great gift for a birthday, Christmas, graduation, or just because!

action! 2008-09-01

We bought this camera as a gift for my brother, as both of my grown=up kids have one and love it, now so does my brother. Size, quality of picutre make it easy to have at all times to be ready for a great shot.

Good device with exceptions to note - updated with solution 2008-09-01

The device works great for 2 months now. The picture is great and works seamlessly with my Mac Leopard OS. The program comes with it works very well and the snapshot feature is a big plus.

The only exception is that this device hangs today and removal of battery doesn't address this failure. I have submitted a ticket with the Flip support website and will update this review depending on the resolution from Flip support. It's annoying though because I was at a wedding reception and unable to use this device.

Will update this post with root cause and resolution.

09/02/2008

UPDATE - Flip support responded by sending me the link to download the flip point and shoot program. This program reinstalled the flip program itself and did not remove any existing video in the device. The response was quick (less than 24 hours) and it solved the "hanging" problem. It looks like a software bug that can be address by reinstallation.

http://www.theflip.com/app/prius/37/update/

Way better than I expected 2008-08-31

Finally used it for the first time 2 nights ago. Wow, the video is much better than I thought it would be. I agree with those that say the record button could use a little work. I'm uploading the first videos to youtube right now, and really, in every way, I would be hard pressed to see how they could make it any easier than this.
I'm really shocked at how good the quality of the video is. Just amazing, particularly for the amazon price.
I bought this for a website I'm working on, but I think this will get a lot more use than I thought it would. Little things that Grandma would like to see, now made super easy.
Glad I bought it.

Does not work 2008-08-31

I received the Flip recorder and found that the manufacturers seal was cut. Looked like the package had been opened. The unit takes video but you can not download it onto your computer nor can I use it with the TV - won't work. Looks like someone else bought this item, had the same problems, returned it to Amazon and Amazon farmed out to me. I will return the unit and then delete Amazon from my bookmarks. I will have to stick with Best Buy for my electronics.

After a year it still is absolutely fantastic. 2008-08-30

Watch Video Here: http://www.amazon.com/review/R3D8DMWZPFROA5 We have been using out little Flip Video for about a year now and have had nothing but good things to say about it. It takes great quality video for anything close by, with great sound as well. For doing a school concert etc, it is not what you might hope for, in that it doesn't zoom that far, but the sound is still fine.

HERE is an example of a clip my wife used for her "Kinders" a trip to the Ostrich farm on a sunny and windy day.

What we have loved about it is taking close by events, like Thanksgiving or Christmas dinners and activities, Birthdays, & BBQ's etc. Some of those kinds of things that you always want to keep are easily transferred to your Laptop or PC with extremely clear video.

But the coolest thing is that it can do all of this and still fit unobtrusively in any pocket, and uses 2 AA batteries. Not only can you not beat it for the money, but it is hard to beat for the simple convenience and ease of use.

I would recommend buying this for yourself or for your married kids to get those grand baby videos you want.

This Video is from a very sunny and windy trip to the Ostrich Farm in Tehachape

Great fun 2008-08-30

What a great time we have had with the Flip. I bought it for my daughter and like it so much, I have bought 3 more. One for myself and two as gifts. Easy to use, good picture quality and easy to carry and have available at all times. Have recommended it to several people. Great video camera for the price.

Awesome Flip!! 2008-08-28

I absolutely love this little video camcorder. It is the perfect size for carrying in your purse, and so easy to use. I am not a "technical" kind of gal, and this is so very easy, it's even a breeze for me. I have taken several videos of my grandkids and watched them on the screen as well as my 60" big screen TV; plug it in and turn it on. It's great and I would recommend this to anyone who wants something quick and easy and lots of fun! And also, the ease of the USB port in your computer is another huge plus.

Handy Little Camera 2008-08-28

I bought this for my daughter to take videos of her new son. It's easy to use and does a good job. She has been very happy with it. It's so small that she carries it in her purse and grabs it whenever he's being especially cute (which is all the time). She has had a little trouble figuring out how to download the video to her computer, then email it. Not sure those instructions are obvious to someone who is just a basic computer user. Once she has that down though, videos will be flying around the country to family members!

excellent and easy 2008-08-28

so easy to use, even freaked-out technophobes can play --

buy a charger and rechargeable batteries, and you're set to go.

an amazing tool -- and fun

Very difficult to make work with computer 2008-08-28

Flip Video Ultra Series Camcorder, 60 Minutes (Pink)
As a working adult, this product is not something I should have ever gotten tangled up with. The hardware makes for an impresive toy, but it will not save to a computer. I'm sure the product was supposed to, it just doesn't. And yes, if your a kid with a lot of time and energy on you hands, you might actually get it to work, or just kill some time playing with it, but for the rest of us, this is time sorely misplaced on such a trivial device.

worth every penny but not quite perfect 2008-08-27

I really like this product. It is easy to use and figure out. Installation of the sytem onto my computer took a few minutes but was easy to do.

One of the greatest advantages for me is the portability of this small and slim video recorder. Okay, so higher end recorders take better video but what good is that if you never take those recorders out of the bag? Any quality video is better then no video at all. This Flip Video is easy to carry around everday so you'll never miss capturing that kodak moment.

I do have some issues with the quality of video when enlarged to full screen on my computer. It's a little grainer then I'd like. I see that Sony has come out with a similiar recorder and I'm thinking I should try that one as well.

The Flip Video has great battery life and is pretty much idiot proof for recording, transferring to your computer, editing and uploading onto popular sites. It's also easy to e-mail to friends and family as long as it is a relatively short video. Otherwise, you will need software to get around the file limitations of e-mail. Another problem I have is the transfer to dvd. It is provided at a fee by Flip Video and Flip Video only. I am still searching for a way around this since I bought the product, I should be able to store the video how I want without having the send it to Flip Video for them to process. I don't like the idea of sending personal videos to a corporation.

Good Camcorder 2008-08-27

Nice little devil this one is...
Easy to use, even my 3 yr old figured it out in a jiffy.

It get's hot very quickly, just wondering if it's only this piece.

dead in less than a fortnight(or gone in 14 days) 2008-08-27

Other than the fact this was dead in less than a month This camera stinks at everything from the odd response of the red button not working half the time to the batteries being used up too quick and the irritating way you scroll forth and it goes back/or forth never can control it rigth. The software is first grade garbage, the videos I made(in the form of "cuts") I could find no real way to spice them together in the order of my choosing, if you "combined them" into a "movieshow' it could be in any random order so you have a joke of a movie editor. Asisde from the LCD this is a pile of garbage(as in Gretta Garbo's flustering failure of a career-probably more a bad camera angel than old age ha!) and mine is dead. Luck stinks (as in flimsy products) only skill matters!(as in old Bella Lugosi)

Flip Ultra Series 2008-08-26

I would recommend this to anyone. The software is a little bit slow for my taste but manageable if you're not in a hurry. The video quality is very good. It's small, easy to use. I plan to buy another for my mother for her birthday.

Flip Video Ultra 2008-08-26

quick easy it perfect on the run, but doesn't take the place or a real camcorder

Perfect for mother with baby on her hip 2008-08-26

This was a birthday gift for a busy mother with a 3-year old and 8-month old. It's perfect for her. She has taken some beautiful clips of her kids. The quality of the clip is remarkable also.

Great EASY video camera! 2008-08-26

Love this! It's small, it's easy to use, it's easy to download videos (and compress them for easy emailing). The quality is fine (as long as you are not a professional shooting for TV or something). The ONLY other thing I can say is be CAREFUL when setting the date. It prompts you to set the date when you first turn it on ... but if you enter it wrong (like I did) there seems to be no way to ever change it!!! I recommend this camera and amazon had the cheapest price by far!

Simple and effective 2008-08-26

I purchased the Flip Video Ultra mainly to take videos of our family gatherings both for keepsakes and to send them to our family members that live too far from us. The expectation was to be able to make videos that we could edit in OS X 10.5, upload to youtube, make DVDs or add to our two AppleTVs.

The good

This is as simple as it gets. It is held more or less the same way that you hold a cell phone while taking pictures/videos, and it is very light. It only has the bare minimum controls to get the job done.

Importing into OS X is easier if you just plug the camera and drag the movies into wherever you want them stored at.

Processing is simple: I just import the clips as iMovie events, and in minutes I can edit the whole thing with transitions, titles and music. Export to Youtube from iMovie is painless, while sending to AppleTV is a bit more involved (this is an iMovie concern, it has nothing to do with the Flip Video).

As a rough estimate, I can take a five-minute clip, edit it and export it to youtube in less than half an hour, and most of that time is wasted in conversions and uploads.

Picture quality: The raw videos look a little bit washed out, but it was easy to fix by changing the white balance in iMovie, so I am suspecting part of the problem was my indoor lighting. The youtube exports look so-so, but this is either an issue with iMovie's output or with whatever conversion youtube does. The iPhone versions of the youtube videos look fantastic, so I am sure this has something to do with youtube's internal conversions. The AppleTV versions look ok, but to me the iPhone versions look much better (even better than the youtube videos seen through AppleTV, instead of videos specifically exported for direct use in AppleTV).

Sound: Sound is great, I have no complaints about it.

The not-so-good

Because I am so damn smart, I did not read the very short instruction sheet and did not notice that big, obvious, lock button for the battery compartment. For the first couple of days I kept pulling the door out while trying to pull the camera out of the carrying pouch. Big obnoxious button, and to me it was completely invisible. Grrr.

The carry pouch sucks, it attracts dirt very easily.

The record button could use a more positive click action, sometimes you don't push it hard enough to trigger it.

The delete function doesn't tell you what to do on screen, you have to guess which button to hit to confirm what you want to do.

That's about it, except for those really tiny nags, it is perfect. This should be one hell of an affordable gift for anyone that has small children, and all you have to do is feed it batteries. I was worried about storage space, but so far I have not been able to fill it up in one session.

The Flip's Problems 2008-08-26

One of the Flip Cam's problems that upset me is that, when viewing a video that was taken, you can't run it forward or back!!! If you have a 5 to 10 minute video and there is something you want to see 4 or 9 minutes (respectively) into the video you have to view THE ENTIRE video, starting from the beginning!! As I said you can't fast forward to the only part you want to see!! Bad design! Thinking of returning it!

Easy to use 2008-08-25

This was recommended to me and thus far I have found very little to complain about other than volume control, BUT that's fixable through other programs I use.

Personally, it's a great camera for my application.
~Jennifer

Flip Video Ultra 2008-08-25

For an amateur like me, this Flip Video is perfect. So simple to use and understand and view the films. I e-mail lots of clips to my relatives and friends and this is soooo easy.

Love my Flip camera! 2008-08-24

I am a technology integration specialist in eight schools, grades K - 12. I had heard about this camera from a colleague in another district. After reading reviews and checking the different Flip cameras that are available I chose this model because it can use rechargeable AA batteries (the new Mino had a rechargeable battery, but once it "dies" the Mino must be returned to the factory for replacement).

I opened the box the minute I received it from the UPS delivery guy and had a video created, edited and sent via e-mail to family members in less than 30 minutes (the hardest part for me was finding and opening the battery compartment.)

You won't get the quality of audio and video that you would get with an expensive video camera, but for simple, quick, easy to make video it is a great little camera. And, if you are going to post video online or e-mail it, you don't want large screen quality anyway.

As I've seen in other reviews, I would definitely purchase a USB connecting cable to attach it to the USB port. I happened to already have one and it was very handy to have with my laptop since the USB ports are not in convenient locations and are shared by my wireless mouse and other peripherals so plugging it in would have required removal of other USB devices if I hadn't had the cable.

I love it! Cute, easy to carry along, and not expensive. I can't wait to use it in the classroom with teachers and kids!

DON'T BE DECEIVED 2008-08-24

It is extremely difficult and time consuming to save videos to your computer and your own e-mail or CD program. They recommend other commercial sites but if you don't do it through them and their advertising, it's a royal PAIN. Then, after using it for a month or so (or trying to, anyway), I was prompted to download the "upgrade." After doing so, I was constantly being prompted to download it AGAIN whenever I plugged the camera into my computer, even though the info on the upgrade screen said the download had been successful. Customer service was literally non-existent - the people I spoke to (for over an hour, including hold time, several times) turned out to be salespeople and informed me there was no real technical support, and I did check several websites, [...] and one recommended by one of the salespeople. Finally, when I downloaded the upgrade for the fifth time and was again informed it was "successful," two things happened: I lost ALL of the videos saved on the program (ones I hadn't saved for e-mail or CD), and the videos from the camera that I did save for e-mail were saved but with no sound. It's positively unbelievable to me that people are still buying this piece of crap.

Not bad for cheap video, but one more gizmo to log around 2008-08-24

A lot of cell phones and digital still cameras have the capability do do what the flip ultra does, but not mine. In addition, my carrier prohibits me from downloading videos directly from my phone. So the Flip Ultra, which I won in a raffle, is somewhat useful.

Fortunately, for me, the AVI videos it writes are directly compatible with Linux and the open source "mplayer" application - Hooray! So I don't need to load anything and I can even play and upload videos directly off the camera.

It only works as a video cam, although you can use it as a USB memory stick. Avoid reformatting the flash drive - it has the software distributed with the camera on it. So it is one more gizmo you need to schlep around. Doesn't weigh much, though, only a few ounces plus two AA batteries. It comes with a velvet bag to protect it.

The USB connector "flips" out of the side of the camera. The full weight of the camera will thus hang off the USB connection. I would hope that engineers at Flip designed the connector to be string enough to do this, but your luck with your PC may vary, so you might want to purchase a short "Type A to Type A" USB extender cable or some kind of hub.

Not Computer Friendly 2008-08-24

I bought this for my 12 year old daughter since it looked simple and easy to use. We tried to load it on Windows XP on a one year old computer and it would not load. We have tried everything and cannot use it. Tech support has not been helpful. This has been a complete waste of money and time.

Great invention! 2008-08-24

One of the best little pocket video cams for the money. Its ease of use,size and built in usb plug makes it a no-brainer.The colors are way cool. I got the orange.

Perfect birthday gift! 2008-08-23

My 13 yr old son & his friends like to make homemade videos to share with family over the internet. The Flip Video Ultra was the perfect birthday gift this summer. It is easy to use, has fun effects, and is small enough to take anywhere. He loved it!

Very satisfied... 2008-08-23

I have been very impressed with the Flip Video. I'd not really thought about what I would use it for. However, I have a 16 year old dog. She is slowing down a lot, but occasionally on cooler days has a burst of energy. I got a nice video of her running circles in the yard like she did a lot as a puppy the other day. I think it will be a nice way to remember her.

I have failed to push the button to start recording hard enough when I am rushed, so be sure to check that the seconds are counting. I missed a prior opportunity with my dog running and a nice sequence with a rabbit who hides out in the woods in my backyard by not pushing hard enough. Very frustrating when you go to turn it off and it starts recording!

I am quite surprised at how good the videos are on the computer. I have not been able to get it to play on the TV screen so far which I am disappointed about, but on the TV it looks fine.

Flip Video Ultra Series Camcorder, 60-Minutes (Black)

Nice camera for kids! 2008-08-22

I purchased this camera as a gift form my 7 year old son. He loves it. It is a good value for the price.

Stops working after warranty expires 2008-08-22

Mine stopped working shortly after the 90 day warranty. Was used maybe 5 times and well cared for. It keeps turning itself off even with new batteries. It appears to be a software issue that they know about since there is information about this problem on their website. The device is nicely designed though so that it lats the 90 days and