I've been waiting for this to be released for several months, and was surprised when I got the notice that the ship date was moved up by a month. I've had this camera only for around 12 hours but have spent a few hours with it so far, and it was definitely worth waiting for. I considered the Flip Mino but decided to wait for this to come out because of the ability to use SD cards and also to remove and change the battery somewhat inexpensively.
I'm really glad I waited, and here's why.
* Picture quality is fantastic. I've uploaded some things to Youtube, and the picture was crystal clear.
* Sound - The mic picked up a nice variety of sounds from office sounds (people typing,etc) to a loud surprise party with clarity.
* Size - It's really small. It's wide and flat. Fits in my jeans pocket and in my shirt pocket as well.
* Battery - I'm waiting to see how long it lasts, but it charged in around an hour and 45 minutes when plugged in to the wall.
* Software - I'm pretty impressed. It's simple but it does pretty much what I'll need it to do. I spent around 30 minutes messing around with it. The video uploaded quickly.It allowed for basic editing, color correction and enhancement,etc. It allows direct upload to Facebook,Youtube,Twitter,and Vimeo.
* Build Quality - It's sturdy. Not heavy but definitely "solid". I like the rubberized surface, I can imagine it will be easier to hold when it's wet. I'm very excited to be able to film my daughter swimming from inside the pool!
We own a traditional video camera but it's rarely used because it's big and bulky, the battery life stinks, and making it work with the computer is almost impossible. The Kodak is a natural companion for the diaper bag and I look forward to recording many future memories with it.
The closest to a negative may just be due to the format itself. I used the Kodak software and burned a standard def dvd from a 1080p source and the video looked awful. Very "blocky". I assumed it would at least be "dvd quality" but it's barely VHS. Of course, I could just be doing something wrong. If I figure it out, I'll revise this review!
Other than that issue, I love this thing! The other camera is going to be sold soon, this is all we need!
Average Rating:
Brand: Kodak
Color: Black
Model: 1442102
Languages:
Original Language: English
Product Description:
Heads up, adrenaline junkies. The Kodak Playsport has as much appetite for adventure as you do. And it's not afraid to get wet. This audacious little camera can plunge up to 10 feet under water and capture the entire experience in full 1080p HD. And you don't need to worry about blurry footage when things get a little shaky. With built-in image stabilization, the Kodak Playsport will stay steady as a rock. From the waves, to the slopes, to the mud-soaked trails, this baby was made for the extremes.
Features:
- Waterproof up to 10 ft. (3 m)
- Full 1080p HD video
- Electronic image stabilization
- Brilliant 2.0 in. color display
- Capture 5 megapixel HD stills (16:9)
Available at Amazon
List Price: USD 149.95
Lowest New Price: USD 149.00
Customer Reviews
Awesome to say the least!!!
Just opened the camera from the box. Easy to use buttons, just charge the battery and you are good. I put in an 8gb card and it will record 2.5 hrs of 720p quality video or 1.5 hrs of 1080p. Has increased saturation setting as well as B&W. Image quilt was excellent with the 5mp camera built in. Picture printed as well as a 12meg pixel camera on a 4x6 and even 5x7. Waterproof is the key reason I purchased this camera and it did not let me down. Buy yours now because I think these are going to sell fast and be sold out everywhere soon.
White balance and low light :(
Well I thought this camcorder would be just like Zi8 with improved features. But after trying it with some indoor and outdoor test shots it becomes apparent that the white balance is way off. White walls look blue-ish and there's no way to adjust it. If I turn H2O mode on it becomes too red. Just take a look at this comparison video and you'll know what I'm talking about. (see first link in the comment)
It would be better if the software that came with it has color temperature adjustment feature, but sadly it's not included. Hope a firmware upgrade comes out soon to fix the issue.
Low light videos are a lot grainier than I had expected. I'm starting to wonder if my Playsport really is the one used for these awesome videos: (see second link in the comment)
Other than these two disappointments, the camera seems pretty solid and impressive.
Best Water Proof HD Video and Still Camera.
I am a Canon diehard fan. But Canon does not have anything that compares to Kodak Playsport HD waterproof pocket video camera. At 1080P the video recording is acceptable. But, at 720p and 60 frames per second this camera rocks, the results are great. I have used it around and in water, the blue filter helps under water. I am planning to use this for our Disney World vacation this year in the Water Parks.
This camera takes 5MP HD Stills, so now I have a camera that can take video and stills on demand wet or dry. I have other camera's in the same category like Flip and Samsung both do not compare, even at 720p 60 frames per second. 0.00 pricetag is also very affordable.
Easy to carry, very user friendly to move files from the camera to the computer or directly to Youtube. Nightvision would be nice but most of my recordings will be in Daylight. Bottom line great camera and I have no cons to talk about.
