REVIEW: New Flip MinoHD Video Camera

Flip Hi-Def Video Camcorder - Mino HD

As to size, the Mino HD clocks in at 3.94" x 1.97" x 0.63" and weighs just over 3oz. So the form factor is smaller than a deck of cards or a mini-calculator, very small and light, easy to fit into a pocket or purse, and of course easy to lose. On to battery life, which is critical for these small portable devices. The good news is that Pure Digital does a good job here -- the non-replaceable lithium-ion battery runs for just under 2 hours under normal usage, and it can be recharged via USB port on computer or via power cable in just 2-3 hours. The earlier Flip Ultra and Flip Video models offered the option of using AA batteries, which is an option we really like. The fact is, you will sometimes find yourself with a dead battery, and the flexibility of being able to pop-in an AA replacement is very valuable. So you lose that option with the MinoHD -- but still good battery life overall. The camera does react a little slow though, taking 3-4 seconds to power-up and be ready to shoot. Let's talk about memory and storage -- again, critical for these small portable devices. The Flip Mino HD comes with built-in 4GB of flash memory -- this will hold approx. 1 hour of MP4 video, which is really quite good. For most casual users, you rarely need to capture more than an hour of footage before getting back to your PC. However, what is lacking is support for additional memory via an SD memory card slot -- this gets back to the battery issue, where sometimes you simply need a little extra capacity, and the option to be able to pop-in another memory card would be very worthwhile. The Mino HD comes in black as the only standard color, though you can opt for a "designable" custom overlay if you order direct from their site, TheFlip.com (though you pay full retail price).

Flip Mino HD Specs and Features - Pictures

• Height: 3.94 in
• Width: 1.97 in
• Depth: 0.63 in
• Weight: 3.3 ounces
• Video Capture: HD 1280x760 at 30FPS, MP4 file format
• Display: 1.5-inch TFT
• Memory: built-in 4GB flash, not expandable
• Battery: lithion-ion, 2 hours operating time, 2-3 hours charge time
• Computer Connectivity: built-in flip-out USB port
• Wireless: Wi-Fi (802.11b/g)
• Outputs: TV out NTSC
• Includes standard tripod mount on bottom

How much does the Flip Mino HD camcorder cost?