Kodak Zx1 – High Definition Pocket Video Camera – Red

5 Responses to Kodak Zx1 – High Definition Pocket Video Camera – Red

1. A. P. Deeks

   August 30, 2010 at 4:45 am

   Review from A. P. Deeks for the Kodak Zx1 – High Definition Pocket Video Camera – Red
   The Rating is:
   In the beginning, because I was going on holiday to the lake district, I thought I would hire a high definition camera for a week, to get some great pictures. All I ever wanted it for was for landscape shots,and outdoor scenery, so I knew that lowlight conditions was not important, and that I am not using it for sport, or any fast moving activity. In brightly lit conditions outside this, camera for $48, which is nothing, had performed brilliantly, it does not have but a crappy digital zoom, which, I , to be fair don’t need. It cant handle shaking too much, as it has no stabilisation control.

   I was simply going to pan around, slowly and get a shot of the terrain. I searched on youtube for footage of the ZX1, and was very delighted with the results of some. This hammers my Sony DCR8800 for clarity, and when used purely for good lighted conditions, the colour rendering and the picture looks stunning, Its does all I need it to, and it is rugged, well built. And I now find myself filming anything, as it looks so good on an LCD television I have.

   Yes it has its foibles, you need to be still to get good pictures without shakiness, no time on the screen for how much of the memory card has been used. It looks like on the HD60 mode, (which is also a great feature as opposed to other expensive HD camcorders, ive seen that do 720p 30fps, this being 60fps), that you get about 6 minutes per GB, at 720 60 frames per second. considering I was going to take a big semi professional HD video camera at great expense, with all the heavy lenses, this thing if used properly, I can take like a phone. And it will give you really great pictures. I am over 40 so, growing up with 8 mm, then Hi 8 and then DI 8, this is a substantial improvement.

   Its not the pinnacle of its kind, but for me, and for what I will use it for, it will make everything I film in the right conditions, more stunning than I had before.

   I cant understand some of the bitching about quality, knowing that it is a very cheap camcorder. That said I would be doing a disservice to this great little camera, for moving pictures, where you don’t need a zoom, and your subject is relatively static, and not in lowlight conditions, you could convince your friends, this little camera cost a lot lot more.

   Word to the good also, to have a the facility of AA batteries means that when the usual inbuilt battery’s in other equipment, have long died, you can replace the batteries in this. I was initially disappointed when I bought some energiser lithium double AA,s, these are excellent and last ages. In this camera, I have found that if you put 2 brand new energiser lithium batteries, that exceed a total of 3.6 volts, it will reject them as though the power level is empty and turns off, to protect itself.

   Sometimes to save the finer electronics, a limiter of current will kick in to save the board from damage. Worry not, I think Kodak have rated their cut off point over zealously. The energiser lithium’s will work, you just need to charge the Kodak batteries fully, put one energiser, and one Kodak battery in together, inside the camera.
   
   Turn it on leave it on for about 3 minutes, take them out, then take another energiser lithium, place that in the camera with the rechargeable Kodak battery, and this will drain a little off the energiser. So that when you take the 2 energisers and put them into the camera they will accept them, because the current has gone down, now your free to use these very strong batteries.

   Its simply a case of draining them a little., you could put them temporarily in anything, remote control, radio, toy car. This is only for the energisers, im not too sure if they are good with duracell, but if you do have this problem, try to do the same thing. As rechargeable batteries, are 1.2 volts, and normal batteries are 1.5. but fully charged, 1.2 goes to 1.4, and 1.5 aa batteries, can be as high as 1.7.

   I hope this helps someone else, as its so handy for an emergency pair when you are out, sometimes rechargeable, can be so hit or miss, depending on a batch. To sum up, I love this little camera, I hope it lasts a while, for the price these cameras are excellent, I love mine.
2. Mr. G. R. Thoms

   August 30, 2010 at 5:09 am

   Review from Mr. G. R. Thoms for the Kodak Zx1 – High Definition Pocket Video Camera – Red
   The Rating is:
   I chose the Kodak Zx1 as I was looking for a camera that would introduce me to pocket digital video cameras as I could no longer be bothered to take my Mini-DV-based video camera out on family trips and holidays. I didn’t want to spend a lot of money. The Kodak has not disappointed and indeed is better than I thought possible. It might not be the best available – indeed it is not – but in terms of value for money it must be the best available.

   It’s easy to use, and the buttons on the back make sense after you have used them a couple of times. It really is as easy as point and shoot. It comes with all the necessary cables and a charger and two rechargeable batteries. I used it with some bog-standard 2Gb SDHC cards as it doesn’t need and high speed memory cards. When I first played back the recordings on my 32″ HD Panny TV I was amazed at the quality of the recording.

   The downsides. You do need to install the firmware upgrade to stop the buzzing noise on recordings; it’s an easy process. There seems to be no indicator that a memory card is getting full, it just won’t record any more. The colours on playback, at least on my TV, were a bit off, tending to a bit gaudy. The quality of recorded sound is OK, no more.

   I’m now hooked on the format, and my Mini-DV camera will be gathering dust. There are better pocket video cameras on the market, but the Kodak is so good for the price that for the moment I could not justify spending any money replacing it.
3. G. Roberts

   August 30, 2010 at 5:52 am

   Review from G. Roberts for the Kodak Zx1 – High Definition Pocket Video Camera – Red
   The Rating is:
   This is a very cute product. We bought it because we hardly ever took our camcorder with us because it was too big. The Zx1 fits into your pocket so we take it everywhere. The software is easy to use too. The only thing is that the instructions are rubbish, and the camera isn’t totally intuitive, with one button doing lots of random things. But the end product, ie the videos, are good. The photos, however, aren’t good, so don’t imagine it will replace a decent digital camera. Overall very pleased with it though.
4. Mr. Graham E. Waters

   August 30, 2010 at 6:44 am

   Review from Mr. Graham E. Waters for the Kodak Zx1 – High Definition Pocket Video Camera – Red
   The Rating is:
   I am so happy with this little camera. I was just blown away with the quality in the ordinary HD. It does take a bit of getting used to, like panning, you have to do it slowly so the video doesn’t become a blurr and it helps if you have a steady hand. I was on a ferry that was doing an exercise with a coast guard hellicopter, panned the camera as the ‘copter flew in and lowered a crewman on to the forward car deck. The video came out perfect in a clarity I have not had before. The only way it could have been clearer is if I was on the ‘copter and my spectacles were clean. I’m going to have a lot of fun with this camera..
5. Paula Sheppard

   August 30, 2010 at 7:44 am

   Review from Paula Sheppard for the Kodak Zx1 – High Definition Pocket Video Camera – Red
   The Rating is:
   Kodak Zx1 – High Definition Pocket Video Camera – Red

   A great camera!! Ordered Friday arrived Saturday. I paid extra for express delivery…so it does work! If you go to “google” and type in the model name… it will take to links on “You Tube”, where you can watch the reviewers and learn how to use the camera. Enclosed is a quick set up guide which doesn’t tell you how to format your SDHC card. All you do is put in your card, press any 2 buttons (at the same time) and a menu will appear for different settings….Once the card is IN the camera you will see “format” on the list and you just press the round red button to confirm. A tripod is needed to keep hand held steady. The BIG PLUS on this package is the TV cables which only Kodak seem to provide. It is so simple to connect and the pictures look great on the TV. I went onto the kodak website they recommend and printed off pages of the PDF manual that I needed, as an addition to the small set up guide provided. Easy!!!! I bought this when the free case offer was running and it fits really tightly so no need to worry about not fitting.