Gear Review: Flip MinoHD Camcorder

As a good girl on a budget, I don’t spend money easily. People who understand my need for travel call it frugal, and people who don’t call it cheap. Either way, you must understand that big purchases just don’t happen around here the way they used to. We’ve got a big trip to pay for!

When we started making videos a few weeks ago, I was lucky enough to be able to borrow a Flip MinoHD Camcorder from a friend. We already had a tripod, so I just attached it and had a great amateur recording studio in my sunny office.

We made 3 videos for the blog, and then my friend needed the camera back. So we hurried up and made last week’s video very late in the day, which is why it is so dark.

But now I’m hooked. I really want to keep doing the videos, and I’m trying to talk my frugal brain into buying one.

Here is what I liked about the Flip MinoHD Camcorder:

It is all in one piece: no cords or gadgets to keep track of unless you want to buy them separately. To charge it, you simply stick the retractable USB arm into the port on your computer.
Whether it is the HD or just good lighting, I looked better on this video than in real life!
It is small enough to carry in your pocket or purse.
There is a place at the bottom to attach to a tripod.
Built-in software doesn’t take a lot of time to load or learn. You can work with your videos almost right away and share them.
TV-plug to watch your videos on television.

Here’s what could be better:

There isn’t much in the way of a zoom.
I had a little trouble getting the voice recorded at a loud enough volume and had to do some post-recording editing to increase it.

As you can see the, the pros definitely outweigh the cons. I’m going to dig into our budget today and purchase a Flip MinoHD Camcorder for the MWL Studio.

This is a big day, lovely Readers, as I don’t break into the travel fund very often!

So stay tuned for this Friday’s video with the new video camera. Do you have one of these? What do you like/dislike about them? What is the funniest video you’ve ever made?

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Betsy Talbot writes about carving the lifestyle you want out of the life you already have. When she’s not writing, she’s paring down, saving up, and getting ready for a year of travel with her husband Warren.

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