Several months ago Kodak came out with a new camera, the Zi8, that was heralded as the Flip camera killer. I’ve been asked countless times to review this camera, and in this video I do.
Tech Notes
This entire video was shot with the Zi8 in 720p, 30fps mode. It was edited in Final Cut Pro. No filters or color correction were added…this is raw footage off the camera.
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Dave,
Another great post…
You have me sold…sure you don’t work for Kodak?
Best regards,
Duncan
Hey Dave,
Do you have a recommendation for a good entry level lav mic that isn’t the sennheiser or the one you recommend that has a 20 foot cord? I’d like one that is good quality but isn’t like $650 like the ‘sen’.
Thanks again… and I absolutely love clubwvu.com I’ve been telling everyone they’re crazy if they’re not a member. Great stuff!
Thanks. – Todd
@Todd – You can try models from Azden or Audio Technica listed below. Fair warning though…you get what you pay for with wireless mics:
http://snipr.com/uclov
http://snipr.com/uclp2
Great review Dave, you won’t have compression problems etc. when you go to edit film..??
Still like the DV tape type cameras for fairly low cost but high quality images…??
Again, very professional job, always look forward to your reviews, interested to see your impressions on the P100..Thanks,
Joe
Hey Dave,
Great job and very helpful info. I looked at the Kodak Zi8 because of the external mic capability, but after doing additional research, I decided to go with the Canon FS200. I picked up a store demo with full warranty for $215.00, so think I may made a good decision. I am just getting started with video so I don’t have any personal experience to compare quality with. Anyway, I enjoy your stuff and once I get my new site launched, I will be signing up with you to learn more about making great videos for my own site and my small business clients.
Cheers!
Fitz
Dave,
I wasn’t aware of the Kaodak Zi8. Now I’ll need to add it to my option list along with the Flip and Canon.
Sidebar: Recently, I had to change the settings on my monitor to its native resolution of 1680 x 1050 because I was getting inaccurate size views of my graphics in Photoshop or Acrobat.
That fixed my problem but since my type is so small on my 21″ monitor now, it gets harder to view my screen & super-hard to read white text on a dark background. Black type on a white background is much easier to read & still best for business sites.
Having said that, I still love your site. I’ve learned a lot just by viewing the web tips & if it was in my budget right now, I’d have opted into your program by now.
Rainer
Dave…So..do you believe we should buy the Zi8 or the Canon PowerShot SD780 ELPH? Is the external mic that much of a game changer?
@Steve – In my opinion/experience, the SD780 shoots higher quality video under different lighting conditions than any of the Flip-style cameras. It also gives you the ability to manually adjust things like white balance and exposure (which are pretty important). The drawback is the audio, but you can work around that like I show here:
http://webvideouniversity.com/podcast/video/2009/10/02/wvu-56-how-to-get-great-audio-if-your-camera-only-has-a-built-in-microphone/
Another great review Dave. I really like the actual comparison using the video in different lighting situations.
Gerry
Dave,
Great review. You made me want to get rid of my Flip and get a Zi8. Do yo know how the Zi8 compares with the Playsport?
Travis
@Travis – No I don’t know how they compare, but all Flip-style cameras shoot pretty much the same quality footage…it’s just the extras like mic jacks, etc. that differentiate them.
Hey Dave,
You did a great job of presenting the Zi8 in different situations and lighting.
I’ve had one of these cameras for a couple of weeks now and really like it a lot. Glad I got it. The quality of video is amazing for such a small camera and the microphone input jack is what sold me on getting one of these rather than a Flip.
I use a corded mini tie clip mic and the sound is very good. The one I picked up was from The Source (used to be Radio Shack) for about $50 in Canada. I’ve seen the same one on eBay for under $30.
If anyone is interested in doing quick and easy video then I would suggest the Kodak Zi8, too.
Cheers,
Robin
Hey Robin,
What was the mic that you got at the Source?
Rainer
Fantastic job, Dave. I really appreciate it.
Jowillie
Thanks D Kam!
Another informative review. I have used everything from old BetaCam, Sony EX3 and HDCams. I am amazed with the quality you get with the Zi8. I see pluses as easy to carry video camera for everyday use – stills included. Low entry price and external mic quality a definite plus! I’m guessing the low light sensitivity on this is bad also? But for $200 or so who cares? Dave, the shots with the professional lights – I’m assuming they are tungsten, and therefore the warm look, is that because the white balance is cheated towards daylight color temps? Also, I’m guessing the camera iris is all over the place when you do any kind of movement -(let’s say outdoors) pans & tilts on differing scene brightness? Or can you set iris manually? Probably asking too much LOL.
Joe
@Joe – I was using tungsten/halogen softbox lights. None of the cheaper cameras handle low-light well, but then again, higher end cameras can struggle too. None of the Flip-style cameras provide any type of manual control (well, some provide a little, but not what you’d hope for) and movement is an issue. If you look closely at the natural light indoor shots in the video, when I move my hands, you can see the lighting change. Point-and-shoot still photo cameras…that also shoot video…eliminate most of the above issues for the same basic price, but the general public seems to prefer Flip-style cameras for whatever reason.
as usual – another great review. WVU rock. I was wondering about this camera in doors and if I “over bought” with the Vixia HFS10. After watching this clip – I’m glad that I bought the Canon and spent a few extra $$$ on it. I can see this would be a great camera for outdoor stuff / day light interviews, etc.
Thanks for putting this together.
~Brooks.
Hey Dave,
The Creative Vado HD (Generation 3) is also an excellent candidate to consider in the pocket cam market. It records 720p and has a mic input as well. It is pretty decent in low light and records in mp4 format compatible with both Sony Vegas (PC) and iMovie (Mac). Do you have any experience with or comments about the Vado HD Generation 3?
Love to hear you thoughts on it.
Hani
@Hani – In the future I’ll be doing a head-to-head comparison with some cameras, including the 3rd gen Vado.
Dave,
Great call on the Zi8
Picked on up yesterday and love it.
Great audio even with a cheap Radio Shack lapel. Video is clean and sharp. Def. the best indoor lighting for such a small camera.
Thanks!!
Paul
Good Review… I’ve been thinking about getting one of those.
Hi Dave
I purchased the Z18 a while ago and have just started using it – I just couldn’t figure out how it was always missing the audio in Sony Vegas – now I know about the software from your tip.
Thanks, Dave you’ve saved me a lot of frustration looking through the ‘help’ files and manuals.
~ Irene ~
Hey Dave,
I bought the Zi8 a few weeks back. Target had it in their store for $169.
I found a fix for the quicktime issue in vegas on sony’s site.
1. Close the program.
2. Download this file:
http://www.sonycreativesoftware.com/support/files/qt7plug.dll
3. Go to c:/Program Files/Sony/Product Name/FileIO Plug-ins/qt7plug and locate qt7plug.dll.
Rename it to qt7plug.old.
4. Take the new qt7plug.dll file and insert it into the previous folder.
5. Launch the program. Now the variations of MPEG-4 audio should play within the application.
This worked for me … But…
If this does not work, or if you are using a different application, we recommend uninstalling Quicktime 7.6.4 and rolling back to the previous version, 7.6.0. Keep in mind that if you allow iTunes to update to version 9 then Quicktime 7.6.4 will install. If iTunes 9 is installed it can not function with Quicktime 7.6.0.
Hope this helps-
Gary
@Gary – Thanks for sharing. Yes, you can download the Vegas patch, downgrade your version of QT or run it through the Kodak software like I mentioned. Issues like these are fairly typical with Flip-style cameras because they often use funky codecs for the audio or video. Many times you can simply rename the file extensions from .mov to .mp4 or .avi to .mp4 (or vice-versa) and everything is fixed, but that’s not the case with the Zi8.
Dave, thanks…everyone is so advanced of me. I’m still learning
Another Great video.
I can’t believe the quality … it looks just like your
new Canon Hi Def ….
Dave … We see all your computers in the
background … If God gave you an ultimatum ..
Said .. You had to choose Final Cut Pro and a Mac
or a PC with Sony Vegas …..
What would you tell the Big Man ?
Just wondering !
@Gadabout – I’d get a Mac because you can run Windows on it too. I use PC’s and Mac’s equally…whatever gets the particular job done is all I care about.
For a good mic I would highly recommend the Giant Squid mics. They are really inexpensive (about $25) but the sound quality for web video is exceptional.
Do a Google search for “Giant Squid Audio Lab” and tell him Andy sent you. No Aff commission – just trying to build a relationship with the guy.
Enjoy,
Andy
Do you recommend any of the headset mics .. like
Plantronics or Logitech for web video … or are they
too low quality for web video ….
It seems like the podcasting community and
youtube screencasts rave about headsets …
But what do I know. I’m just a fisherman !
@Gadabout – No, I wouldn’t recommend them.
Dave, thanks for this review. What kind of storage comes with the camera from the factory? I see it’s expandable up to 32GB, but is any storage internal/included?
Thanks in advance!
@Jeff – Just a tiny amount of storage…enough for a very quick test video.
My Canon Vixia HF11 HD video recorder requires a “powered” external mic. Any recommendations for this particular camera. Both wired and blue tooth options would be sincerely appreciated. Thanks! We really enjoy your web site. Mitch
@Mitch – I give specific recommendations for equipment in my paid training at http://www.webvideouniversity.com. You can also check out this video podcast:
http://webvideouniversity.com/podcast/video/2009/01/09/wvu-20-the-equipment-i-use/
Wow, I tried to buy this camera.
It seems like every store in the US, except for those
on ebay adding another 100 bucks to the list price …
is sold out.
I went to J and R Music in NYC. The salesperson
said they were discontinued and were coming out
with a new model that was the same but waterproof.
I don’t know if that’s true, but it’s as good as an
excuse as any.
Yeah, supposedly the new waterproof model is an improvement over the zi8. We’ll see.
Dave, First I just want to say what an excellent review. I’ve only just come across your stuff since I’ve been researching flip cams. Fantastic, informative and easy to follow.
Is it possible to get two lapel mics to feed into Zi8? Any recommendations or ideas on cost?
@Liz Scott – You’d need to use two wired mics and connect them to the camera with a “Y” splitter (a few dollars). Wireless options would cost $1,000+ USD.
Thanks Dave – Really appreciate you taking the time to respond
Warm Regards
Great review. It’s amazing how technology has changed in the last 15 years since I started my video production journey!
Hi Dave or anyone in the know,
I have been using Magix Movie Edit Pro for editing my Zi8 mov files.
No problems, until I render the 1080p videos onto the web. The quality downgrades considerably.
What the best editing software for PC users with rendering HD videos?
Thanks,
Randy
@Randy – I use and recommend Sony Vegas:
http://www.sonycreativesoftware.com/vegassoftware
When rendering videos, it gives you complete control over the quality.
Thanks Dave,
However, won’t I have the issue not importing audio into Sony Vegas from my Zi8 unless I jump thru hoops with every import? Such as changing file extensions and downgrading Quicktime etc.
If there’s a way around that, what version of Sony Vegas do you recommend to output quality 1080p to the web?
Thanks,
Randy
Dave,
MEP 16 has tons of output options. Maybe I’m not using the right ones.
What settings do you recommend for YouTube?
Thanks
@Randy – Vegas Movie Studio 10 and Vegas Pro 9 handle footage from the Zi8 fine. As far as rendering settings, etc. I cover those things in my paid coaching/training program at http://www.webvideouniversity.com
Dave,
I just subscribed to your email list.
Does your $49/mo membership send out bits of training every month
or is it available to consume the training as fast as I can absorb it?
I have a video series membership site myself for outdoor sportsmen
and I need some direction on various topics that I can’t wait for.
Thanks,
Randy
@Randy – The $49/mo plan gets you immediate access to all of the training courses listed on the sales page (plus some that aren’t listed). But you don’t get forum access, software access, video hosting or access to me. You get those things in the $99/mo plan.
@Randy
When exporting HD video to YouTube, you should set the following settings:
File Format : AVC? (.mp4)
Bit rate mode : Variable
?Bit rate : 4 236 Kbps?
Width : 1 280 pixels?
Height : 720 pixels
?Frame rate : 29.970 fps
Let us know how that works out for you. If you have any other questions, don’t be shy to ask.
Cheers,
Hani
@ Randy
For the zi8 which is full 1080p, you can increase the resolution to 1920 x 1080
Sorry about that…
Hani
Hi Dave excellent video.
So much so, I am dubious as to whether you are using a zi8.
The reason I say this is I have one. The part of the video when you are videoing using the internal mic you have no background noise. I can tell you this just isn’t the case with the zi8. Where is your background noise?
I have also tried some (I admit cheap) external mics and I can’t get the background slight hissing to go away. You must have some trick or you are actually using a different camera.
I am going out this morning to buy a sony ecm-cs10 lapel mic which I am praying will give me at least good sound. I am struggling to get good sound which really is all I need. Its as though the zi8 adds background sound to some level no matter what microphone is used? is this the case?
Can you explain how your zi8 has no background noise where as everybody elses zi8 has background noise using the internal microphone. I am a little skeptical of your video at present.
Cheers
Sven.
@Svenaldo – There are no smoke and mirrors…the video is what it is.
yep true. camtasia sorted the sound out. New to this so I didn’t realise software did that stuff so easily!
Heh heh Sven:
Try a software product called SoundSoap.
Either as a plug in to major software or as a stand alone
program. Makes my room, with A/C’s and fans blasting…
as quiet as a cement crypt ..
hey Gadabout!
no i dont mean that, my room is silent.
Its the noise from the mic that I cant get rid of…. what I mean by this is when I record something even if I am not speaking there is still some noise (you get it will nearly all internal mics) and some external ones… I want complete clear sound like Dave has in the video. But I seriously cannot get it with the zi8.
I have the sony cs-10 now and the sound is better but again when I am not speaking there is still a small sound like you get with internal mics.
ive just looked at sound soap and that might do the trick… I was hoping that by having the external mic this would eradicate that kind of noise without the need of extra software.
Sound Soap is MAGICAL !
But I use the same wireless microphone that Dave uses -
The Sennheiser EW112 (?) and it really is an amazing tool
once you learn how to set it up ….
(You’ll never want to be without it … was worth biting the
bullet … it’s expensive … but durable … and has an incredible
range)
In wired lavalier mics …. I use the Sony ECM55 which
I pick up used on ebay for about $200 … they’re a 20 year old
model and still, one of the best sounding lavs
on the market
In a pinch … I use a 29 buck audio-technica
lavalier and get great results … I would never use the
internal mic of the ZI8 … or any other camera for that matter
unless I was picking up background shots …
like a car at a race track ….. or if I was really pressed.
But then again … that leads us back to that magical
under 100 dollar plug-in called SoundSoap.
Good luck svenaldo.
I have bought the Zi8 and its great. My problem is I need a teleprompter. Can you suggest a cost-effective solution for that? Thanks.
@ Leo,
You can try using an a laptop running some free teleprompter software. You can find one here:
http://www.freetelepromptersoftware.com/
I would strongly suggest NOT using any kind of teleprompter..it takes away from the realness of the video. Online video is meant to be “real” and personal. It helps build that connection with your viewer. If you make mistakes on cam, its ok….its actually a good thing.
It is definitely a good idea to have a few practice runs before filming but tele-prompting might come across as too insincere.
Cheers,
Hani
@Leo – I show how to build your own telemprompters in my paid training at http://www.webvideouniversity.com. Other than that, you’ll pay $700+ for a commercial prompter.
heh heh … just try to get people to BE REAL when you shove a camera
in their face. The most eloquent speakers become mush-mouthed, garbled,
stuttering ….. well …. and then as you do re-takes … they get worse ….
I remember the evening news reporting on the original ‘MR. T.”
They had him do a commercial about a year ago … took him 2 whole
days filming to keep him from flubbing his 2 lines …..
There are some internet marketers that are just naturals in front
of the camera … like that internet marketer Frank Kern … He comes
on with his southern bad boy drawl ….. and with a smile and a friendly
attitude, you barely feel his hands slipping your credit card out of
your back pocket …..
An alternative I’ve found that works pretty darn good once
you get the hang of it … and you don’t have to lug around a darn
computer screen and you can film on location with a flip cam and
a wireless microphone is an ear prompter … earprompter.com
will give you some background … but you can make one yourself
using some cheap earbuds and a microcassette recorder ….
with this little unit, you can be looking at a product … or talking
to someone … au natural …. without that glazed deer caught in
a headlight look …
What settings do you use in the Arcsoft program to export for Vegas? Can it be used in Vegas 6?
Again, just my uploaded video taken on the Kodak ZI8 (nov. 2011) to show the amazing quality of this camera. I have a Canon 60D, Canon HV20, a 3 ccd Sony and Panasonic, and I’m still blown away by the images this little pocket camera takes that cost me under 100 bucks. I put the camera on a 25 dollar Walmart tripod, as you can tell there’s no external mic .. I’m running around so you can tell how it records movement, and the pinhole microphone is recording me from more than 50′. I’m not REALLY selling anything in this video. Watch it in high quality. Look at the building. This is part of one of the oldest houses built in NJ (in the 1600′s … I’m sure they did maintenance, although not anymore). It is along the Delaware River where the Army Corps kicked everyone out years ago to build a proposed reservoir and then ran out of funds (and the Vietnam War occurred .. funds were diverted). http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w6ntGPAol3A&hd=1