- In this report
- Overview
- RCA Small Wonder EZ201A
- Pure Digital Flip Video F160B
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August 2007
Pure Digital Flip Video F160B: First Look
We preview this flash-memory based digital video camera from Pure Digital
Pure Digital Flip Video F160B
Price: $150
What it is: The Pure Digital Flip Video model F160B is a compact camera that digitally records up to an hour of video onto 1 GB of built-in computer memory. Its outward appearance, basic features, and functionality are similar to those of the Pure Digital Point and Shoot Camcorder Model 225 we looked at last year.
Like the Model 225, it's powered by standard AA-size batteries, it functions as an easy-to-use digital camcorder with 2x digital zoom and buttons that control play/pause, delete, record, and power on/off. A four-way navigation key controls various functions such as playback volume, fast forward, and rewind. Its color 1.5-inch LCD screen, unlike that of the RCA Small Wonder EZ201A we also looked at, is non-adjustable, and it lacks a switch to adjust recording quality modes.
Weighing just under half a pound, it’s about the size of a compact digital camera and has a pop-out USB connector, allowing connections to PCs running Windows 2000 and Windows XP with service pack 2. Specs don’t indicate compatibility with either Windows Vista or Apple Mac software, but we found that both operating systems will recognize the camcorder as a flash memory drive. That allows you manual access to the video files if the camera is connected to the computer's USB port.
Like last year's model, the Flip Video F160B can be brought to partner locations (CVS/Pharmacy, Rite Aid, Ritz, Longs Drugs, and Duane Reade) to have the video transferred from the memory to DVD.
Accessories include a wrist strap, an audio-video cable for connecting to a TV or VCR, a carrying case, and a quick-start guide.
HIGHS
Ready to use. Two standard AA alkaline batteries are pre-installed in the camera so it's ready to use right out of the box. One push of the power button and you’re greeted by a splash screen, then “Ready” is displayed.
It has on-board memory. The internal 1 GB provides 60 minutes of video time, so you can start shooting without buying any storage media. (A model with 512 kilobytes of memory offers 30 minutes of recording time.)
It has built-in software. Video software in the unit lets you do things like save, playback, e-mail, delete, and stitch together videos into larger movies. Video to be e-mailed is reduced in size and may be saved to a folder or directly attached to your default e-mail application. The software starts up automatically once the camera is plugged into the USB port of a PC running Windows 2000 or Windows XP. Owners of Apple computers using Mac OS X software will need to double-click a “FLIPVIDEO” icon to access the installation software.
LOWS
Poor video quality. When playing videos on a standard TV, video quality suffers from a checkerboard pattern that gives it a “flakey” look and appears worse when in low room lighting and when the recording contains zoomed-in images. This is on a par with digital recordings made at very low bit rates. Much detail is lost even in full daylight recording. The color of some skin tones was reddish on playback. Overall, the video was soft with pixilated video much like clips captured by video-capable cell phones.
No live cam capabilities. When it’s connected to a computer's USB port, you can't use the Flip Video as a Web cam for video-based chats. And unlike with the RCA Small Wonder EZ201A, you can't switch to a "live view" from the camera lens when the Flip Video is connected to a standard TV with its audio-video cable.
Other feature quibbles. The included audio-video cable may be difficult or costly to replace as it is proprietary to the unit. It has no image stabilizer. It also lacks both a tripod mount and a USB extension cable--a necessity if the USB ports are located on the back of your computer or blocked by other bulky USB devices. (Oddly, both of these features are found on the lower-priced RCA Small Wonder EZ201A.)
BOTTOM LINE
The Pure Digital Flip Video F160B is a simple-to-use, pocket-size digital video camera that's appropriate for “quick and dirty” video recording--to create videos to share over the Internet or in other situations where video quality doesn’t matter much. But you'll pay about $150 for the convenience of Flip Video's sub-par, low-fidelity videos.
You’ll get much better results with most digital camcorders (which admittedly cost more) or point-and-shoot cameras that cost nearly the same as the Flip Video yet offer more capabilities and features. Still, if you do value ease of use over video quality, you'll get similar performance from the RCA Small Wonder EZ201A, which offers more features for about $20 less than the Flip Video. Check our latest camcorder and Ratings (both available to ) to explore better options for digital video recording.
What it is: The Pure Digital Flip Video model F160B is a compact camera that digitally records up to an hour of video onto 1 GB of built-in computer memory. Its outward appearance, basic features, and functionality are similar to those of the Pure Digital Point and Shoot Camcorder Model 225 we looked at last year.
Like the Model 225, it's powered by standard AA-size batteries, it functions as an easy-to-use digital camcorder with 2x digital zoom and buttons that control play/pause, delete, record, and power on/off. A four-way navigation key controls various functions such as playback volume, fast forward, and rewind. Its color 1.5-inch LCD screen, unlike that of the RCA Small Wonder EZ201A we also looked at, is non-adjustable, and it lacks a switch to adjust recording quality modes.
Weighing just under half a pound, it’s about the size of a compact digital camera and has a pop-out USB connector, allowing connections to PCs running Windows 2000 and Windows XP with service pack 2. Specs don’t indicate compatibility with either Windows Vista or Apple Mac software, but we found that both operating systems will recognize the camcorder as a flash memory drive. That allows you manual access to the video files if the camera is connected to the computer's USB port.
Like last year's model, the Flip Video F160B can be brought to partner locations (CVS/Pharmacy, Rite Aid, Ritz, Longs Drugs, and Duane Reade) to have the video transferred from the memory to DVD.
Accessories include a wrist strap, an audio-video cable for connecting to a TV or VCR, a carrying case, and a quick-start guide.
HIGHS
Ready to use. Two standard AA alkaline batteries are pre-installed in the camera so it's ready to use right out of the box. One push of the power button and you’re greeted by a splash screen, then “Ready” is displayed.
It has on-board memory. The internal 1 GB provides 60 minutes of video time, so you can start shooting without buying any storage media. (A model with 512 kilobytes of memory offers 30 minutes of recording time.)
It has built-in software. Video software in the unit lets you do things like save, playback, e-mail, delete, and stitch together videos into larger movies. Video to be e-mailed is reduced in size and may be saved to a folder or directly attached to your default e-mail application. The software starts up automatically once the camera is plugged into the USB port of a PC running Windows 2000 or Windows XP. Owners of Apple computers using Mac OS X software will need to double-click a “FLIPVIDEO” icon to access the installation software.
LOWS
Poor video quality. When playing videos on a standard TV, video quality suffers from a checkerboard pattern that gives it a “flakey” look and appears worse when in low room lighting and when the recording contains zoomed-in images. This is on a par with digital recordings made at very low bit rates. Much detail is lost even in full daylight recording. The color of some skin tones was reddish on playback. Overall, the video was soft with pixilated video much like clips captured by video-capable cell phones.
No live cam capabilities. When it’s connected to a computer's USB port, you can't use the Flip Video as a Web cam for video-based chats. And unlike with the RCA Small Wonder EZ201A, you can't switch to a "live view" from the camera lens when the Flip Video is connected to a standard TV with its audio-video cable.
Other feature quibbles. The included audio-video cable may be difficult or costly to replace as it is proprietary to the unit. It has no image stabilizer. It also lacks both a tripod mount and a USB extension cable--a necessity if the USB ports are located on the back of your computer or blocked by other bulky USB devices. (Oddly, both of these features are found on the lower-priced RCA Small Wonder EZ201A.)
BOTTOM LINE
The Pure Digital Flip Video F160B is a simple-to-use, pocket-size digital video camera that's appropriate for “quick and dirty” video recording--to create videos to share over the Internet or in other situations where video quality doesn’t matter much. But you'll pay about $150 for the convenience of Flip Video's sub-par, low-fidelity videos.
You’ll get much better results with most digital camcorders (which admittedly cost more) or point-and-shoot cameras that cost nearly the same as the Flip Video yet offer more capabilities and features. Still, if you do value ease of use over video quality, you'll get similar performance from the RCA Small Wonder EZ201A, which offers more features for about $20 less than the Flip Video. Check our latest camcorder and Ratings (both available to ) to explore better options for digital video recording.
