Flip MinoHD - 3rd Generation

Cisco has updated its MinoHD 2nd Generation pocket camcorder with a 3rd generation model that films 50 frames per second and runs on a lithium-ion battery. The MinoHD 3rd Generation is available in silver with 4 GB of memory or in black with an 8 GB memory. We'll be reviewing the 8 GB model.

Handling


The Flip MinoHD 3rd Gen corrects some of the flaws we spotted the first model, in particular the LCD, which is now 2 inches (5 cm) in size rather than the puny 1.5 inches (3.8 cm). That's a considerable improvement too, as the screen was a real weak point of the 2009 Flip camcorder. The third generation model is as slim as ever, and looks more like a mobile phone then a classic camcorder. It fits easily into a shirt pocket. It has the same big red button in the middle of the rear face to start recording, and the same touch-sensitive controls for scrolling through your videos and playing them back. A USB connector flips out from the top of the camcorder, which is very handy for transferring videos to a computer (Mac or PC).


2-inch LCD screen


The Flip MinoHD fits neatly in a pocket


The MinoHD 3rd Gen runs on a lithium-ion battery that charges in four hours via the USB port. It has 8 GB of internal memory that can store up to 2 hours of 720p footage (or 1 hour for the 4 GB version). The camcorder takes four seconds to start up and you select the operating language the first time you use it. It's very easy to use as there's no internal menu.

Video Quality

Surprisingly, the Flip 3rd generation MinoHD is the only pocket camcorder that's still filming in 720p. Almost all of its competitors now film video in 1920 x 1080 pixels at 25p, but the MinoHD seems set on sticking firmly to the American HD TV standard of 1280 x 720 pixels at 50 frames per second (720/50p). So why no Full HD? Probably because Cisco clearly sees the Flip as a pocket camcorder that's first and foremost aimed at posting videos online, and with content posted on the web, there's no noticeable difference in quality when using 1080p. Plus, videos on YouTube, Vimeo or Facebook are all currently encoded in 720p, although some sites are starting to handle 1080p.

As the Flip can only film in 720/50p (8.8 Mbps), you won't have to worry about choosing the right resolution. Plus, the footage we watched back on a flat-screen TV via the HDMI connection was really quite remarkable in quality. Some Full HD TVs are now even equipped with a USB port for direct access to content from an Mpeg-4 camcorder or other external storage devices.
 

In daylight the colours are bright and striking	When the light starts to fade noise soon becomes a problem

One new feature in this third-generation model is a digital image stabiliser. However, it can't really compare to the kind of systems seen in AVCHD camcorders. Sharp, fast movements are still prone to camera-shake, especially since the Flip is so light. In low-light conditions, the lens has a decent aperture of f/2.4, which is better than most digital cameras although not as good as the average AVCHD camcorder (usually f/1.8). That said, the image is still full of noise in low light. You're therefore better off filming outdoors in daylight, as in good conditions the colours look bright and striking.

Like the previous-generation models, the new Flip MinoHD comes pre-loaded with FlipShare software (above), which automatically installs on your computer when you hook up the camcorder for the first time. This software is probably one of the main selling points of the MinoHD, as  clips are automatically displayed in the interface without you having to copy them in manually. You can then choose to send a film by e-mail, make it into a greetings card, or upload it to YouTube, MySpace, Facebook or Twitter. It's practical and easy to use, and we've still not seen any other pocket camcorder manufacturer come up with anything better.