I don't understand how people can review components and features of a product that's not even part of the product to begin with and rate the product low. I also don't understand when a review uses another product for comparison; compare apples to apples, not grapes to watermelons. If you read the specs before buying you would know that the Playsport does not come with a built in flash, external charger, macro, optical zoom, etc. Although they would be nice to have, it's just not relevant to this recorder, and would change the pricing for this product. For $150, the Playsport has its spot. I felt it was necessary to review the Playsport based solely on its included components and features. With that said I purchased the Playsport because its pocket sized, lightweight, and portable to catch those once-in-a-lifetime moments I would have otherwise missed with my old camcorder, since I don't like carrying a brick around with me everywhere I go.
Review based on 720p/60fps...
Great video quality. However loses some of that quality in low light situation. Turning on any light source(s) would definitley help.
Audio is clear and does pick up distant noises, but best up closer.
The digital zoom operates smoothly, with little to no jumpiness when zooming in or out.
LCD glare filter changes the contrast settings of the screen to help with sun glare.
EIS (Electronic Image Stabilization) helps but I imagine would not take much to go past the design limits. I think the Playsports design actually helps contribute to EIS because how nice a fit it is in your hand which helps keep the recorder steady.
Size and durability. Feels very sturdy. The rubberized coating should make it easier to grip when it gets wet. Plus no annoying finger marks.
Plug and play. Easily connects to a TV using the supplied HDMI or component cables.
Battery charges via USB or 120V adaptor.
Have not tried the underwater feature or any still shots yet, but am excited to try it out at the pool come summer. Hopefully it doesn't disapoint.
The Playsport read/writes at 9mb/s. Kodak recommends using a Class 4 SDHC card up to 32gb. I bought a Lexar Platinum II SDHC Card, Class 4, 16gb, 60x 9mb/s, works like a charm. At 1080p or 720p/60fps records about 3 hours, and at 720p/30fps records over 4 hours. Using more than a Class 4 card would be a waste of money since the Playsport can only perform up to 9mb/s, not to mention the problems I read about people using higher class cards (Kodak ZI8 model) and the device shutting off or freezing. May not affect the Playsport but it is the guts from the ZI8.
Kodak PlaySport (Zx3) HD Waterproof Pocket Video Camera (Black) NEWEST MODEL
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