Final Thoughts
This pocket video camera is a great addition to the line of digital video cameras from Kodak. We already looked at the Zx1 and they do have the Zi6. The Zi8 adds the Full HD 1080p recording and some other things that many people would have wanted on the Zi6 and Zx1. One of the biggest additions is the inclusion of an external microphone jack. This means you can connect a microphone to the Zi8 and record audio in stereo. This is perfect if you are going to use the Zi8 for interviews or if you need really clear audio.
Using the Zi8 is extremely easy and anyone can pick it up and use it. I didn’t have to look anything up in the manual when I was testing it out. You just point and shoot really, not much to it at all. The mini HDMI connection allows you to connect the Zi8 to a TV or and high definition display, which makes showing people your videos very easy. Also the USB connection on the Zi8 makes getting the movies off your SD card easy. You do not have to carry around an extra card reader as the Zi8 acts as one when you plug it into your computer.
Being able to shoot at 1080p, 720p, and 720p at 60fps on a single device is pretty sweet. And the video quality is very good! This camera makes me want to go out more and shoot videos! Right now you can pick up the Zi8 refurbished from Geeks.com for $135.99 and directly from Kodak new for $175.99. You will also need to pick up an SD card. A 16GB SDHC card can be found for around $35 these days so add that on to the price.
Overall ThinkComputers gives the Kodak Zi8 Pocket HD Video Camera a 9 out of 10 score.
Pros:
– Easy to use
– Shoots in 1080p, 720p, and 720p at 60 fps
– External microphone jack
Cons:
– Not the greatest camera to use in low light
