When you’re looking for cheap video cameras, you would do well to make sure to research product reviews just before purchasing, due to the fact that often cheap equals inferior quality, plus the technology level is constantly advancing. Just because a video camera costs less than $200, doesn’t mean that it will be a good buy. Sometimes they are cheaply priced for a good reason — they’re poorly made.

Fortunately technology has now reached the point where you can buy a cheap video camera that nonetheless provides you with superior quality images and video.

The 2 most popular cheap, yet good pocket-size video cameras are the Flip Mino and the Kodak Zi8. Both of these video recorders have their advantages and disadvantages. Let’s examine the properties of each one.

The Flip Mino pocket camcorder:
-recording time: 60 minutes
-2GB of fixed internal storage
-additional storage space – none
-records at 720 megapixels
-640 x 480 resolution
-shoots at 30 frames per second
-battery life up to 4 hours
-the rechargeable lithium battery that it comes with is not replaceable, nor can it be removed
-view screen size is 1.5 inches
-2x optical zoom
-weighs 3.3 ounces
-approximate size: 3.94 x 1.97 x 0.63 inches.

The Kodak Zi8 pocket video camera :
-records up to 10 hours of video on 1 SD card
-has a slot for up to 32GB video cards
-multiple cards can be used for a virtually unlimited amount of video
-rechargeable lithium ion battery
-battery life: 90 minutes in video recording mode
-records at 1020 megapixels HD
-30 frames per second shooting speed
-has a 16:9 wide screen HD still picture feature
-takes still pictures at 5 mega pixel resolution
-built-in editing software
-2.5 inch view screen
-optical zoom power: 4X
-weight 3.9 ounces
-4.5 × 2.4 × 0.8 inches approximate size.

Both allow you to flip open a USB arm and plug it right into your computer, so that you can instantly upload all your great videos to your favorite sites, such as FaceBook and YouTube.

Other options exist for cheap video cameras, but the Flip Mino and Kodak Zi8 are the current leaders, and for good reasons. These tiny, handheld video camcorders are perfect options for those on a budget, because both can be purchased at $179.95.

While you cannot go wrong with either one, at this moment I would (and just did) order the Kodak. Yet by the time you read this, technology will undoubtedly have advanced still further and leadership could well have changed.

Technorati Tags: , ,