The Kodak Zi8: Mic-able HD video in your pocket
The best backpacking-with-camera advice I’ve heard came from a guy who lugged a full-fledged professional video rig around the world: “Take the smallest camera you can find with a microphone jack.”
Mini cameras like the Flip are hugely popular with travelers for good reason — they’re pocket-sized yet capable of capturing great video, and uploading them to your favorite social media or video sharing site is unbelievably simple. The downside: audio is less than stellar, and there’s no input jack for an external mic. Roaming filmmakers were forced to choose between lugging a larger camera with the necessary inputs or sacrificing audio quality.
Enter the Kodak Zi8. An updated version of the Zi6, the Zi8 is the first pocket cam to offer a mic jack — just add the mini shotgun or lav mic of your choice for solid audio in situations where the on-board mic isn’t enough.
The Zi8 shoots at full high definition (1080p), a website-friendly 720p and standard definition WGVA modes, so you can decide to shoot high-quality footage for your Travel Channel submission or save space on your SD card if you’re just posting to Youtube. Need to snap a quick still shot? The Zi8 offers a respectable 5 megapixels.
With just a few simple buttons and a toggle switch to select functions and operate the 4x digital zoom, the Kodak couldn’t be easier to use. The Zi8 has no internal storage, so you’ll need to add an extra SD card or two to your bag. More problematic: you’ll also need to include an extra battery, since the Lithium-ion battery only eeks out about an hour of shooting at 720p. When you’ve got your footage, a handy USB cable pops out of the side — meaning you won’t need to keep up with yet another cord on the road.
We found the Zi8 to be perfect for discreet shooting around NYC — people don’t really appreciate massive cameras in their faces during their morning subway commute. Image quality at 720p was fantastic, with minimal distortion from shakiness that plagues mini cams.
$200/kodak.com
Get it if: You’re in the market for a mini camera that delivers solid HD footage and expanded audio options.
Forget it if: You’re looking to film a Sundance submission— it is a pocket camera, after all.
The specs, for the geeks among you:
Sensor type |
1 / 2.5-type 5 MP CMOS |
Lens |
|
Zoom |
4X digital |
Display size |
2.5 in. |
Storage |
128 MB internal memory[1], SD/SDHC card expansion slot |
Focus modes |
normal, macro |
Focus range |
|
White balance |
auto |
File formats |
|
Capture mode |
|
Microphone |
yes (monoaural) |
Speaker |
yes |
I/O interface |
USB 2.0 (high speed), AV out, HDMI, DC in, external microphone jack (support stereo) |
Tripod mount |
1/4 in. standard |
Power |
KODAK Li-Ion Rechargeable Digital Camera Battery KLIC-7004, AC adapter |
Dimensions |
2.4 × 4.5 × 0.9 in. |
Weight |
110 g (3.9 oz) without batteries |
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I want this camera! Thanks for the review…it seems like a great cam to experiment with for those of us who’d like to travel with one without making a huge space/cost commitment. I believe it’s pretty inexpensive as far as these go, too, isn’t it?
@ Laura: Yeah, its’ a great option for video newbies (I’m firmly in that camp, too!). MSRP is right at $200.00, but you can probably shop around a bit and find a better deal (I did).
Hi – I got this camera, but I have a warning, make sure your laptop can handle it. When shooting in the higher quality, you have to have a 2.8 ghz processor I believe to play back on the computer. If I shoot in just plain 720, I still have to convert the video just to be able to play it on my netbook. I think it’s good for travelers that are willing to carry a better laptop with them while traveling. The mic jack, though, is priceless.
Thanks for the info, Brooke—that’s definitely important to note given the popularity of netbooks with travelers. Glad you’ve liked the camera otherwise.