Flip UltraHD Camcorder

Flip Ulta—a great camera!

The Virtual Backpack is all about finding those pieces of kit–the ones that stand out. The ones that have won important volume in your pack and deserve to be lugged around the planet. Join us as we take a closer look at gear from the perspective of the long-term traveler.

The popularity of video-sharing sites, such YouTube and social nets such as Facebook, coupled with the integration of video-capture into ubiquitous mobile devices such as handsets and digicams, has turned virtually every backpacker into a budding travel videographer and documentary filmmaker.

The Flip UltraHD features 120 minutes of recording time and an included rechargeable battery pack. Its real advantage is in its form factor. Because it’s ultra-portable, it allows you to capture spontaneous video. What the Flip UltraHD offers to backpackers is an inexpensive and very easy means of recording HD video in a small form factor. And, when you are living out of a backpack for months on end, size matters—no matter what anyone tells you. Video is 16:9 widescreen, 720p HD (1280 x 720) at 30 frames per second (fps) progressive scan; recorded in MP4 format.

Its easy-to-use interface allows you to record up to 120 minutes of HD video (720p) on 8GB of internal memory—so no easily damaged and expensive tapes to take up real estate in your pack.

The Flip also comes with pre-installed software called ‘FlipShare’ that allows you to quickly and easily edit your videos. Flip users will especially appreciate the intuitive and rather elegant video editing software.

The flip-out USB plug lets you connect to your PC or Mac easily and automatically launches the FlipShare application. As the software is launched from the camera’s memory, it instantly transforms any run-of-the-mill internet cafe into a mini video editing studio. With it, you can edit individual clips and create feature-length custom movies. It’s a great feature for those who seek location independence. The software makes it extremely easy to free up its 8GB of onboard storage, by offloading your video to video-sharing sites or online storage hubs.

It also sports another indispensible feature for backpackers—the ability to supplement the rechargeable battery with good old, off-the-shelf AAs. This could prove to be a lifesaver when you find yourself in a country with strange looking electrical outlets.

The 2-inch colour LCD with anti-glare allows you play back and also delete your videos. But the screen is far too small to be useful, aside from allowing you to frame your shot.

The biggest negative is lack of image stabilization. Your image will only be as steady as your ability to keep the camera still. However, the lack of stabilization, while not leaving you with broadcast quality, doesn’t cause the problems that we thought it might.

For the most part, we found the Flip UltraHD to be a compelling product owing to its ease of use and form factor. All in all, we are very pleased with the Flip UltraHD. It doesn’t try to do too much, but what it does, it does very well. This unit is highly recommended for those on the go who just want to shoot HD video without having to deal with the overwhelming number of options available to other bigger, more expensive camcorders.

Until a more complete package comes along, this little unit has won itself a place in both our backpack—and our virtual backpack.

1. Jeff Patch checks out the Flip UltraHD and Travel Savvy Mom gives one away!
2. HP Mini 110—a netbook for the road
3. Merrell Ottawa Leather Shoes
4. Pacsafe’s TravelSafe
5. Petzl Tikka Headlamp