Review: Kodak Zx1 pocket video camera

The Kodak ZX1 video camera.

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My assignment was clear. Mum was overseas and I had to video a son's all-important Christmas concert, then get footage of his recital onto YouTube for her to watch, pronto.

Armed with Kodak's Zx1 pocket video camera, I got the job done, although not without some glitches.

Kodak's Zx1 is a camcorder replacement. It's a cellphone-shaped and cellphone-sized device that is straightforward to use if you've spent any time aiming and zooming a cellphone camera. Indeed, that seems to be the point. The controls mimic a typical cellphone's controls and it fits into pockets with the ease of a cellphone.

To start recording, I pushed the red button. Zooming was accomplished with the up-down arrow keys and switching between recording modes (high definition at 60 frames per second, hi-def at 30 fps, VGA or still photos) was accomplished using the left-right arrows.

The 2-inch LCD screen was bright and useful, but the zoom was just two times. My cheesy Nokia cellphone has more zoom than that.

The bigger problem at the concert, however, was memory. The Zx1 has enough internal memory for about 20 seconds of hi-def. To get the promised 10 hours, users need to supply an SD Card, which costs extra. I wasn't carrying one.

Still, after the kids were asleep, I hooked the Zx1 to my computer using the provided USB cable and downloaded the video to my hard drive and later to YouTube. Mum watched about 18 seconds of the three-minute recital the next day. Assignment complete.

Other aspects of Kodak's new pocket video camera are worth mentioning. It comes with a tripod mount, which will be useful for capturing jiggle-free videos. Better yet, an optional mount ($25) secures the Zx1 to a bike helmet. There are some great videos to be had on the banked corners at McLean's Island bike park, outside Christchurch, for example.

The camera is also weather resistant (not weather proof) and comes with Kodak AA Ni-MH rechargeable batteries and recharger.

* RRP $399, plus SD card

- © Fairfax NZ News