David Pogue pens a piece on The Flip — an ultra-simple point-and-shoot camcorder that’s taken 13% of the market (according to the manufacturer).
Somebody at Pure Digital must have sat through countless meetings, steadfastly refusing to cede any ground to the forces of feature creep.
And here’s all the stuff it can’t do:
The screen is tiny (1.5 inches) and doesn’t swing out for self-portraits. You can’t snap still photos. There are no tapes or discs, so you must offload the videos to a computer when the memory is full (30 or 60 minutes of footage, depending on whether you buy the $150 or $180 model). There are no menus, no settings, no video light, no optical viewfinder, no special effects, no headphone jack, no high definition, no lens cap, no memory card. And there’s no optical zoom — only a 2X digital zoom that blows up and degrades the picture. Ouch.
And the stuff it can:
Instead, the Flip has been reduced to the purest essence of video capture. You turn it on, and it’s ready to start filming in two seconds. You press the red button once to record (press hard — it’s a little balky) and once to stop. You press Play to review the video, and the Trash button to delete a clip.
Pogue says the secret is that it just simply works. It’s always ready, it’s always trustworthy, it’s always with you. The quality isn’t the sell, the convenience and foolproofery is. You can’t make a mistake, you can’t do anything wrong. Its purpose is pure to the core: Shoot quick videos without thinking about it.
I love it. Kudos to Pure Digital for having the discipline to make a camcorder for the rest of us.
[Hat tip to Chris for the link]
Dan
on 20 Mar 08One of the best features wasn’t mentioned in the post. All of its software is contained on the unit. It plugs directly into any USB port and the software runs, allowing you to edit or upload your videos. They’re already formatted for youtube, so you can just enter your account and upload your videos. Everything is self-contained.
John
on 20 Mar 08I looked at one of these for my daughter last christmas. I ended up giving her money for her camcorder instead. I thought it would be perfect for her, but instead she went with a HD Video Hard Disk hand held.
I still thinking about picking up a flip for myself for when the younger three are at the park, or riding their bikes. Quick and easy
mkb
on 20 Mar 08My sister-in-law received a free FlipVideo in return for making 10 or so short video clips of Obama’s campaign in New Hampshire. I’m not sure who funded that operation but I would say that Obama and FlipVideo both made out pretty well.
Joseph LeBlanc
on 20 Mar 08I have one. While I like the physical function of it, I don’t like the included software. It’s very clunky and feels slapped together. If you try to explore the volume in Finder, the folder structure is a bit of a mess.
Matt W
on 20 Mar 08I don’t know if the current model still works with this hack, but you can get most of the functionality of this camera for $30 by buying the reusable Pure Digital camcorder from CVS. I did this a few years ago and it worked like a charm – it’s fun for the kids.
http://www.maushammer.com/systems/cvscamcorder/
Corey
on 20 Mar 08A couple months ago I picked up Aiptek’s entry into the low-end-but-still-HD camcorder market (the 720P) for ~$120US. Like the flip, I was most impressed on what it doesn’t do. The biggest selling point for me was the fact that the storage is entirely SD(HC) cards, so I can upgrade/expand as necessary. It comes w/ some sort of third-party software but since the vids are encoded into Quicktime and the device acts as a USB interface to the SD card, its completely unnecessary. Pop open iPhoto/iMovie and go (I bought a macMini just so I could edit my vids in style ^^)
Robert
on 20 Mar 08I would be highly dubious of the claim that 1 in 7 camcorders in the US today is a Flip. As someone who thinks (or thought) of himself as fairly up on the digital video world, I had never heard of it, let alone seen one, in RL.
There is the other issue of ‘market’ versus ‘share’. A lot of manufacturers, and indeed people in general, either confuse, or like to confuse the two. Apple is guilty of this, too, re the iPhone, and claiming 6.5% of market. Number of sales does not equate to size of market. If this camera sold, for example, 20% of cameras sold last quarter, it doesn’t mean that 20% of all cameras are The Flip.
As for the concept? Meh. I agree that not everyone needs, in fact most people will find the functionality of a prosumer camera counterproductive… no zoom? no lens cap? I’m all for simplicity, but this seems a little too over-the-top for me. After all, it’s still $180. Not throwaway change for most people, and you’re getting into “low end” Mini DV territory. Simplify all you like, but if you’re still charging in the same ballpark as fully featured offerings, you end up looking not so much simple, as under-spec’ed, be it perception, or reality.
JF
on 20 Mar 08Simplify all you like, but if you’re still charging in the same ballpark as fully featured offerings, you end up looking not so much simple, as under-spec’ed, be it perception, or reality.
It doesn’t matter if the fully featured offerings are around the same price. If the fully featured options don’t make it as fast and easy to record and use as The Flip does, the other features don’t add any value. In fact, they remove value from the experience. The physical existence of extra buttons and stickers and features is enough to turn off plenty of people.
Michelle
on 20 Mar 08I love my Flip. It does what it needs to do and does it flawlessly. I’ve had many camcorders, but what I have found since I moved to my Flip, is that I actually use my camcorder all the time. Before, I would bring out my camcorder for special occasions or work-related projects. Now, I have this thing on me all the time. You don’t need any special batteries or accessories. It just works. This reminds me of the story of trying to get a battery pack for my Sony cam while in Mexico. Let’s just say it was quite an “experience”. LOL
andrew
on 20 Mar 08Also consider the Sanyo Exacti line if you’re in the market for this type of camera. A few more bells and whistles, but still dead-simple to use, SD-card memory, web-friendly .mp4 output. Smaller than most point-and-shoot digital cameras, perfect for capturing quick videos.
Manuel, Æstheticrew
on 20 Mar 08Here is a youtube video shot with the Flip and the Flip ultra in comparsion.
daryn
on 20 Mar 08the odd thing i see is most people with flip’s also have 8+MP digital point-and-shoots, which do a much better job of capturing video, and are on devices they already know how to use.
another cool alternative is called vholdr(.com), built by a startup here in seattle. It is similar in functionality to the flip, but is mountable on helmets, handlebars, or wherever you want. A bit more spendy though.
Andrew
on 20 Mar 08I almost bought one of these, but didn’t because it lacked one specific little feature: a tripod mount. (I wanted to be able to shoot videos of student presentations without having to hold the thing.)
Manuel, Æstheticrew
on 20 Mar 08@Andrew: The Flip ultra has a tripod mount if i’m not mistaken.
Randal L. Schwartz
on 21 Mar 08As I was watching Pogue, I kept being reminded of my $120 “Aiptek A-HD” that does even more for even less. Yeah, it’s not a pro camera (fixed focus, fixed zoom with a digital zoom), but it’ll record HD video and take 5 megapixel stills. Neat.
Mike
on 21 Mar 08I’ve had a Flip Ultra since the fall and while it’s had some issues (the latest firmware solved some MAJOR compatibility issues with OS X) I absolutely love it. It is always in my bag and as mentioned, rugged as hell. We also have a Sanyo HD Xacti and hardly use it compared to the Flip.
The simplicity of the design (both hardware and software) is what makes it my goto camcorder. Plus it comes in Orange which makes it extra cool! :)
Johnathan
on 21 Mar 08I work in a big box store photo department, and I find it hard to believe that Flip cameras are selling that well. I’ve had the same six ultras in my camera case since thanksgiving.
Oh, and yes Manuel, the ultra has a tripod mount.
Per
on 21 Mar 08Orders from U.S only accepted on their web site (don’t get me started on people that don’t want my money) and the link to stores gives me a 404.
Anyone know where I can pick this up in Europe/Sweden?
MT Heart
on 21 Mar 08“The physical existence of extra buttons and stickers and features is enough to turn off plenty of people.”
Audiophiles have known this for years. The Linn Sondek is a turntable for vinyl records that plays LP’s at 33.3rpm. Its one and only control is the power switch. To change to 45rpm you have to remove the platter and swap the drive pulley for a larger diameter one. It has long, long been regarded as the best turntable on the market for reproducing sound.
http://www.linn.co.uk/music_systems_sondek_LP12
Morning Toast
on 21 Mar 08We use the Flip camera for all our web video at work. The quality is so-so and the audio is far from stellar, but as far as convenience and ease of use, it can’t be beat. I have no problem asking anybody to take it and shoot video when needed.
Getting video off the camera is swift too, although I don’t use the software, I just copy files straight from the device. I was less than impressed with the interface, both from a nerd perspective and average Joe perspective.
Despite all that, it’s entry barrier is almost non-existent, just don’t look to it for producing your remake of “2001”
Dan Boland
on 21 Mar 08I have a Flip. I always carry it in my messenger bag for one simple reason—if there’s ever some situation that arises when it would be really beneficial to have a video recorder, whether it’s a car accident, a crime in progress, etc., I know I can do it and do it easily and quickly.
Andrew
on 21 Mar 08Thanks to those who pointed out that the Ultra has a tripod mount. I’ll take another look at the Flip now that feature has crept in…
Evan
on 21 Mar 08Now can someone please do this with a cell phone?
Am I the only person on earth who wants a nice cell phone without a stupid camera in it? I can understand why it’s kind of convenient, but when I want to take a picture, I want a dedicated device.
I’m not saying take the camera out of all cell phones, but come on, give us a choice. Would a nice quality phone without a camera just not sell?
bill hilly
on 21 Mar 08This reminds me of when point & shoot cameras entered the marketplace. They were not fancy, they just worked. We tend to forget the great mass population out there that prefers not to read a 100-page owner’s manual. I myself like to go for better quality stuff and enjoy the details of learning about equipment. On the other hand, cameras with more and more megapixels are dominating the digital camera market. I tried to find a simple 2 or 3mp camera for web work and was out of luck. Viva The Flip!
Martial
on 21 Mar 08My wife uses hers all the time. That she also has a Mac probably sealed the deal.
She used to think of herself as a camera person: she has nice cameras and lenses and she takes a fantastic photo. Just not very often.
Now, every day, I have a new edit of our daughter or our dog to watch when I get home. Not high art (not yet…), but the only thing better is actually being with my daughter or my dog.
NOTE: In our experience, the “balky” record button gets balkier the lower the battery power.
Mark
on 21 Mar 08While I understand your stand on the simplicity of the flip camera from a design standpoint, I don’t see the practicality of it.
In the days when standard cameras do no frills video, cellphones do no frills video and laptops do no frills video, why on earth would there need a camcorder that does….no frills video?
In the big picture are we really moving toward simplicity, or just furthering complexity through a barrage of “simple” products?
Seems to me that if we get any more simple devices, we’ll all need to start wearing batman like utility belts to hold everything. On the other hand, if we cram anymore into our so-called smart devices, we’ll soon see the brick of a cellphone from the 80’s making a glorious return.
Balance is the key to true simplicity.
FredS
on 22 Mar 08Sidenote: Hey, if you ever get a chance to see David Pogue speak, don’t miss it. He’s really funny. I saw him Thursday in New Orleans at The NTEN conference.
Jon
on 23 Mar 08it should probably be mentioned that the camera shoots in Xvid and iMovie ‘08 doesn’t suppot it. So the first thing you’ll have to do before editing with iMovie is convert it to mp4.
Its kind of annoying, but seeing that the camera is for short spurts of footage, any intel Mac will be able to convert this pretty fast.
KenC
on 23 Mar 08What’s so special about a Flip? It’s VGA. It shoots to flash cards. It’s a one-button operation. It has no optical zoom. Sounds exactly what P&S digital cameras do. There are millions of compact P&S digital cameras that can shoot decent VGA with sound and no zoom to flash memory, and connect to their computer with USB. Probably 95% of P&S digicams shoot comparable VGA today.
What’s the big deal? In fact, a digital camera is likely to have a better LCD to view your masterpiece. And, some digital P&S can shoot in 720p, now, like Panasonic and Kodak. Heck the Kodak V1233 shoots 30fps 720p and costs only $160 at Kodak’s website.
The real competition for a Flip is a normal P&S digicam, and in that case, the Flip has probably one percent of the market since so many more digital cameras are sold.
Erik Dungan
on 24 Mar 08The Flip is great. I haven’t used my miniDV camcorder since buying my Flip almost a year ago.
To all those who say a p&s camera does the same thing–sorry, the Flip is cheaper and easier to use. p&s cameras should have the video stripped out of them.
Eliot Landrum
on 25 Mar 08I am shocked by the idiotic comments on this post. If you say “wow, that looks great except blah-blah is so much better and is the same price with a few more bells and whistles” then you have completely missed the point and you must not have read what Jason said (or any other blog entry on this website). The price is not the objective here, conscious design and focused purpose are the point.
I am so excited about this video camera because of how much it doesn’t do (just like Jason said in the post… are you guys not reading??). I want to buy one for my mom and one for myself.
1) My mom has struggled so hard with a Sony video camera that does so much. She almost always ends up frustrated and annoyed that I am sure she won’t even bother soon. She needs that big red button and NO MODES. The Sony camera is always in the wrong mode and always does what she doesn’t want it to do.
That’s an answer to Mark:Because every single one of those devices needs MODES. Modes are nearly always annoying, frustrating, and confusing.
2) I want a pocket video recorder that I can keep with me and not have to have a huge bag of a ridiculous set of accessories. The video on my P&S camera would be fine except that it is half the resolution and limited to 30 second clips.
The lack of hurdles to record some short clips is breathtaking.
PI
on 26 Mar 08The premis of this post is that the Flip has captured 13% of the market because it is simple to use and just works. I think everyone is missing the price point and the underlying economics of supply/demand. If the flip cost close to or as much as the more feature laden counterparts it would never sell. This is the primary driver behind the capture of market share not the simplicity part of it.
One of the best comments I read above was why people with expensive 8 MP cameras have flips since their phones already do a better job at filming.
John Kranz
on 26 Mar 08I just purchased the Flip yesterday and did a quick test. I like it. I imagine if a newer generation comes out, I will pick up a second unit and hand this one over to relatives. It’s such a no-brainer to use and have handy all the time (and, yes, I have an HD camcorder as well but it’s overkill for simply taking some quick shots while I’m on the go and not needing to worry about misplacing or losing a high-price tag items). The flip is an example that simplicity sells.
This discussion is closed.