New Flip UltraHD Pocket-sized Camcorders Get Official

Back in 2005, my wife and I went on our three-week honeymoon to Paris with a third wheel–our newly purchased Canon Optura 30 camcorder (as well as a stack of MiniDV tapes). The first few days, we dutifully lugged around the Optura (which was certainly smaller than competing models of that time period) and succumbed to the touristy siren song of videographing our movements through the city. But we soon started leaving the camcorder in the apartment as we headed out for our daily adventures as it was just too bulky, and thus our honeymoon seems very short based on video evidence.

If only we’d had the Flip camcorder then (as we do now)–the small little box that doesn’t look at all like a video recorder with the curious flip-out USB connector–things could have been different… and maybe we would have gotten some video of the Eiffel Tower, which we visited in the waning days of the honeymoon. I purchased the MinoHD, Flip’s first high-def camcorder, before last Christmas and have been loving its 720p resolution as well as its easy pocketability (and thus having it more readily available for impromptu shoots).

And now Flip has added a second HD-capable model to its lineup with the official announcement (after leaks started appearing this last weekend) of the Flip UltraHD Camcorder. It has the same body as the original Ultra, which is bulkier than the more svelte MinoHD largely because of its rechargeable AA battery pack, which can be replaced with standard AA batteries if you’re running low on power while on the go. And it offers similar video specs to its high-def brethren, including a 1280 x 720 respolution, 30 frames per second (fps), an average bit rate of 9.0Mbps and 2x digital zoom.

But the UltraHD adds a larger LCD viewing screen (2 inches compared to the MinoHD’s 1.5-incher) and more storage capacity (doubling to 8 GB for 120 minutes of video capture). However, its biggest new feature is the HDMI port for video output, enabling you to connect it directly to an HDTV for viewing footage without first having to transfer and massage video through the included FlipShare software. Oh, and it’s $30 than the MinoHD (you pay extra for the svelte).

A number of gadgetosphere destinations have some samples already up, including Gizmodo, Engadget and Boing Boing Gadgets, and CNet also just posted its positive 4-star review. Additionally, Camcorderinfo offers some good side-by-side photos contrasting the UltraHD with the MinoHD. The Flip UltraHD comes in black and white and is available for ordering now.

–Agen G.N. Schmitz