Capture HD Video and Stills with the Kodak Zx1
A lot of portable HD camcorders are coming out of the market these days at very affordable prices. Kodak, being a pioneer camera company, jumped into the market last year with the Zi6, one of the earliest portable HD models. Now, they have come out with the Zx1, a slimmer and more rugged model geared for the outdoor.
Kodak has done some good work on the Zx1. It has an SD card slot that accepts SDHC cards up to 32GB (not included in the $149 price tag). The camera records directly to SD at 720p and can capture still photos! But unlike most other portable camcorder devices, this model requires a separate and proprietary Micro-USB cable to connect to a computer. The problem with this is you always have to carry around that extra cable to be able to get your videos off the camcorder. The Zx1 also comes with a mini HDMI port and cable for connecting directly to an HD capable flat panel display. The included rechargeable battery lasts about 12 hours and can be replaced by standard AAs.
Kodak equipped the Zx1 with ArcSoft’s Media Impression software. It allows shortcut upload to YouTube and editing features such as splicing and assembly of clips to come up with a finished video material. Overall, the camcorder is a great deal at the retail price of $149. Excuse the lack of SD card but at that budget price, it makes decent HD footage.
October 11, 2009 6:58 am 
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