Introduction
The Kodak Zx1 is an attempt at rugged versatility with its water-resistant design, still photography capability, and multiple frame rate recording all packed into a pocket-sized body. The camcorder also offers a practical design: instead of including a gimmicky pop-out USB arm, the Zx1 offers well-protected ports that include an HDMI output, USB, AV-out, and an SD/SDHC card slot. Of course, with its ambiguous buttons and confusing interface, the Zx1 also has some major design flaws. Still, if you're in the market for an ultra-compact, and you want to check out something besides a Flip, the Kodak Zx1 is a worthy option.
The Kodak Zx1 is currently available in blue, pink, yellow, black, or red varieties. Kodak also makes the Zi6, which has nearly identical video performance to the Zx1, but offers a slightly different design.
Update: The Flip UltraHD was ultimately selected as our 2009 Ultracompact Camcorder of the Year. To see why we selected it and read about our other awards, check out the 2009 CamcorderInfo.com Select Awards.
Product Tour
The Kodak Zx1, like competing ultra compact camcorders, has a fixed lens. That means that there are no moving lens elements for adjusting focus, aperture, or optical zoom. It's hard to fit much into such a small camcorder body anyway, so settling for a fixed lens means that these ultra-compacts also remain affordable. The sensor and lens are nearly identical to what you'll find in the Pure Digital Flip MinoHD and most other similar camcorders.
Color & Noise Performance
The Kodak Zx1 can capture video using two different frame rates. There's HD60 mode, which is a 60p setting, and there's HD mode that uses 30p recording. The 60p mode offers native 720/60p progressive recording at 60fps. This gives the footage smooth motion and the speed of the footage resembles that of a traditional camcorder that records at 60i. The 30p mode is more akin to what you see from most ultra-compact camcorders like the Flip UltraHD or the Sony MHS-PM1. The footage is slower, a bit choppier, and not as smooth as the Kodak's 60p option. We found the camcorder performed slightly better when using the HD60 mode, so all our performance scoring was conducted using that setting. Check out the Motion section of this review for more information about the different frame rates on the Kodak Zx1.
The Kodak Zx1 performed terribly in our bright light color testing. The camcorder measured a color error of 14.85 with a saturation level of 156.6%. This poor score stems mainly from the camcorder's inability to properly white balance during our test. Outdoors, under natural light, the camcorder showed much more accurate colors. Still, the mediocre color score in our bright light testing is a bad sign for users who plan on shooting with the Zx1 indoors under a variety of different lighting conditions. (More on how we test color.)
In the images above you can see what we're talking about when we say the Zx1 couldn't white balance properly in our test. A bright orange glow casts itself over the entirety of the Zx1's bright light image. This makes all the colors skew orange-yellow and, in turn, produces a very bad color accuracy overall. We've seen this problem before in our testing—most prominently in the Kodak Zi6—as well as amongst other ultra-compact, budget camcorders.
The Kodak Zx1 doesn't feature any color options or picture adjustment settings. The sample image above is taken using the HD60 mode, a 60p frame rate setting that records a 1280 x 720 image. The camcorder also offers a 30p mode, as well as a standard definition VGA setting (640 x 480 resolution). All the test images in this review are taken using the HD60 mode unless otherwise noted.
In the comparisons above you can see that the Kodak Zi6 has the same orange tint in bright light as the Kodak Zx1. Both camcorders feature an automatic white balance system that simply could not handle the indoor lighting setup utilized in our bright light testing. Both the Flip UltraHD and Sony MHS-PM1 (Webbie HD) faired much better in this test.
The close-up color chips above give you a better idea of how orange the image from the two Kodak camcorders looked in our bright light color testing. The color error is especially noticeable in the red color patch, although all the colors have a strong orange tint to them. By looking at the comparisons, it is clear that the Sony MHS-PM1 and Flip UltraHD are much better choices if you want accurate colors or if you plan on filming indoors under a variety of lighting conditions.
In addition to its poor color accuracy, the Kodak Zx1 also put up below-average numbers in our bright light noise test. The camcorder averaged 1.0275% noise, which is roughly twice the amount of noise we measured on the Flip UltraHD. The Sony MHS-PM1 also registered significantly lower noise levels than the Kodak Zx1, measuring roughly 0.765% in our testing. (More on how we test noise.)
The above crops give you a good idea of the overall image quality offered by each camcorder in bright light. The Kodak Zx1 has a fairly sharp image, although there is some prominent interference in the vertical trumpet. The MHS-PM1 and Flip UltraHD both have better color accuracy and slightly sharper images than the Kodak Zx1. The Zi6 looks terrible next to these three camcorders, but we don't have any bright light noise data for that model because it was tested using last year's rubric.
Motion & Sharpness Performance
Low Light Performance
**Low Light Sensitivity***(9.66)*
The Kodak Zx1 performed well in our low light testing, which may come as something of a surprise when you consider how poor it did in our bright light color and noise tests. The camcorder did especially well with low light sensitivity as it required only 6 lux of light to reach 50 IRE on the waveform monitor. This is a very strong showing and it equals the performance of the Kodak Zi6. When looking at these low light results, however, it should be noted that the Kodak Zx1 utilizes an automatic slow shutter (likely 1/30 of a second) when shooting in low light conditions. Normally, we turn off slow shutters when we do our testing, but since we can't do so with the Zx1 we had to do our testing as is. (More on how we test low light sensitivity.)
The Flip UltraHD also did quite well with low light sensitivity, making the Sony MHS-PM1 the big loser in this test. The Sony needed more than 3x the amount of light as the other camcorders in this set to reach 50 IRE on our waveform monitor. When shooting in the Zx1's 30p setting (HD mode) the camcorder also recorded a low light sensitivity of 6 lux.
The Kodak Zx1 did much better in our low light color test than it did under the bright lights. The camcorder managed a color error of 3.21 with a saturation level of 97.67% when we shot our 60 lux low light test. These are strong numbers, and they are similar to the results we obtained last year with the Kodak Zi6. (More on how we test low light color.)
The Kodak Zx1 was clearly able to white balance properly in our low light test—a fact that is obvious when you look at the sample image of the test chart above. The camcorder was particularly accurate with blue colors, but it had more trouble with greens and reds. Overall, this is an impressive performance for the Zx1 and it is one of the best low light color scores we've seen in the ultra-compact, budget-camcorder market.
The Kodak Zx1 does appear to have a darker image in low light than the other budget cams we used as comparisons in this review. The colors also appear richer and deeper, which is something that is also noticeable with the Kodak Zi6. In addition to producing accurate colors in our low light test, the Zx1 also registered low noise levels. Continue onto the low light noise section for the full data.
The Kodak Zx1 averaged 1.2975% noise in our low light testing. While this is a very good score, it most of the ultra-compact budget camcorders we test do well with noise in low light. All the camcorders we used as comparisons in this review measured below 1.4% noise in low light. (More on how we test low light noise.)
Besides giving you a visual representation of noise levels, the crops above also show how much detail each camcorder is able to capture in low light. The Kodak Zx1 has a rather blurred image from the noise (which is normal in low light), but it maintains some sharpness and detail. The Flip UltraHD has the lowest noise levels and the cleanest image in this set. The Sony MHS-PM1 recorded nearly the same amount of noise as the Zx1, although its image appears a bit brighter.
Compression & Media
The Kodak Zx1 compresses files using the H.264 codec. H.264 is the generic high definition codec used by companies that don't want to utilize the confusing and often-difficult AVCHD codec. Most video editing software programs are compatible with H.264. You can simply drag-and-drop the MOV files on either a PC or a Mac without too much hassle.
Strangely, Final Cut had some trouble reading the files recorded in HD60 mode. QuickTime and iMovie had no trouble.
The Kodak Zx1 does come with a modicum of internal flash memory, but that's really just meant to house the built-in editing software. With the software taking up most of that capacity, there's only about 30MB left for videos and photos. Even if you decided to try deleting the software, you'd only have 128MB of internal flash memory—two minutes of footage on the camcorder's maximum quality setting.
You're much better off purchasing a couple of SD/SDHC memory cards. The Zx1 is compatible with memory cards up to 32GB, which is more than enough to hold hours of footage. Several online retailers have the Zx1 available as part of a kit: just $20 will get you an 8GB card and some other accessories.
The card slot is encased by the same weather-resistant rubber port cover that encloses the AV outputs. This sturdy port cover combined with the shock- and weather-resistant flash memory makes for a good traveling companion.
Much of the allure of these ultra-compact camcorders is that the user has a simple, foolproof process for editing and uploading videos. Pure Digital has set this bar high: the software built into the Flip camcorders works like a breeze and is so easy to use that you might find it insulting.
Unfortunately, the ArcSoft program that ships with the Kodak Zx1 is not quite as intuitive or streamlined as the Flip software. For starters, it's not compatible with Macintosh operating systems. That means that everyone who purchased a Mac for its user-friendly OS will not have the benefit of the Zx1's plug-and-play functionality.
The welcome screen is self explanatory, but it's strange that only a couple options appear here. Without doing some exploration, there would be no way to know that you have to 'Browse My Videos' in order to do simple video edits. If you jump straight to the YouTube upload, you'll probably miss this option altogether.
The media browser is a simple thumbnail view with the classic Windows list browser to the left. At the bottom are a handful of options, like importing, file conversion, emailing, and uploading to YouTube. There are also tools for capturing a still photo from your video or 'making a movie.'
The movie making option lets you combine clips, add music, and rotate/trim clips. This is also where you go if you want to make a DVD—an option that's not very obvious unless you make it to this screen and see the button in the lower-right corner.
The most commonly used option in the software will probably be the YouTube upload feature, which takes you through the steps required to put your clips online. There aren't any other video sharing sites available (i.e. Vimeo, Flikr), but the process for YouTube is fairly straightforward.
Unlike the software on the Flip camcorders, the Zx1 software lets you fill in a lot more information on your video, including tags, privacy settings, a category, etc. Unfortunately, these fields are all required before the software will allow your video to be uploaded. If you wanted to just name the video and be on your way, you might be disappointed.
Once you tell the program to upload, the video will be appropriately labeled and compressed for YouTube.
Overall, the software is a bit disappointing, considering the target demographic. If Kodak wants to provide its users with a simple post-production experience, they're going to need to focus on providing a more intuitive interface. The ArcSoft application is surprisingly inaccessible considering the bare bones functionality offered.
Manual Controls
There is no manual mode on the Kodak Zx1, which means auto mode is really the only option. Yes, the camcorder does offer three video recording options in the form of HD60 (60p frame rate), HD (30p), and VGA (30p standard definition). These three modes all function essentially identical, however, and the only difference between them is the frame rate and image resolution.
Since the Zx1 has a fixed lens there isn't much to be said about its autofocus system. The lens has no moving parts and Kodak claims it will maintain focus from 70cm (27.6 inches) to infinity. We found most objects to be in focus even at lengths shorter than 70cm, but things definitely started to get fuzzy when the camcorder got really close. The Zx1's sister model, the Zi6 offers a telemacro setting for getting crisp, focused shots up close.
One of the biggest problems with the Zx1 is its dreadful auto white balance system. The camcorder couldn't white balance correctly under the tungsten lights we use for our bright light testing and it showed some difficulty under fluorescent lights as well. The auto white balance did work fine outdoors, under natural light, but that is the only spectrum where we can give the system our approval.
Auto exposure is rather quick on the Zx1 and it gets the job done. Adjustments tend to be smooth, although occasionally we noticed the exposure quickly snapping as we moved the camcorder from light to dark settings. The camcorder also had trouble exposing very bright objects correctly, often blowing-out portions of an image with intense lighting.
When shooting in low light, the Zx1 engages an automatic slow shutter that appears to drop the camcorder's shutter speed to around 1/30 of a second. There is no way to turn this feature off, which means you're stuck with using the slow shutter in low light no matter what. This slow shutter does help boost the Zx1's low light capabilities (as seen in its impressive results in our low light testing), but it also produces choppy footage that may not be desirable for some shooters. However, if you're planning on uploading videos to YouTube or posting them elsewhere on the internet, it is unlikely that a slow shutter is going to irritate you.
Low Light Modes
There are no low light modes featured on the Kodak Zx1.
Scene Modes
The Kodak Zx1 has no scene modes. In comparison, the Sony MHS-PM1 includes a few scene modes and the Kodak Zi6 offers a telemacro setting.
The Kodak Zx1 does not have an optical zoom, but it does provide you with a meager 2x digital zoom, which can be controlled via the up and down buttons on the four-way directional pad (d-pad). While operating the controls, zoom is anything but smooth. There are about 12 zoom increments; clicking on the up and down arrows causes the zoom to leap unpredictably from one to the next. Holding down on the zoom achieves a choppy transition from 1x to 2x digital zoom. There is a scale displayed on the LCD, but no numbers to mark the increments.
The Kodak Zx1 does not have optical zoom. Like most ultra compact camcorders, including the Flip MinoHD and Flip UltraHD, this petite frame simply isn't large enough to accommodate an optical zoom without increasing the price. There is, however, a modest 2x digital zoom, but remember that digital zoom ultimately degrades image quality.
There is no manual focus on the Kodak Zx1. The fixed lens doesn't even have a moving lens element to automatically adjust focus. The fixed focus is supposedly able to accommodate objects as close as 27.6 in. (70 cm).
The Kodak Zx1 does not allow you to make any manual exposure adjustment. You may, however, notice a slight difference in apparent exposure when switching between HD and HD60 modes. In low light, especially, the 30p frame rate (HD mode) will appear slightly brighter than the 60p frame rate (HD60 mode).
You have no control over aperture on the Kodak Zx1. The fixed lens has an aperture of f/2.8.
Shutter speed is entirely automated on the Zx1.
White balance is also entirely automated.
There are no manual gain settings on the Kodak Zx1.
**Color & Image Controls***(0.0)*
There are no color or image controls on the Kodak Zx1.
**Other Manual Controls***(0.0)*
There are no additional manual controls on the Kodak Zx1.
Still Features
Despite coming from a well-known still camera manufacturer, the Kodak Zx1 offers very little in the way of still photography features. Photos can only be captured at a single resolution: 2048 x 1536. That's about 3 megapixels... interpolated. That's not a great resolution to begin with, but it's very disappointing that your only option is interpolated. Interpolated means that the original resolution was lower than 3 megapixels, then digitally expanded to the larger resolution. It means that the quality is significantly lower than that of a native 3-megapixel still.
These mediocre stills can only be captured when you switch the camcorder into still photo mode; don't expect to do any simultaneous video/still recording. And there aren't really any options to enhance the still photo experience: no self-timer, burst mode, ISO settings, or flash.
In its still photos, the Kodak Zx1 measured a color error of 10.7 with a saturation level of 120.7%. This isn't quite as bad as the camcorder's bright light video color tests, but it is still unacceptably poor. Again, the camcorder had trouble white balancing correctly, thus all the still images in our color tests had a strong orange tint. Check out the sample images further down for a visual representation. (More on how we test still color.)
When you compare the Zx1 with the Sony MHS-PM1 you can quickly see the orange coloration we are talking about. The still image from the Zx1 almost looks like it was shot in a sepia mode as its brown-orange highlights give the entire photo a murky hue. The Sony MHS-PM1 also did poorly in this test, but it is clear from the comparison images that the Sony is capable of capturing colors in its still images.
The Flip UltraHD cannot take still photos (nor can any Flip camcorder) and we don't have a sample image from the Kodak Zi6 because we tested it last year. The Sony MHS-PM1 offers a variety of still image settings, with a maximum resolution of 5-megapixels.
Noise levels were average on the Kodak Zx1's still images. We measured an average of 0.87% noise in our still image testing. This isn't a terrible score, but we'd like this number to be much lower for still images. Still, the Zx1 recorded slightly lower noise levels than the Sony MHS-PM1 in the same test. (More on how we test still noise.)
Even though the Kodak Zx1 can capture still images, that doesn't mean it's capable of producing sharp, beautiful photos. In our testing, the camcorder measured a horizontal sharpness of 577 lw/ph with 23.7% undersharpening. For vertical sharpness, it measured 797 lw/ph with 1.3 undersharpening. These aren't very impressive sharpness scores, especially when you consider how much better photos a cheap point-and-shoot digital camera will get you. Part of the problem with the Kodak Zx1's still images is the fact that the camcorder captures interpolated 3.2-megapixel stills. The camcorder only has a gross pixel count of only 1.6-megapixels, which means the actual photos aren't anything close to real 3.2-megapixel images. If you want sharp photos with a good amount of detail, you should get a dedicated still camera. Some of the higher-end HD camcorders are also beginning to capture strong still images, but even they aren't yet ready to compete with a good digital camera. (More on how we test still sharpness.)
Handling & Use
The Kodak Zx1 is a member of the cheap, ultra-compact camcorder family, which means it is designed as a simple-to-use, fully automatic device. The Zx1 succeeds at being simply—you simply point with the camcorder and shoot. The only manual control it features is a measly 2x digital zoom that is simply to operate and adjust. Where the Zx1 fails, however, is its complicated button design. The button layout is good (everything can be accessed with your thumb), but the labels are terribly difficult to understand and the buttons themselves are poorly implemented. The Zx1's sister model, the Kodak Zi6 uses a much better button design and implements a traditional joystick rather than a directional pad. The Flip UltraHD and Sony MHS-PM1 also have much better buttons than the Kodak Zx1.
The button difficulties on the Zx1 have a strong impact during video playback. Since the buttons are difficult to understand it makes for confusing VCR controls. Clips can be fast-forwarded and re-winded, but it is very awkward to do so. Everything is controlled using the d-pad, which puts too many controls in the hands of those four little buttons. The camcorder also has a menu system that is completely unintuitive to access. You must turn on the camcorder, then press any two buttons simultaneously to bring up the menu. This is something that would be impossible to figure out unless you have the instruction manual in front of you.
While the Zx1 is simpler to use than any traditional camcorder, it cannot match the easy-to-use design of the Flip UltraHD or any of the Flip line of camcorders. Its buttons are too complicated, its menu system is too difficult to find, and the multiple record settings (30p and 60p mode) as well as the inclusion of a photo mode make the camcorder a bit tricky to figure out—especially for people who have never used a product that records video.
You may not be able to tell from the look of it, but the Zx1 has a very durable design. Kodak claims the camcorder is water-resistant—not water-proof—and that it is ideal for someone who wants to capture videos out in the woods, on the slopes, or at the beach. The front of the Zx1 has a textured surface that offers a surprisingly-good grip. The curved lip (also on the front) aids the camcorder's grip-ability as well. For an upright camcorder, the Zx1 fits rather well in the palm and feels sturdy when you hold it. We found its thickness and design to be slightly better than the Flip UltraHD, which also has a textured surface on its front. The camcorder also has very good port covers and leaves no jack or input unprotected. For people who don't like the awkward design of the Flip's USB arm, the Kodak Zx1 offers a more practical solution.
The Zx1 also has its share of handling problems. The camcorder isn't very sturdy when you try to stand it on its own because its bottom is small and has two slight curves on each side. The flatter, thicker design of the Flip UltraHD allows that camcorder to stand up on a table much more easily. The Sony MHS-PM1 is also rather wobbly when it stands on its own—also a result of a small, rounded bottom.
The Zx1 has some of the worst button design we've ever seen. The buttons feel weak and unresponsive, their labels are confusing and tiny, and the d-pad isn't fun to use. All the buttons feel like they are embedded inside the camcorder's body, which is something we like to call 'membrane buttons.' This design is good for keeping out water and debris, but it feels very awkward to use and often you have to press the buttons multiple times before the camcorder registers a response. The record button is the one on the Zx1 that actually feels good to press, while everything else is poorly implemented.
The Kodak Zx1 does not have any stabilization—either optical or digital. This is par for the course with these ultra compact camcorders. Competing models from Pure Digital (the Flip series), Sony (the Webbie HD models), RCA (the Small Wonder), and others do not have image stabilization. [(More on how we test stabilization.)
](https://reviewed.usatoday.com/camcorders/content/How-We-Test-Camcorders-36180.htm#stabilization)
Like all ultra-compacts, the Kodak Zx1 is highly portable. Most of the competition is essentially the same size, so the weight and dimensions shouldn't weigh heavily in the decision-making process. The Kodak is even more portable thanks to its recording media and batteries. The camcorder records to removable SD/SDHC cards, which are incredibly small. As long as you don't lose the cards, you can have a relatively large stash of backups and you'll rarely have to worry about transferring footage. That means you can leave that USB cable at home.
The batteries are just traditional AAs. The Zx1 will run on any disposable or rechargeable AA batteries, including the two that come with the camcorder. Plus, the included batteries can last up to two hours, so you won't have to switch out very often. You can either bring the small wall charger or a few sets of extra batteries. Either way, there's no need to carry a DC power charger around.
The Kodak Zx1 will operate using any two AA batteries, including whatever disposable or rechargeable ones you might happen to have lying about. However, Kodak also graciously ships the camcorder with two Ni-MH rechargeable batteries and a wall charger for juicing them back up when they're drained.
Better still, these two batteries can last a good, long while. The two Ni-MH rechargeable AA batteries that shipped with the Kodak Zx1 lasted a total of 1 hour, 59 minutes, and 32 seconds (about 2 hours) before they had to be recharged again. That's longer than the batteries on the Sony MHS-PM1 or the Flip UltraHD lasted. (More on how we test battery life.)
The Kodak Zx1 has a 2.0-inch LCD (with an unknown pixel count). That's considerably smaller than the impressive 2.4-inch LCD on the Kodak Zi6. But it's all part of the compact, weather-resistant package. The Zi6 is wider and more fragile than the Zx1—this is one reason why.
These days, you won't find a viewfinder on a camcorder this small, although some point-and-shoot digital cameras have a minuscule viewfinder. That means you'll have to rely on the small LCD to line up your shots. Since you don't have any manual controls for making image adjustments, the accuracy of the LCD isn't all that critical; it should be more than sufficient for recording video with the Kodak Zx1.
There's only one menu on the Kodak Zx1 and you probably wouldn't even know it's there if you didn't read the instruction manual. Press any two buttons simultaneously and the menu will appear. This small menu will let you change the date/time, turn the system sounds on/off, or switch between PAL and NTSC output. (All North American televisions are NTSC, but if you're traveling to Europe, most of Asia, or Africa you'll want to switch to a PAL output.
You don't really need a menu for anything else, since there aren't a lot of options or settings on the Zx1. And since these three settings aren't commonly used, it's not surprising that Kodak buried the menu into a difficult-to-access location. The only other option you might want to change is the shooting mode; you can switch between HD60, HD, VGA, and still photo mode by pressing left and right on the directional pad.
Playback & Connectivity
To enter Playback mode and view your clips/photos, there is a clear playback button as part of the main controls. The bizarre icon above the playback button is supposed to be a video camera—we think. Press that button when you're in playback mode and you'll be brought back to record mode.
When you're in playback mode, pressing the playback button will allow you to cycle between three different playback views. The first is a fullscreen view, which shows the first frame of the clip. There is also a regular thumbnail view, followed by a strange calendar-like view, which groups the thumbnails by date in an odd tree-like diagram.
Playback controls are mapped to the d-pad, with left and right serving to fast-forward, rewind, and skip from one clip to the next. Up and down on the d-pad will adjust the playback volume. Pushing the center Record button during playback will play and pause your video. Fast-forward and rewind have several different speed settings: 2x, 4x, 8x, and 16x. Though Kodak also advertises a slow motion playback at 1/2x, 1/4x, 1/8x, and 1/16x, we simply couldn't find any way to make it work. If you pause during playback, you can cycle through individual frames, but an actual slow-motion playback was beyond our ken.
One final complaint about the confusing playback control system: the delete function is strangely unintuitive. Even if you figure out that the quaint icon in the upper-left is a trash can, you still have to push up and select the check-mark to delete a clip. Deleting multiple clips is even more confusing. We suppose it's good that deleting isn't too easy—no one wants to delete clips accidentally—but it's just one more minor struggle for beginning users to cope with.
The Kodak Zx1 offers slim pickings in the connectivity department. Like most of the ultra-compacts that have been released recently, the primary connections are the HDMI output and USB port. The camcorder ships with a Mini HDMI cable so that you can connect the Zx1 to a high definition television. (The inclusion of an HDMI cable is a rare treat for any camcorder.)
If your TV lacks HDMI outputs or if you want to use regular composite AV cables, there is a small proprietary USB port as well. The connection may look like the micro-USB port on some cell phones, but you can't use a standard micro USB cable. This is a proprietary Kodak connection and it'll only work with the USB and AV cables that ship with the camcorder. That's a bit disappointing, since cables are easily lost and—in this case—not easily replaced.
The third port nestled under the thick rubber cover is a DC power input. The Zx1 does not ship with a DC power charger, but you can purchase an optional charger if you'd rather plug in the camcorder than use the wall-mounted battery charger.
In addition to the USB, DC, and AV connections, there is an SD/SDHC card slot. This is the primary recording media for the Zx1. You can purchase as many cards as you want (up to 32GB each) and have plenty of recording time.
All the ports are enclosed by the same thick, rubber covers. They fit snugly over the connections and seem like they would do an excellent job of keeping out dirt and water. This makes the Zx1 a much more rugged option than the other Kodak ultra-compact, the Kodak Zi6.
Audio & Other Features
The Kodak Zx1 has a built-in monaural microphone nestled right up front next to the lens. The sound quality isn't very good, but it's enough to capture what's going on right in front of the microphone. You'll also pick up the faint clicking of the d-pad, so you might want to think twice about doing a lot of zooming in and out while you record.
There are no audio controls for raising or lowering microphone levels. And there's no connection for an external microphone, so you're pretty much stuck with what you've got. This is standard for ultra-compact camcorders, though the Flip Ultra and Flip UltraHD at least have a stereo microphone.
NTSC/PAL Outputs
The Kodak Zx1 lets you output to either a standard NTSC or PAL television. Every American television is NTSC-compliant, but if you're traveling to Europe, it wouldn't hurt to be able to watch your footage on the television over there. Native PAL camcorders usually record at 50fps or 25fps, but the Zx1 records at the usual 60p or 30p, then translates your footage for PAL televisions.
Sony MHS-PM1 Comparison
When you look at the Kodak Zx1 and Sony Webbie HD MHS-PM1 side by side, they appear to be pretty similar camcorders... especially when you have pink and purple models. Aside from their compact appearance, these are two very different products.
In bright lighting conditions, the Sony blows the Kodak out of the water: there's far less noise and an accurate white balance results in far better color performance. Take the camcorders into low lighting conditions—like Fourth of July fireworks or a popular club—and Kodak comes out on top. Footage is far brighter with the Kodak, resulting in better colors and less noise. The Webbie's superior sharpness won't help if you can't see your friends' faces in that bachelorette party video. Neither is a good option for a still camera: there's no flash, barely any features, and the low-resolution photos aren't any better than what you'd get with a cell phone camera.
The differences go deeper than performance. The Kodak runs on AA batteries; the Sony is a rechargeable lithium battery. The Sony has a unique swivel-head for easy self-recording; the Kodak does not. The Sony has a good joystick and a small zoom toggle; the Kodak has an unwieldy d-pad. Neither offers the streamlined user experience of the Flip series: the Sony has a lot more options and finding them is no easy task; the Kodak has fewer options but using the d-pad and ambiguous buttons is not intuitive. We had fewer problems installing the Kodak software, but neither the Kodak nor the Sony software is as foolproof to use as the Flip software, which is also Mac-compatible.
Flip UltraHD Comparison
It's a close contest between the Kodak Zx1 and the Flip UltraHD. Both camcorders are small, fashionable, and easy to use. The Flip has more accurate colors and less noise in bright light, but the Kodak has the edge in low light and has much smoother motion in all conditions. If performance isn't going to be the deciding factor, it's probably going to be one of the other features that set these two camcorders apart.
The still photos taken with the Zx1 are nothing exceptional—your cell phone could probably do just as well—but the Flip doesn't take still photos at all. The Flip is a hands-down winner when it comes to ease of use, but the Kodak gives you more options (like standard definition video recording). You might prefer the buttons on the Flip, but the Kodak is more durable: we much prefer the sturdy rubber port covers of the Zx1 over the exposed HDMI output and flimsy USB arm on the Flip UltraHD. While both camcorders run on AA batteries, keep in mind that the Kodak comes with rechargeable AA batteries and a wall-mounted charge station; the Flip battery can only be recharged by plugging it into your computer or buying the wall charger separately. The Kodak also records to removable SD/SDHC memory cards, while the Flip records only to the 8GB internal flash memory.
While both camcorders are exceptionally easy to use, the Flip is almost Zen-like in its simplicity. If you're really looking for a completely idiot-proof video experience from camcorder to YouTube, the UltraHD might be worth the extra $50. Otherwise, consider picking up the sleeker and more stylish Kodak. (And don't forget that it comes in blue, pink, yellow, red, or black—the UltraHD is available only in black or white.)
Update: **The Flip UltraHD was ultimately selected as our 2009 Ultracompact Camcorder of the Year. To see why we selected it and read about our other awards, check out the 2009 CamcorderInfo.com Select Awards.**
Kodak Zi6 Comparison
What if you love all things Kodak and your heart is set on one of the company's ultra-compact camcorders? How do you decide between the Kodak Zx1 and the Kodak Zi6? There is a blog post on Kodak's website that attempts to answer this very question. Kodak seems to boil it down to just a couple features. The Zx1 has weather-resistant port coverings, comes with an HDMI cable, and supports a remote control (sold separately). The Zi6 has a larger 2.4-inch LCD, integrated USB arm, and a macro mode.
Those really are the chief differences between the two products. Their performance is nearly identical, they both record to SD/SDHC memory cards, both ship with the same software, and both use AA batteries—and ship with two rechargeable batteries and a wall-mounted charge station. The biggest difference we noticed is in handling and aesthetics. The Zx1 has a nicer look to it and comes in more colors, including yellow and blue. The Zx1 also has a slightly slimmer body with some nice curves and accents that the Zi6 lacks. The Zi6, however, has much more responsive controls: a good joystick instead of the awkward directional pad plastered to the back of the Zx1.
Everyone has different priorities, but we think added durability is a big plus in ultra-compacts. (Throw it in your purse or pocket and never worry.) And a stylish body and more color options are just as important. Throw in the included HDMI cable and $10 in savings and we think the Zx1 wins this battle.
Conclusion
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Specs and Ratings
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Meet the tester
Vice President of Editorial Management, Kaitlyn oversees the editorial departments of Reviewed.com’s various sites. She has been writing about technology since the turn of the century. Outside of her Reviewed.com home, Kaitlyn is also a theatre director and avid gamer.
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