Kodak Playsport ZX3 versus ZX5

[TheBMW320cabrio]

Thank you sir ! You are a very kind person . A lot of luck to you !

[rgtaayes]

I do LOVE birds singing and all the activity of outside SOUND. The zx3 failed to pick up all the natural sounds of being OUTSIDE.

Also, test file sizes between the 2 camcorders. Most of us value smaller file sizes of MP4.

I especially like better video and better sound in the Zx5 with micro focus/auto focus/auto stabilization in smaller file sizes.

[rgtaayes]

People, watch the video of both zx5 and zx3 test he has, REALLY listen!

I hear birds chirping and lots of stuff happening, very a live SOUND!

The zx3 seems "dead", I hear no birds, only a slight hum , the sounds seem muffled.

Also, he didn't talk about 720p x60 fps. That is where the zx5 SHINES!

And if he walked and shot, you would see the Zx5 is stable and zx3 is wobbly.

The added Sound he talks about is birds singing, yeah, the zx3 didn't pick that up and he calls that "good". I don't get it.

[rgtaayes]

You failed to mention about the Kodak Zx5 that it has micro mode!

You failed to mention the Kodak Zx5 has auto focus!

You failed to mention auto stabilization in the Kodak Zx5!

I have looked at other reviews on you tube and I have seen the video comparisons, the Zx5 wins in terms of color and picture each time.

Battery life is 2 1/2 hours on Zx5 compared to a little over 1 hour on Zx3.

I picked up Zx5 in Walmart for 50 dollars  last week.

Zx5 is shockproof, dustproof .. both are waterproof

[PurpleBadgers1]

thanks i like the zx5 becose it is cheaper

[PurpleBadgers1]

thanks i like the zx5 becose it is cheaper

[pandaDreamsm]

thank you for taking the time to review and share your input about the kodak playsport models. best review by far.

[KingOfAwesomer]

thanks

[YoungAndBalding]

YOU DA MAN! Great review

[SupahFloTracks]

Zx3!!

[mgdepaz]

hi there do you know if you could use an external microphone on the ZX3? If so does it matter if the zx3 is mono and i try to use a H4n as an external mic??

[TIMagicProd]

@mgdepaz - Unfortunately, there is no mic input jack on either the ZX3 or the ZX5.

[linearconcepts]

Thanks for a very helpful video.

[lovedbycuties]

can the zx3 take normal AA batteries in it?

[lonlypnoywaitn4u]

Right now, the ZX5 is the same price as the ZX3 at 149.99 on kodak.com. I have the ZX3 and love it but I just ordered the ZX5.

[semajgnik]

good review, im getting the zx3 thanks

[Sui778]

I would say the Zx5's mic is quite inferior to the Zx3's. It does have better gain, but the hiss on the Zx5 is pretty bad.  It's also very biased towards the middle range, and sounds a lot more nasal than the Zx3. Picture looks about the same to me though.

[lovedbycuties]

is the zx-5 to you worth the extra money for it little added features rather than the zx-3?

[TIMagicProd]

@lovedbycuties - For my use, I would pick the ZX3 simply because it has a bigger sensor which results in better image quality. For me, the number of "extra" features is not worth the sacrifice in some key technical areas. Read my written comments underneath my post for more information.

[mina30km]

muchas gracias!!! me resulto muy útil el vídeo.

[pchef99]

Ever try the remote with both cameras? I just got off the phone and have to ship my Zx5 and BOTH remotes to Kodak because only the shutter and record button works. None of the other buttons on the remote works with my camera. On Kodak's website it says the remote is compatible with the Zx5. One remote I bought from Best Buy. The second directly from Kodak and it arrived about 2 hours ago. Firmware is up to date on camera. Any suggestions???

[michaelburnel278]

Big help,thankyou very much.

[michaelburnel278]

Very helpfull video!! Could you tell me what remote it is you use for these cameras pls. Thanks

[rowdyrob3d]

There was an online deal for the ZX3 for $69 today, so I searched Youtube for some reviews and demo videos to see if it was worth purchasing. I found your video to be extremely helpful and informative. Thank you for posting your review/comparison video!

[PowerExcelsior2]

very nice video, really helpful

[cayo2002]

q porra e e ssa

[vanderham830]

Thank you very much for this exellent modest and well weighed review, looking forward for more reviews!

Possible firmware upgrades for the ZX5 in the future to improve sound of the ZX5?

[Dorisequador]

Love your street  I think the sound quality on the ZX5 is alot better but the video is the same thats about it.

[rainbowskyish]

zx5 is better



[sofiacpinto]

really like the sound quality of the camera that you are recording with at the begining of the video (none of the ones you are comparing). would you please me which is? thanks in advance :)

[leif836]

zx5 is better

[MrAlexcuff]

unless you changed the lighting you looked more real on the original

[908205691838]

Excellent review/comparison thanks!

[AliceAndTheWalrus]

I must say the audio sounds much better on the Zx5 to me, the Zx3 sound is very thin, and hisses when you use the sound of "S". However, the contrast seems to be better on the Zx3, the video is much darker when you do the pan with the Zx5... Both seem to glitch when you were panning. but the Zx5 seems to glitch less. I really can't decide...

[derick4402629]

Excelent comparison. I would like to point out when panning to the side with the zx3 the image gets "twitchy", while the zx5 seemd to maintain a smoother image while panning.

[DCV321]

Thanks for the comparison. You did not mention the audio sensitivity control. The default setting on my zX3 is rather low but that can be adjusted.

[guyNbluejeans]

Good review.

[ArtOFHardstyle]

Hello. Im looking for a camera that can take some big bass sound. I always go to ''Hardstyle partys'' And i need a camera that can take bass. Does the Zx3 is good for that? Sorry for my english.. for example: watch?v=i5u2rC2KyIE&feature=ch­annel_video_title i think this is the zx3. But the owner does not anwser me. Plz help me :)

[netnuti]

I lost my old kodak zx3 when I slipped and hit my camera against some rock. It broke the battery´s door and water come in. Kodak´s say to me buy a new one because they can´t fix my camera in this case. Now I buy a new one Kodak zx5. I´m glad to hear that it´s shock proof.... Let´s see! Anyway I will made a home made case for use it (made from neoprene).

[radziahradzi]

thanks for comprehensive review. despite it's getting old, i think i'm getting zx3, tq!

[rubyrocksox]

Does it freeze after like 10mins of recording? i heard alot of people saying it. And is the audio recording good? to u need to like increase the audio in a video editor?

[TIMagicProd]

@rubyrocksox - I have never experienced freezing at any duration during recording. As far as the audio quality, it's good to where I do not have to adjust the levels in my video editing software. The native levels are fine.

[TV843]

Terriific review! I have the ZX3 myself, and I haven't really heard anything about the ZX5 that would make me want to go out and buy one over the Zx3. I agree with other folks that the internal battery was a terrible idea for Kodak.. I have two Kodak batteries for my ZX3 (it was a package deal) and I bought two of those $3-4 batteries on Amazon as extra backup and they work great! I think the problem for some will be if they eventually completely replace the ZX3 with the ZX5.

[darrenwouldgo]

great review. i wish u did a low light comparison too.

[doncampbell1]

Thank you for the nice review - it was very helpful to me!

[srtounez]

i had the ZX1 the one before the playsport and loved it... but now i have the zx3 and love it even more...battery its awesome it last about 2-3 days of moderate use... ( no more than 10 mins at a time) but seeing this review the zx5 have a lil more definition and sharpness to the video... but the illumination looks tampered with... looks a little fake... the zx3 looks more natural, maybe its me i dont kno but its my opinion! i bought it at $120 at k-mart best price i have seen!

[widegap]

The problem I have is an internal battery for the Zx5. That basically kills it for me. I use mine for fishing and I may record up to 6-7 hours of footage on a river or lake and with the Zx3 I have no issue just putting in a new battery(I have six) but the Zx5 would be dead in 2 hours. :-(

[Ergydion]

Very Good VIDEO! Thanks from Germany. You should make this Reviews professional!

[SuperCarsGT3]

audio***

[SuperCarsGT3]

does this camera have good audi, like is it foggy or unclear when you film randon sudden increases in noise?

[mepickulongtime]

Cool review!!

[huegen88]

If you ask me the ZX5 has way beter recording quality than the ZX3.

[mrbasicshark]

I found the Zx3 for $109 at Walmart, and the Zx5 for $138....any suggestions for those two at that price point? I was thinking about getting one. Thanks.

[SlamDunkStudios]

I've had the Pplaysport Zx3 for about 6 months now and it is fantastic. Night shooting shows some graininess, but daytime shooting is crisp and clear. The HD still's are also quite good, so it can operate as a video recorder and camera, with water and shock proofing to boot. Very impressive device.

[mikeswrx02]

Nice vid. Thank u!

[mbartoldo]

The Zx5 audio sure picked up the rain and birds on the test pan. Were the birds just not chirping during the first test pan or did the Zx3 just not pick them up. I assume the latter. Thanks for the info.

[EvilEvilnessOfEvil]

I like how the Zx5 gets a larger array of sound, but its captures TOO much sound, the white noise is annoying. Looks like its Zx3, sound is what matters to me ;D

[xxuniversalxx14]

@EvilEvilnessOfEvil & it also has iternal mic

[matsas16193]

I don't think zx5 has better mic!I think its even worse!That white noise was disturbing!

[TIMagicProd]

@Mickawell - The image stablizers on both the ZX3 and ZX5 are somewhat limited. From my experience recording video from a car dashboard, the setting tends to make the images jelly-like instead of jittery. It's up to you to determine which looks better. For me, I prefer it off because it's easier to stabilize (and look better) later using video software.

[Mickawelll]

Is there a difference in the "image stabilization" ? because i want to buy zx3/zx5 to use it on a motorcycle, do you think the ZX5 is better ? Thanks!

[digtoaster]

Really great comparsion.

The sound is top on zx5 i hear the birds in Background much better!

But in my opinion the Picture quality in daylight is a little bit better on zx3.

Thx for your great review.

[vent25kn]

The 1st gen takes 1 hour to charge with a Kodak charger and 2 hours if you charge with the camera.

[MrXamenyap]

is the colour of full hd of zx5 really nice ? cause some camcorder are lack in colour and give a pale noisy video quality

[macuser5555]

Odd, I found the audio quality to appear much louder on the Zx5 in his video. Yes, the picture quality was better on the Zx3 but I'm really turned on by the shock and water resistance of the Zx5. It can come in handy during the summer for boating, going to camp grounds, the beach or anything outdoor where water comes into play. I want to be sure my camera won't get damaged. I'm willing to give a bit of video quality for durability.

[radziahradzi]

@macuser5555 zx3 too is waterproof

[macuser5555]

@radziahradzi True, but I really like the Playsport 2's dust and shock resistance feature. Shame that the picture quality seems better on the older model.

[whitzach]

I like your video, the sound just echoed in the room, but when you did the video out side did you notice how much better you could hear the birds in the back ground. I thought the zx5 was way better. Thanks

[FrankTheWorld]

I'm selling a friend my current ZX3. I'm going to either buy another ZX3 (New on amazon in a bundle with tripod case and sdhc for) for $120 or the ZX5 (New on amazon camera only) for $170. Is it worth getting the new one, or do you think I should just buy the ZX3 again?

[mp4podcastDOTcom]

The audio is crap and its sad Kodak can not even put a good mic in their camcorders. I did see another side by side test and the Image was sharper on the Zx5 and the audio did not have a problem.

The Zi8 had the same problem some got good mics and others had bad mics. I think Kodak buys different mics from other companies.

Its like XBOX 360 the DVD drives they get from three different companies. So they do not always have the same parts.

Nice plant, is that plant from Japan?

[charlielimz]

i dont understand why kodak decided to use internal battery for zx5, why oh why.. i personally think its really a huge mistake even though they have better macro and DIS but what's the point of having good features if you're run out of battery and you cant recharge it anywhere.. true or true ??

[jeffreng]

Thank you sensei

[jrm44444]

Hi, considering the zx5 doesnt have a removeable battery, cany you tell me how long you can record 1080p(I only record in 1080p) before the battery dies? 2. How long does it subsequently take to fully charge the internal battery again?

[stuntmaster500]

@jrm44444 I Have the kodak playsport 1gen but I think it is similar to the 2nd gen so about 1 hour of continuous runtime on 1080p horrible in my circumstances. And since the battery is lithion ion it charges pretty fast maybe about 2-3hr. I would buy the 1st gen (if you did not already) Becuase of the removable battery because Kodaks battery is a problem if your out on a vacation

[fishycomics]

As if it is Youtube, the zx-5  stuttered , while the zx-3 was smooth in panning, again youtube. Sound to loud beefed upf I should have kept my Sanyo VPC-PD2 clealy the better choice. to dip, or nott odip, I stick zx-3.. great review. taken the time to clealy explain to us, but left outt hat the HDMI cable is now a Purchase. register for a free I hear? is that true?

[johnkx]

At last! another review! I guess I really won't be buying zx5.

I like the sound quality of zx5 - but I don't like the other shit that comes with it. I'm not an idiot who'd bang my shit on the floor, nor I do not edit my videos on my cam. So I guess I'll get the zx3 instead.

[patryric]

In the first sequence, at the table, the Zx3 is learly the winner for image quality. The Zx5 is terrible, grainy and colors are washed out.

Thanks for the good review.

[TIMagicProd]

To usbsol: Yes, the same mounts are compatible. For my use, the auto focus/ macro feature of the zx5 is not worth sacrificing the sensor size (smaller than the ZX3) resulting in more video noise in low light conditions. 

[tdhtv]

@TIMagicProd The mic on the ZX3 seems to have less noise than the ZX5 but the ZX3 seems to be more muffled. Couldn't I reduce the noise with a bit of foam just like you would use for a shotgun mic? I sure the foam wouldn't do anything when hopping in and out of water but for dry conditions don't you think it would do the trick?

[usbsol]

You don't find the auto focus/ macro feature of the zx5 to be a major improvement? And am I correct in assuming that both the zx3 and zx5 can use the same mounts? Thx :)

[DjNootropix]

It only seems like you can hear a lot more on the zx5 because there were no birds chirping when it was shot outside with the zx3. However I would say the zx5 does seem to have slightly better sound recording. $90 more dollars for the zx5 as well

[TheMommy226]

With the ZX5 you can hear so much more when you are outside!! WOW