Kodak PlaySport Zx5 - The Ultimate EDC Camcorder

[dylbyl1234]

kodac zi8 is alot better but is like 80 bucks more

[SnowReborn]

OMG i were looking for this for long time....... thx lot

[Txdartaholic]

Great review, just ordered one today. Needed something I can take on the road to make auto repair vids. for my page. Just what I was looking for.

[kdgdirk]

Sorry Fred, but I find the sound on the kodak is terrible

[314299]

Great review - thanks!

[Crustymarine]

I have a Kodak Zx5 Play Sport. Love it long time.

Took it to the beach this summer. Great surf camera.

However, the camera locks up from time to time. And the only way to turn it off is let the battery run out. So to avoid this problem, BE SURE you go to the Kodak site and upgrade the firmware.

Obviously wipe it down before you open it once you get it wet.

Clean and rejuvenate the gaskets after trips to the beach.

Enjoy

[fomocowboy]

KEEP ON KEEPIN' ON BROTHER!

[dgallag339]

I have the 1st generation model and it really has served me well, I needed something i could toss in my saddlebag the underwater capability was pretty cool as well.

[theemperor0]

Does it only record and playback for one speaker or can u switch it to play on both?

[fredhart]

@theemperor0 Good caught, just double checked the camera, it does record on both tracks but iMovie screwed it up some how

[theemperor0]

@fredhart I will be checking into this camera then, I've been on the market for one like this.

[theemperor0]

@fredhart I will be checking into this camera then, I've been on the market for one like this.

[fredhart]

@theemperor0 If I did imovie right, you would be hearing it out of both speakers but it is mono, not stereo since it only has one mic,

[fredhart]

@theemperor0 Also, sorry about the confusion

[1jbunceiii]

I think kodak screwed the pooch on this camera, while the picture is excellent, the previous ZX3 had a external microphone port to add a high quality external microphone. They should have added that to this one.

[summerdude600]

i was listening through headphones and was only getting sound out or the left side when you switched to the ZX5

[donthebodyguard]

Fred, thanks for the info.

[GunWebsites]

Great review,

Looks like this could be a good option for the range / outdoors

Other models of the Kodak have a jack for external mic, does this one?

Plus this is the first new video in the sub box all weekend !

Thanks for posting

[1jbunceiii]

@GunWebsites the Kodak ZX3 has the external microphone port, and is still 1080 video.

[biguy525]

Nice review, I guess as of now its the best replacement for the flip cam. I didn't know you had this video up, you tube is screwing up again. I haven't had a upload from any of my subscriptions in the last few days.

[Dambo96]

@biguy525 same thing happening here ,I thought it was kinda strange that no one posted any new videos,for some reason youtube is not posting the new videos in the subscriptions box

[eljin00]

Good review Fred I love mine goes anywere and shoots fast.

[TheMultiGunMan]

★★★★★

You'll be able to make videos like Steven Spielburg with all those cameras Fred!!! :) Great video my friend!

[bencanon2]

Please make that video about how you hurt your back.

[12x]

nice video, hope your back gets better soon. ages ago i had back muscle trouble, the head pads you can get are good.

[fredhart]

@12x Unfortunately it's spine related but it's all good. I really appreciate the get well wishes my good friend.

[INTOGUNS1]

The picture looks great but the sound sucks.

[fredhart]

@INTOGUNS1 Yep, the sound could be better, maybe I will tweak the internal mic gain option.

[valtarys]

Great video. Sorry about your back, Fred. No more heavy lifting for you my friend! My iPhone is my EDC solution as well, but it's neither water nor shock proof and quite expensive by comparison. The sealed battery thing annoyed me a bit at first, but then so it is for the iPhone. The Zx5 was on my short list of cameras to get, but I didn't buy one in the end. I'd rather get the iPhone 5 to replace my aging 3GS.

[fredhart]

@valtarys Yep, the iPhone is a great solution too, the built in camera is awesome. I just wanted to have an standalone tough solution to use too. Thank you so very much for your comment and support!

[valtarys]

@fredhart You are quite welcome Fred. The technical issues I'm faced with have more to do with video processing. It's a question of time and data volume. I currently record massive AVI files, which I convert to MP4 to reduce file size. When I import those MP4s into iMovie, it takes like two hours for a 15min clip. My question is this, does the Zx5 use a format that reduces processing time in iMovie? How much time does it take to upload raw footage onto Youtube? Some gear testing would be nice.

[Roberthurz]

I have an old Flip that I was thinking of replacing. This might be the one! Thanks for the review. I hope your back gets better quick. I know what that's like... No fun! You are in my prayers amigo!

[fredhart]

@Roberthurz Thank you so very much for the get well wishes my great friend!!!

[KiloSierraAlpha]

Great review as always, Fred.

My EDC camera is my phone (iPhone4 still has the best phone camera) and I don't see myself lugging this thing around as well. However, this is a great hiking/camping camera. I'd love to take this thing with me in a kayak!

Picture is excellent but the sound is hollow and thin. If it had your Sony's cam sound, it would be perfect. Wide angle is nicer than your Sony!!

[fredhart]

@KiloSierraAlpha Yep, I agree about the sound. I can easily correct it within y editing software but I want you all to hear the raw difference. Thank you so much for your comment and support.

[KiloSierraAlpha]

@fredhart Fred, I think the sound is hollow because there's a fluid membrane across the mic... to make it waterproof.