Flip Video Ultra Series Camcorder, 60-Minutes (Black)

Average customer rating:

Poor Software Support for Flip Video Ultra 60 Minute Camera

12/07 Critical Firmware Update Is Required For Your Flip Video Camcorder

Snapshots

Could be good...

Rosie Totally Digs The Flip

Flip Video Ultra Series Camcorder, 60-Minutes (Black)

Manufacturer: Pure Digital Technologies, Inc.
ProductGroup: Photography
Binding: Electronics

All Digital Camcorders | Camcorders | Camera & Photo | Categories | Electronics
Flash Memory | Camcorders | Camera & Photo | Categories | Electronics
Pure Digital | Camera & Photo Brands | Camera & Photo Features | Electronics
Gift-wrap Eligible | Specialty Stores | Electronics Features | Electronics
Pocket Video Recorders | Camcorders | Cameras & Camcorders |
Similar Items:

Flip ASP1S Soft Pouch for Flip Ultra Camcorders (Grey)

Flip ATR1B Tripod for Flip Ultra Camcorders

Flip AUC1CP1 USB Cables for Flip Camcorders (Pink, Orange, White)

Flip ASK1CP1 Skins for Flip Classic Camcorders (Pink, Orange, White)

Cables To Go - 19003 - 1M USB A Male to A Female Extension Cable (White)

Accessories:

Flip ASP1N Soft Pouch for Flip Ultra Camcorders (Orange)

Flip ASP1P Soft Pouch for Flip Ultra Camcorders (Pink)

DigiPower DPS-3000+ 3-Hour AA/AAA Rechargeable Battery Kit with 4 AA 2700 mAh Batteries and Car Charger

Flip AAM1N Action Mount for Flip Ultra Camcorders

Flip AUC1CP1 USB Cables for Flip Camcorders (Pink, Orange, White)

Product Features:

Simple to use, pocket-sized camcorder with one-touch recording and digital zoom

Holds 60 minutes of full VGA-quality video on 2GB of built-in memory; no tapes or additional memory cards required

Convenient USB arm plugs directly into your computer for easy viewing and sharing

Built-in software lets you easily e-mail videos, upload to YouTube and AOL, and capture still photos from video

Watch videos instantly on TV with included cable

ASIN: B000V1PXMI

Product Description

The FVULT60MINB 60-Minute Flip Video Ultra Camcorder lets you capture the everyday moments that happen anywhere and share them with friends and family everywhere. It's simple, portable, and amazingly affordable. Simple editing tools let you make custom-edited movie mixes with music Create and organize your personal video library 1.5 diagonal color anti-glare playback screen for instant viewing and deleting, 528 x 132 pixels screen resolution Video Resolution - 640 x 480 at 30 frames per second Video Bitrate - 4.5Mbps (average - auto adaptive algorithm) Video Format - Advanced Profile MPEG4 Lens Type - Fixed Focus (0.8m to infinity) Aperture - f/2.4 (fast lens for great results in low-light environments) Fast lens for great results in low and bright light, smooth multi-step 2x digital zoom Interface - 8 Buttons (Power, Play, Delete, Record and 4 way navigation) PC Connection - Built-in flip-out USB arm (up to USB 2.0 speed) NTSC TV Out with included cable Battery Life - Up to 2.5 hours with 2x AA Alkaline batteries, Up to 6.5 hours with 2x AA Energizer e2 batteries System Requirements - Intel Pentium 4 2.0 GHz, Windows XP SP2 or Windows Vista, SVGA display monitor (1024x768) and video card, Windows Media Player 9.0, Microsoft DirectX 9.0, PowerPC G4 1.0 GHz, 512 MB RAM, Mac OS X 10.3.9, SVGA display (1024 x 768) monitor and video card, QuickTime 7 or later Dimensions - Height 4.17 x Width 2.16 x Depth 1.25

Customer Reviews:

Poor Software Support for Flip Video Ultra 60 Minute Camera.......2007-12-28

Yesterday, December 27, I spent at least 3 hours trying to sort out the mess called the Flip Video "Ultra" 60 minute camera. It involved at least 3 calls to tech support lasting a total of about 2 hours. Knowledge level was fair to poor.

My problem started with downloading the software update that constantly pestered me on the screen. it took a long time to do this and it wiped out the entire contents of my camcorder and placed them in a back-up folder! later I was told by tech support that it wasn't really necessary to download the software update. I ended up taking the battereis out of my camcorder twice, renaming each of the 14 videos once, switching the unit on and off 8 times-three times, reloading everything at least
twice, etc.

Still the problem persists: 39 minutes of recording left, with no recordings on the camcorder. I was told by 2 different representatives that I would get an E-mail within 4 hours and also a telephone call. None of that happened.

I figured that I screwed away a lot of time with your riece of junk!

12/07 Critical Firmware Update Is Required For Your Flip Video Camcorder.......2007-12-28

You may want to hold off on considering this a full working product, particularly if you use a mac.
;-(

AMAZING THAT THEY WOULD SELL WITH DEFECTIVE FIRMWARE!!!

From the web site:
Required Flip Video Camcorder Update - December 2007

A Critical Firmware Update Is Required For Your Flip Video Camcorder
This update resolves issues related to copying videos off the camcorder and improves overall camera and software performance. We strongly recommend that you perform this critical update immediately. Videos on the camcorder will not be lost and the camcorder can be safely used to capture more video at any time.

Note: This update is for Flip Video-branded camcorders only. If your camcorder does not have the Flip Video logo on it, do not run this update.

To update your camcorder firmware from a Windows* computer:
To update your camcorder you will need to download and run the "Flip Video Firmware Update Program." Please click the link below:

*Windows XP (Service Pack 2) or Windows Vista required.

To update your camcorder firmware from a Mac:
At this time, the "Flip Video Firmware Update Program" is only available for Windows operating systems. A Mac OSX version is expected in early January 2008. In the meantime, you can update your camcorder using a Windows operating system. Once updated, your Flip Video Camcorder will work properly on both a PC and a Mac.

Snapshots.......2007-12-28

The downside of the Flip Ultra camcorder is it's video only. The UP SIDE is that in the edit mode, you can select the exact frame you want to save as a snapshot! That's even cooler than a still digital camera where you might miss the shot!

Could be good..........2007-12-28

The camera is a neat idea. I bought it to take videos of my family on Christmas.

Major problems as people have already noted are: errors during transfer of videos to a computer (which requires a firmware/software update which I haven't been able to download yet) and difficulty with youtube uploading.

Other suggestions for future models would be to be able to pause, fast-forward, and rewind the videos while watching them on the camera itself. Also a rechargeable battery that charges through the USB port would be nice. A USB cable would be nice also as the camera blocks other USB ports when plugged into the computer.

The nice things: it is really easy/fun to use and takes good videos which you can watch directly on the camera or TV. The drag has been trying to do anything else. Customer support seems very accesssible by email/phone, 24/7 and at least they provided the firmware update (though I can't get it to download yet).

Like everyone has commented, a good idea but a sad disappointment to those who got it for Christmas. I haven't returned mine yet.

Rosie Totally Digs The Flip.......2007-12-28

Rosie O'Donnell has nothing but high praises for the Flip Video. She has shared with all of her bloggers what she can do using the Flip Video camera. Just recently she used the Flip Video, in it's waterproof case under water and the quality of the video is just awesome.

She even plans on doing an online help desk for some of the bloggers having difficulty uploading the video.

Rosie currently has a bunch of Flip Video of "Shady" a squirrel that visits her home daily It's so great to see her creativity to challenge the squirrels to get their walnuts etc. She captures scenes that can't be seen to so many of us. She even took a video of an inguana in Florida walking along the ramp.

The best of them all is of the dolphins with the most recent shot of the dolphin under water in Florida.

Many of her bloggers trusted her word and bought the Flip Video for Christmas presents and the feedback to her is awesome.

I don't have one as I have to save up for one, but I know I will enjoy it once I get it! :)

Product Description

Meade ETX125AT Telescope with Autostar & Tripod The revolutionary Meade ETX-125AT goes anywhere at a moments notice and presents the finest optical images ever made available in ultraportable telescopes. Like the ETX-90AT, the ETX-125 provides an impressive optical tool for amateur and expert astronomers alike to observe continually changing celestial phenomena through effortless pushbutton electronic control. Yet the ETX-125AT collects twice the light of the ETX-90AT, permitting a much broader range of astronomical study. Jupiter's cloud belts, for example, are observable at a significantly heightened level of detail, while the Cassini division of Saturn's rings is routinely seen. The entire Messier listing of 110 objects is now not only visible, but every object takes on a readily discernable structure.The Meade ETX has been recently re-engineered to provide the very latest in microprocessor-controlled capability. The diffraction-limited optics produce images high in contrast, brightness, and resolution outperforming many instruments of larger aperture.Precision Crafted Optical Sets Meade Maksutov-Cassegrains optical sets are individually hand-figured by a Meade master optician, and then every optical set is put through over 30 separate optical tests and inspections before the optics are mounted in their respective optical tubes. New Fork Mount Design High-torque DC motors on both axes permits electronic operation from the standard equipment plug-in hand controller. Pushbutton Electronic Hand Controller The standard equipment controller allows you to easily track celestial objects at four dual-axis speeds: very slow at 8x for image centering at high power; slow at 32x for lower power or pushbutton object-tracking in the altazimuth mode; moderate at 0.75/sec for image centering in the viewfinder or for terrestrial tracking; or fast at 5/sec for fast slewing across the sky. Cordless Operation The dual-axis drive system operates for more than 40 hours from eight

Amazon.com Review

The ETX125EC brings the excellent optics of the original ETX-90 to a larger size, more suitable for serious observing. Maksutov-Cassegrain telescopes like this have a reputation for handling high power well, and I find this to be true of the ETX125EC. With a magnification of 200X, the excellent ETX optics easily show moon shadows crossing the face of Jupiter. When the night air is still and calm, I've even watched the moons themselves glide in front of Jupiter. (Ganymede, the largest moon, is the easiest.)

Compared to the smaller scopes in the ETX line, the five inch aperture of the ETX125EC brings out significantly more detail in the moon, the planets, and deep space objects. How much detail? The Ring Nebula, M57, looks like a pale smoke ring. The dark dust lane that shapes the Sombrero galaxy, M104, shows itself by dramatically flattening the south side of M104's glowing spindle shape. (You'll still need a little imagination to see a "sombrero.") Jupiter's "Great Red Spot" is visible (it's actually pale tan this year), and Saturn's rings take on detail and shading that you just don't see in a smaller telescope.

Ironically, the high powered optics of the ETX125EC are also its biggest drawback. While observing planets at 200X magnification or more, any vibration while focusing or tracking is also magnified two hundred times. The Series 4000 26mm eyepiece gives a one degree true field of view with an ETX-90. The same standard eyepiece reveals only 0.7 degrees and only half the viewing area with the ETX125EC. In practical terms, this means that the Autostar controller may not hit the target every time the way it does with the smaller ETX models. Meade's clever solution is the "spiral search," which helps to locate targets that wind up just outside the field of view--all you have to do is press "GO TO" a second time and Autostar will begin a search pattern to help you find your target.

This scope has proven popular among telescope enthusiasts for its flexibility. One friend who bought an ETX125EC as his first telescope doesn't bother with the Autostar--he likes to look at the planets, and he can find them himself, thank you. Another friend is an experienced observer with several big telescopes in the garage and bought one for it's portability--he's planning to travel east on a star gazing trek this summer and will use the ETX125EC as his traveling scope.

Some owners of this telescope will want to add Meade's #1247 electric focuser and anti-vibration pads to reduce vibration problems. Just be aware that eight inch Schmidt-Cassegrains from Meade or Celestron are more solidly mounted, yet don't cost much more than an ETX125EC souped up with accessories. --Jeff Phillips

Pros:

Excellent optics
Autostar computer
Portable size

Cons:

Sensitive to vibration

Amazon.com Product Description

The ETX-125EC permits a broad range of astronomical study. In deep space, the ETX-125EC's larger aperture enables the observation of galaxies and nebulae in much wider extension and permits the resolution of celestial objects as faint as magnitude 12.5. The entire Messier listing of 110 objects is now not only visible, but, in addition, every object takes on a readily discernible structure. The Autostar controller turns the ETX-125EC into an automatic celestial object-locating system.

The computer-driven Autostar controller makes it easy to find 30,000 celestial objects.

Just plug the Autostar into the telescope's HBX port in place of the standard-equipment electronic controller, do a quick telescope alignment, and you're ready to observe any object in the Autostar's 30,000-object database.

ETX optical systems include a Maksutov meniscus corrector lens of Grade-A BK7 optical glass. High-transmission magnesium fluoride (MgF2) coatings on both sides of the correcting lens, as well as aluminum-silicon monoxide coatings on the primary and secondary mirrors, are provided as standard equipment.

Use the standard pushbutton electronic controller at any of four dual-axis speeds: 8x sidereal for image centering in the main telescope at high power; 32x for image centering at lower powers or for pushbutton object tracking in the altazimuth mode; slow mode for image centering in the viewfinder or for terrestrial tracking of nature and sightseeing; or medium speed for fast slewing across the sky. The observer can instantly select any of these speeds simply by depressing the speed button on the controller.

The telescope's ultraportable design allows the viewer to view from any flat surface, be it a window sill, car hood, or picnic table. The optional tripod can raise the telescope to any comfortable height.

The Nuts and Bolts

1. Eyepiece
2. Viewfinder
3. Eyepiece Holder Thumbscrew - Tightens the eyepiece in place.
4. 90° Eyepiece Holder - Holds the eyepiece upright for easy viewing.
5. Optical Tube - The main optical component that gathers the light from distant objects and brings this light to a focus for examination with the eyepiece.
6. Vertical Lock - Controls the manual vertical movement of the telescope.
7. Fork Arms - Hold the optical tube in place.
8. Focus Knob - Moves the telescope's optical tube in a finely-controlled motion to achieve precise image focus.
9. Horizontal Lock - Controls the manual horizontal rotation of the telescope.

10. Computer Control Panel

A. ON/OFF Switch.
B. Auxiliary Ports - Provide connection for current and future Meade accessories.

C. Handbox (HBX) Port - for the Electronic Controller or the optional Autostar handbox.

D. The 12v connector, designed to accept an external power supply such as the optional AC Adapter or Power Cord.

E. LED power indicator light.

11. Base Housing - Supports the telescope for placement on a flat, level surface, such as a tabletop or optional tripod.
12. Holes for Optional Tripod - See your tripod's instruction sheet for mounting information.
13. Right Ascension (R.A.) Setting Circle.
14. Flip-Mirror and Flip-Mirror Control Knobs - ETX telescopes include an internal mirror. With the flipmirror control in the "up" position, light is diverted to the eyepiece. With the flipmirror control in the "down" position, as shown in Fig. 2b, light proceeds straight out the photo port for photography.
15. Photo Port - Attach any 35mm camera with a removable lens to this port using an optional adapter.
16. Declination Setting Circle (on left fork arm).
17. Viewfinder Alignment Screws - adjust these screws to align the viewfinder.
18. Viewfinder Alignment Bracket.
19. Dust Cap
20. Battery Compartment (not shown, underneath base).

Customer Reviews:

a star of a scope, for its size.......2006-05-14

I have this, also a Celestron 8 and a Meade LX200GPS-10". I use this one when I see something I want to see quick, or for just a few minutes observing. Easy to carry around, gives good images. When it's serious time, the Meade 10" is the one as it has 4 times the light gathering, but it's also heavy--have to carry the tripod out, then the scope, then attach the two. So for a nice look at the sky, and one that can be done quickly, with ease, this is a nice choice. Meade 10" gives great detail, it might show the features some of the reviewers have noted, but this 5" isn't gonna show a lot of details. Still, this is great to look at Orion, its nebulae, Pleaides, moon, planets, the bright stars, a few galaxies, bright moon around the planets. Also, I have a solar filter for this, so can quickly dash out to see if there are sunspots. Warning--the only solar filter that is allowable is one that fits over the front of the scope. Do not rely on one at the eyepiece--the heat may crack it and then your eye is toast. The solar filter over the front is essentially a mirror--you can hold it up before a 100 watt light bulb and you can barely see the filament, it relects away that much light. That still lets in all the sun's rays you need--DO NOT use anything at the eyepiece, get a good solar filter at the front of the scope (and don't forget to cover the finder scope, it can still concentrate enough rays to hurt an eye.) Uh, back to the 5" scope, it is a nice thing to have, I'd buy it again, Meade did a nice job with it.

And, a rating of this product in stars seems appropriate, I'll give it 5 for what it does. But this isn't going to show colored galaxies like you see in pictures, don't get your expectations too high for any amateur scope unless you are a real expert in taking long-duration pictures through it.

First thought.......2004-08-31

I've only had the 125 ETX for a couple of weeks but here are some things I'd like to have known:

Quality:
Seems very well made. Manual perhaps a little brief but there are some great webpages on the web about settings up and using this scope.

Portable:
18 lbs for scope + 11 lbs tripode.... fairly easy to lift and walk with, even assembled together.

Noise:
On the balconey when slewing at full speed I'm worried about the neighbours, but very quite at slower speeds. So I'll probably look for a deserted bit of road to slew without worry.

Moon:
Sharp around 200 times magnification. With a 9.7 mm eyepiece. Even with barrow magnification doubler at 400x looked good.

Deep Space:
Andromeda galaxy seemd perhaps a little dimmer than in my 7x50mm binoculars, however the telescope showed a steadier much enlarged image. I'm guessing the math is
telescope 125mm*125mm / 73 magnification = 214 sqmm per something
binoculars 50mm*50mm / 7 magnification = 357 sqmm per something
(Plus I get to use 2 eyes)
Because this is a "fast" scope the lowest magnification I can get appears to be 48X which should make Andromeda as bright through the scope and still 7 times larger than the binoculars.
I'd probably need a darker site that my backyard to see all 110 messier objects though.

Summary:
A great scope for planets a good scope for deep space objects. You need to plan to get a higher magnification eyepiece for the best planet viewing and maybe a lower magnification for deep space objects.

A lot of scope for under $1000.......2003-09-11

The ETX125 with Autostar is a very good telescope for a reasonable price. It is portable (not as much as the ETX90) and has a generous 5" objective in the small package afforded by the Maksutov-Cassegrain design of a lens and two mirrors. The optics are of high quality, as are most commercial Meade and Celestron scopes today. The included 26mm Super Plössl eyepiece gives it a magnification of 73x. A good first accessory would be a 15mm or 12mm eyepiece for higher magnification. The views of Mars and the Moon through this telescope are stunning. With enough practice, quite a bit of detail on Mars, Jupiter and Saturn is visible, in appropriate seeing conditions (steady skies). The mount is adequate for mounting the scope in altitude-azimith mode (as pictured), but a beefier mount is needed if one wants to use the telescope in polar mode for imaging. The Autostar is a great boon to this telescope, if one takes the time to learn to set up the telescope properly, and learns the locations in the sky of the stars the alignment routine uses for set up. Taking time to calibrate and train the drives really improves the pointing accuracy. One annoyance is the delay and backlash (initial move in the wrong direction) of the controls to move the scope. The focus knob can be akward to use with the scope in certain orientations. There is a third party accessory that remedies this, or one can get Meade's motorized focuser (I ordered this with my scope when I was purchasing it based on my experiences with the spotting scope version of the ETX90). Another annoyance I have experienced with the tripod is that the clips on the mounting bolts tend to slip off. Each of the two mountng bolts has a clip, washer and spring that can be difficult to find in the dark if the clip slipping causes them to shoot in a random direction. I bought this scope to use to observe/image the planets and moon from New York City, while my bigger scope is in a less light polluted site.

Cheap Consumer Electronics:

Cheap Consumer Electronics List

Cheap Consumer Electronics