Steve's Conclusion

Steve's SnapShot

Compact body 1080p, 720p, WVGA video resolutions 5-Megapixel Still Images 1.5-inch LCD screen "Share" button f/2.8 fixed lens 3-Step sharing to social sites USB 2.0 Arm 128 MB internal memory A/V and HDMI output Up to 32GB SDHC compatibility Internal Li-Ion battery (charges via USB cable)

Pros

Very Compact Body Incredibly easy to use Built-In USB Arm Requires only one hand for use Records pleasing full 1080p HD and 720p HD video A/V and HDMI output Fast f/2.8 fixed lens works well in low-light Good Audio  Great Price

Cons

No optical zoom Movies are a bit "choppy" with quick panning Image quality of still images is more in tune with mobile phones

Timing Test Results

Power up to first image captured = 2.5 seconds Shutter lag = 4/10 of a second GUI = Sluggish

Bottom Line

The Kodak PlayFull ZE1 is the most compact of the Kodak digital video cameras. Offering Full 1080p HD video capture and 5-Megapixel still image capture, its very handy to have around all of the time. Its image quality is in line with its $129.95 price tag.

Pick This Up If...

You are in need of an compact, yet inexpensive HD video camera that fits in your pocket and is always ready to capture HD movies.

The Kodak PlayFull ZE1 is their new Full 1080p HD, pocket video camera. As the smallest and cheapest of the Kodak "Play" series of digital video cameras, this could be a very popular model. It's 5-Megapixel imaging sensor allows you to capture full 1080p video at 30fps as well as 720p at 30fps or 60fps. It can also capture pleasing 5-Megapixel images. Although there is not an optical zoom, the 4x digital zoom is your only choice for getting you just a little closer to your subjects, except for using your feet of course. On camera video editing and creative shooting modes round out the great set of features on this pocket video camera. For those who like to "share", the share button gives you the power to upload your movies and images to a number of social network sites with just 3 easy steps.

With a similar size and shape to a small cell phone, the camera fits into a pocket or purse very easily. The few on-camera controls allow for easy operation and control of the camera. Built-in HDMI and USB 2.0 give you plenty of versatility for watching and editing your movies with the on-board software. Thanks to the built-in USB arm, you don't need to carry a cable to hook up to any computer. Viewing and framing your movies and images is accomplished with the camera's small, 1.5-inch LCD screen. With just 70,000 dots, it's a low quality image, but it is more than enough to see your subjects, and with the built-in Glare Shield it is easy to see in all lighting conditions.

Capturing still images with the ZE1 is very quick and easy. There are not a lot of camera settings, making it a very simple point-n-shoot camera. Image quality is very good for a camera that is video specific, surpassing most of the digital videos cameras that we have seen in the past, but still with similar image quality to a cell phone. The images are fairly sharp and well exposed, but noise quickly becomes a problem as light decreases. The lack of flash leaves some images blurry or too dark if you can hold the camera still enough.

Video quality from the ZE1 is very good for such a small and affordable camera. While there is a little noise that softens some of the finer details in the movies, they are well exposed with vivid color. On the computer movies may not play back as smooth as they should, but they look great on a HDTV via HDMI. The 4x digital zoom with quickly degrade the image quality and we recommend not using it unless absolutely necessary. Audio quality in the movies is very good, but like we see with most all digicams, the built-in mic is very sensitive and will pick up the noises that are closest to the camera. A microphone input would have been a great addition.

Powering the ZE1 is a built-in Li-Ion rechargeable battery that can be recharged anywhere there is a computer or power outlet, thanks to the built-in USB arm and power adapter. This allows you to keep your camera charged while on the go, but the built-in battery does not allow you to swap it out in an emergency. While completing our tests, we were easily able to capture 15 minutes worth of movies and approx. 30 still images on a single charge. While this doesn't sound like much, this was done over a 2 week span with plenty of battery life left.

Bottom Line - Kodak's PlayFull ZE1 features the ability to capture full 1080p HD videos with sound at the push of a button. Incredibly small and easy to use, this is perfect for anyone that likes to capture video memories. It also has the ability to capture 5-Megapixel images and record with scene modes. Its overall video quality is very good for such an affordable camera, however, the still image quality is comparable to a standard cell phone image. With a MSRP of US $129.95, this is perfect for teens or parents who like to share their memories at the push of a button.

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