Review on 📸 Capture Your Moments with the Kodak PlayTouch Video Camera in Vibrant Orange by Zac Pewitt

I wanted an easy to carry, reasonably priced 1080p HD camcorder to replace my aging Flip Ultra camcorder - white 4GB 2hrs (2nd Generation)) that has served me well good, but only records in 720p and doesn't have an external mic jack. This camera caught my attention after reading reviews of the Kodak Zi8 pocket camcorder - Black mentioned that it was a smaller camera but still had microphone jacks - a rarity for this type of camcorder. Why use an external microphone? Well, if the audio you get through the camera is affected by outside noise or isn't as harsh as you'd like, it's great to have options. I bought an Olympus ME-52W noise canceling microphone which, while cheap, does a great job on YouTube videos and the like. in combination with PlayTouch. The PlayTouch is similar in style to the Flip, but with a touchscreen for navigation and space for a 32GB SD card. You need a map. The internal memory only stores 25 seconds of 1080p video. I suggest this card: SanDisk Extreme 32GB SDHC Class 10 UHS-1 45MB/s SDSDX-032G-AFFP Flash Memory Card for clear HD video recording and about 4 hours free space on the card. This camcorder is easy to use. and comes with two software packages that ideally allow you to upload videos from the camera to YouTube and Facebook. My system refused this operation and Webroot SecureAnywhere Internet Security Plus 2013 - 3 devices refused to install it due to an error. If you are facing this problem then everything is fine as you can just remove the SDHC card and upload the video. to your computer to edit and download. Yes, it takes away some of the cool features of this setup, but since it's all about the video quality for me, that's not an issue as it's still good. What's not good are the low-light recordings (video and photos) this camcorder has. You need good lighting or need to be outdoors to get good video quality with this product. Tripod wanted? I use a flip video tripod with this camera and it works great. I liked that the camcorder comes with all kinds of cables, including one that allows you to plug the USB into a power outlet. It's only an 8-inch cable, but it's desktop-friendly and rarely used with cameras like this. Let's assume that instead you don't remove the SDHC card and insert it directly into the camcorder. I'm a little concerned about the fold-down USB port on the PlayTouch. It's pretty flimsy and wobbles a bit compared to the Flip Cam's good, fast-moving lever lock. I don't think I will use it as I would even like to be careful - it can break easily. The 3 inch screen is sharp and bright. Navigation is easy and intuitive. A play button on the back and a red light on the front of the camcorder indicate that recording is in progress. You can change the shooting mode like sepia, black and white, 70s and others and edit it on the camera. This is really nice as it saves editing time without a camera. Ideally I could upload directly to Facebook and YouTube, that would be really, really nice! The HDMI port on the camera is also a great addition. In addition, Kodak includes an HDMI cable with PlayTouch! The battery charges in about 2 hours and lasts about the same when recording 1080p videos. Be sure to visit the Kodak website and click Support to get the latest firmware update for your camera. You will need an SDHC card beforehand as this is part of the upgrade process. You will also need to check "About" in your camera's settings to find your camcorder's current firmware version before selecting the correct update. It's relatively easy to update, and the instructions on Kodak's website are clear and easy to follow. Overall I am happy with my purchase. I love that it has a mic jack and captures great 1080p video, and it's easy to use and very portable. A memory card slot is also a bonus and apart from the USB socket and the so-so internal microphone this is a great buy at the current price. The Kodak Zi8 - Black pocket camcorder was my first choice but the difference in price was the deciding factor and I have no regrets after experimenting with this camera.