Somehow, cameras keep getting smaller while screen resolution keeps getting bigger. But is that a good thing? Kodak has sought to answer that question with their latest Pocket HD Camcorder, the Zi8.

Hardware

The Zi8 lives up to its "Pocket" name, about the same size and shape as an iPod Classic or BlackBerry Curve with a screen the same size. This will easily fit in any adult or teen pocket. Tiny buttons and a joystick-like record button adorn the back, while the camera lens (no flash) completes the front, where you'll also find the cover for the rechargeable battery, which charges with the included cord, no additional charger necessary, although since the battery can be removed, it can also be replaced when necessary.

On the right, besides the power button (flush with the side to avoid accidental power-on), you'll find an SD/SDHC card slot, capable of handling up to 32GB cards (sold separately), which equates to over 10 hours of 720p recording at 30 frames per second, less if you record at 1080p or wish to record sports or other action at 60 fps. (The internal memory only allows for about 6 or 11 seconds of recording, so you'll need to figure in the cost of an SD card if you plan to buy one of these.)

Below that slot, you'll find a pop-out USB plug, allowing you to connect the camera to a computer with no additional cable. The bottom includes a tripod mounting stand, and the left side features, besides the power jack (2 hours for a full charge), both HDMI and A/V jacks to connect directly to a TV or monitor.

Interface/Usability

The Zi8 offers limited options, opting for simplicity and encouraging users to edit the video on the computer, either iLife for Mac users or the included Arcsoft software (in internal memory, so the first time you connect the computer, it offers to install the software) for Windows. Note that 1080p playback on Macs will be choppy, but it looks fine when connected to a TV or when using the Windows software.

Menu functions are straightforward and won't likely require much time, if any, studying the manual--simple and clean interface.

Note that the Zi8 cannot record while connected to an HDMI cable, so if you'd like to set it up like a mirror for your kids so they can see themselves on TV or use the HDTV to see the result in real time, you can't. You can only record them, and then play it back on the TV.

Image quality

To test the video recording quality, I compared it to a Canon Elura 100, which is an SD digital camcorder in a similar price range, since there's no way the Zi8 was going to compare to more expensive HD camcorders. I wanted to compare the trade-off between a larger lens and an HD image. The results were fascinating.

In a series of indoor tests, I used typed words on a postcard to determine clarity of the image. The SD camera made the text legible at a greater distance (zero zoom for both, since the Zi8 has no optical zoom), but the image was much grainier. The Zi8 image, however, was muddy in comparison, like it suffered from too much compression. That said, where the image had less compression, it was sharper than the SD. (The camera has a Macro mode for close-up shots.)

The still camera (5 megapixels) takes decent photos, good enough for those quick mobile snaps, but if you're looking for something for the scrapbook, you'll probably still want to stay with a more conventional digital camera.

Taking it to a real world family test, my daughter's soccer game, we met with mixed results. The Zi8 had trouble focusing on distances, like the other side of the soccer field. Normally, I recommend against using a digital zoom, but in this case, it improved image quality, and since the image is HD, it still looks pretty decent for a digital zoom. It also includes face recognition, which will include image quality of their programs at school and Image Stabilization when you have no tripod (drains the battery, so turn stabilization off when mounted on a tripod).

That said, we had some trouble with the 720p/60fps and 1080p modes. The camera would record just fine in 720p/30fps, but at higher qualities, it would stop recording after a few seconds.  The clips looked good in those few seconds, but this is a problem, and I don't know whether I just had a faulty unit or whether others have had this problem. Kodak's tech support suggested sending it in for repair, and I looked around for others having this problem and couldn't find anyone else with the same issue. Most people wouldn't be able to tell the difference between 1080p and 720p anyway, and you can fit a lot more on the card at 720p/30fps.

I have to confess that I really wasn't expecting much out of this tiny device, but I was shocked at the final result. The Zi8 leaves the Flip Video in the dust and offers sharper images than an SD camera, plus with a decent size card, you don't have to swap tapes (but can swap cards if necessary, unlike a camera with an internal hard drive). If you're looking for something for casual family recording like school programs, your kids' sports games, and vacation video but can't afford the more expensive models or want something that will fit in your pocket, grab a Zi8. It's currently the best pocket camera out there.