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Kodak Zi8 5 Megapixel Pocket Video Camera w/4x Digital Zoom, Image Stabilization, Black - Refurbished by Kodak image
 
(based on 9 ratings)
Brand: Kodak
Located in: Video, Consumer Video
Kodak Zi8 5 Megapixel Pocket Video Camera w/4x Digital Zoom, Image Stabilization, Black - Refurbished by Kodak
Review Snapshot®
Avg. Customer Rating:
 
3.3 stars
(based on 9 reviews)
71% of respondents would recommend this to a friend.

Customers most agreed on the following attributes:

Pros:
Easy to use(7), Great picture quality(5), Great sound(3), Image stabilization(4), Large clear LCD(3)
Cons:
Limited zoom(3)
Best Uses:
Home movies(5), Travel(6)
Describe Yourself:
Enthusiast(4)
Was this a gift?:
No(4)
 
Best Kodak of Zi6/Zi8/Playtouch batch
By loopymonkeyVerified Purchaser from Brooklyn, NY on 11/7/2010
Pros:
Easy to Use, Good Image Stabilization, Good in Low Light, Great Picture Quality, Great Sound
Best Uses:
Home Movies, Indoors/Low Light, Travel
Describe Yourself:
Semi-pro Videographer
Was this a gift?:
No
Bottom Line:
Yes, I would recommend this to a friend

Comments about Kodak Kodak Zi8 5 Megapixel Pocket Video Camera w/4x Digital Zoom, Image Stabilization, Black - Refurbished by Kodak:

external mic is great to have. in good lighting and a tripod this thing is amazing.

[2 of 2 customers found this review helpful]

 
Really good IF you get a good one....
By UnknownVTVerified Reviewer from Georgia on 10/26/2010
Pros:
Easy to Use, Great Picture Quality, Great Sound, Zoom range/performance
Cons:
Limited Zoom, Poor Still Image
Best Uses:
Documentaries, HD Shooting, Home Movies, Travel
Describe Yourself:
Video Enthusiast
Was this a gift?:
No
Bottom Line:
Yes, I would recommend this to a friend

Comments about Kodak Kodak Zi8 5 Megapixel Pocket Video Camera w/4x Digital Zoom, Image Stabilization, Black - Refurbished by Kodak:

Both the Kodak Zi8 and Zi6 have had early problems -like seizing up and over-heating, whiny internal mic recordings -so there are quite a few re-certified refurbished ones available -so that's both bad and good news.Even when buying a Kodak re-certified/refurbished unit -one can still get a faulty one - I did -[...] -with my previous experience I was able to thoroughly test this one, and it works just fine.Now to the Zi8 (being Kodak refurbished it has the latest firmware 1.06) -the video quality is really good even compared to the already good Zi6 - I can see a marked improvement over the Zi6's I have tried - the videos from the Zi8 look sharper and the colors looks really good - in fact I would go as far to say that the video quality looks as good as from any consumer camcorder I have seen. Of course $700 camcorders will have much more flexibility with more and real optical zoom range better image stabilization - but they cost 6-10x as much and they are not pocketable.Most reviews will say the digital zoom is pretty poor - I have actually found the digital zoom surprisingly good all the way up to 4x - even with nose-to-monitor scrutiny - I was really surprised at this since I do a lot of photography and the first thing one learns is not to use any digital zoom - I can't explain this but the digital zoom on the Zi8 is good - more than just usable (note: I record at mainly 720p/30fps).The macro ability is also really good - the depth of field is shallow - so the trick is to set macro make sure the subject is in focus BEFORE starting the recording.That brings us to the LCD screen - it is high definition and sharp compared to other screens I have seen on the competition - so it is easy to see if the subject is in focus and whether the picture/scene looks good - although like any other LCD screen it will be hard to see in sunlight.One of the good features of the Zi8 is the ability to connect a stereo external mic - I have a pair of really good portable stereo mic's that I used for live music recording and the sound quality can be very good indeed -however I have found the internal mic although mono - can actually give pretty decent sound quality - there is a mic level adjustment under settings and the default middle setting seems to work really well - I recorded a big band with vocalist and the sound quality was very good.EIS (stabilization) does work - but obviously cannot cope with gross movement.It seems to work better at the normal wide-end, and less so when zoomed - but then when zoomed it is more sensitive to movement anyway.On my tests I got about 1hr 38mins on a full charge of the battery and at 720p/30fps I ended up with two files one at 2Gb (for 1hr 34mins) and the other at about 86Mb - so there is a limit of 2Gb file-size (due to I think the FAT32 format of the SDHC card) and for me the rate was just over 21Mb/minute.Note on video resolution -obviously the big selling point of the Zi8 is the ability to record full HD at 1080p - that's 1920x1080 - for me it's overkill -the 720p looks as good and the view is a bit wider and it has the ability to record at 60fps which is better for motion.But I'd like to point out that there is a WVGA setting which is not just the usual 640x480 - but 848x480 - that's really 480p wide-screen (16:9) format - this is actually really good for videos destined for standard DVDs - since DVD specifications are only 720x480 - so the Kodak Zi8 even on WVGA can produce videos good enough for standard DVDs.Stills - strictly for emergencies only - the stills at the normal wide end look just acceptable - but if the digital zoom is used then the still look very poor.Overall I like the Zi8 a lot it's a lot better than I expected in terms of video quality -that is if one gets a good one......However since the product is now more mature -hopefully this is not as uncertain as it may sound.[...]

 
Worst refurbished item I have bought
By qfVerified Reviewer from iowa city, ia on 10/12/2010
Bottom Line:
No, I would not recommend this to a friend

Comments about Kodak Kodak Zi8 5 Megapixel Pocket Video Camera w/4x Digital Zoom, Image Stabilization, Black - Refurbished by Kodak:

I understand this is a refurbished item, but actually it is a beaten down used item with scratches all over the body AND lens!!

 
A nice surprise
By FelipeVerified Purchaser from El Paso, TX on 10/10/2010
Pros:
Easy to Use, Good Image Stabilization, Great Picture Quality, Great Sound, Large Clear LCD
Cons:
Limited Zoom, Poor In Low Light
Best Uses:
Documentaries, HD Shooting, Home Movies, Movies/Short Films, Travel, Weddings/Events
Describe Yourself:
Video Enthusiast
Was this a gift?:
No
Bottom Line:
Yes, I would recommend this to a friend

Comments about Kodak Kodak Zi8 5 Megapixel Pocket Video Camera w/4x Digital Zoom, Image Stabilization, Black - Refurbished by Kodak:

I bought this camera so that I could film my bike trip around town, and the HD quality is way better than what I expected! Great features at a great price it's a no-brainer.

 
A OK
By KAPUNAVerified Purchaser from PACIFIC NORTHWEST on 10/10/2010
Pros:
Easy to Use, Good Image Stabilization, Great Picture Quality, Large Clear LCD
Cons:
Poor In Low Light
Best Uses:
Home Movies, Movies/Short Films, Travel
Describe Yourself:
Video Enthusiast
Was this a gift?:
No
Bottom Line:
Yes, I would recommend this to a friend

Comments about Kodak Kodak Zi8 5 Megapixel Pocket Video Camera w/4x Digital Zoom, Image Stabilization, Black - Refurbished by Kodak:

NONE

 
A very useful gadget for travel
By DenisVerified Purchaser from Toronto on 8/9/2010
Pros:
Easy to Use, Good Image Stabilization, Great Picture Quality, Large Clear LCD
Cons:
Limited Zoom, Poorly positioned mike
Best Uses:
Travel
Describe Yourself:
Video Enthusiast
Bottom Line:
Yes, I would recommend this to a friend

Comments about Kodak Kodak Zi8 5 Megapixel Pocket Video Camera w/4x Digital Zoom, Image Stabilization, Black - Refurbished by Kodak:

Excellent little gizmo, very good for occasional little movies. I found it very useful on scenic drives; holding it steady on the wheel it films the scenery ahead. The only improvement would be to move the microphone from the actual position, where it tends to be covered by the hand holding the video camera.[...]

[1 of 1 customers found this review helpful]

 
Not so sure about refurbished
By [@]Verified Reviewer from Tampa, Fl on 5/17/2010
Pros:
Easy To Use, Lightweight
Cons:
Trouble with Refurb
Describe Yourself:
Aspiring Film Maker, Parent

Comments about Kodak Kodak Zi8 5 Megapixel Pocket Video Camera w/4x Digital Zoom, Image Stabilization, Black - Refurbished by Kodak:

I bought the refurb, and the on/off button on mine doesn't work out of the box.

[3 of 3 customers found this review helpful]

 
Doesn't work
By LarryVerified Purchaser from Indiana on 4/12/2010
Pros:
Lightweight
Cons:
Shuts down after 3 minute
Describe Yourself:
Tech Savvy
Bottom Line:
No, I would not recommend this to a friend

Comments about Kodak Kodak Zi8 5 Megapixel Pocket Video Camera w/4x Digital Zoom, Image Stabilization, Black - Refurbished by Kodak:

an OEM refurbished item.Returned.[...]

 
great, easy purchase - great deal
By nykerVerified Purchaser from nyc on 4/11/2010
Pros:
Easy To Use, Lightweight
Best Uses:
Home Movies, Shooting Indoors, Travel
Describe Yourself:
Film Professional, Tech Savvy

Comments about Kodak Kodak Zi8 5 Megapixel Pocket Video Camera w/4x Digital Zoom, Image Stabilization, Black - Refurbished by Kodak:

not the best in low light but great buy - fun to use

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