So after a few weeks playing with the Kodak Zi8, I have found some new issues that prevent me from recommending it 100%. While the issues are nothing too major, and they might be fixed in upcoming firmware from Kodak, I still want to inform my audience.
First lets start off with the good.. Yes Kodak fixed the zoom in their latest 1.05 firmware (it wasn’t a smooth zoom, but a sluggish zoom stop zoom stop motion). But I have found that in low light, during zoom it blacks out the picture.
Sample Here:
Now one user on youtube said that issue always existed for them, but I never noticed it before, so who knows.
Next a new problem I have found is 1080P jitters. Notice on the bottom of the following video around the 7:30 mark the reviewer even talks about it.
Next up is the most obvious, and annoying bug I have been experiencing. In low light using 780p formats I have noticed slight vertical lines. Sometimes these lines are more noticeable then others. This is actually the one issue that might make me return my unit. Here is a sample photo taken from a discussion about the subject on Amazon’s forums.
The photo on the left is 1080p and the right is 720p with the vertical lines.
Hopefully Kodak is going to fix these problems with a firmware update as they did with the annoying zoom problem. They so far have been on top of things, so I will give them some time before I look into returning or selling my Kodak Zi8.
Amazon Kodak Zi8 Discussion Forum
My Original Review
BUY NOW!
Amazon: http://tinyurl.com/y8wjpet
Generic Battery for Zi8: http://tinyurl.com/y8htmjx
[...] VIDEOS Oct 01 Kodak Zi8 Review (Flip Killer) By redbanAdd commentsMOBLOG EDIT OCt 19, 2009 I have updated my review with some new info here: Kodak Zi8 Review Update! [...]
Kodak has an updated firmware 1.06.
It mentions fixing some video quality and low light issues.
Can you update us if this latest November release fixes everything
I notice that the on/off switch LED still glows a tiny bit when the Zi8 is off. Look at it in a dark room. I even wrote a blog on it. Is this normal?
http://botsmaker.blogspot.com/2009_11_01_archive.html
I need to update from 1.3 to 1.6 for zi8. I have done everything the kodak website has said to do, but I can not get it to update.
Can anyone help please?
Thank you for your great reviews. Could you please tell us if those problems with the zoom and the vertical lines have been completely corrected in the version sold today (january 2010)? Thank you very much in advance for your answer.
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