Flip Video Camcorder Review

I bought this item thinking "I'll use it all the time."  I've thought this before about other products and then they end up deep in my closet somewhere.  Surprisingly enough, I AM using my Flip Ultra a lot.  It is light and portable so I keep it in my purse with me all the time just in case a cute moment comes up.  The on-board software makes making movies and transferring them to DVD or online a breeze.  There is no light on the camera, but so far I have not found that to be a problem.  It only has 2x zoom, so shooting from across the room can be a bit difficult if you want close-up shots. 

Flip Ultra's are available in 30 and 60 minute recording length versions.  I opted for the 60 minute one and found it for $116 on Amazon.com.  The camera case that comes with it worried me a bit in its ability to protect it from other hazards in my purse so I quickly purchased another one.  The real difference between the Flip Ultra and the Flip Mino is the type of battery in it.  I have used my Flip Ultra's original batteries to record more than 2 hours of footage so far, and there is no indication that the batteries will die soon.  I plan to use rechargeable batteries in it to help the environment, and I like the idea that if the batteries fail unexpectedly I can easily find some AAs to throw in them when I'm out and about.