Excellent 720p HD Camcorder, takes AA batteries

Author's Rating:

Pros: Well built, 3 video modes, takes AA batteries

Cons: Poor in low light, only 128mb internal memory, bit bulky for pocket

The Bottom Line: 
The ZX1 would suit families, considering its a weather-resistant design, making this better equipped for a camcorder you'd take to the beach or ski slope.

Author's Review
I have found Kodak's budget Camcorder to be reliable and user friendly. If you use AA Alkaline batteries, expect only 1 hour of recording time. I have found that Duracell 2650mah NiMH rechargeables are better and you will get up to 2 hours of video recording.

Care is required not to scratch the lens, as no lens cover is provided and I always use a soft purse for protection. Records in MOV format (large files) and MP4 would be preferable, as these are smaller in size and compatible with YouTube. The Zx1 records in 3 different video modes, HD60 - 720p at 60fps. HD - 720p at 30fps and VGA - 640x480.

No SDHC card is included in the box, so you will need to add the cost of a decent capacity SDHC card to the Zx1's selling price .There's no optical zoom, with 2x digital zoom  and it is useless and gives a jerky video motion. The color and white balance is good if there is excellent lighting, but is poor and grainy in low light conditions.

Conclusion
Considering the Zx1 is Kodak's budget model, if you want to do a lot of outdoor shooting and need a compact video camera, it does the job admirably. It may take time to come to grip with the controls and there is a learning curve, but considering the asking price (now around $80), I consider it to be good value.