Flip Mino HD

Lightweight shooter

Product

Flip Mino HD

Promise

A shoot-and-share pocket video camera that films in HD and plugs straight into your computer's USB port with a built-in plug - so no scrabbling round with knotted cables at the back of the drawer.

Performance

Around the same size as a mobile phone - though probably 50g or so lighter - the Flip HD is a true pocket camera. For the outdoors type, that's a great thing. It's also, luckily, a doddle to use. One-touch recording, backed up by six more touch-sensitive pads on the back, means you won't get muddled when negotiating the simple menus. When you're finished shooting and get back home, a click reveals a the USB plug that transfers your contents straight on to your computer desktop as QuickTime files. Once you're plugged in you can also use the built-in FlipShare software to organise, edit and upload movies to YouTube and MySpace.

Verdict

A great combination of lightness, ease of use and startlingly good picture quality. The HD playback isn't grainy or pixellated even when viewed in full screen on a laptop, and the light adjustment while shooting is fast enough so you're not lost in a fog every time you scan past a bright spot.