I'm FLIPpin' out!

Jill started this discussion · 1/18/2010

So I just got a Flip Mino HD, and I love it, so easy to use and great video quality. However, one major problem is the small lens! Even if I set it up (w/ a tripod) far across the room I can only get half the pole in. So I can either film me at the top of the pole and I disappear when doing floor work, or I can get my floor work but climb right out of the video when at the top of the pole! 😈 I haven't found a wide angle lens for Flip, but I know I've seen other dancers' videos filmed on a Flip and there doesn't seem to be this problem. Am I doing something wrong? Has anyone else experienced this setback w/ a Flip, or know how to overcome it? Thanks!

16 replies

loopielou · 1/19/2010
Hi there I got a Flip Ultra for Christmas and I'm having the same problem - I think I would have to put mine halfway up the road to get the full view of the pole on it. I turned mine on it's side to film me which helped a little, but now I can't work out how to turn the picture back round on my computer! lol I think I must be abit of a techy-phobe because the software seems quite laboured. Do people have any tips as to the best way to use the camera? i.e. should I film a whole hour and then try to edit it or should I film little bits at a time?
Sabrina · 1/19/2010
hey there - I feel your pain - I love the flip but also have to put it in the crack corner of the room to get the pole in view and barely, at that - I, too, turned it on its side and apparently there is no way to rotate it back up (I contacted Flip and they told me so) so I put it in iMovie, but when you rotate it, it will only rotate to horizontal rectangle..grr!! the best solution for me has been to put it in the far corner of the room and angle it up a bit so I get more of the upper than the lower part of the pole - it's worked ok but I agree it is a little frustrating!! 🤔 Good luck.
minicoopergrl · 1/19/2010
the best solution for me has been to put it in the far corner of the room and angle it up a bit so I get more of the upper than the lower part of the pole - it's worked ok but I agree it is a little frustrating!! 🤔 Good luck. this was my first thought. I dont use a flip, I guess you can say im from the old school. 😉 The only downside if backing up the camera so you can see more it there wont be any close ups. This video im doing for Jan im using 2 camcorders and tripods so I acutally have to edit it. @ Loopielou - what I do when i film is I pick a song every month and coreragraph a routine to it. I try to do different things to show my progression. Some film for a while and then edit clips together and add music.
Sabrina · 1/19/2010
I just put up my first video last night (eep!) so you can see how close up you get - it's not super far away, it's just that the Flip doesn't come with a wide angle lens.. wow - 2 cameras - fancy!!! that's awesome
minicoopergrl · 1/19/2010
wow - 2 cameras - fancy!!! that's awesome I went to school for TV production. Im a total AV nerd! Editing is one of my loves and the 2 cameras is going to make me challenge myself since I can edit my pole videos in 40min or less - wow im like Dominoes!
loopielou · 1/19/2010
Sabrina - is all the fancy film effect stuff on your video done with the Flip software or something else?
Sabrina · 1/19/2010
hey loopie - the editing is all iMovie on the iMac - it was sooo much fun!! It's not perfect, but decent for not knowing what the heck I'm doing quite yet hehe. Can't wait to do it again. I just became the proud owner of a Mac at Christmas and can't get enough of it 😉
loopielou · 1/19/2010
Aaaaaaaaaaaaah - I need to catch up with this Mac thing - I'm a PC 🙂
minicoopergrl · 1/19/2010
Im a PC girl too, Windows Movie Maker is pretty simple to use. But to me Mac it much more user friendly and doesnt ask for permission everytime you want to do something (I want to stab vista in the eye!) I have a mac but its ancient, I have imovie but never played w/it.
Jill · 1/19/2010
Thanks for the responses! You know I just watched my vids on my computer and they are much more close-up than I thought, so moving the camera farther away will work much better than I thought. Only problem is that I live in a one-bedroom apartment and don't have much space to work with 😠 Well at least I'm not the only one... 🙂
minicoopergrl · 1/22/2010
do they make a tripod for flip? That would help as well.
freakiel · 1/22/2010
tripod -> http://www.amazon.com/Flip-Tripod-Ultra-Mino-Camcorders/dp/B000VJRUKS instructions on how to make your flip usable with a wide lens -> http://www.jeremyflint.com/flip-minohd-wide-angle-lens-hack/
amazon.comAmazonAmazon
verucablue · 1/22/2010
tripod -> http://www.amazon.com/Flip-Tripod-Ultra-Mino-Camcorders/dp/B000VJRUKS instructions on how to make your flip usable with a wide lens -> http://www.jeremyflint.com/flip-minohd-wide-angle-lens-hack/ wow so cool thanks for the lens link!
amazon.comAmazonAmazon
loopielou · 1/22/2010
do they make a tripod for flip? That would help as well. They do make a little bendy one that you screw into the bottom of it as hubby got me one for Christmas 🙂
Jill · 1/22/2010
Thanks for the info and helpful links!! 😀 😀
Webmaster · 1/22/2010
The Flip has a standard mounting connection on the bottom. You can attach it to any standard tripod on the market. Veena has put hers on everything from our standard video mount to our mini tripods.