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Real Estate Video - Kodak Zi8 full review

By
Services for Real Estate Pros with HDhat.com
Nothing is simpler for a real estate agent to add to their real estate marketing than video!

The Kodak Zi8 is the perfect camera for the real estate agent looking to begin using video as part of their real estate marketing program.

ADDING A WIDE ANGLE LENS TO THE KODAK Zi8

Out of the box the Kodak Zi8 does not shoot very wide video so a simple modification can be quickly performed.
The videos below detail how to attach the Sunpak .5x(HDhat.com recommended lens) and the Sunpak .45x magnetic lens.
Video 1 also reviews a bit of the camera and some of the Zi8's simple settings.
We also recommend an inexpensive video stabilizer bar such as that offered by http://www.videostabilizerbar.com which helps to eliminate some of the natural twisting of the arm & wrist that is common when using an ultra compact camera like the Zi8 or Flips.

VIDEO 1
This video details how to attach the Sunpak .5x wide angle lens to your Kodak Zi8 and also goes over some of the cameras basic features and settings. The end of the video features a short clip of a real estate video tour shot using the Zi8 with the .5x lens.

This video was produced by HDhat.com full article on TechSavvyAgent.com

VIDEO 2
This video details how to attach the Sunpak .45x magnetic wide angle lens to your Kodak Zi8. The end of the video features a short clip of a real estate video tour shot using the Zi8 with the .45x lens.

This video was produced by HDhat.com full article on TechSavvyAgent.com

Kodak Zi8 - Real Estate Video Camera

Pros:
*Incredibly simple to operate
*Inexpensive
*Quality video results when lighting is sufficient
*Respectable video quality in lowlight
*External mic jack for interviews and profile videos
*HDMI port
*Removeable SD storage card
*Removeable/replaceable battery
*EIS - Electronic Image Stabilization - this cuts down on "twitches" that are common in many of the other compacts.
*Simple USB transfer and easy to use plug/play software that facilitates basic editing and transfer to Youtube and Facebook

Cons:
*Lack of manual settings for exposure.
*Software is simple but not that powerful

PHOTO GALLERY - .5x Sunpak Wide Angle lens samples
The photos below were taken with the Kodak Zi8 using the .5x wide angle lens. You'll notice far less vignetting and higher clarity with this lens vs the .45x lens. The .5x takes a little more effort to attach and modification is more apparent but it is the HDhat.com recommended solution for a wide angle lens for the Kodak Zi8.




PHOTO GALLERY - .45x Sunpak Magetic Wide Angle lens samples
The photos below were taken with the Kodak Zi8 using the .45x wide angle lens. There is noticeable vignetting with this lens. The .45x is very easy to attach and the modification is not very apparent once complete. However, the magnetic attachment does release fairly easily and could very easily result in lens breakage.



HOW TO FILM A REAL ESTATE VIDEO TOUR by HDhat.com



Additional real estate video tips at: http://techsavvyagent.com/video/real-estate-video-tips-hdhat-com/

Show All Comments
Patrick White
Home Driven Realty, Inc - Baldwin, NY
Driven to bring New Yorkers home

Good Morning Mark,

Thanks for the valuable information. Have a great day.

Jul 08, 2010 10:25 PM
Randy Ostrander
Lake and Lodge Realty LLC - Big Rapids, MI
Real Estate Broker, Serving Big Rapids and West Central MI

Looks like the perfect set up for virtual tours. Thanks Mark.

Jul 08, 2010 10:26 PM
Fernando Herboso - Associate Broker MD, & VA
Maxus Realty Group of Samson Properties - Clarksburg, MD
301-246-0001 Serving Maryland, DC and Northern VA

Great  tips, thanks for sharing them, I will consider purchasing one.

Jul 08, 2010 11:02 PM
Mark Passerby
HDhat.com - Lansing, MI
HDhat.com - 517-896-4376

Glad they were useful.  It certainly is a great camera for the price.  I have a full tour shot with the Zi8 using the .45x magnetic lens here http://www.hdhat.com/tour-examples/kodak-zi8-vs-sony-hx1-hx-1-side.html

Also I will have a full review of the Sony HX-1 and how to use all the settings etc. on Monday.  The HX-1 is about $400 and an extra $100 for a wide angle lens, but as you will see in the review it has alot of unique and cool features. 

Mark

Jul 09, 2010 05:03 AM
Kim McAllister
Eastman Kodak Company - Rochester, NY
Kodak Real Estate Solutions

Awesome page Mark!  Thanks for the review!

Oct 25, 2010 05:12 AM
Sidney Kutchuk
Property Management & Sales at REALTY WORKS TEMECULA, CA 92590 (951) 217-6745 - Temecula, CA
Property Management & Sales Experts 951-217-6745

Great post,I can tell you put a lot of work into it.
I found this post by searching Zi8 as I am about to buy one and wanted to read up on it.

FYI-the link in your last reply is dead.

Nov 11, 2010 04:30 PM
Mark Passerby
HDhat.com - Lansing, MI
HDhat.com - 517-896-4376

Thanks Sidney,

Fixed that link to redirect to the right video....we moved servers and changed our main http://www.hdhat.com so some links were lost :)  Be sure to check out our Broker Plan we are signing up alot of new Brokers each week. 

We will have the Kodak Zi8 full video tour kit on our site hopefully by tomorrow evening in the Store.

Mark Passerby, HDhat.com

Nov 11, 2010 04:53 PM
Sidney Kutchuk
Property Management & Sales at REALTY WORKS TEMECULA, CA 92590 (951) 217-6745 - Temecula, CA
Property Management & Sales Experts 951-217-6745

Mark,

I went out to Best Buy to buy my Zi8 and they no longer carried it.
I ended up purchasing a Zi10 and have started using it for my Short Sale Video's.

This camera does not look like it can take the wide angle adapter's you talk about,but it does have 
a good wide angel out of the box. I also purchased a wireless external mic that works great with it at
Radio shack for $50.00.

Nov 25, 2010 02:27 PM
Mark Passerby
HDhat.com - Lansing, MI
HDhat.com - 517-896-4376

Hi Sidney,

We sell the full Zi8 kit with wide angle lens installed at http://www.hdhat.com/store.html  

What is the name of the wireless mic? I haven't seen wireless for $50. 

In 1080p your zi10/Playtouch is shooting at 44mm in 720 mode it is shooting at 36mm.

the zi8 shoots at 61mm in 1080p and in 720 is shooting at 46mm but with the .5x lens the zi8 shoots a real nice width of 23mm in 720p.

I can add a lens to the zi10 but most likely won't have it on the site for another week or two as a full modified kit.  I can go over then the method of adding the lens albeit it may take a bit of cutting of one of the parts in order for us to get a proper fit.

Mark

Nov 26, 2010 08:59 AM
Sidney Kutchuk
Property Management & Sales at REALTY WORKS TEMECULA, CA 92590 (951) 217-6745 - Temecula, CA
Property Management & Sales Experts 951-217-6745

Mark,

I tried the audio-technica Lavalier mic and I could not get a good audio from it with my Zi10.

I purchase a wireless  lapel mic system from radio shack for $49.00 and it works great.
Radio Shack#3201257 wireless 200' range,complete system just add 2 aa batteries.


For what I am doing so far the camera wide angle is good enough. 
So far this camera is shooting great video for me.

Dec 07, 2010 04:25 PM
Mark Passerby
HDhat.com - Lansing, MI
HDhat.com - 517-896-4376

I just got mine(Playtouch/Zi10) in but haven't plugged the Audio Technica mic in yet I will have the wide angle lens kit on the site hopefully this weekend and the way I intend to design it it won't require any camera modification and my tests so far are fantastic wide video.  We have several other good tutorials filmed just need to find some time for our staff to get them put together.
We are moving into a new much larger office with a full green wall so lots more tutorial and cool stuff planned.

The wireless mic you mentioned is here but looks like it is sold out online right now http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2131022 that is a great buy on a wireless mic for sure I will add a link on our site to that.

Mark

 

Dec 07, 2010 04:37 PM
Sidney Kutchuk
Property Management & Sales at REALTY WORKS TEMECULA, CA 92590 (951) 217-6745 - Temecula, CA
Property Management & Sales Experts 951-217-6745

Mark,

Let me know if your Playtouch works with your Audio Technica mic. I need to know if mine is defective or its just not a good match with the Playtouch camera. ( I did buy a new battery and that did not help)

The link you posted is the wireless mic I purchased and it sounds great with the Zi10.
Three items not included that I needed to make this combo work are,Mic adapter,mic cord and batteries.
The mic adapter that came with my Audio Technica works fine with this wireless system. 

Here is a link to my video blog I made today using the wireless mic with my Zi10.

http://activerain.com/blogsview/2008671/my-short-sale-check-list

Dec 07, 2010 05:11 PM
Mark Passerby
HDhat.com - Lansing, MI
HDhat.com - 517-896-4376

The Audio Technica Mic works great with my Zi10 maybe you can try to update the firmware on yours.  Also I have the wide angle lens finished and may get it on the site tonite. 

Mark

Dec 12, 2010 12:22 PM
Paul Gapski
Berkshire Hathaway / Prudential Ca Realty - El Cajon, CA
619-504-8999,#1 Resource SD Relo

do u like them better than the iphone 4 or the hd flip video. My iphone so far is amazing except for long distance vids or lighting issues.

Jun 09, 2011 05:43 PM
Mark Passerby
HDhat.com - Lansing, MI
HDhat.com - 517-896-4376

Paul, I am a big fan now of the Iphone 4 and the new IOS 5 will do some updates to the Iphone 4 camera which will really help out i.e. focus lock and exposure lock.  Then you will be able to double tap a darker area in a room and camera will adjust to film brighter and 'lock' at that setting.

We(HDhat.com) makes a wide angle lens case with dual tripod mounts and a VLOG mirror.  I also really like the Ipad 2 i.e. we make a wide angle for that which lets it shoot even wider than the Iphone4 with wide angle.  I will be shooting a nice tour this weekend with the Ipad 2 and will link it up in my AR blog.

We will also have a new camera in the store next week that shoots 17mm video and 16meg stills and fits in your shirt pocket....incredible bright video and stunning still photos. 

Mark Passerby

 

Jun 09, 2011 06:20 PM
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