I've always wanted a video camera but frankly never really felt I could justify the cost.
Further, as I have a bulky camera, adding a video camera to what I cart around just isn't practical at all.

Yet across the years, from the mundane to the glamorous there have been events that on looking back I had wished they had been caught on film.
A day trip to LegoLand, a Burlesque Ball, a friends birthday were we gathered and friends sang together for the night, Christmas with my parents where I wish I had just been able to pop a camera on a tripod and record the entire event, the laughter, the warmth and edit it later so it could keep me company.
A video diary of friends currently going through the expensive IVF process, their hopes, their joys, the love they have for each other and so desperately want to give to a child.
Walking along a beach in Ibiza as the sun set across a warm summers evening, the sea darkening with the night and the moon casting her watchful eye, dancing lightly on the water.

All these I have as still photographs but to capture conversations, to capture the voices raised in laughter, these things only my mind has. Until now. Two weeks ago I was sent the Flip Ultra. Take a packet of cigarettes and pretend it is plasticine. Bash in the sides a bit and stretch the top. Voila, that is the tiny size of the Flip Ultra. Pop in two AA batteries, flick a switch and ta dah! life is recorded and remembered. It is that simple.

There is a zoom facility that surprised me with its smoothness. I remember reading once that you should try not to use it too much as it can make for difficult re-watching but like the amateur I was, I was so tickled by my friends expressions as they talked and laughed amongst themselves that I couldn't help but try and capture it more closely.
For an hour, stopping and starting I recorded an evening happily, delighted with how the camera dealt with the low light (we dropped to candles only)

There is a tripod connector built in and I could have used it but I was having too much fun.
One friend challenged me, seeing the red light on the front of the device and I sneakily told her that when it turned to green it meant I was recording. She relaxed at my lie.

The next day I looked to the editing functions.
The FlipUltra has a built in USB connector – flip a switch and it springs out allowing you to instantly connect it to any PC or Laptop.
Very basic software in also included so if you've only minimal editing, you can upload to the likes of youtube almost instantly.
I wanted to do a little more but the system directed me to a program that cost money so I backed off and tried to make sense of Windows Movie Maker.
Needless to say the Flip Video clips imported effortlessly.

I have been hugely impressed with the Flip Ultra and it has gone down on my "Wish List" for Christmas.
Basic but highly effective, it is the perfect handbag accessory and I wonder how I managed without it previously (always a sign of a good gadget!)

The tech details can be found here but perhaps what is important for you to know right off the bat is that it will record for up to an hour with its memory capacity (2GB)
Standard AA batteries will last for about 2hrs and Energizer batteries will give you about 5 hrs of use.

One thing to be aware of is that if you intend to use it with Windows Vista, it is recommended that you have 2GB of RAM.

It is compatible with Macs (of course!)

It has an auto battery save function and you can set the time and date – which is ridiculously easy, says I recalling several "argh" moments with cameras across the years.

Speakers and microphone are built in but I found that it recorded sound better from the front of the camera – a tiny bit frustrating when I assumed my David Bellamy persona and opted to narrate the event, whilst filming.

Overall a great little device and definitely one for the Christmas list for people who like to record life.

Within the next day or two there will also be a review on the slimmer and more function loaded Flip Mino, the 'big sister' to the Flip Ultra but for now, the Flip Ultra definitely has its place on the TakTik Bitch "Tik" list.

Available from a variety of online & high street retailers for £99.99
For more information check out www.flipvideo.co.uk.

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