Read real customer reviews of the Kodak Playsport Zx5 Pocket Camcorder here.
Kodak made sure it could make these claims by complying with international standards for dust, shock and waterproofing. The Zx5 can be dropped from as much as five feet (1.5m) without any structural or operational damage, although some drop tests have left marks on the exterior. These same tests confirmed that the two doors over the ports and memory slot remain locked. Despite the holding power of the door switches, they were deemed to be a bit weaker than comparable Panasonic models, such as the SDR-SW20. The Zx5 has the same water-depth maximum as the Zx3, which is a bit more than nine feet (3m).
Even with its dustproof and shockproof upgrades, the Kodak Zx5 is still not built to withstand extreme sports and activities. In other words, you can take it on a hike and to the beach, but probably not whitewater kayaking or free climbing. For some unexplainable reasons, Kodak engineers couldn’t design the Zx5 to be more durable without making the battery permanent. It can’t be replaced, except by buying a new camcorder.
The Kodak Playsport Zx5 Pocket Camcorder is equipped with the same 5-megapixel CMOS sensor found in the Zx3; however, the one in the Zx5 is a bit smaller at 1/3.2 in., compared to the Zx3’s 1/2.5 in. This difference is noticeable in low-light conditions. The Zx5 offers all of the recording modes of the Zx3: 1080p full-HD captured at 30 frames/sec, 720p at 30 or 60 frames/sec, and WVGA at 30 frames/sec. The last mode is a widescreen version of VGA, with a resolution of 848 x 480 pixels. Still photos can also be shot at 5.3 mega-pixels.
Memory is a bit of a problem on the Zx5. Virtually all of the 128MB of memory is required for the built-in software, so the remaining 20MB is insufficient for shooting video. The only option is to rely on the SD memory card slot, which is only compatible with SDHC, and not the newer SDXC format. Top capacity, therefore, is only 32GB, which will provide approximately 13 hours of shooting at 1080p video mode. The zoom is a meager 4x, but the underwater color-correction filter does help to record proper color when shooting underwater. Although the Zx5 is designed with image stabilization, it is not as good as it could be given the recent advances in IS technology for top-quality camcorders. Some of these improvements should have appeared in economy models by now.
The Kodak Playsport Zx5 Pocket Camcorder is also touted to have Internet connectivity. This is true to a point. Since waterproofing took precedence over most other features, the Zx5 does not have a full-sized USB plug; therefore, a separate cable is required to connect the camcorder to a computer. Then, you can choose either of the two apps (PC only, no Mac support) and use the Share button on the camcorder to upload your video to various social sites. Limited editing can be performed of on-camera video; however, the Zx5 includes a special Kodak version of Arcsoft’s Media Impression, which allows for more editing options on a computer.
From one point of view, the Kodak Playsport Zx5 is a significant step forward over the Zx3 because the Zx5 is fully compliant with dustproof and shockproof criteria. From another point of view, it doesn’t offer any upgraded features or capabilities from the Zx3, but the Zx5 costs approximately $30 to $50 more. The Zx3 delivers plenty of value for you money, in fact, more than the Zx5. The important factor when deciding which to buy is under what exact conditions will you use a pocket camcorder. If you participate in many semi-extreme sports and activities, then the Zx5 is worth the extra cost. If, however, most of your activities are casual or family-related, then the Zx3 is a better value.