KODAK PLAYTOUCH Pro Reviews

As the next generation after the widely acclaimed Zi8 pocket recorder, the PlayTouch, also known as the Zi10, had some excellent features, but our hands-on review lead us to give it a big “Thumbs Down.” In the case of this Kodak PlayTouch camera, however, we felt obliged to list one of the weak points in bold – Poor Build Quality. The camera case was so poorly manufactured that it interfered with the normal functioning of the camera. The touchscreen was unresponsive at times, which became increasingly evident as our review continued. Because of this, in spite of its positive features, we cannot recommend this camera.

The Kodak PlayTouch would be a great pocket camcorder if not for two major issues: the video quality and the limits imposed on the display. I'll give Kodak a pass for the thin-plastic build as it is probably a tradeoff for the PlayTouch's light weight. Overall however, I have to say the PlayTouch is a misfire for Kodak, but one that could easily be fixed with a tweak to the display function and a return to PlaySport video quality.

Mediocre video quality and a couple design issues keep the Kodak PlayTouch from being a top-notch minicamcorder.

At $199, the Kodak Playtouch is an easy-to-use, pocket-friendly camera with some compelling features. The Share option and the ability to edit video directly on the device mean you can have your images up on Facebook and Twitter in no time--provided you can plug the camera into a notebook. The camera captured motion well, but the Playtouch delivered less-than-bright colors. Ultimately, the Playtouch is a handy device for those who love sharing videos just as much as they enjoy taking them, but Flip's cameras offer better video quality.

The concept of a pocket video camera is very appealing, and the PlayTouch Zi10's list of features is right up to scratch. Unfortunately, the same can't be said for its video quality, which is way off what you'd expect from even a basic handheld camcorder. You might be better putting the money towards a new video-enabled phone.

An excellent pocket video camera, though the touchscreen puts the price up a bit too much.

The Kodak Playtouch makes the right moves, but doesn’t delight with the final results. The Full HD video capture lacks the impact we really want and there are various compromises along the way. The focusing switch offers macro potential, but we’d prefer the simplicity of autofocus. The audio is poor from the built-in mic, but the external mic option is a real positive. But the biggest disappointment is in the use of the screen. Kodak set out on the right course, but then fall at the first hurdle. We want to film and see all the action, as it happens, on the large screen. That means flipping the device into landscape, something it won’t let you do. Something of a mixed bag, the Kodak Playtouch offers a heavy dose of pros and cons. The touch interface doesn’t seem worth it given that the screen isn’t put to best use and the quality isn’t quite good enough, especially at the £200 mark.