Gift Ideas for Christmas VII

Kodak Zi6, $180 Eastman Kodak Co.'s Zi6 camcorder is a step up from the Flip Mino in video quality and recording options. But at the size of a chunky smart phone, it may turn off users who value a sleeker form. The Zi6 has a large preview screen, and while this made it easier to play back videos, the picture was not as sharp as on other models we tested. Pros: You can film in high definition (1280 by 720 pixels at 30 frames per second) and the resulting footage is crisp when viewed on a full screen. The Zi6 will also power down after sitting idle for a few minutes, which should cut down on the time you spend recharging. Cons: The Zi6 doesn't have a built-in battery, and comes with rechargeable AA batteries and a charger instead. This seemed passe. Also, our tester had issues with some black pixel-sized spots on the screen that were most visible when filming bright colors.