First, the physical size of the units look similar, but when placed next to each other, the Playsport is definitely the more compact camera. The official Kodak specs put the Zi8 at 2.4x4.5x0.9 inches and the Playsport at 2.3x4.4x0.8 inches. While this seems pretty close, the rounded corners of the Playsport actually make for a much more compact device. The Playsport is slightly heavier than the Zi8 at 128g vs 110g. The screen size is another big difference between the two devices. The Zi8 has a 2.5 inch screen, while the Playsport has a 2.0 inch screen. When placed next to each other, you can definitely see a big difference in screen size.
The controls on the devices are the same, but they are laid out a bit differently. They both have four control buttons (Settings, Delete, Play, and Record) and a directional pad. On the Zi8, the controls are laid out from left to right (Settings, Delete, Directional Pad, Record, Play). On the Playsport, the four control buttons are on the left from top to bottom (Record, Play, Delete, Settings) with the directional pad to the right of the four buttons.
Only the Zi8 has macro mode. If you will be taking a lot of close-ups videos, you'll want to choose the Zi8 over the Playsport. Note that macro mode is engaged on the Zi8 by a physical switch. If macro mode is turned on while you are recording, an audible click will be heard on the video. Both cameras have the exact same recording modes. You have five different options (1080p, 720P, 720P (60FPS), WVGA, and 5.3MP still photo). The lens is the same on both models, so expect very similar picture quality.
The Playsport doesn't have an external microphone port, but the Zi8 does. If you'll be taking a lot of indoor videos of yourself for your website, you may want to opt for the Zi8 as you'll be able to get better sound for your recordings. The microphone input also comes in handy for people wanting to record sound from an external audio source such as a pilot's headset.
The USB Connection works a bit differently on each camera. The Zi8 has a flip out USB port so you don't have to carry a cord around with you. The Playsport forgoes this feature (likely due to the waterproofing) and contains a microUSB port on the camera.
The Playsport model is waterproof up to 10 feet, the Zi8 model doesn't have any waterproofing at all. If you are active and want to take your camera with you snorkeling, swimming, skiing, camping, etc, you may want to opt for the Playsport as it is a bit more rugged than the Zi8. The Playsport even has a special mode to enhance underwater recording. The battery is exactly the same on both devices so you should experience similar battery life. The one thing to note here is that the Playsport has a smaller screen so it might actually get slightly better battery life.
Both devices have an image stabilization function, both come with the same software (Arcsoft MediaImpression for Kodak), both have HDMI and composite audio/video outputs, and both have the same internal memory (128 MB). Both cameras also accept SD cards to increase the storage space for videos. Finally, probably the largest difference between the two devices is the price. The Zi8 comes in at $199.95 and the Playsport at $149.95.
Are you interested in the Kodak Playsport Camera? Check out our Kodak Playsport website for much more information.
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