Kodak Playsport Zx3

The Kodak Playsport is one of the most intriguing ultracompact camcorders we've reviewed, mainly because its waterproof body gives it a unique edge over the status quo. But there's more to the Playsport than just the fact that it can record video underwater up to three metres. It did surprisingly well in our low light testing, put up some fantastic numbers in our video sharpness test (thanks to the 1080p record mode), and its button design is the best we've ever seen from a Kodak camcorder.

Unfortunately, the Playsport was still brought down by its unsatisfactory auto white balance system that gave everything we shot in our bright light testing an orange tint. This is a problem we've seen on many ultracompact models, although Kodak appears to be one of the worst offenders. Other problems include confusing menu icons/labels, a limited instruction manual, and a d-pad that is not up to snuff. These aren't major issues, however, and the Playsport was definitely one of the best ultracompact camcorders we've ever reviewed.

We can't say enough how much we like the fact that the Playsport is waterproof, which we feel is a particularly beneficial feature for an ultracompact camcorder. Just think about it—you no longer have to worry about getting the camcorder wet when you take it to the beach or on a boat trip. The Playsport should definitely be the camcorder of choice for anyone who has a history of problems with keeping their gadgets free of moisture.

The £132 price tag of the Playsport is a very good value. With the Playsport you're not only getting good video performance at a decent price, but you're also getting a rugged camcorder that should be able to withstand significant exposure to the elements. The Kodak Zx1 is not available in the UK, but Kodak announced the second generation Playsport, the Zx5, at CES 2011.