Digital camcorders or video recorders like the Kodak PlaySport HD are becoming more and more compact making them easier to carry around. Fitting in the palm of your hand, the camcorder fits just as easily into your pocket or pouch. Trendy looking with a rounded curved look for easier grip, the camcorder comes in a variety of colors. At 128g without a battery the camcorder is ultra light-weight and is more or less the same size as your mobile phone.

Unlike some of its other competitors, the Kodak PlaySport HD features a tough and rugged outer casing made mostly of solid plastic. The camcorder is rated for underwater use up to 10 feet deep, so you can bring it to the beach or swimming pool alike. Controls are simple and easy to access, featuring a directional keypad and a few function buttons. The camcorder has a 2-inch LCD screen with anti-glare functions so you can take videos and still see them in bright sunlight.

Utilizing a 1/2.5-type 5MP CMOS sensor the Kodak PlaySport HD enables up to 1080p HD video recording at 30 frames per second with sound. While it only has 128MB worth of internal storage, it does offer an SD or SDHC card slot for fast performance. Other features include a 4x digital zoom with a focus range of 100cm - infinity. The camcorder records in H.264 (MOV), AAC LC video formats but can also take stills in the form of 5.3MP JPEGs. The microphone is mono-aural but works well enough as long as the subject is close.

Most of the Kodak PlaySport HD's features are automatic including white balance, image stabilization. While it can take 1080p video you aren't constrained to just this resolution as you can opt for others like 720p video at 60 frames per second and 720p to 1280 x 720 resolutions at 30 frame per second. Performance is top-notch, even underwater with smooth video recording and 1080p video quality. However the camcorder's li-ion battery only lasts for about an hour and a bit more, however it is replaceable so you can easily take along some spares.

Overall, the Kodak PlaySport HD is one of the few ultra-rugged, ultra-compact and ultra-powerful digital camcorders out there. Easy to use and as waterproof as advertised, the camcorder is the ideal replacement for the old family camcorder while delivering top-notch 1080p HD video recording.