The first full 1080p high definition pocket camcorder has been announced by Kodak. The Kodak Zi8 Pocket Camcorder includes an impressive list of features that knocks the socks off of the competition.

There is finally some real competition for the Flip Video Ultra HD pocket camcorder. The Kodak Zi8 raises the bar for features in a pocket camcorder–and it is priced at less than $180.

We like the features found in the Flip Ultra HD, but have always expressed our concern over the lack of removable storage media on Flip Video models. On-board storage memory limits a pocket camcorder’s ability to store video. The limit with the Flip Ultra HD is two hours of recording time. When you reach the limit, the only way to record more video is to offload the current videos onto a PC or web site, which is not very convenient when you are traveling. The Kodak Zi8 has some onboard memory, but also has an SD/SDHD card slot that accepts up to 32 gigabytes of additional memory. The additional memory is not included.

This is also the first pocket camcorder to achieve 1080p video resolution and can be set to record at lower resolutions to extend recording time. Other high definition models only produce 720p resolution.

When recording video on the Zi8 at 720p resolution, each gigabyte of additional memory will give you about 20 minutes of recording time, which means you can store about 10 hours of high definition video with a single memory card. That is an impressive feature.

The Kodak Zi8 is also the first pocket camera to offer electronic image stabilization, which helps prevent blurs from movement of the camcorder. The display screen is 2.5 inches wide, which makes it slightly larger than the 2 inch display on the Flip Video models.

The Zi8 pocket camcorder also uses a slim lithium ion battery, similar to those found in many cell phones. That can be a good or a bad feature. You will have to keep a spare battery charged because you will not have the convenience of swapping out AA or AAA batteries, which can be found anywhere. We could not find a price for a spare battery, but it will probably be somewhere in the $30 to $40 range.

One nice feature is that the camcorder doubles as a 5 megapixel still camera, so if you need to take a snapshot, you can do it with the Zi8.

Kodak offers this model in three designer colors, which they call Black Licorice, Raspberry and Aqua.

The Zi8 is a little bit larger and heavier than the Flip Video models at 2.6 inches by 4.5 inches by .9 inches and 4.8 ounces, but the extra features make it worthwhile. Several reports from people who have tried the Zi8 say that the high gloss finish collects fingerprints and scratches easily. It is therefore a good idea to buy a case designed for this model. Do not forget that additional memory and possibly a spare lithium ion battery should also be added to the list of accessories.

The Kodak Zi8 pocket camcorder comes with a single rechargeable lithium ion battery, AC and USB adaptors for charging, HDMI and AV cables for connections to your television and software (built into camera) for editing and uploading videos to YouTube and other video sites.