Creative Labs Vado HD 8 GB Pocket Video Camcorder, 2nd Generation (Black Gloss with Maroon Accents)
Written by gamertechy // November 5, 2011 // Camera, Photo & Video // No comments
Detailed review of the cost-effective, but unfortunately, older generation Vado HD Pocket Video Camcorder.
Pros:
Design. The easiest thing to like about this pocket camcorder is its simple design. This includes the user-friendly interface- there’s a slightly-raised On/Off button on the side, a 2 inch antiglare screen, a record button, a playback/pause button, a delete button, and a direction pad surrounding the record button. On the D-pad, the Up button digitally zooms in during record and preview mode and it increases volume during video playback, the Down button zooms out and decreases volume, the Left and Right buttons are only functional during playback, where they serve the video Rewind and Forward functions. The casing is made out of hard, glossy plastic material. It’s sturdy and does leave fingerprints, but it’s nothing a quick finger swipe can’t get rid of.
Weight. Since this is advertised as a pocket video cam, the claim should reflect the weight of the product. This weighs 3.5oz, for lack of a better item comparison, it’s less than half of an 8GB iPod touch (8oz).
Size. The dimensions on the actual video cam are 3.75in. x 2in. x 0.5in. (LxWxH). This is small enough to fit in any pocket, with enough wiggle room for other pocket gadgets, such as phones or MP3 players. Just don’t place it with your keys as it may damage the lens or casing. Of course not everyone carries items in their pockets, and those people will still like the size because it is small enough to fit in purse and backpack pockets for quick access.
Battery Life. Two hours of battery life per charge. It’s rechargeable and replaceable as well. If you are planning to use this all day, it may be a good idea to bring a back up battery.
Accessories. Out of the package, it comes with an extension USB cable so the Vado does not have to hang off the computer’s USB port, especially if the ports are far from the ground. I really like the included HDMI to mini-HDMI cable because it allows for easy viewing of the recordings to a larger 1080P HDTV with 1080i quality. There is also a grey silicone skin which protects the Vado from scuff marks and short falls.
Video Quality. Besides all the things mentioned, of course the real value of a camera is how well it performs. It records in 720P high definition at 30 frames per second. The colors stand out but the sharpness isn’t anything to write home about. If the focus of the video recording is an item or a person a yard away, then it’s acceptable. But anything beyond that length will lose sharpness. Remember that this is a pocket video camera though, it isn’t meant to fulfill such purpose.
Cons:
Sound Quality. I can forgive the camera’s video quality for its size, but the sound quality is not something I can let go. Since the whole purpose of this is to record both video and audio, I feel Creative Labs could have done a better job with the latter. The sound quality is mono which is acceptable because its competition are equipped with the same (the 3rd Gen Vado HD has stereo), but the Mic quality on this is horrendous. The sound volume at playback (be it on a pc, or thru HDMI) is very low. I find myself editing each video file just to amplify the sound output.
No image stabilization. Most pocket video cameras are not known for having Image stabilization. The Flip HD does not have it during recording but at least the included software had it. The Vado HD on the other hand full lack this feature. Even walking slowly while recording can get produce very jittery image playback. Of course, not every recording will have the camera operator in motion but this is still a useful feature to have.
No memory card slot. The 8GB internal memory size is ample, but it does not help those who are planning to use the camera for long periods at a time. Since the battery is replaceable, so too should the memory. At this rate, a person may have back up batteries, but it would not matter once the memory card is full because it would require unloading to a PC.
Vado Central Software. This is the camera’s built in software. It’s simple but very limited in features. The camera uses its own modified codec to record AVI files. This makes it un-editable in some video editing softwares such as Sony Vegas Pro (only shows up as audio). It feels as if Creative Labs is forcing the consumers to use the software. There is a workaround I posted on my website (too long to describe here). What I do like about the Vado Central Software is that it has the Muvee plugin with it. This allows video styles to be added to the video, but it only comes with 6 free, any more will cost extra. Tip: If you like using this software, it is best to copy the software’s folder, as well as the video files, onto your computer’s drive to eliminate the limited speeds of the USB during editing.
At the current price of $70.90 on Amazon, I cannot recommend the purchase, especially since the 3rd Generation is only $5 more and in some cases, the same price (depending on color and seller). If you would like the image stabilization feature and memory card slot, I recommend looking into the Canon SD780 IS digital camera. It is a lot smaller in size, can record 720P HD in (.Mov format), has better sound quality, and has 3X Optical and 4X digital zoom (only digital in video record, but you can zoom optical before recording). If you must stick to the Vado, definitely get a 3rd Gen. The devices are priced according to color, with Cyan and Red being the cheapest and White and Black the costliest.
Purchase the Vado on Amazon:
2nd Generation Vado (featured in review)
3rd Generation Vad0 : Red at $74, Black at $99.95, Cyan at $69.99!
