Creative Labs Pocket Camcorder

Creative Labs Pocket Camcorder

What to Look Out for When Buying a Digital Camcorder

The camcorder has been around for years but only over recent years has the digital camcorder entered the market and provided consumers with exciting new opportunities when it comes to recording special events and occasions. Whether you are a professional videographer or a grandparent who wants to have a digital camcorder on hand for when the grandchildren come to visit, there are some things that you should look out for when preparing to buy a new one. Finding a camcorder buying guide is not difficult when you have access to the Internet but likewise there some warning signs that you should be aware of before plunking down your funds on a digital camcorder.

Beware of Online Baiting – Many people turn to the Internet not only to seek out camcorder buying guide resources but to actually make their purchases. Whether you’re looking for a Canon, Creative Labs, Flip, Sanyo, Sony or other brand name, there are companies who will show you one type of digital camcorder but try to get you to purchase a whole lot of other things you don’t want or need. This type of upselling can be a detriment to your budget but also can require you to purchase beyond your desire.

Invest in a Tripod – This is a tool that will significantly improve the quality of your video recording from the possibility of capturing the best shots without having to hold the camcorder to setting up in locations where there is no standing room. As a rule of thumb, your tripod should be able to shoot from no less than 72 inches high so that you avoid capturing things like the backs of heads in an auditorium.

Leave Digital Stills to Digital Cameras – You may be thinking that getting both features in a digital camcorder like the camcorders on Zwee is the best bet but in actuality digital cameras perform digital stills at a far more superior level than digital camcorders. A best case scenario for those who are determined to have both features is to go with the camera instead of the camcorder. Digital camcorders are best at recording video.

Take a Recording – Ask to accompany the salesperson into the outside light and make a brief recording to test the LCD brightness. An LCD screen that is hard to see in the sun will be difficult to use. There are sun shade products that can be purchased if you have fallen in love with a particular digital camcorder that doesn’t have the best LCD screen for sunlight and outdoor light settings.

Forget about Digital Zoom – What digital zoom really means is that you are achieving an effect that is the equivalent of getting a preview of blowing up your digital image. There is no better quality associated with digital zoom when it comes to the finished product. Therefore, when you are checking out a camcorder buying guide, don’t let the digital zoom be your deciding factor or consider purchasing a more expensive digital camcorder just to get the digital zoom.

Get a Good Fit – Whether you are purchasing for yourself or someone else, you want to ensure that your digital camcorder purchase fits the person. If it is for an elderly person, can they hold the camcorder steady while recording? Are the buttons located conveniently for the user to access during filming? Does the camcorder fit easily into a pocket or purse or is it large enough to require a separate case or travel bag? Determining the answers to questions like these ensures that you won’t be back in the returns and exchanges line after your purchase.

Creative Labs Vado 4GB HD Pocket Camcorder with HDMI Cab…


Creative Labs Vado HD Pocket Video Camcorder 3rd Generation,120 Minutes (Black) - NEWEST MODEL
Creative Labs Vado HD Pocket Video Camcorder 3rd Generation,120 Minutes (Black) – NEWEST MODEL
List Price: $179.00
Sale Price: Too low to display

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Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours
Average Rating:

Description

Catch the perfect snowboarding stunt, your baby’s first steps or your kid’s graduation, share it online and save it for a lifetime with Creative’s new Vado HD Pocket Video Cam. The third generation of Vado HD camcorders introduces a sleek new industrial design, the latest Vado Central software, improved light sensitivity, optional stereo microphone input, and availability in multiple colors. The thin, lightweight Vado HD is small enough to fit easily in a pocket, purse or the palm of your hand, and it captures video in 720P high-definition quality video at 30 frames per second with just the touch of a button. Sharing videos online is simple with built-in software that helps you post videos to YouTube, Facebook, Photobucket or Box.net. The Vado HD includes an HDMI output (cable not included) for a superior viewing experience on an HDTV. Take the Vado HD Pocket Video Cam with you everywhere you go and never miss a moment. Product specs include 720p high-definition video at 30fps, wide-angle glass lens, 2.0 inch LCD, still picture capture, touch buttons, 2x digital zoom, 4GB of video storage capacity, up to two hours of recording in HD, up to four hours of recording time at 640×480 at 30 frames per second, HDMI and RCA connections for TV, HDMI and A/V cable sold separately, removable and rechargeable lithium battery, Vado Central software for simple video editing and sharing. System requirements include Windows Xp Service Pack 2 or Vista, Intel Pentium III or higher, 512MB of memory, USB port, 500MB free hard disk space, and 16MB of Video Memory or above. Product ships with Vado camcorder and battery.

Features

  • High definition 720P pocket video camcorder with 4GB of video storage capacity
  • Fits easily in your pocket purse or the palm of your hand
  • One touch recording with a spacious 2 inch display and touch capacitive buttons
  • Record up to two hour of HD video footage at 30 fps
  • Works with PC and Mac

Reviews

Very Good Product

by Richard Lefebvre from Richford, Vermont, US on 2010-07-09
Very good product. Very handy and easy to manipulate. The option permitting to flip from photo to video is a great feature that my 1st generation VADO-HD doesn’t have.
Unfortunately, I bought it for $179 and it became $129 two days after without any possibility to get reimbursed for the difference from Amazon.

NIce, but with reservations

by Darrell J. Lew from Oakland, CA on 2010-07-06
First I tried a refurbished one; it had the same problem as a new one so I’m pretty sure it’s because of the firmware or something.

Positives: the video quality is one of the better ones out there (IMO), color balance is pretty good in both daylight and low light, nice wide screen lens to capture a lot, size and weight are nice, still pictures are good too.

NOT SO GOOD: no buttons so you don’t know you’re hitting them during playback or recording (having to hold strangely to avoid the flush “buttons”), even at its widest zoom you have to very careful of camera shake, case gets scratched super easy, when camera goes into standby you normally hit a button to wake it up – only sometimes it freezes and a power cycle is the only way to get it back.

The latter negatives made me return it. It’s really too bad, b/c I like would’ve kept it had it not been for those issues.

Not Happy

by Dave Z from Rochester NY on 2010-06-24
This Camcorder is hard to use, hold the thing in the wrong spot when you are taking a video a you screw it up , My phone takes better video

You Have to Hang In There….

by Mooncat from on 2010-06-23
I ordered the Vado 3rd Gen after reading a gazillion reviews and watching an equal number of clips on YouTube. I had certainly been warned about people’s perceived negatives, but the video clips and the fact that the camera has options that similar camcorders do not motivated me to give it a try. I have to say right off the bat that IMO Creative is shooting itself in the foot by not making its user guide more comprehensive, and not addressing a lot of the concerns and “what the …..?” issues many, many people have expressed about operating the device. Neither the firmware nor the software were designed to be particularly intuitive – and I’m not a newbie either to devices or computers. I almost put it right back in the box and returned it due to these issues, and I know a lot of people leaving these reviews have done exactly that. However, after an email to Customer Support (which was answered within 24 hours) my major problem was solved and I was okay with the rest. I have experimented with a few videos, mostly indoor shots, and I’m not bowled over by the indoor quality, even in HD+ (which takes FOREVER to process on my core 2 duo with 3GB of RAM). The outdoor quality seems fine. I very much appreciate, however, and think I will be able to adjust to and work with the ability to increase or decrease exposure, and the zoom. Those two features, plus the wide angle, make it a keeper for me at this point. I do definitely see what people mean about the buttons. Sigh. I tried the lock, but it wouldn’t shoot the video if you lock it before you start – which is what most people would want to do, to avoid pushing a button once you do start to shoot. I guess you have to start shooting and THEN push lock. Still experimenting with that. The upload to Facebook was a snap, very easy, and relatively quick for a 10 sec video shot in HD. The very latest issue of Vado Central 3.0.02 has enough function for me, though it’s nothing fancy. It does more than I thought it would, from people’s comments. It’s pretty close to what I got out of Moviemaker when I had a Flip. At this point, I give the Vado 4 stars for quality, and I give Creative 1 star for really dropping the ball with their instructions on use. Will update this in a week or so as far as video quality.

Creative Labs Vado 3rd Gen -Excellent Widescreen Pocket Camcorder

by Denise Hamlin from Coralville, Iowa on 2010-06-22
Mostly I agree with what others have written here. Despite a couple of minor irritations, like the easily smudged casing and the over-sensitive buttons this is a fantastic camcorder for the price. The fact that it’s wide screen puts it light years ahead of the rest. (Image stabilizer would be nice, but you can’t have everything). I would have given it 5 stars if it wasn’t for the fact that it’s impossible to find 3rd party editing software for it and the included software sucks. Before you buy this be aware of that. There’s probably something out there, but up to now I haven’t been able to find it. Like I said though, apart from that this is a great little pocket cam.

Creative Labs Vado HD 8 GB Pocket Video Camcorder, 2nd Generation (Black Gloss with Maroon Accents)
Creative Labs Vado HD 8 GB Pocket Video Camcorder, 2nd Generation (Black Gloss with Maroon Accents)
List Price: $199.99
Sale Price: $134.50
You save: $65.49 (33%)
  Eligible for free shipping!
Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours
Average Rating:

Description

Catch the perfect snowboarding stunt, your baby’s first steps or your kid’s graduation, share it online and save it for a lifetime with Creative’s Vado HD Pocket Video Cam. The thin, lightweight Vado HD is small enough to fit easily in a pocket, purse or the palm of your hand, and it captures video in 720P high-definition quality with just the touch of a button. Sharing videos online is simple with built-in software that helps you post videos to YouTube, Photobucket or Box.net. The Vado HD is the only pocket video cam to feature true HDMI connectivity and an included HDMI cable for a superior viewing experience on an HDTV. Take the Vado HD Pocket Video Cam with you everywhere you go and never miss a moment. Product specs include 720p high-definition video, wide-angle glass lens, 2x digital zoom, 8GB of video storage capacity, up to two hours of recording and playback per charge, up to eight hours of recording time at 640×480 at 30 frames per second, HDMI and RCA connections for TV, HDMI cable included, A/V cable sold separately, removable and rechargeable lithium battery, Vado Central software for simple video editing and sharing. System requirements include Windows Xp Service Pack 2 or Vista, Intel Pentium III or higher, 512MB of memory, USB port, 500MB free hard disk space, and 16MB of Video Memory or above. Product ships with silicon skin, HDMI cable, and USB cable.

Features

  • High definition 720P pocket video camcorder and 8GB of video storage capacity
  • Fits easily in your pocket purse or the palm of your hand
  • One touch recording with a spacious 2 inch display
  • Record up to two hours of HD video footage or up to eight hours of video at VGA resolution
  • Connect your Vado HD to any HDTV with included HDMI cable

Reviews

died way too quick

by michael from on 2010-07-29
Bought this in October 09.

Recorded about 30 minutes of video since then. Charged the battery four times.

The unit is now dead: wont take a charge, wont power on.

I am pursuing a refund. I consider this to be junk.

Michael

Built in Microphone?… Very low sound!…

by zafer demir from Istanbul on 2010-06-24
Watch Video Here: http://www.amazon.com/review/RGEEB10LQVXO4 Great camcorder except sound record!!!…No external microphone part….price was 111$ on 22 march 2010…Here it is short video taken at Rumelihisari (Rumelian Castle) is a fortress located in the Sariyer district of Istanbul, Turkey, on a hill at the European side of the Bosporus. Rumelihisari is situated at the narrowest point with 660 meters of the Bosporus strait..

Better than Zip….

by J. Font from Nutley, NJ USA on 2010-06-21
I’ve been using the Vado video camera for a few months now and I am very happy with it. The High Definition quality is excellent and the accompanying video editing software is adequate for my amateur needs. I highly recommend the product. I have a friend who uses the Zip and for the price and picture quality, the Vado wins hands down.

Great Value Video Camera

by David Majdanski from Charlotte, NC on 2010-05-28
Awesome video camera – great value for under $150. I have used it at sporting events, parties, and trade shows. Ideal for close ups. Video and audio quality are excellent. Small camera size was a major factor for me since it can fit in my pocket. Great for Facebook material and for customer interviews – love the fold-out USB cable . Also bought a carrying case and mini tri-pod (Jobe)as accessories, well worth it.

Be aware when trasfering the files to your computer.

by O. Kasabof from Miami, fl on 2010-05-28
Be warned – Once you transfer the videos to an external PC and rename the files while the Vado is still being connected to the PC, the Vado cannot longer recognize them and play them on its own. The files are still inside the Vado, they take out of the memory, but when trying to play them back you get one big NO FILE! on the screen.
The other thing is that the video player and the pluggins that are part of the Vado’s internal memory work only within the device, meaning you cannot install them on external PC and play, manipulate or create movies and burn dvds from files already being transferred to the PC, only whatever you see being inside vado’s memory, and as I said before – do not rename the files before disconnecting Vado from your PC.
Also 4GB is not that much considering that a 3 min. HD+ video file is close to 200MB, so do the math. And by the way there is really no point of shooting less than the HD+ format, the difference in the quality of standard def, hd, and hd+ is noticeable.

Creative Labs Vado HD 720p Pocket Video Camcorder with 8 GB Video Storage and 2x Digital Zoom (Black) OLD MODEL
Creative Labs Vado HD 720p Pocket Video Camcorder with 8 GB Video Storage and 2x Digital Zoom (Black) OLD MODEL
List Price: $229.99
Sale Price: $99.89
You save: $130.10 (57%)
  Eligible for free shipping!
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Average Rating:

Description

Catch the perfect snowboarding stunt, your baby’s first steps or your kid’s graduation, share it online and save it for a lifetime with Creative’s Vado HD Pocket Video Cam. The thin, lightweight Vado HD is small enough to fit easily in a pocket, purse or the palm of your hand, and it captures video in 720P high-definition quality with just the touch of a button. Sharing videos online is simple with built-in software that helps you post videos to YouTube, Photobucket or Box.net. The Vado HD is the only pocket video cam to feature true HDMI connectivity and an included HDMI cable for a superior viewing experience on an HDTV. Take the Vado HD Pocket Video Cam with you everywhere you go and never miss a moment. Product specs include 720p high-definition video, wide-angle glass lens, 2x digital zoom, 8GB of video storage capacity, up to two hours of recording and playback per charge, up to eight hours of recording time at 640×480 at 30 frames per second, HDMI and RCA connections for TV, HDMI cable included, A/V cable sold separately, removable and rechargeable lithium battery, Vado Central software for simple video editing and sharing. System requirements include Windows Xp Service Pack 2 or Vista, Intel Pentium III or higher, 512MB of memory, USB port, 500MB free hard disk space, and 16MB of Video Memory or above. Product ships with silicon skin, HDMI cable, and USB cable.

Features

  • High definition 720P pocket video camcorder with 8 GB of video storage capacity
  • Fits easily in your pocket purse or the palm of your hand
  • One touch recording with a spacious 2 inch display
  • Record up to two hours of HD video footage or up to four hours of video at VGA resolution
  • Connect your Vado HD to any HDTV with included HDMI cable

Reviews

Quit working after a year

by Eesha from on 2010-07-03
We liked this product while it worked. We used it to record clips of our first child. However, after a year of light use it started freezing. It doesn’t work at all any more and won’t even turn on. We missed the warranty by one week. Obviously, this is not a quality product.

Old Vado

by heybales from Akron, Oh on 2010-07-02
Very good for the money. I haven’t mastered the software to make movies yet. Slow to upload to video sites, but if you’re not in hurry, no big deal. Amazing that this little tiny recorder creates great video that plugs into your HD TV with the included HDMI cable and it looks simply wonderful. This is the old one, but I’m very happy with it. I’ll never buy a ‘big’, quality recorder. This device is zero hassle.

Does not tolerate water

by Glincho from Seattle, WA USA on 2010-06-28
Positive: Overall great quality and ease of use. I loved this part.
Negative: The software it comes is not the best, you cannot splice movie clips, if you want to see the clips you took one someone’s computer you need to install the plug-in that comes with VADO HD. Normal Windows Media Player will play sound only. Also, I used mine with a protective case for underwater video, the case leaked water and destroyed the camera. It is not rated for water obviously. Sometimes you cannot see outside on the light, if recording mode is ON or OFF. Thanks.

Very Satisfied

by Robert Davis from on 2010-06-24
If I could choose one additional feature for this camcorder, it would be an external microphone jack.

I Love It

by GuruMike from Denver on 2010-06-12
My main use is to video tennis matches (see [...] to see how). It has a slight wide angle effect (apparently not present in other “flip” cameras) that covers the court very well when mounted on the top of the fence, but I’ve used it to record music at a local open stage and for lots of other stuff. Great quality, easy to use, lightweight, etc. People are amazed when I show it to them and tell them how long it can record. I ordered an extra battery that was very useful at a local tournament as the battery is the limiting factor. With two batteries, I can get four hours + of hd video. Not bad for the price!

Creative Labs Vado Pocket Video Camcorder (Silver) OLD MODEL
Creative Labs Vado Pocket Video Camcorder (Silver) OLD MODEL
List Price: $99.99
Sale Price: $52.99
You save: $47.00 (47%)
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Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours
Average Rating:

Description

Creative Vado is a slim, lightweight pocket video cam that makes it easy to capture and share everyday life as it happens. Recording great video is easy with features like one touch recording, 2x zoom and excellent low light performance. Sharing video is easy too, simply connect Vado to your PC with the flexiable USB plug and the built in software lets you save videos to your computer or post them directly to YouTube or Photobucket. Thinner than a deck of cards, and as light as a cell phone it fits perfectly in your pocket!

Features

  • Vado is thinner than a deck of cards and as light as a cell phone
  • Never miss a moment with two hours of video capacity and one-button recording
  • Comes with built-in USB cable and on-board software; easily edit and upload videos
  • Large 2-inch anti-glare screen
  • Shoot up to two hours continuously with rechargeable battery

Reviews

Perfect for all my needs.

by K. Brooks from CT, USA on 2010-07-25
I needed a little video camera for grad school, but I wanted one I didn’t have to convert the files of and wasn’t going to empty me of my funds. After much debilitation, I decided on this camera and so far, so good. It’s just as small as I want and I got a little tripod for it and everything. Ta-da! Nice camera I can use leisurely or for classes.

I would recommend this camera to anyone that isn’t interesting in creating lots of movies but wants something in case something comes up where one would either like a camera or need one.

not good at all

by Linda Lehmann from Baltimore, MD, US on 2010-07-24
This video camera is not good at all i charged it over night and used it the next day and it was out of battery. Also the quality is very bad and you cant understand what someone saying unless you whisper. This camera may be good for someone that doesnt care about those things. I recommend the vado hd it is a lot better or get the waterproof kodak.

Good quality low priced camera

by Raj from NJ, US on 2010-06-11
i Purchased this camera for my 7 year old , Good quality product quite easy to use and my kid loves it.

Video quality is quite good for its price range, Audio seems to pretty impresive also. Built in software is not too bad, able to play the recorded videos with out any issues.

It does take time to transfer videos from this device to the desktop

The most appealing thing about this product is the ease of use, no fancy features to worry about or buttons to fumble around.

A good camcorder the size of a cell phone

by Alan Juhl from on 2010-04-17
For just $50, the little Vado is an excellent bargain. My wife leaves it in her purse all the time “just in case”. I haven’t tried it using the top quality video, but I’m very pleased with the quality of the “extended play” video. The sound is even very good for the price you’re paying. While you can buy more expensive versions of even this camera where you can record for four hours, have you ever sat down to watch a 4-hour home video? We’re taking this camera on a 7-day Alaskan cruise next month where I plan to carry it in my cell phone pouch, and we’ll be lucky to fill this camera up on that whole cruise…and our friends will be GLAD the most they will be watching this is 4 hours.

It Gets the Job Done

by Kim Cantrell from Tennessee on 2010-03-31
I purchased the Vado for the purposes of vblog and have found it to be okay, but not great.

The picture quality is grainy, but usable. I hate that there is no pause feature, so you have two choices: (1) everything in one sitting or (2) stream them together (which for beginners can be difficult).

Transferring from the Vado to computer is super easy. And using it with Windows Movie Maker is a breeze.

Overall, for the price, it’s a handy, easy-to-use video camera. But if you’re looking for high quality videos, look elsewhere.

Creative Labs Vado HD 4GB Pocket Video Camcorder 2nd Generation (Black Gloss)
Creative Labs Vado HD 4GB Pocket Video Camcorder 2nd Generation (Black Gloss)
List Price: $179.99
Sale Price: $93.99
You save: $86.00 (48%)
  Eligible for free shipping!
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Average Rating:

Description

Catch the perfect snowboarding stunt, your baby’s first steps or your kid’s graduation, share it online and save it for a lifetime with Creative’s Vado HD Pocket Video Cam. The thin, lightweight Vado HD is small enough to fit easily in a pocket, purse or the palm of your hand, and it captures video in 720P high-definition quality with just the touch of a button. Sharing videos online is simple with built-in software that helps you post videos to YouTube, Photobucket or Box.net. The Vado HD is the only pocket video cam to feature true HDMI connectivity for a superior viewing experience on an HDTV. Take the Vado HD Pocket Video Cam with you everywhere you go and never miss a moment. Product specs include 720p high-definition video, wide-angle glass lens, 2x digital zoom, 4GB of video storage capacity, up to one hours of recording and playback per charge, up to four hours of recording time at 640×480 at 30 frames per second, HDMI and RCA connections for TV, HDMI and A/V cables sold separately, removable and rechargeable lithium battery, Vado Central software for simple video editing and sharing. System requirements include Windows Xp Service Pack 2 or Vista, Intel Pentium III or higher, 512MB of memory, USB port, 500MB free hard disk space, and 16MB of Video Memory or above. Product ships with silicon skin, and USB cable.

Features

  • High definition 720P pocket video camcorder with 4GB of video storage capacity
  • Fits easily in your pocket purse or the palm of your hand
  • One touch recording with a spacious 2 inch display
  • Record up to one hours of HD video footage or up to four hours of video at VGA resolution
  • Connect your Vado HD to any HDTV with optional HDMI cable

Reviews

Great video quality for youtube and the web

by B. Lim from San Jose CA on 2010-05-24
It is great for all the youtube and web recordings.

the cons: there is no image stabilization so the video can get shaky

I used final cut pro to edit the videos as iMovie wasn’t able to. I imported them using iPhoto.

Creative Labs Vado HD 4GB Pocket Video Camcorder 2nd gen.

by Thief Raccoon from CA on 2010-03-14
the Vado HD itself is surprisingly light, even with the battery inserted!
(when inserting the battery, the side with information goes up)
the controls are simple and easy to use.
but it also lacks different options when taking a video, besides the three video qualities (HD+, HD, VGA).
video quality is great, but I haven’t owned any other ultra portable video camcorder.

***AUDIO SYNC ISSUE (and my fix)

the audio/video sync issue many people experience can be solved by watching the video on a higher spec computer.
Or you can try getting a better codec for your own computer
(which you should, as HD videos are becoming more and more common) as i did.

my specs are
AMD Athlon x2 Dual-Core QL-64 2.10Ghz
2gb of DDR2 RAM
Radeon 3100 with shared memory
32-bit Win7
used GOM player to view recorded videos

i recorded a clip of my girlfriend brushing her teeth (~30 sec),
connected the Vado to my laptop, and watched the video.
I did not notice any audio sync problems, but it was a very short video.
Then I proceeded to test the Vado Central software, which wanted me to install a codec.
Then later when i watched the video again, (not with Vado Central, I used GOM player)
I noticed significant audio sync issue!
So i uninstalled the codec Vado Central gave me, then installed CoreAVC,
changed GOM player setting to not use internal codec so that it will use CoreAVC,
and my video was in perfect sync again.

so if you encounter this sync issue, try finding a better codec (h.264) before you throw away your old computer.
(I think the codec that Vado Central wants you to install isn’t very efficient…)

defective product

by trustyson from Colorado on 2010-02-02
Seemed like a good device but the sound didn’t work…only recorded static. We returned it — Amazon is very good about that. Hope others have better luck.

Good buy

by Arunprasad Mohan from florida on 2010-02-01
it is a good one., shoots decent video. Such a Tiny camcorder shooting this decent pictures is unbelievable. It’s just very handy easy to use, easy to upload videos. Good buy on overall.

Flipped for joy

by G. Cernicky from PA on 2010-02-01
This was my first flip camera. The ease of use and comfort are an easy winner for any video that captures the moment. The video results are more than I expected . I liked the software from Vado to make slideshows and snapshots. When a neighbor wanted to send a video clip for an anniversary , I first chose my “old” device , which seemed to be more appropriate. But, the flip came to he rescue and delivered a gem . Moments later , the neighbor wanted one ,too , which will capture her children in sporting events.
The Creative model suits all my purposes . The controls are easy to use , even with the enclosed pliable cover. And, under 15 minutes , I had the videos online to share with friends and family. Now, that is a measure of success well over my older video cam . The difference is a cumbersome carry case versus a Flip that can be easily placed in a jeans pocket for instant usage. The only negative was that I purchased this from Amazon and today I found that its 40 dollars cheaper on Ecost , and not refurbished . With that thought , I’m buying another one for my Family.

Creative Labs Vado VF0624-RD HD Pocket Video Camcorder 3rd Generation, 120 Minutes (Red) - NEWEST MODEL
Creative Labs Vado VF0624-RD HD Pocket Video Camcorder 3rd Generation, 120 Minutes (Red) – NEWEST MODEL
List Price: $179.00
Sale Price: Too low to display

  Eligible for free shipping!
Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours
Average Rating:

Description

Catch the perfect snowboarding stunt, your baby’s first steps or your kid’s graduation, share it online and save it for a lifetime with Creative’s new Vado HD Pocket Video Cam. The third generation of Vado HD camcorders introduces a sleek new industrial design, the latest Vado Central software, improved light sensitivity, optional stereo microphone input, and availability in multiple colors. The thin, lightweight Vado HD is small enough to fit easily in a pocket, purse or the palm of your hand, and it captures video in 720P high-definition quality video at 30 frames per second with just the touch of a button. Sharing videos online is simple with built-in software that helps you post videos to YouTube, Facebook, Photobucket or Box.net. The Vado HD includes an HDMI output (cable not included) for a superior viewing experience on an HDTV. Take the Vado HD Pocket Video Cam with you everywhere you go and never miss a moment. Product specs include 720p high-definition video at 30fps, wide-angle glass lens, 2.0 inch LCD, still picture capture, touch buttons, 2x digital zoom, 4GB of video storage capacity, up to two hours of recording in HD, up to four hours of recording time at 640×480 at 30 frames per second, HDMI and RCA connections for TV, HDMI and A/V cable sold separately, removable and rechargeable lithium battery, Vado Central software for simple video editing and sharing. System requirements include Windows Xp Service Pack 2 or Vista, Intel Pentium III or higher, 512MB of memory, USB port, 500MB free hard disk space, and 16MB of Video Memory or above. Product ships with Vado camcorder and battery.

Features

  • High definition 720P pocket video camcorder and 4GB of video storage capacity
  • Fits easily in your pocket purse or the palm of your hand
  • One touch recording with a spacious 2 inch display and touch capacitive buttons
  • Record up to two hour of HD video footage at 30 fps
  • Works with PC and Mac

Reviews

Very Good Product

by Richard Lefebvre from Richford, Vermont, US on 2010-07-09
Very good product. Very handy and easy to manipulate. The option permitting to flip from photo to video is a great feature that my 1st generation VADO-HD doesn’t have.
Unfortunately, I bought it for $179 and it became $129 two days after without any possibility to get reimbursed for the difference from Amazon.

NIce, but with reservations

by Darrell J. Lew from Oakland, CA on 2010-07-06
First I tried a refurbished one; it had the same problem as a new one so I’m pretty sure it’s because of the firmware or something.

Positives: the video quality is one of the better ones out there (IMO), color balance is pretty good in both daylight and low light, nice wide screen lens to capture a lot, size and weight are nice, still pictures are good too.

NOT SO GOOD: no buttons so you don’t know you’re hitting them during playback or recording (having to hold strangely to avoid the flush “buttons”), even at its widest zoom you have to very careful of camera shake, case gets scratched super easy, when camera goes into standby you normally hit a button to wake it up – only sometimes it freezes and a power cycle is the only way to get it back.

The latter negatives made me return it. It’s really too bad, b/c I like would’ve kept it had it not been for those issues.

Not Happy

by Dave Z from Rochester NY on 2010-06-24
This Camcorder is hard to use, hold the thing in the wrong spot when you are taking a video a you screw it up , My phone takes better video

You Have to Hang In There….

by Mooncat from on 2010-06-23
I ordered the Vado 3rd Gen after reading a gazillion reviews and watching an equal number of clips on YouTube. I had certainly been warned about people’s perceived negatives, but the video clips and the fact that the camera has options that similar camcorders do not motivated me to give it a try. I have to say right off the bat that IMO Creative is shooting itself in the foot by not making its user guide more comprehensive, and not addressing a lot of the concerns and “what the …..?” issues many, many people have expressed about operating the device. Neither the firmware nor the software were designed to be particularly intuitive – and I’m not a newbie either to devices or computers. I almost put it right back in the box and returned it due to these issues, and I know a lot of people leaving these reviews have done exactly that. However, after an email to Customer Support (which was answered within 24 hours) my major problem was solved and I was okay with the rest. I have experimented with a few videos, mostly indoor shots, and I’m not bowled over by the indoor quality, even in HD+ (which takes FOREVER to process on my core 2 duo with 3GB of RAM). The outdoor quality seems fine. I very much appreciate, however, and think I will be able to adjust to and work with the ability to increase or decrease exposure, and the zoom. Those two features, plus the wide angle, make it a keeper for me at this point. I do definitely see what people mean about the buttons. Sigh. I tried the lock, but it wouldn’t shoot the video if you lock it before you start – which is what most people would want to do, to avoid pushing a button once you do start to shoot. I guess you have to start shooting and THEN push lock. Still experimenting with that. The upload to Facebook was a snap, very easy, and relatively quick for a 10 sec video shot in HD. The very latest issue of Vado Central 3.0.02 has enough function for me, though it’s nothing fancy. It does more than I thought it would, from people’s comments. It’s pretty close to what I got out of Moviemaker when I had a Flip. At this point, I give the Vado 4 stars for quality, and I give Creative 1 star for really dropping the ball with their instructions on use. Will update this in a week or so as far as video quality.

Creative Labs Vado 3rd Gen -Excellent Widescreen Pocket Camcorder

by Denise Hamlin from Coralville, Iowa on 2010-06-22
Mostly I agree with what others have written here. Despite a couple of minor irritations, like the easily smudged casing and the over-sensitive buttons this is a fantastic camcorder for the price. The fact that it’s wide screen puts it light years ahead of the rest. (Image stabilizer would be nice, but you can’t have everything). I would have given it 5 stars if it wasn’t for the fact that it’s impossible to find 3rd party editing software for it and the included software sucks. Before you buy this be aware of that. There’s probably something out there, but up to now I haven’t been able to find it. Like I said though, apart from that this is a great little pocket cam.

Creative Labs Vado Pocket Video Camcorder (Pink) OLD MODEL
Creative Labs Vado Pocket Video Camcorder (Pink) OLD MODEL
List Price: $99.99
Sale Price: $69.99
You save: $30.00 (30%)
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Description

Creative Vado is a slim, lightweight pocket video cam that makes it easy to capture and share everyday life as it happens. Recording great video is easy with features like one touch recording, 2x zoom and excellent low light performance. Sharing video is easy too, simply connect Vado to your PC with the flexiable USB plug and the built in software lets you save videos to your computer orpost them directly to YouTube ort Photobucket. Thinner than a deck of cards, and as light as a cell phone it fits perfectly in your pocket!

Features

  • Vado is thinner than a deck of cards and as light as a cell phone
  • Never miss a moment with two hours of video capacity and one-button recording
  • Comes with built-in USB cable and on-board software; easily edit and upload videos
  • Features a large 2-inch anti-glare screen
  • Shoot up to two hours continuously with rechargeable battery

Reviews

Perfect for all my needs.

by K. Brooks from CT, USA on 2010-07-25
I needed a little video camera for grad school, but I wanted one I didn’t have to convert the files of and wasn’t going to empty me of my funds. After much debilitation, I decided on this camera and so far, so good. It’s just as small as I want and I got a little tripod for it and everything. Ta-da! Nice camera I can use leisurely or for classes.

I would recommend this camera to anyone that isn’t interesting in creating lots of movies but wants something in case something comes up where one would either like a camera or need one.

not good at all

by Linda Lehmann from Baltimore, MD, US on 2010-07-24
This video camera is not good at all i charged it over night and used it the next day and it was out of battery. Also the quality is very bad and you cant understand what someone saying unless you whisper. This camera may be good for someone that doesnt care about those things. I recommend the vado hd it is a lot better or get the waterproof kodak.

Good quality low priced camera

by Raj from NJ, US on 2010-06-11
i Purchased this camera for my 7 year old , Good quality product quite easy to use and my kid loves it.

Video quality is quite good for its price range, Audio seems to pretty impresive also. Built in software is not too bad, able to play the recorded videos with out any issues.

It does take time to transfer videos from this device to the desktop

The most appealing thing about this product is the ease of use, no fancy features to worry about or buttons to fumble around.

A good camcorder the size of a cell phone

by Alan Juhl from on 2010-04-17
For just $50, the little Vado is an excellent bargain. My wife leaves it in her purse all the time “just in case”. I haven’t tried it using the top quality video, but I’m very pleased with the quality of the “extended play” video. The sound is even very good for the price you’re paying. While you can buy more expensive versions of even this camera where you can record for four hours, have you ever sat down to watch a 4-hour home video? We’re taking this camera on a 7-day Alaskan cruise next month where I plan to carry it in my cell phone pouch, and we’ll be lucky to fill this camera up on that whole cruise…and our friends will be GLAD the most they will be watching this is 4 hours.

It Gets the Job Done

by Kim Cantrell from Tennessee on 2010-03-31
I purchased the Vado for the purposes of vblog and have found it to be okay, but not great.

The picture quality is grainy, but usable. I hate that there is no pause feature, so you have two choices: (1) everything in one sitting or (2) stream them together (which for beginners can be difficult).

Transferring from the Vado to computer is super easy. And using it with Windows Movie Maker is a breeze.

Overall, for the price, it’s a handy, easy-to-use video camera. But if you’re looking for high quality videos, look elsewhere.

Creative Labs Vado HD 4 GB Pocket Video Camcorder, 2nd Generation (White Gloss with Green Accents)
Creative Labs Vado HD 4 GB Pocket Video Camcorder, 2nd Generation (White Gloss with Green Accents)
List Price: $179.99
Sale Price: $104.99
You save: $75.00 (42%)
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Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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Description

Catch the perfect snowboarding stunt, your baby’s first steps or your kid’s graduation, share it online and save it for a lifetime with Creative’s Vado HD Pocket Video Cam. The thin, lightweight Vado HD is small enough to fit easily in a pocket, purse or the palm of your hand, and it captures video in 720P high-definition quality with just the touch of a button. Sharing videos online is simple with built-in software that helps you post videos to YouTube, Photobucket or Box.net. The Vado HD is the only pocket video cam to feature true HDMI connectivity (cable not included) for a superior viewing experience on an HDTV. Take the Vado HD Pocket Video Cam with you everywhere you go and never miss a moment. Product specs include 720p high-definition video, wide-angle glass lens, 2x digital zoom, 4GB of video storage capacity, up to one hours of recording and playback per charge, up to four hours of recording time at 640×480 at 30 frames per second, HDMI and RCA connections for TV, A/V and HDMI cables sold separately, removable and rechargeable lithium battery, Vado Central software for simple video editing and sharing. System requirements include Windows XP Service Pack 2 or Vista, Intel Pentium III or higher, 512MB of memory, USB port, 500MB free hard disk space, and 16MB of Video Memory or above. Product ships with silicon skin, and USB cable.

Features

  • High definition 720P pocket video camcorder with 4GB of video storage capacity
  • Fits easily in your pocket purse or the palm of your hand
  • One touch recording with a spacious 2 inch display
  • Record up to one hours of HD video footage or up to four hours of video at VGA resolution
  • Connect your Vado HD to any HDTV with optional HDMI cable

Reviews

Pretty Good Camera, But Not For Macs

by LittleChef from Minneapolis, MN on 2010-06-12
I’ve had the Creative Vado HD now for a couple months and have used it a couple times. I was looking for something with pretty decent quality for a cheap price, and it definitely lives up to that. But be warned, Creative is probably the only company who decided to make things more difficult for you if you use a mac. The Vado saves it’s files in a format that iMovie cannot read, so you have to do a lot of leg work to actually get the files into a format that can be put into iMovie. It’s too long and tedious, and given the chance, I probably wouldn’t have bought this in favor of something with better connectivity for my Mac

WE LOVE IT BUT???????

by GLENN BRITTON from FLORIDA on 2010-05-19
WE NEED SOME HELP HERE. WE JUST GIT THIS AND WE LOVE IT. HOWEVER WHEN I TRIED TO HOOK UP AN HDMI CABLE IT DOES NOT FIT INTO THE VADO?????????
CAN ANYONE HELP HERE?

Nice little recorder

by Horrorzilla from Erie, PA on 2010-05-16
I bought this just to play around with and found it to ba a great started HD video recorder. The lack of external memory was not a problem as I always have my laptop close by to download the video too. I highly recommend this to any beginner.

Bought for mother’s day

by Christopher Fox from Utah on 2010-05-12
Other than the battery cover being a little tough to get off(you only have to take it off once to get the rechargeable battery in there) this thing is a breeze to set up. I have owned one for over a year now and i love this thing. I knew my mom wanted a camera handy and i don’t think she quite yet understands how much she will appreciate this little HD gem. The wide angle lens is the real seller here guys, seriously i have checked out lots of handy cams, none that i have seen compare. Mic works well too. Overall great product and simple! She loves it so far.

Returned

by Michelle Brown from MI on 2010-04-29
After seeing this on HSN and then reading the reviews, I purchased this. I got it two days later and was so excited… until I tried it. It did take nice looking video, but the audio was not matching with the video. Maybe this was my fault, but I couldn’t figure out how to fix it & the setting were difficult for me to adjust. I was looking for fool-proof. I sent this right back. After further research, I am going to order the FLIP.

Creative Labs VF0570AB Spare Battery for the Standard Definition Vado Pocket Video Camcorder
Creative Labs VF0570AB Spare Battery for the Standard Definition Vado Pocket Video Camcorder
List Price: $14.99
Sale Price: $10.18
You save: $4.81 (32%)
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Description

The Vado Pocket Video Camcorder battery is for use in your standard definition Vado Pocket Video Camcorder and will extend your recording time for up to an additional 130 minutes. Simply change out the convenient removable battery for additional recording and playback. Works with model numbers VF0570-S and VF0570-P Vado Pocket Video Camcorders.

Features

  • Works with the VF0570 Vado Pocket Camcorders
  • Extend recording time up to 130 additional minutes
  • 3.7V Li-Ion Battery 680mAH

Reviews

Creative Labs Vado litium-ion battery

by Just passing through from New Mexico on 2010-02-25
The Li-ion battery is a good purchase.
However special attention should be paid when buying more than one.
What I mean by this statement is: IF you intend on having more than one battery to swap out and use continuously (or having it as a spare when the one in the camera runs low ) that’s fine. BUT.. If you are buying it to have when the old battery dies on you, you need to know about Lithium-ion batteries.
The battery has about a 2 to 3 year life span. What I mean is, as soon as the battery comes off the production line it’s life span starts. Most of these batteries do not have a manufacturers date on them (or date they were made).
Thus you could buy a battery that’s been sitting on a shelf somewhere for who knows how long. Remember only get an extra battery IF you intend on using it right away.
Don’t depend on it working correctly after 2 to 3 years.
Another good idea is not to let the battery go completely dead while using, it is best to keep about a 40% charge on it for full life. Running the battery continuously dead and recharging shortens the battery life.
This goes for ANY Lithium-Ion based battery. Remember they are not like normal batteries you can just leave laying around for years and they will work.

Works as advertised

by latebird from Princeton, NJ on 2009-05-14
Spec clearly says “VF0570 Vado camcorder”, not for the new Vado HD models. It works great as described.

Vado Battery only works with Vado, NOT HD model

by J. D. Laughead from , vermont United States on 2009-04-13
Accrding to Creative website, This Battery will only work with regular Pocket video Cam, NOT the HD model.

Wrong battery….don’t buy it

by Arthur Martello from USA on 2009-03-05
As the other person wrote in his review, this is not the correct battery for the Vado being sold. Tio return would cost as much to buy it. Stay away. what a rip off!

Didn’t work, wrong size

by Harry J. Nicholie from on 2009-02-19
This Product “Crative Labs VF0570AB was the wrong size battery for the Vado Pocket Video Camcorder, even though your ad said this was the correct battery. Therefore, I can’t use it and at the cost, is was not worth trying to return, and there were not stores near by that handled this product or the camera.

Not a happy customer. If you can help me, please feel free to do so. [...]

Creative Labs Vado HD Pocket Video Camcorder 3rd Generation,120 Minutes (White) - NEWEST MODEL
Creative Labs Vado HD Pocket Video Camcorder 3rd Generation,120 Minutes (White) – NEWEST MODEL
List Price: $179.00
Sale Price: Too low to display

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Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours
Average Rating:

Description

Catch the perfect snowboarding stunt, your baby’s first steps or your kid’s graduation, share it online and save it for a lifetime with Creative’s new Vado HD Pocket Video Cam. The third generation of Vado HD camcorders introduces a sleek new industrial design, the latest Vado Central software, improved light sensitivity, optional stereo microphone input, and availability in multiple colors. The thin, lightweight Vado HD is small enough to fit easily in a pocket, purse or the palm of your hand, and it captures video in 720P high-definition quality video at 30 frames per second with just the touch of a button. Sharing videos online is simple with built-in software that helps you post videos to YouTube, Facebook, Photobucket or Box.net. The Vado HD includes an HDMI output (cable not included) for a superior viewing experience on an HDTV. Take the Vado HD Pocket Video Cam with you everywhere you go and never miss a moment. Product specs include 720p high-definition video at 30fps, wide-angle glass lens, 2.0 inch LCD, still picture capture, touch buttons, 2x digital zoom, 4GB of video storage capacity, up to two hours of recording in HD, up to four hours of recording time at 640×480 at 30 frames per second, HDMI and RCA connections for TV, HDMI and A/V cable sold separately, removable and rechargeable lithium battery, Vado Central software for simple video editing and sharing. System requirements include Windows Xp Service Pack 2 or Vista, Intel Pentium III or higher, 512MB of memory, USB port, 500MB free hard disk space, and 16MB of Video Memory or above. Product ships with Vado camcorder and battery.

Features

  • High definition 720P pocket video camcorder and 4GB of video storage capacity
  • Fits easily in your pocket purse or the palm of your hand
  • One touch recording with a spacious 2 inch display and touch capacitive buttons
  • Record up to two hour of HD video footage at 30 fps
  • Works with PC and Mac

Reviews

Very Good Product

by Richard Lefebvre from Richford, Vermont, US on 2010-07-09
Very good product. Very handy and easy to manipulate. The option permitting to flip from photo to video is a great feature that my 1st generation VADO-HD doesn’t have.
Unfortunately, I bought it for $179 and it became $129 two days after without any possibility to get reimbursed for the difference from Amazon.

NIce, but with reservations

by Darrell J. Lew from Oakland, CA on 2010-07-06
First I tried a refurbished one; it had the same problem as a new one so I’m pretty sure it’s because of the firmware or something.

Positives: the video quality is one of the better ones out there (IMO), color balance is pretty good in both daylight and low light, nice wide screen lens to capture a lot, size and weight are nice, still pictures are good too.

NOT SO GOOD: no buttons so you don’t know you’re hitting them during playback or recording (having to hold strangely to avoid the flush “buttons”), even at its widest zoom you have to very careful of camera shake, case gets scratched super easy, when camera goes into standby you normally hit a button to wake it up – only sometimes it freezes and a power cycle is the only way to get it back.

The latter negatives made me return it. It’s really too bad, b/c I like would’ve kept it had it not been for those issues.

Not Happy

by Dave Z from Rochester NY on 2010-06-24
This Camcorder is hard to use, hold the thing in the wrong spot when you are taking a video a you screw it up , My phone takes better video

You Have to Hang In There….

by Mooncat from on 2010-06-23
I ordered the Vado 3rd Gen after reading a gazillion reviews and watching an equal number of clips on YouTube. I had certainly been warned about people’s perceived negatives, but the video clips and the fact that the camera has options that similar camcorders do not motivated me to give it a try. I have to say right off the bat that IMO Creative is shooting itself in the foot by not making its user guide more comprehensive, and not addressing a lot of the concerns and “what the …..?” issues many, many people have expressed about operating the device. Neither the firmware nor the software were designed to be particularly intuitive – and I’m not a newbie either to devices or computers. I almost put it right back in the box and returned it due to these issues, and I know a lot of people leaving these reviews have done exactly that. However, after an email to Customer Support (which was answered within 24 hours) my major problem was solved and I was okay with the rest. I have experimented with a few videos, mostly indoor shots, and I’m not bowled over by the indoor quality, even in HD+ (which takes FOREVER to process on my core 2 duo with 3GB of RAM). The outdoor quality seems fine. I very much appreciate, however, and think I will be able to adjust to and work with the ability to increase or decrease exposure, and the zoom. Those two features, plus the wide angle, make it a keeper for me at this point. I do definitely see what people mean about the buttons. Sigh. I tried the lock, but it wouldn’t shoot the video if you lock it before you start – which is what most people would want to do, to avoid pushing a button once you do start to shoot. I guess you have to start shooting and THEN push lock. Still experimenting with that. The upload to Facebook was a snap, very easy, and relatively quick for a 10 sec video shot in HD. The very latest issue of Vado Central 3.0.02 has enough function for me, though it’s nothing fancy. It does more than I thought it would, from people’s comments. It’s pretty close to what I got out of Moviemaker when I had a Flip. At this point, I give the Vado 4 stars for quality, and I give Creative 1 star for really dropping the ball with their instructions on use. Will update this in a week or so as far as video quality.

Creative Labs Vado 3rd Gen -Excellent Widescreen Pocket Camcorder

by Denise Hamlin from Coralville, Iowa on 2010-06-22
Mostly I agree with what others have written here. Despite a couple of minor irritations, like the easily smudged casing and the over-sensitive buttons this is a fantastic camcorder for the price. The fact that it’s wide screen puts it light years ahead of the rest. (Image stabilizer would be nice, but you can’t have everything). I would have given it 5 stars if it wasn’t for the fact that it’s impossible to find 3rd party editing software for it and the included software sucks. Before you buy this be aware of that. There’s probably something out there, but up to now I haven’t been able to find it. Like I said though, apart from that this is a great little pocket cam.