Buy Creative Labs Vado HD 720p Pocket Video Camcorder with 8 GB Video Storage and 2x Digital Zoom (Black)

The Vado HD, is a pocket sized memory based video recorder. I will be comparing it to the Flip Ultra as a standard. Like the Flip, the Vado HD has a built-in USB port, which is on a small flexible 'cable'. Apparently this is helpful for people who are plugging the device into a laptop. The controls are also similar but off set to the left, rather than center line. There is an on/off toggle to one side of the device, which is opposite the HDMI plug (a feature lacking in the non HD Flip), directly above this is a plug for headphones. Unlike the Flip, the Vado HD uses a cell phone battery: it seems standard so should be easy to replace. It also has a 2 hour capacity versus the Flip's 1 hour. Included in the case were cables, documentation (which I never read) and a soft silicon case.

This is a trivial but important detail for me. I keep all my electronics in silicon cases that I end up buying from a third party vendor. My goal with most small electronics I own is to sell them after I upgrade, so I try to keep everything in the best condition possible. Having Vado include the case eliminates that extra step which can be a pain in the rear. If you try to go and buy one of these cases right off the shelf from Best Buy or some other brick and mortar, they can cost upwards of $15. They are reasonably cheap here on Amazon. I'd rather just have the case included so I can start using the device immediately.

Unfortunately the software included with the Vado HD is Windows only, so I was unable to use it. I have uploaded a couple of videos to youtube to see how they turn out. I do miss the relative transparency of video downloading with the Flip, though the results are ultimately the same. One of the limitations seen in the Flip is still found in the Vado HD - the line of sight 'view' screen. Unless you are in direct line of sight there will be a fair amount of guess work involved in recording events. For extended time shoots I would recommend a tripod or some other device for stabilizing the video recorder.

What is really surprising about these little HD cameras is how incredibly small they are, and how light. This unit is easily the same size as my cell phone and weighs much less. You're not lugging around some daft heavy piece of equipment to shove in unsuspecting people's faces anymore; there is no need for that. The video quality is just astonishing when you consider everything you had to go through for something similar just five years ago.
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