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

I cannot understand the raving reviews about the video quality of this device. If you have ever seen the opening footage of "The Wonder Years," that is pretty much what the video looks like....8mm film footage taken in the late sixties/early seventies. At first I thought perhaps I had mistakenly set it on standard video instead of HD, but no...the setting was correct, and the result was horrible. Perhaps it will please those who just want to watch what they shoot on their computer or who want to use it for uploading to You Tube, or those who really put emphasis on the portability of the unit, thus two stars instead of one. But, other than that, stick with a standard HD camcorder. (I should, in fairness, note that I am viewing the video on a large, 67-inch wide-screen HD television) Another reviewer mentioned not to expect the same quality you get on your "normal" HD camcorder, which could be the understatement of the year. I did not really expect the same quality when I bought it, but this thing does not even come close.

Another sore point is the fact that the included (in the device) video software is pretty useless unless you upgrade to (buy) the full version, which to me reeks of a "bait-and-switch" tactic. I use Corel Ulead VideoStudio 11.5, which does the job. I refuse to upgrade the included software simply out of principle.

Two other things to be aware of: 1) due to its size, even the slightest movement on your part will make it look like an earthquake hit while you were videoing, and 2) in bright sunlight, what you are viewing through the LCD screen will pretty much be a best guess...it is very difficult to see what the image is and if you are wearing sunglasses, forget about it.

My main regret is that I waited to long to test this thing out (past the 30 day return), so now I am stuck with it. Otherwise, I would have sent it back. Put whatever you would be spending on this unit toward a highly rated HD camcorder. They come in fairly small sizes these days in their own right, and you will be much more pleased with the result (by far). Get more detail about Creative Labs Vado HD 720p Pocket Video Camcorder with 8 GB Video Storage and 2x Digital Zoom (Black).