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

The VadoHD is thin and light, with a mini-HDMI out, and the rubber finish is nice. It charges via USB.

NOTE: The stupid USB jack on the bottom of the device has a rubber tab that you use to pull out the USB plug. That goofy tab also means that you CANNOT prop up the VadoHD to take video! Unlike all other video cams I have seen or own, you CANNOT stand the device up to take extended video!!! You need a tripod or use it handheld - STUPID, STUPID! What were these guys thinking????


The AVI is jerky on PC, even with VLC. Files do NOT import to iMovie. QT CANNOT play this without other codec.


My take - of all the lamebrained ideas - this is just stupid. The pix of the device in most reviews appears as if you can rest the Vado on a surface to shoot video - NO, you CANNOT. You cannot start it up and walk away - you must either hold it (and HD video is jerky!) or use a tripod (more to carry around). My solution? I had to cut off the tab, which in turn now requires a paperclip to dig out the USB connector.

The VadoHD comes with a milky-white rubber sleeve - which clashes with the black finish - this is just plain stupid as well...The PC playback is jerky, even after you need to restart the PC after the first time you connect. You need to download crap from Creative. which is also a dumb thing to do these days!

The files are AVI which do NOT import into iMovie. However, VLC for the mac (0.98a) works fine for playback.

The video is clean, although a bit too color-rich and bright, but requires a steady hand and S-L-O-W panning (as with all HD video). All in all, the MinoHD may have been a better choice. That goofy tab on the VadoHD is to me a fatal flaw...Get more detail about Creative Labs Vado HD 720p Pocket Video Camcorder with 8 GB Video Storage and 2x Digital Zoom (Black).