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

The VadoHD may not be absolutely perfect but it is an excellent handy HD minicorder and well worth the money. The features that distinguish it from the equivalent Flip and in my mind make it the better device are the built in USB toggle and the HDMI direct connect to a TV. It is also essentially one button operation like the Flip so is very easy to use. The USB toggle is great as you don't need to carry around a cord or adapter either to download or charge the recorder. I think the criticism that it prevents you from standing the recorder up on its base is silly as you should use a little tripod for that anyway. I also like the fact that the software necessary to view the clips is built into the camera so you can attach the camera to a friends computer and immediately show the videos. The colors are nice and bright, the exposure is balanced and the resolution is certainly noticably better than non HD video you see from digital cameras.

As I've given it 5 stars I'll now focus on some annoyances just to balance my review. First, when you reactivate the device by clicking the record button (ie it goes to sleep because you are not recording) it comes on but sometimes you need to click the record button twice (once to wake up and then again to record). That is logical I suppose but in bright light it can be hard to see whether the device is simply on or whether it is in fact recording. I've gotten used to this so I am extra careful to check but I did miss some recordings when I first started because the recorder was simply active, not recording. That doesn't seem to be an issue if you start it using the main on/off button, only when you wake it up from suspend mode by using the record button itself.

The device has frozen on me a couple of times (generally I think when I mash buttons while it is trying to do something else). This requires taking the battery out to reboot. No biggie except that to get the battery cover off you need to remove the hand strap which is a pain and tough to do in the field. A more convenient way to reboot would be useful.

The digital zoom, like all digital zooms, is pretty useless. The clarity of the 1x recordings looks great on a HD TV but the fuzzy 2x digital zoomed shots stand out like a sore thumb. They are essentially regular definition rather than HD.

There is a lot to like about this recorder and I'd get another if I lost it. I hope they come out with some water proof versions down the line. It is a great device to just leave in your pocket, briefcase, purse, car etc.Get more detail about Creative Labs Vado HD 720p Pocket Video Camcorder with 8 GB Video Storage and 2x Digital Zoom (Black).