Creative Labs Vado HD 8 GB Pocket Video Camcorder, 2nd Generation (Black Gloss with Maroon Accents) - VF0580 BK-MR

Never miss a moment with one of these handy things.

11/21/2009

I concur with many of the other reviews here. This little device takes beautiful, HD video and is smaller than our C@n0n SD600 still camera. Slightly larger than an iPh0ne 3G. A brief list of general pros and cons is provided - there are no specific speeds and feeds, since during my use of the device it's been pretty spot-on to what the manufacturer specs claim:

PROS

1 - Portable. I think that attempts to make devices like this any smaller would result in them being harder to use.
2 - Simple. This was the first device of its kind I've owned, and I haven't yet had to refer to the manual.
3 - Beautiful video. I only use the highest quality setting, so I can't rate the other settings. I am quite pleased with the video quality.
4 - Low light performance is excellent.
5 - Takes a lot of video before the battery requires a recharge or the storage needs to be freed up.
6 - LCD screen is bright and performs quite well in daylight conditions.
7 - The unit is ready to start recording IMMEDIATELY after powering on. This greatly improves your odds of capturing spontaneous events.
8 - Similar to 7 above, when you are done recording, there is only the slightest of delays while the memory is written before the unit is ready to power down and you can move on.

CONS

1 - No image stabilization. Like many other reviews here have stated, you need a very steady hand or tripod to avoid screen shakes.
2 - No stereo sound. Sounds minor, but I'd really like stereo audio.
3 - The included (latex?) cover makes it hard to discern where some controls are, like the power button and it doesn't protect the critical components exposed on the device (lens/screen).
4 - The lack of a lens cover makes me very nervous. The tendency is to stick this highly portable device in a pocket so that it's there when you want it. But pockets often also contain keys, coins, and lint, none of which I think are particularly good for a camera lens.
5 - Similar to above, there is no cover for the LCD screen either, and LCD screens are fragile.
6 - I'd have liked a larger LCD screen on this device.
7 - I'm not crazy about the flip-out USB connector. I think that in time this will be the piece that fails. Why not just use a standard mini USB type B socket like every other device of its kind?
8 - The zoom (digital) is pretty feeble.


The pros outweigh the cons though; I don't expect a full set of features on something this tiny. At the time of this review, I had bought this on sale for ~$120 US, which seems reasonable. It was certainly worth it to be able to get (HD) video of my family without all the drawbacks of getting our mini-DVD out and ready to use (a rather cumbersome procedure).

Above expectations

11/21/2009

Watch Video Here: http://www.amazon.com/review/R2OJH3K6B8I2F0 I bought the camera for my last vacations, I also bought the water proofbag Creative Labs VA0580 Vado and Vado HD Waterproof Pouch (Blue)and I used it for snorkeling and the video is incredible and the sound is amazing, i used the camera too for a ride in a jet-sky and the rides at the theme parks

The only thing is that you need a usb port to charge it, and in my trip i didn't at first, but the battery lasted long enough for the first few days, i recorded amazing and funny videos with my new vado, now i bought a car charger and a travel charger an extra cost but believe me it's worth it.

Vado HD - love it

11/21/2009

I bought it both for work and for play.. Took it to Maui and it was easy to use, has ample battery life. It did take me a little while to get the hang of it but once I did it is great. I plan to use it to post my listings (I am a Realtor)

Couldn't be More Pleased!

11/21/2009

We have had our Vado approx. 4 weeks and couldn't be happier. The clarity of the picture on our Panasonic 42" HD TV is amazing. The best feature is portability. Just slip in your shirt pocket, purse, etc. Easy to use. As soon as my mother-in-law seen it she had to have one. She has no computer so bought the charger and is haveing a ball showing off on her HD flat screen TV.
You will not be dissappointed!

Fantastic little gadget

11/21/2009

I bought this for my 5-year old. I only had to show her how to power on the device (as you need to hold to power button for 1 second or so to start the device). After that, she just figured out how to record, play back and even delete stuff from the device.
It's the simplicity (and the acceptable video quality) that makes me give this 5-star rating. Uploading to youtube is also a one-click affair.

Here's an example video shot by my daughter
[...]

Without the Vado, I would not have been able to have cherished moments like this.
I know that the Flip is the king in this category, but I found this on special offer on Amazon for $[...] which I thought was an excellent deal.