Creative Labs Vado HD 720p Pocket Video Camcorder with 8 GB Video Storage and 2x Digital Zoom (Black) OLD MODEL
by Creative Labs
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List Price: Our Price: $128.88 You Save: $101.11 (44%) Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours Buy Used: from $69.95 (click here) Category: Digital Camera See more product details |
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Digital Cameras Photo Reviews of Creative Labs Vado HD 720p Pocket Video Camcorder with 8 GB Video Storage and 2x Digital Zoom (Black) OLD MODEL
Customer Review: Great Camcorder for HD video capture.
Summary: 5 Stars
I have been using this camcorder for about 1 month and I love it! Here are some of the positive points about the camcorder.
Image: Excellent quality image at 720p capture.
Size: Compact and easy to carry in a shirt pocket for easy access. Comes with a rubber insert to proctect the camcorder which I recommend.
Ease of use: It really does not get much easier than this folks. One button record/stop. One click upload to youtube, photobucket or Box.net, after the initial setup of your username and password.
Hardware: This camcorder comes with a built in USB cable that hides at the bottom until you are ready to use. There is a HDMI cable also to connect your camcorder to your TV giving you a 1080i video.
Now for the CONS. Yes, there are a few of them but minor.
Softwre: Bundled editing software is from Muvee. If you are going to rely on using the bundled software for editing your movies you will be surprised when you try to create a movie with more than 3 clips. The bundled software only allows for editing of 3 clips and will not allow you to burn a DVD using the software. You will be prompted to "upgrade" in order to get these features for $17.95. I paid the additional money for the upgrade and I am happy I did. Being able to edit more than 3 clips is nice and burning a DVD with one click keeps things simple. Also, the software by default will add built-in music to your movie and you will have to disable this everytime you make a movie. I have yet to figure out a way to disable this.
I wish there was a lense cap or cover to protect the lense from any damage. I would hate to scratch the lense in this camcorder and have to buy a new one.
I would have to say that this camcorder is for the person that is wanting something portable with high def video capture, inexpensive, and easy to use. You will not be making any blockbuster movies with this camcorder but will be making some killer, high quality memories of you and your family. I highly recommend this camcorder to all and I am confident you will have a blast with it!
Customer Review: This is a great camcorder!
Summary: 5 Stars
Customer review from the Amazon Vine™ Program (What's this?)
I received my Creative Labs Vado 720p Pocket Video Camcorder a couple of weeks ago. I love it. Whats not to like? Its tiny, extremely easy to use, and takes great videos which are also extremely easy to watch on my computer or my TV.
I have used other mini camcorders, and they work great, but I like the Vados ability to take great videos indoors. On some of the others I have tried, you need to be way across the room in order to get an entire person in the video. With this Vado I can stand a few feet away and shoot a few people from head to toe. Thats a great feature for me because I have kids and I like to have a camcorder around to catch some memories as they happen. And many of them happen indoors, at close range.
The Vado comes with a USB extender cable, which is great so I don't have to hang the camcorder off the front of my PC. Included is a silicone jacket that slips over the camcorder to protect it from scratches, and it also makes it easier to grip so there is no chance of it slipping out of your fingers. It also has an HDMI cable so I can hook it to my TV and watch videos directly from the camcorder. The kids love that feature because every time I film them they want me to play it on the TV. And it is very easy to do.
This camcorder is perfect for me. It takes great videos, its small and light weight, and its easy to watch and edit the videos. I am not a huge "gadget" type of person. I like things simple and easy, and I like to get great results. The Vado fits that bill perfectly.
The thinking process for me is why spend thousands of dollars getting a model with all the bells and whistles when this camcorder will handle 99% of all my video needs? Its a great camcorder and I highly recommend it.
Customer Review: WINNER FOR CREATIVE LABS VADO HD
Summary: 5 Stars
Wow! All I can say is that if every Camera, and Video Cam I have Purchsed worked as simply as this, Life would be as beautiful as the Video's it produces...
I ordered mine Direct from Creative Labs. I saved about $40 on the Insurance which is always wise to purchase. And free shipping with 30 day return if not satisfied.
I inserted the battery and it already had a pretty good charge for out of the Box. I went ahead and Fully Charged it.
Once charged (which was not long at all) I headed out. I started from the Parking Garage of my Condo. Very poorly lite, and dark. I was amazed at the clear picture on my screen as I started out toward the securiey gate system. I wanted to see the light changes from dark to light. Once again very pleased with what I was looking at. I was providing a voice description during this Intro Run. I was just holding the camera in my hand facing the front windsheild as I drove. I went over RR Tracks and Rough Road. I had Bright Sun Behind me setting in the West and Dark Rain Clouds in the East direction that I was heading.
I made about a Large 3 mile Circle comming back directly into the bright sun light just above the Horizon.
When I got Home I plugged it into my Computer, and all of this great software began to down load from the cameras automatically.
The results were exactly as I had hoped from this Pocket Cam... Great looking definition,Quality, and detail (even better than my more expensive Sony Camcorder). The sound was very good quality from my Computer speakers, not hallow or tinnie...very full sound.
Keep in mind to everyone who is thinking of purchasing this kind of Cam ask yourself why? and what you want to achieve?
I wanted total Simplicity, Good Quality, in a very small Package. I was not only impressed, but convinced that this VadoHD will be with me everywhere I go. My other Cams, and Camera's will be sitting on the shelf for quite awhile. Give it a try, I think you will be surprised as well.
Customer Review: Let's get Creative!
Summary: 5 Stars
Customer review from the Amazon Vine™ Program (What's this?)
Creative says it all on the box. See It, Shoot It, Share It. This is a fun little video cam to use. The first thing I noticed after taking it out of the box is that it feels good in my hand. It also comes with a clear silicone case, which is a plus. The camera is user friendly with lots of features. I liked that the software came on the camera's memory. The player boots up when you plug in the camera's USB and you can view your video, edit it, and once you install the software, add effects, then save it, share it, or both. With 8GB of storage and three resolutions to use you can create a lot of masterpieces. This also comes with it's own HDMI cable, which impressed me, but you have to supply your own A/V cable. But we have an HDTV with HDMI ports so an A/V cable was not necessary.
My first project in order to test the camera out was to make a video recording of our home and all it's possessions. Never know when you will need it for insurance purposes. The outside viewing was just as it looked outside. The inside viewing had a slight yellow tint, but everything was clear.
The camera also has a 2x zoom which is nice. The zoom is steady, as long as you are, and has a built in microphone so you can describe your actions.
Some reviewers compared this to the Flip Video MinoHD; I also have them both and I prefer the Vado HD over the MinoHD because of the feel of the camera, the larger screen and the larger storage capacity.
All in all, if you are looking for a fun gadget that will give you great HD video for a pocket cam and be easy on your wallet, then this should do the job. Besides, it's from Creative. Have fun with it. :-)
Customer Review: A Winner
Summary: 5 Stars
I earned my living with 35mm motion picture cameras for 30 years and have owned several consumer camcorders.
The Creative Vado HD+ is an incredible bargain at the current price of $129.
Far and away the best attribute of this camcorder is the lens. It's wide. Really, really wide. This is extremely valuable for two reasons.
First, human beings see wide. That's why a wide angle lens is so valuable to photographers - this camera sees like you do. Your pictures look like the movies, even if the HD footage is a little contrasty.
Second, the camera is so small and light, hand-held images are gonna be shaky, no matter who's operating it. But, the wider the lens, the less a problem this is. Other cameras' lenses deliver a much smaller angle of view and a less natural and shakier picture. Kudos to Creative for giving this camera a truly wide angle lens. The only one that does.
All that said, an image stabilizing function would do wonders for this camera, even with such a wide view. Autofocus would be nice, too. The fixed-focus lens won't focus any closer than a foot or so. If you want to shoot bugs, this won't do.
Battery life is so-so. You can't fill an 8GB card (2 hours of HD+) on one charge.
This camera generates TONS of data. Be prepared to fill up your hard drive in no time. At top res, camera files occupy about one megabyte for every second the camera's recording.
Sound is also so-so. It's mono, not stereo. The mic does an adequate job of picking up sound, but is very susceptible to the slightest breath of wind.
All in all, a absolute winner. Convenient, easy to use, great pictures and very satisfying. The next generations of these cameras are going to be fantastic.