Updated: Oct 9, 2017
REVIEW: Creative Labs Vado Mini HD Camcorder

Vado HD - Best Pocket HD Camcorder?
Creative Labs calls the Vado the "Pocket Video Cam", and that's really what these little cameras are supposed to be. They are designed to be portable, small and light enough to be taken anywhere, anytime. Let's start with the size: at just 3.5oz, and packed into a container size of 3.9" long by 2.2" wide by .6" thick, the Vado is just slightly longer than a deck of cards or a pack of cigarettes, but thinner. It'll easily fit into jeans pockets or a small purse, no problem. One thing that made the Flip video camera so popular was its simplicity -- not a bunch of confusing buttons and dials, just a power button, a big red RECORD button, and a play and delete button, that's it.
The Vado follows that strategy. The front side has only the lens -- and one of our few complaints. There is no lens cover, external or built-in, so this thing picks up lint and dust if you pop it in and out of your pocket, and you'll find yourself wiping and blowing at the lens. A removable, rechargeable battery is stored just under the front cover, which slides off to reveal it. Battery life is about 2 hours (takes 7 hours to charge fully via USB cable), while record time is about 2 hours of HD quality on the 8GB model, and 1 hour on the 4GB model. With a true 2" LCD 16:9 widescreen display on the back, the camera shoots 720p HD video (that is the lower of the 2 HD video formats, but still much higher resolution that a standard camcorder). There is no viewfinder -- the screen shows you what you are looking at and recording.
The Vado follows that strategy. The front side has only the lens -- and one of our few complaints. There is no lens cover, external or built-in, so this thing picks up lint and dust if you pop it in and out of your pocket, and you'll find yourself wiping and blowing at the lens. A removable, rechargeable battery is stored just under the front cover, which slides off to reveal it. Battery life is about 2 hours (takes 7 hours to charge fully via USB cable), while record time is about 2 hours of HD quality on the 8GB model, and 1 hour on the 4GB model. With a true 2" LCD 16:9 widescreen display on the back, the camera shoots 720p HD video (that is the lower of the 2 HD video formats, but still much higher resolution that a standard camcorder). There is no viewfinder -- the screen shows you what you are looking at and recording.

Using the Creative Labs Vado HD - How good is the video?

So while operation is very good overall, I can't say the same for the resulting video. Now keep in mind these mini cameras are not meant to shoot Hollywood style, first-rate video -- that's why they are under $200 and practically disposable, designed more for teens than anyone else, I think. That being said, it's hard to get a steady shot with one hand and a camera that weighs a few ounces. I think it is also an issue of the hardware or software compression that takes place, but if there is a lot of movement going on, you get fairly jumpy and jerky video clips. If you consciously hold the camera steady with two hands and minimize your movement, you'll get decent HD videos. If you use a tripod, you will get VERY good HD videos. If you use one hand and run around and bounce around and chase moving subjects, you will get very hard to watch video clips. In all cases, color capture and overall clarity is actually quite good, outdoor sunlit scenes of course look better than indoor scenes, as with any camera. Indoor low-lighting scenes were acceptable, as was audio capture. So we tend to use this camera inter-mixed with our other digital still camera that also shoots 640x480 video clips (which are very good, but not of course HD). If you are looking for a high-end HD camcorder, this isn't it. If you are looking for a low-cost, portable, fun HD video camera, then the Vado may be just what you are looking for.
Alternatively, you may also want to look into some other competing mini HD cameras like the Kodak Zi8 HD Pocket Video Camera
Here's a video clip showing what the Vado looks like and basic operation -- note how the front battery cover is removed, how the USB adapter flips down from the bottom, and how the power, record, play and delete buttons function.
Creative Labs Vado HD - First Generation vs. Second Generation

Below are more pictures of the Vado. Feel free to contact us if you have any questions.
What's in the box.. silicone sleeve, cords, battery![]() |
Here's the flip-out USB adapter that is built into the bottom of the Vado, swings in and out when needed.![]() |
Close up of the lens..![]() |
Battery cover lifts off the front..![]() |
View of the display screen..![]() |