10 Camcorder Roundup : Creative Vado
5. Creative Vado
- Vado Digital Camcorder...
Accessories
Creative sells accessories for the Vado directly via its own website. There are no bundles and the cost of adding these extra items can soon add up.
To start with, an extra battery is around $25--but this isn't compatible with the USB charger, so if you buy one, you'll also need to add a main battery for $37.50.
Given how small and delicate the Vado is, you might want to buy a small pouch to protect--that'll cost you another $17. Cables and other accessories are all paid-for extras, too.
Well known for its peripherals, including speakers, headsets and keyboards, Creative has decided to launch a range of pocket camcorders.
The idea is simple: ultra simplistic products that do just one thing--video-- and do it well.
Even though the majority of still cameras and mobile phones now shoot video as well as photos, this new breed of pocket camcorders is bucking the all-in-one trend by sticking to a single function.
Handling
Incredibly light, this camcorder is easily stashed in a pocket, and looks more like an MP3 player than a camcorder at first glance.
It's hard to persuade yourself that it's a camcorder by getting up close, as the lightweight brushed-metal exterior isn't at all like the more robust casing we've come to expect from some of its more powerful siblings.
The power button is annoyingly situated on one side, and when you switch it on, it becomes clear that there are three very simple things it can do: record, play and delete.
Everything is automatic, and there are two menus that allow you to change the settings.
It's all very straightforward: you shoot the video using a tiny lens that looks like it's come from a mobile phone, record it onto the 2 GB internal memory, and finally play it back on the 2'' LCD screen.
While the battery lasts two hours, you might find yourself a little tied down by the fact that you can only charge it using a USB connection to your computer; if you want a spare battery or main charger, these are available as (expensive) optional extras from Creative.
The Vado's main selling point is that it's a pocket camcorder: something you carry around every day to shoot short clips to share with friends.
To that end, Creative bundles software that helps you upload your content directly to sites like YouTube--but is the video actually good enough to convince anybody to watch it?
Video Quality
Comparing the Creative Vado to two competitors from very different fields was instructive. We compared it to the Samsung Player Addict, a mobile phone, and the Samsung W9, a digital camera.
The Vado's video is a lot sharper than the phone's, but not much of an improvement over the still camera. Not only do some digital cameras shoot in HD (the Vado doesn't), they also have a whole range of other features too.
The Vado will almost certainly do if you need to capture a very short piece of video very quickly, but it really can't match a real camcorder and we can't recommend it for family use.
Finally, to talk numbers, you can record one hour of video in VGA quality or two hours in 'High Quality' mode--but we're still waiting for the HD version of the Vado, which might just be worth it.
| Creative Vado | |
|---|---|
| Pluses | Minuses |
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This is a very good attempt by Creative to enter the pocket camcorder market. The next step is a big improvement in video quality--including HD video if possible. For the moment, it's best treated as a novelty rather than a serious camcorder.
It's a troubling trend that nearly all consumer/prosumer camcorders are ditching the EVF in favor of the LCD, which is useless outdoors. I really liked the Canons, given their feature set and quality, but the lack of EVF was killer (the only model with EVF was the HG21, and that was impossible to find), and so I got a Sony SR12 instead. Great features are useless if you can't see what you're filming, unless you're doing all your work indoors.
I am only part way through the article, but I have to say that comparing the Vado (about $100) with even the Canon DC210 (about $400) just doesn't wash. If you had at least mentioned the price disparity, it might have been acceptable, but the Vado isn't aimed at the same market. Plus, the VADO HD is available, yet the article says, "but we're still waiting for the HD version of the Vado."
For me, this weakens the journalism and therefore weakens the reviews in general. It makes me wonder, did you really do due diligence in the review. Maybe your article lead time is too long, but that's where an editor can add notes, like, The Vado HD was released just after this review was completed.
Just my two cents worth.
I'll stick with my Canon HG10, EVF , 40GB HD, hotshoe, Mic input, perfect HD image....None of these compare.
At first I thought this was an old article that had slipt through RSS a second time, but no it was recent.
The reason is because I would not know for any reason to still review the Panasonic HDC-SD1. It's multiple generations old and you might be hard pressed to even find it. The four generations younger HDC-SD9 would be a lot better candidate even if it is not the latest generation, but it is still a reference with regards to value for money.
I haven't red it entirely, buy giving a '+' for a microphone (7.Panasonic HDC-SD1) is (imho) a joke. You can give a minus for no-audio recording, but giving a plus for a microphone is just too much!
2) You give a minus to Sony HDR-UX3 for lacking Image Stabilisation, and how about Sony HDR-SR11E - does it have IS or doesn't? JVC GZ-HD40 for example got a minus for medicore IS ...
I'd rewrite this article ... to some exent ..
I like digital camcorder very much , this unit looks very nice , how much it is?
Panasonic HDC-SD1 is too old. There were SD5, SD9, and now SD100. The last one is a way better than SD9. So, what is the need to review HDC-SD1?