Today’s smartphones claim to have enough resolution to take a perfect large size still image. But, let us face it, most mobile phones still lack in high definition video recording. And, not everybody has a camcorder and even if you do, having it with you all the times is a little burdensome due to its bulk and weight. Thus, Pocket camcorders have surfaced over the past few years and true to its name, the camcorders are pocketable, shoot video in HD resolution and are very easy to use. Creative’s Vado HD is one of them who have made an effort to take on the likes of Flip Mino, Kodak Zi8 etc.

The first generation Creative Vado HD may have fallen off the horse for the first time, but Creative has dusted off the little boy and come back for more. After a minor update to the original Vado HD mini camcorder, Creative has now released this entirely revamped 3rd Gen edition. The new third-generation Vado HD departs from the first and second generations with a sleek new design, additional features like external microphone support and improved low-light recording, while oddly dropping in storage from 8GB to 4GB. Fortunately, now Creative has also released the model in 8GB capacity. Its list price is significantly less than the second generation Flip Video MinoHD and about the same as its rival, the Kodak Zi8, which requires you to buy an additional memory card as it lacks any internal memory. Read on to find out more.

Design:

Metal bodied tiny camcorder:

Even though the Vado HD 3rd Gen Camcorder is quite attractive, it does not feel quite as durable as the heavier Kodak Zi8 or the metal-bodied second-generation Flip Mino HD, and since it has a shiny finish, it does seem prone to scratches.  It is tiny, even by mini camcorder standards, measuring only (H x W x D) 99 x 58 x 16mm and weighing just 93g; both smaller and lighter than its predecessor. There is no silicon sleeve provided, as with the original, so the glossy finish could be easily scratched. That glossy finish covers pretty much the whole front and rear fascias. This is because Creative has opted to use touch-sensitive controls. This decision, we think, is disastrous.

As with most camcorders of this class, the design is fairly basic; the operating side features a large 2″ LCD display with a resolution of 640×240 pixels with just a single record button flanked by capacitive touch buttons that are quite responsive. The screen is a little washed out and is not as clear as other pocket cams. That said though, the actual output quality of the video is far superior. The Creative Vado HD 3rd Generation Camcorder is available in white, purple, black, blue (cyan), and red.

Buttons and Slots:

The only dedicated button on the rear is the record button, but this is nestled amid a minefield of touch sensitive areas. On its side, there is a Mini HDMI port for outputting video to HDTVs. However, no cable has been included in the package. At the bottom, there is a threaded tripod mount and flip-out USB connector, for uploading and charging through a PC. Finally, on the top, you will find a headphone jack that also accepts optional external microphones.

Interface:

There is nothing to rave about the interface, but it is fairly straightforward and quite simple enough to navigate through once you play around with the camcorder for ten or fifteen minutes. The simple interface allows for easy one-button recording with a single big red button on the front. Unfortunately it is surrounded by some awkwardly touch sensitive buttons controlling zoom and exposure. These controls are far too sensitive, and we regularly found ourselves zooming in, adjusting the exposure or switching to playback mode when we did not mean to. We sincerely hope Creative goes back to the old controls on the next model.

One impressive point is the speed at which it starts up. Press the power button on top and you are shooting in around two seconds. The two buttons on the side are for deleting files and switching between video and camera modes with the latter being limited to a resolution of 1,280 x 720 pixels. These buttons could easily have been assigned to more important tasks, such as exposure level.

Features:

Video Capability:

Internally, there are improvements in certain areas and cut backs to others. Creative has not disclosed the size of the 1,280 x 720 CMOS sensor, but we would guess it was the same 1/4.5in used in the vast majority of mini camcorders. It has the ability to shoot videos at High Definition resolution of 720p and at the lower 640 x 480 pixels VGA resolution, which allows you to store more video than the typical 2 hours of HD in the 4GB of internal memory. That “2 hours” we had mentioned is about how long the rechargeable lithium ion battery lasts as well. The Vado HD has also got an impressive wide-angle lens on the front giving it a far broader field of vision than the more expensive Flip camera.

Still Image:

In addition to this, there is also a still image capture mode that produces photos just a notch above the camera phone quality. It is only capturing the images at the same 720p resolution but it is a handy extra feature. And though there is no macro or close-up mode or image stabilisation, it does have a motion detection option that triggers recording when it senses motion in front of the lens. As with most of current pocket camcorders in the market, there is a 2x digital zoom but no optical zoom.

Video formats:

Similar to the MinoHD, this model records H.264 compressed video in MPEG 4 format instead of the Advanced Profile MPEG-4 AVI used by the original Vado HD. The video quality was decent for an inexpensive camcorder, but when the video shot is compared with its predecessor as well as with its competitors, the colours seemed less vibrant; in more poorly lit environments, the Flip camcorders performed better, with slightly less noise and a sharper image. Also, the Flip camcorders managed to adjust for exposure that is going from bright to dark scenes faster. Interestingly, the Vado HD third generation Camcorder from Creative has manual exposure control, just press the forward and back buttons as you shoot. This is not very useful, though and we say so for three reasons: the effect is fairly subtle, the exposure changes so slowly that you tend to overshoot your goal, and it is also impossible to see the changes on the LCD so you cannot tell where you want to be.

Software:

The software allows for one-touch uploads to YouTube, Photobucket, Box.net, Facebook, KinKast, and MotionBox plus Twitter on the Mac, once you have stored your username and password for each service. You will also be able to email clips to friends and family. Beyond the sharing capabilities, you really do not get much else. It provides only the basic capability to trim clips, as well as extract a single photo or 30 photos. You will not be able to stitch them together into a longer movie, though. On the Mac, it can hand off editing to iMovie through a dedicated link in the software. Creative has slightly improved its sharing features, but Flip Video remains the leader in this area, with its online Flip Channels and an iPhone app allowing you or your friends and family to access those videos remotely from an iPhone or iPod Touch.

Easy transmission:

One of the Flip’s key advantages has been how easy it is to get videos off the camera and distribute them, and Creative has put a bit more effort into this aspect of the user experience. Vado Central 3.0 software comes preloaded in the camcorder and can run under both Windows and OS X 10.4 or later. Unlike its rivals, however, you will not be able to run the software unless the device is attached to the system, and you can only install it to your hard drive under OS X. Creative says it works this way because its users prefer third-party software, but it still seems unnecessary to cripple the software like this and likely tick off some people. Unlike with previous models, at least compatibility does not seem to be an issue; the MP4 files play fine using QuickTime and Adobe Premiere Elements.

Performance:

Video Quality:

It is important to note that when you keep the playback image small on your PC, like that of the YouTube size, it is harder to distinguish between the video quality among these models, particularly when it comes to sharpness and noise. But when you blow the video up to full screen or view it on a large-screen TV, you will start to see the differences. Though you cannot compare this High Definition video to the video you had captured with a full-fledged HD camcorder, shooting in 720p does allow you to scale the image to larger sizes and retain a reasonable amount of detail and sharpness than with VGA-resolution video.

Tripod necessary:

To get stable video with this type of camcorder, it will be helpful to make use a tripod; normal handheld jitter is almost inescapable. Like most of its competitors, the camcorder does not focus at close distances; we wish there was a macro mode like the one that is offered on the Kodak Zi8 Pocket Video Camera.

Audio quality:

Moving on to the audio, we found that it is louder than the original Vado HD. For best results you will have to stand fairly close to your subject and not have too much extraneous noise, but it has record and play back with ample volume and does so relatively clearly. Like the Zi8, the model supports an optional external stereo mic through the headphone jack, which allows for enhanced recording capabilities.

Accessories:

With its charger and data cable built right in, the Vado HD does not really need any accessories, but Creative throws in an HDMI cable for outputting video to HDTVs, and a short USB extension, which can be useful when dealing with the crowded ports on the back of a desktop. We missed the silicon skin bundled with the original Vado HD, but the accessories still stand above the likes of Flip’s MinoHD, which includes frills like an accessory pouch and lanyard, but no HDMI cable to pair with its HDMI port.

Warranty:

Creative offers its 3rd generation Vado HD one year warranty for parts and labour.

Verdict:

This 3rd generation of Creative’s Vado HD makes an impressive outing. It packs a surprising amount of functionality in something normally considered more of a toy than a proper camcorder. The 3rd Gen Vado is a case of three steps forward, two steps back. The video and audio quality is improved and the microphone input is a great idea; however, the reduced storage capacity and touch sensitive controls are unwelcome changes. Overall, the Creative Vado HD 3rd Gen does not successfully distinguish itself from the competition, particularly the Kodak Zi8, it does offer some nice improvements over earlier Vado HD models that keep it relevant in the pocket camcorder space. Ideally, however, we would like to see this model discounted to less than the stated price tag. At that price, it might become more tempting.

Creative Vado HD 3rd Generation Video Camcorder – Technical Specifications

Manufacturer Creative
Model Name Vado HD
Type Pocket Camcorder
Dimensions (H x W x D) 3.9″ x 2.2″ x 0.6″ (98.8 mm x 57.6 mm x 15.8 mm)
Weight 93g (with battery)
Colours Black, White, Purple, Blue and Red
Screen type LCD
Screen size 50.8 mm (2″) diagonal, 16 million colours
Screen Resolution 640 x 240 pixels
Tripod mount Tripod mount
Sensor HD CMOS (1280 x 720)
Video resolution HD (1280 x 720p), VGA (640 x 480)
Low light performance Extremely high sensitivity at 3.3V/lux-sec
Frame rate 30 frames per second
Zoom 2x Digital Zoom
Internal memory 4GB
Online Sharing YouTube™, Photobucket™, Box.net, Facebook, KinKast
Recording capacity Up to: 1 hour (HD+ quality), 2 hours (HD quality),
4 hours (VGA quality)
Digital video file format .mp4 (H.264, AAC)
Exposure Adjustment Auto or Manual
Still image format JPEG
Still picture HD still picture at 1280 x 720
PC connection Built-in flexi USB connector
TV Out RCA, HDMI (HDMI cable included)
Microphone Built-in
Speaker Built-in
Included Software Pre-loaded Vado Central 3.0
Battery life 2 hours
Warranty One year

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