Creative Vado Camcorder Review

by Kaitlyn Chantry
Published on Sep 5, 2008 11:28 AM

 
Intro Performance
Format Auto / Manual Controls
Still Features Handling and Use
Audio / Playback / Connectivity
 Other Features
Conclusion & Comparisons Photo Gallery
Specs and Ratings


Audio (3.00)
On a camcorder that costs just $100, most users won't expect any audio features. And on the Vado, they won't find any. Like the Flip series, the Vado has a built-in microphone located to the right of the lens. Creative gives no specifications on the range of this microphone, but we found that the Vado's microphone seemed to be much less crisp and less sensitive when compared side-by-side with the Flip Mino.

There is no Wind Cut, Zoom, Levels, Mic input, Headphone output, or accessory shoe hiding in the tiny body of the Vado. This is certainly standard for camcorders of this ilk.

Playback (2.50)
In order to watch your video, just press the play button. There is no menu or other navigation interface, so to select a particular video, you'll have to hit forward or back until you reach the video you're looking for. When you first hit the play button, the most recent clip will automatically start playing. You can adjust the playback volume by pushing up or down on the directional pad. To delete a clip, press the trash can button, confirm that you want to delete, and say goodbye to your video.


The Vado's display during playback

Though the playback process is remarkably easy, it isn't quite as convenient as the interface on standard camcorders. Usually, Playback Mode supplies you with a screen full of thumbnails, each image representing a different video clip. From there, you can select which video you want to play (or delete). With the Vado, you'll have to scroll through all your videos until you reach the one you want.


More traditional camcorders, like the Sanyo Xacti VPC-HD2,
let you choose which clip to play from a selection of thumbnails.

Connectivity (2.75)
There are technically two connections on the Vado: a standard 1/8-inch AV-out and the flexible USB extension. Neither port is well covered, so watch out for sandy beaches or exploding sodas in your backpack. Of course, your already low quality video will look even worse on a large screen, but Creative is happy to sell you a standard AV cable through its website if you'd like to plug into your TV. (Unlike the Flip Mino, the Vado does not come with an AV cable.) Be warned... it took us several attempts before we discovered that the AV cable only worked with our Vado when we pushed it two-thirds of the way into the port. Inserting the cable all the way into the AV-out gave us absolutely no sound or video.


The left side of the Creative Vado contains the
AV out and the hinge of the USB connector.


If you want to view your video, you're better off watching it on the LCD or plugging the Vado into your computer. The USB arm is actually one of the highlights of the Vado; the flexible rubber looks and feels flimsy, but it allows the Vado to reach ports that were inaccessible to the Flip's spring-loaded arm. Even when the Flip could reach a USB port, we never felt great about the way the Flip stuck out rigidly from the USB port. The Vado's flexible arm makes for an easy connection without the need to purchase an extension cable. Like the Flip, the Vado can double as a USB storage device. You can copy all kinds of files onto and off of the Vado, just as you would with a dedicated USB flash drive.


The Vado's flexible USB arm extends from the bottom.





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