Happy with Creative Vado HD
I have intermittently posted video on my blogs and YouTube etc. I went through couple of inexpensive no-name cameras and tried Sanyo’s Xacti too. The trouble is that though some of these cameras are good, they are still too bulky and don’t work well in situations when you just want to shoot something interesting in a hurry.
I have been tried to get compact video cameras made by FLip but they don’t sell here in Asia. In November last year, I saw famous podcaster Mr. Brown using Vado HD. Earlier this month I too bought a Vado HD, a camera clearly inspired by Flip’s feature set and design.
I am happy with Vado HD. It shoots high-defination video. The colour are good in daylight and acceptable at night. You can shoot 2 hours of high quality video on the built-in 8GB of memory. The audio quality is good too. I don’t have the other similar cameras (Flip HD, Kodak Zi6, Sony Webby HD) to compare it with, but whatever demo footage I have seen on the internet from these other cameras, I think Vado HD captures better videos and has a better lens.
The controls are simple. Just press the middle button to record. You can zoom in and out with the buttons on top and bottom of the record button. The two buttons on the right lets you play or delete a pre-recorded video clip. I am happy that Creative has resisted building in a MP3 in this device and kept is very simple – just does what it is supposed to do.
There is a little USB connecter that you can pull out and plug it into your computer and transfer the clips. Video editing software for Windows is already pre-loaded on the Vado. You can do some simple editing and post the video to YouTube.
For the Mac though you need to download the Perian plug-in as the Quiktime player on Mac does not recognize the video. Also, iMovie09 cannot import the video files crated by Vado HD. You will need to download the free Mpeg Streamclip video convertor utility and batch convert your files to a format iMovie can understand.
As a Mac user, it is a bit irritating that Vado HD does not work out of the box (with Mac) but the ease of use the camera and the quality of video makes up for it. I wish Creative had a more descriptive web page for the product with instructions on how to download the Perian plug-in and using Mpeg Streamclip.
UPDATE: Creative guys left a message with the link to instructions for using Vado HD with a Mac
The price listed by Creative is around 300 Singapore dollars but there are some places in Singapore you can get it for slightly lesser.
Here is a slightly higher resolution sample clip that I took with Vado HD.
Some sample videos. They appear squished as I did not put the proper dimensions while exporting it.
Here is a sample of low light indoor shoot.
My favorite Korean restaurant in Singapore, WooriNara on Lorong Kilat. Has great fried chicken.
Daytime video
Close up
Is it me or the video looks a bit compressed?
Yes, thats my mistake. I gave the wrong settings whle exporting to youtube.
Can you try to reupload at least one more outdoor video with maximum settings possible. Even a 10-sec clip will do. That should do justice when you are reviewing such a product because I’m personally looking into getting one.
Thanks!~
Hi preetamrai,
you can find a step-by-step guide to using the perian plug-in here: http://support.creative.com/kb/ShowArticle.aspx?s...
as for using the MPEG Streamclip, we're currently doing up the tutorial. Will tell you when its up!
Thanks for the great review!
Hey Preetam, how are you? thanks for this – my question is why you'd buy a video camera when you can easily use a video function built in a digicam? Just curious, to see if I actually need one as well.
Wow, creative actually borthered to reply to your post? I'm impressed lah~
Hi Stephie, nice to hear from you. Ok here are the factors why I don't use the digicam to record videos.
1. Most digicams cannot record HD video, if they can, they are not below 300S$ and they are not so pocketable in size.
2. The battery life, if you record video on a regular digicam, it drains out the battery really quickly. I prefer a separate device for video.
Having said that, Sony's Webbie HD (another entrant in this market competing with VADO and Flip) does allow you to take still pictures.
Preetam
I need to know how to set the time and date on my vado
To set the date on you vado
1. Turn on your Vado
2 . Press the Play and the Thrash button together (these buttons are on the back, aligned to the right of the device, just above the speaker holes. Pressing these two button together will take you to the settings mode.
3. Use the buttons on the left to choose the settings you want. + takes you up the menu and — takes your down.
4. Time/Date is the first setting.Pressing the centre button (with the red dot) selects the particular setting. Again use the + and — to change the date. The Forward button take you to the month and the year.
5. The last button on that screen is OK, you can come there by pressing the Forward button couple of times. Press the centre button when you are at OK. This will set the date on your Vado.
hi there
i bought a Vado HD at christmas and think it is superb for the price and quality
Please have a look at my Vado HD group
************
http://geeks.pirillo.com/group/creativevadohd
Please feel free to join and contribute
Hi,
I bought one about a week ago and tried to use it for the first time today,. Instructions say that plugging Vado in USB port should allow me to export the clips to the computer (PC) but I am unable to do so.
Where can I get step by step instructions for all functions. Amazon has sent me only a 1 page leaflet which just tell me about all the controls.
You can send me an email.
Thanks
hi, may i know,how much is the price of vado HD?thanks~
Check Amazon.com for the latest price in your region.
Thanks for the comments above, do you know how to take still pictures from the videos, once they are in file manager ?
Thanks
I usually pause the video and take a screen shot. They are not sharp most of the time.