Product Reviews

The latest HD camcorders are fantastic pieces of kit, but overkill if you just want to capture video quickly on the move. For a lot less money, the Vado is one of a growing number of budget MPEG-4 video cameras that record clips you can easily upload to YouTube and photo storage sites. In the US especially, the concept - a simple, pocket-sized camcorder capable of decent quality capture in an instantly shareable format - is commonly associated with the established Flip camera, the latest version of which we've also tested (see right).

The Vado looks great, with a stylish metallic-effect case that belies its small price tag. Like the Flip, it's nice to hold because it's made from soft-touch

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plastics, and it's equally simple to use, featuring the same 'one button' recording mode.

You can shoot one hour of video in high quality mode and two hours in standard quality. The results we got in high quality mode weren't quite a match for the Flip: bright areas were over-exposed, and a scene containing running water showed visible break-up due to the image compression failing to cope with complex, fast-moving action. Sound quality was acceptable.

In its favour, the Vado has a brighter and higher-resolution screen than the Flip, so it's much easier to see what you're filming. The camera is slimmer and lighter, making it less noticeable in a pocket. Its built-in rechargeable battery lasts for two hours of shooting, and it's replaceable. However, you need access to your PC (or another power source with a USB port) to charge it. The Vado does benefit from a battery life indicator, which we missed when using the Flip.

Transferring video to our PC was simple, and the Vado's viewer software doesn't require installation, so you can use it instantly on any PC. It makes uploading to YouTube a one-click process.

The big screen makes the Vado easier to shoot with than the Flip, and it's cheaper. However, audio and video quality weren't quite as good.