Many small, pocket-sized video recorders are coming out now since Flip’s original (non-HD) Mino became a highly popular item. Many (including Flip’s latest model) are starting to include high definition video as well Traditional home video has been to record with cameras that were about the size of a toaster, recorded to tape or DVD, and measured their weight in pounds – these new contenders measure their weight in ounces, record to internal solid-state flash memory and are about the size of a small cell phone.

The big question about these tiny cameras is – can they really do the job their predecessors did?
Flip Mino HD

The Flip video camcorder was one of the first of tiny video recorders that used an all solid state design that became popular with the consumers.

Now another Flip model has come out, but this time it records in…HIGH DEFINITION at 1280×720p! The Flip Mino HD, while easy to hook up to your computer, is less than clear on how it operates. The menu system makes some really strange choices that are feel unnatural. When I select to delete a clip I would expect to press OK to confirm this but instead this cancels the entire delete process. It makes little to no sense

The Flip Mino HD is small and has a smooth black finish. It can get a little slippery so keep your hands dry! The Flip Mino HD records up to 60 minutes of video footage which can be transferred to your computer in the MP4 format that is popular with many internet sites and is compatible with iPods and iPhones. This is best for people intending to upload to the Internet but if you have plan to do some editing, you might have to do some converting, (depending on your video editing software) which could degrade the video quality. Regardless of the format the video quality is nothing short of wonderful. It is especially amazing because of its size. The screen on the Flip Mino is not as amazing as the video quality. It has washed out colors and poor white balance. This may lead you to believe that the video quality is bad but a transfer to the PC will prove otherwise when you see the gorgeous footage on a decent display.

The inspiration for the naming of the Flip Mino is still here. Just push in on the top and a USB connector ‘flips’ out to help you connect. This can cause some stress on the connector because the weight of the device (while not much to carry in your hand) does pulls down and caused it to disconnect during our initial tests. This was solved by a male to female USB cable so the weight of the camera doesn’t rest on the connector. If you need a small video recorder, the Flip Mino HD is a reasonable choice for anyone.

Rating – B

Price – $230

Creative Vado HD

The Vado HD is one of the newer video recorders on the market. Creative has followed the lead of the Flip Mino HD with a some very special differences.

First of all, the texture of the device itself is a rubberized surface over plastic and is a bit more grasp-able. It is easy to hold and is about the same small size as the Flip Mino HD. The menu system also makes a lot more sense by following the usual instincts of electronics junkies. I had no problems with the menu system on this, it all felt very natural to use.

The built-in screen is also much nicer. Its colors really pop and the white balance is, while not truly accurate, more fair to your footage. The playback is a good demonstration of what it will look like once transferred. Speaking of playback, you can play and record up to two hours of 1280×720p HD video on this. That’s double the capacity of the Flip Mino HD!

The Creative Vado HD stores it’s video in the AVI format which is great for all the Windows users out there, and there are a lot of them. This format makes it easier to edit the video in Windows Movie Maker or any Windows-based video editing package since it’s the native format.

The video quality in this is just as fantastic as the Flip Mino HD although it may be a bit more blurry, especially noticable when moving the camera around. The Vado also has a user-replaceable battery in case you need to carry extra power for long trips.

Rating – A

Price – $230

Since these cameras have the same retail price it’s going to come down to personal preference. Our choice would be the Vado HD as it has a far superior display and feel. The video quality on the Mino has a slight edge and it also has customizable covers so you can style your camera to your liking and that might be the tipping point for some.

Neither camera can take extra memory but most people aren’t going to be needing to record more than one or two hours at a time. You can also simply plug either of these into your computer and download the video off of them in a few minutes and start over with your camera empty and ready for more moving making!

The move to flash memory for video recording has really started a huge new trend for video cameras. These new devices are tiny, and make look like disposable toys, but can take seriously good footage and are excellent choices for consumers. More models are coming out from more manufactuers and more and more high-end features are starting to show up.

Written by Haydn

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