Flip Ultra and Creative Vado pocket camcorders

The Flip produces sharper images, with better colour and definition, and is far less prone to random freezing and blocking while panning. The lower the level of ambient light, the bigger the gulf between the two devices' performance. The the Flip the clear choice if you plan on videoing more intimate indoor moments.

Vado Video Sample

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The Flip makes a far better fist of recording sound too. Whether it has a better microphone, better firmware or both, the Flip's sound was decidedly superior. Sound recorded on the Flip is not only clearer and sharper than it was on the Vado, it proved far less prone to distortion caused either by high volumes or background interferences like wind, dogs, small children, Americans, etc.

Flip Video Sample

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When it comes to recording live music performances, something we imagine both these devices will be used for, the superior focus and balance of the Flip's microphone really comes into its own.

All of which leaves the two cameras stacking up poorly when compared to camcorders and even still cameras' video facilities. But then neither are really out to replace those devices. Both are aimed squarely at the YouTube generation, where footage is a likely to have come from a phone as from proper photography kit.