Macworld has a review of the Creative Vado. They pretty much reached the same conclusion I did. The Kodak Zi6 is a strong performer. Here’s why.
There are two key factors that make the Zi6 a strong contender.
1. External batteries.
This is critical because these little devices suck down power. If you’re out and about all day, it’s so much easier to pop-in two fresh AA’s. I use the Sanyo Eneloop batteries that are rechargeable and they provide longer lasting power than the warehouse batteries I used to get. The key here is you don’t have to worry about battery power. The Vado has a proprietary battery and the Mino HD has an internal one that can’t be replaced. If you’re out all day on job sites, at a conference, or meeting with clients, it’s easier to replace the AA’s than finding a USB port.
2. External memory.
I like being able to switch SD cards or at least being able to plug in 16 & 32Gb cards. You can litterally shoot all day with the larger memory. The last thing I want to do is to have unload my memory to a laptop when I’m out. It’s also wrong to have to decide what file to delete in the heat of the moment. Go with cards and you can shoot as much as you want.
The Macworld review has some side-by-side images between the Vado, Mino, and Zi6. One thing that you can’t compare until you actually watch the video is the sound. Fortunately, you can listen to the difference between the Mino and Zi6 in my previous post here. I think the Zi6 has a stronger microphone myself.
I strongly encourage you to get one of these pocket camcorders. And while I prefer the Kodak unit, they’ll all help you document things for your SkillCasting efforts.
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