Lori Grunin, Senior Editor April 30, 2009
Call them minicamcorders, call them straight-to-Web wonders, call them whatever. They don't really have a name. They're cheap, compact, one-trick video ponies, but if all you want to do is quickly shoot and upload your life's most embarrassing, amusing, or engaging moments, that's what these models are designed to do. The software necessary for playback and upload comes loaded on the devices so that you can share your masterpieces from any machine, though they don't all operate so ideally on Macs.
With low-resolution VGA video and some hoop-jumping required to actually edit the files in real video-editing software, though, you may want to consider some alternatives, like a plain, old, budget camcorder or a digital camera with a decent movie-capture mode. And for a few dollars more, you can bump up to the same models with visibly better HD resolution.
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| Product name | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price | $139.99 | $124.99 | $179.99 | $139.00 |
| CNET editors' rating | ||||
| Average user rating |  | |||
| Review date | April 29, 2009 | June 08, 2008 | October 02, 2007 | June 04, 2008 |
| The Bottom Line | Flip Video has made some modest improvements to the original Ultra--but it's only worth buying at a reasonable discount off its list price. | Despite some minor flaws, Pure Digital's Flip Video Mino is the best mini camcorder for straight-to-Web video currently available--but it also costs more, and it can't match the features of a video-savvy point-and-shoot camera. | With improved video quality, a slightly trimmer design, and upgraded software package, the Flip Video Ultra is becoming a force to be reckoned with in the emerging low-end digital camcorder category. | While its video quality doesn't quite measure up to some of its competitors, there are enough pluses to make the Creative Vado Pocket Cam a worthy contender in the mini camcorder market. |
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| Features | ||||
| Video input type | Camcorder | Camcorder | Camcorder | Camcorder |
| Digital zoom | 2 x | 2 x | 2 x | 2 x |
| Lens aperture | F/2.4 | F/2.4 | F/2.4 | Info unavailable |
| Manual focus | Focus free | Focus free | Automatic | Info unavailable |
| Media type | Internal flash memory | Internal flash memory | Internal flash memory | Internal flash memory |
| Optical sensor type | Info unavailable | CMOS | CMOS | CMOS |
| Full specifications | Full specifications | Full specifications | Full specifications | Full specifications |
| Buying choices | | | | |
