What is the Best Mini Camcorder?

Samsung U10

Manufacturer: Samsung
UK Price (as reviewed): £101.98 (inc VAT)
US Price (as reviewed): $140.31 (ex Tax)

The Samsung U10 is by far the most attractive camcorder in this round up. It’s also the slimmest overall at just 15mm thick, although the lens protrudes from the case by just under a centimetre.

Unlike all the other camcorders, the U10 can capture video at 1,920 x 1,080 (1080p). It’s also able to take still images at up to 10 megapixels, and has a time lapse mode that can record still images at intervals of up to 30 seconds for three days to create a video file. It might cost over £100 but you need to supply your own SD card for storage. The integrated rechargeable battery will power the U10 for about 90 minutes of recording.

Unlike most of the camcorders we tested this month, the U10 has plenty of image customisation options, such as the ability to record in black and white and a sport mode for capturing fast-moving scenes. While the U10 takes acceptable still images, videos were over-exposed and looked as if we’d shot them in the middle of a fog bank.


This is a real tragedy, because thanks to its high resolution the U10 captures lots of detail. Ultimately, it means that even though camera phones, such as the iPhone 3GS, are technically inferior, they actually produce better footage.


Although the U10 has lots of features that the other camcorders here lack, the quality of its video is disappointing. As a result, even though the Flip UltraHD is, on paper at least, technically inferior (720p versus 1080p), it’s actually a far better buy.

• Features
• x
• x
• x
• x
• x
• x
• x
• -
• -
• -
• 7/10

• Ease of Use
• x
• x
• x
• x
• x
• x
• x
• -
• -
• -
• 7/10

• Video Quality
• x
• x
• x
• x
• x
• -
• -
• -
• -
• -
• 5/10

• Value
• x
• x
• x
• x
• -
• -
• -
• -
• -
• -
• 4/10

• Overall
• x
• x
• x
• x
• x
• -
• -
• -
• -
• -
• 5/10

Creative Vado HD

Manufacturer: Creative
UK Price (as reviewed): £89.99 (inc VAT)
US Price (as reviewed): $99.95 (ex Tax)

The Creative Vado HD’s specifications are very similar to the likes of the Flip UltraHD. It’s capable of recording video at 1,280 x 720 (720p), has a 2in screen, 8GB of onboard memory and an integrated USB lead.

The Vado HD is also very easy to use, with a control pad for playback and zoom, and single buttons for record, play and delete. Where the Vado HD pips the UltraHD is on size and weight. It’s almost half as thick at 16mm compared with the 30mm UltraHD. More importantly, it weighs much less – 100g as opposed to the 170g of the UltraHD, which is the heaviest camcorder on test. As a result, the Vado HD goes unnoticed in your pocket, while the UltraHD creates a weighty bulge.

Creative includes an HDMI cable and a silicone sheath to protect the Vado HD. It’s also bundled with some basic video editing software, allowing you to upload your videos to YouTube easily. The Vado HD records fairly sharp video in dimly lit interior scenes, although the UltraHD captures more detail and produces more vibrant colours. Video shot outside was a similar story, and looked too sharp and unnatural.


The Vado HD also struggles to record colours accurately – our outside sequence was massively oversaturated and looked as if we’d shot it in high summer rather than in mid-October. Although the Vado HD is one of the more compact camcorders in our round up, it’s too expensive considering its barely any better than the video camera on a mobile phone such as the iPhone 3GS.

• Features
• x
• x
• x
• x
• x
• x
• -
• -
• -
• -
• 6/10

• Ease of Use
• x
• x
• x
• x
• x
• x
• x
• -
• -
• -
• 7/10

• Video Quality
• x
• x
• x
• x
• x
• x
• -
• -
• -
• -
• 6/10

• Value
• x
• x
• x
• x
• x
• -
• -
• -
• -
• -
• 5/10

• Overall
• x
• x
• x
• x
• x
• -
• -
• -
• -
• -
• 5/10