[J Dub]

personally I am finding this topic highly useful and interesting. I have recently bought a sports action cam I also use in the car, its not got a lot of the features dedicated car cams have, its also not got the best (my opinion 2 nd best) picture quality within the range i have bought from. I went for it as for me it is fit for purpose, it looks right and pound for pound is great value. Another point is the people i got it from were superb with service and support and although they sold both, supported me in drawing my own conclusion, i like that.
If i combined features of both I would have the perfect cam for me, yet until then, I got what suits me.
Oh the supplier also noted the reasons the one I bought suited me and took on board why the other one didn't.
Point is, customer feedback

[mob17]

Same J Dub, this has been a great thread to learn more about dashcams. Before this i didn't know anything! Have to thank both Makkan and Moral Hazard.

I agree with Mak not all cameras are perfect, and i guess the perfect ones are £££. The DOD fitted my plans as it was in budget and i was amazed by the video quality. I only require it for private viewing and as evidence, and it should do both. Sure it doesn't look great and could definitely be improved, but all in all a good choice for me and i look forward to using it

Hopefully DOD can take the criticism in a positive way and bring us even better cams/firmware the future.

Edit: Moral Hazard, i don't think its fair to say Makkan is being negative with the DOD. He is just giving a neutral view, just the same as the other cams. It's helpful to see his views as he's tested a few, and certainly knows more than me. I'm sure if DOD can confirm how exactly motion recording works, as i am still confused, and it is in line with the norm, then Makkan will remove that aspect from his criticisms.

[mob17]

DOD LS330W arrived today. Have to say the shipping was quick and the packaging is great. Lots of extras including the small adhesive holder, linked earlier in the thread. Would be nice if they would have included a 64GB memory card, but that's just me being fussy.

The cam looks smaller than i thought it would be. Will find out how it looks stuck on the windscreen in a couple of days.

Got a response from DOD re the motion sensor:

You can permanently switch the motion detection on but in some cases when, for example you are stopped on the traffic light and there in not movement, (car passing or someone is not walking) this can switch off itself.

I don't think there will be a firmware for this thou.

I guess i'll just have to use the cam and see how it plays out. I'm thinking that the switch off isn't too bad, as long as there's no jump, or blank video, between the camera switching on again when movement is detected. If the motion sensor is very sensitive then it might not be a problem.

[Estoril Sport]

Originally Posted by mob17

The cam looks smaller than i thought it would be. Will find out how it looks stuck on the windscreen in a couple of days.

I Would very much appreciate how this looks on your windscreen from a driver and front passenger view point.

One of the major issue I have with the DOD is it's size! My fear it looks like that I have two rear view mirrors! I doubt it can be concealed in front of the existing rear view mirror as per the Blackview DR550CW? I have not seen a pic of the DOD actually fixed to a windscreen which worries me, I question why not

I Agree the DOD video quality is one of the best I have seen (thanks to the high Bitrate) however there are multiple factors to consider when buying a dash cam, such as:

• its size
• visual attractiveness
• ease of use
• reliability

Features

• WiFi
• Parking mode
• memory storage

If its anything like this then this then its not me!

[dirty81]

Originally Posted by moral_hazard

it's possible hide it like this one?

[mob17]

Sure i'll put some pics up tomorrow

[moral_hazard]

DOD-Tech LS300W & LS330W Review

[mob17]

Sorry guys i have had the DOD installed by makkan a few weeks ago and have been a bit lazy in putting up pics/review. I will do this hopefully this weeekend. A good summary would be: Amazing video quality, but the cam is not perfect and does have its negatives.

[makkan00]

Originally Posted by mob17

Sorry guys i have had the DOD installed by makkan a few weeks ago and have been a bit lazy in putting up pics/review. I will do this hopefully this weeekend. A good summary would be: Amazing video quality, but the cam is not perfect and does have its negatives.

Update on this.
Would like to hear your pros and cons if it.

[Estoril Sport]

I have decided to go with the Blackvue DR500GW HD. I am wanting a front and back solution so I my buy another Blackvue DR500GW HD after testing. Reasons for the Blackvue

• Compact
• WiFi
• Parking mode
• 64Gb microSD card (I got go it to accept 64Gb microSD card (FAT 32 format) and using all 64Gb memory :-)
• With the latest firmware now does bitrate of 10mb/s

However just see this video comparing the Blackvue DR500GW with the Roadhawk HD in this video the Roadhawk HD looks better.

So I may put the Blackview in the rear window and Roadhawk HD in the front (both are small enough to hide in front of the drivers mirror.

Will do some testing first before purchasing the 2nd camera.

I purchased the Blackvue DR500GW from the UK approved reseller for £206.10 inc P&P which I think I a good price.

[Estoril Sport]

I got the Blackvue DR500 installed today and here is my first test of the Blackvue DR500 running with the latest official firmware v1.009 set at 10Mbps bitrate.

Looking at the autumn trees there appears to be very little pixilation, on original file (more noticeable on Youtube due to the video conversion) however the contrast is higher that I would like but acceptable. I found the WiFi feature a bit unreliable often not able to make contact with the camera with the iPhone even though the iPhone was only 2ft from the camera. Overall would give it 7.5 out of 10

Pleased I did not go with the Blackvue DR550, (due to the know bitrate issue which I will be amazed if Pittasoft release an update to permit 10Mbps as it also has to manage the 2nd camera so this will always be compromised).

For my 2nd camera still swaying to the Roadhawk HD.

Night time video:

[Rudz]

Originally Posted by Estoril Sport

I got the Blackvue DR500 installed today and here is my first test of the Blackvue DR500 running with the latest official firmware v1.009 set at 10Mbps bitrate.

looking at the autumn trees there appears to be very little pixilation, however the Contrast is higher that I would like but acceptable. I found the WiFi feature a bit unreliable often not able to make contact with the camera with the iPhone even though the iPhone was only 2ft from the camera. Overall would give it 7.5 out of 10

Pleased I did not go with the Blackvue DR550, (due to the know bitrate issue which I will be amazed if Pittasoft release an update to permit 10Mbps as it also has to manage the 2nd camera so this will always be compromised).

For my 2nd camera still swaying to the Roadhawk HD.

Where did I get the firmware update from mate ?

[Estoril Sport]

Originally Posted by Rudz

Where did I get the firmware update from mate ?

I got the firmware update from their main website at http://www.blackvue.com/en/contents/...ch=&SearchStr=

Number 36. BlackVue DR500GW-HD English firmware v1.009

[makkan00]

If somebody is thinking of buying dashcam, then these ones are approved by Adrian flux and you get 15% off on your insurance.

1· ChilliBongo

2· Auto Eye UK

3· MI Witness HD Camera

4· Black Vue – 380 & 400 G.HD

5· VCAM

6· IPIXI

7· SmartCam2

8· Exeros HD Car Cameras -l HD 1080P model within built speed camera detection

(Exeros' server is down at the point of compiling this message) - The camera can be viewed at ReAction Cameras. If you search via a search engine or via Exeros HD Camera, you should able to find this other site. I shall not put the link up, so when Exeros' server is working you can access their site.

9· Roadhawk Forward Facing DC1

10· Novus System – View I Ruby and Silver Systems

11· TTW Black Vue Cameras

11 (TTW Black Vue Cameras)

- There are two links here. TTW are a distributor. The first link is a confirmation certificate that they are licensed to sell Black Vue cameras. as well as other products. This certificate is from the Black Vue site.

- The second link takes you to TTW Partners website. There are a number of other companies that they sell cameras for, But Black Vue is the one approved via Adrian Flux. (You may find some others that have also been approved, but this is not mentioned in my email)


12· Phantom Cameras



Ref: Click

[Rudz]

Originally Posted by Estoril Sport

I got the firmware update from their main website at http://www.blackvue.com/en/contents/...ch=&SearchStr=

Number 36. BlackVue DR500GW-HD English firmware v1.009

The exhaust note of your car does sound grand any more clips of it

[Estoril Sport]

Originally Posted by Rudz

The exhaust note of your car does sound grand any more clips of it

Sorry no, I confess I have got used to it when driving however then listening to the video it did sound good. My brother has a 335i and has also mentioned that the Alpina exhaust sounds much deeper and louder than the stranded 335i exhaust.

However I don't think the integral mic in the Blackvue is that good so for my rear facing camera I have ordered a Roadhawk HD which has a external mic and I will be able to rotate the camera to video the cabin area on track days, so this should provide a better sound representation.

[Rudz]

Originally Posted by Estoril Sport

Sorry no, I confess I have got used to it when driving however then listening to the video it did sound good. My brother has a 335i and has also mentioned that the Alpina exhaust sounds much deeper and louder than the stranded 335i exhaust.

However I don't think the integral mic in the Blackvue is that good so for my rear facing camera I have ordered a Roadhawk HD which has a external mic and I will be able to rotate the camera to video the cabin area on track days, so this should provide a better sound representation.

Definitely deeper and throatier than a standard 335i exhaust, Akrapovic make exhausts for Alpina dont they ?

[Estoril Sport]

Originally Posted by Rudz

Definitely deeper and throatier than a standard 335i exhaust, Akrapovic make exhausts for Alpina dont they ?

The new F30 B3/B4 and D3 are defiantly Akrapovic exhausts, however not sure who is the original manufacture for the E90 and E92 exhausts, all I know its not the same as fitted to the 335i?

[moral_hazard]

[bungleaio]

Originally Posted by Estoril Sport

I purchased the Blackvue DR500GW from the UK approved reseller for £206.10 inc P&P which I think I a good price.

Where did you buy yours from mate? I'm thinking of getting one but I think I'll get the 550 so I've got front and rear cameras in one.

Also did you go for the hardwire kit?

[Estoril Sport]

Originally Posted by bungleaio

Where did you buy yours from mate? I'm thinking of getting one but I think I'll get the 550 so I've got front and rear cameras in one.

Also did you go for the hardwire kit?

Hi bungleaio I have PM you!

[savgeax]

Purchased a LS300W from Singapore on the 2nd Jan. It has now arrived.

I will install it maybe at the weekend, then post my findings.


(gives you an idea of the size compared to the sky remote)