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cheap dash cam?

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cheap dash cam?

Something like this might be handy to power a rear camera? Could be left on the parcel shelf.

http://www.aliexpress.com/item/New-...one-Game-Player-Digital-Camera/544140721.html

Cheaper, free shipping:

12Ah: http://www.aliexpress.com/item/Hot-...r-For-Laptop-PC-Cellular-Phone/491181901.html

16Ah: http://www.aliexpress.com/item/port...llphone-other-digital-products/571647048.html

Only prob.. it's a big lithium battery designed to be left in the sun, got to hope it doesn't blow up inside your car!?

Even cheaper 11.2Ah: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/11200mAh-...d_Vision_Battery_Chargers&hash=item35c53daf38
 
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Finally put some feedback for the DR-32. Gave the seller a neutral because the sound quality is still not as advertised, even after the firmware upgrade.
Also gave reduced stars for the item not being as advertised (seller links to youtube vids to show off the quality!)
I notice they sold 41, all private listings (I wonder why?)
I also put a comment on the manufacturer's YT clip. They said any cams bought before 19/04/2013 there is a fw upgrade & yet
has a date stamp of 1st March 2013.

Trying to figure out why a cam bought before March has PERFECT, crystal clear sound then suddenly almost every cam bought in april has crap audio & requires firmware upgrade just to make the audio bearable.
 
The new car has a 12V point in the boot, going to to be rude not to have a rear camera, maybe another Lukas when I can afford it.

I'll never go near the DR32 again, users are reporting the audio fix firmware makes the camera unstable and buggers the night mode (too dark).

I also bought the LK-290 and LK-530. The LK-530 might be good in the boot using that 12V socket and hard wire in the front camera with the LK-290. To start with I'll run single cam up front with the LK-530 for parking mode.

The Lukas LK7900 might not be a "cheap" dashcam but is half the price of the FineVu CR500 for example and is half the price. It's also not a POS like the DR32.
 
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500L said:
The one I linked to is the latest model, pre order, ships May 10th.

Full 1080p and works properly as a dash cam (loop recording, auto power on/off).
Click to expand...

Hmmm, knowing the quality of the previous ones, and the size, I don't think there was much room for improvement, but I could be wrong. I certainly wouldn't pay that price for one, like you say far better alternatives on the market.
 
It's a little bigger than the old one but you're right.. I wonder what quality they can get through a pin hole size lense.

I think Hetai's eBay sellers have gone a bit mad at the moment $100 for the new keychain camera and $140 for the DR32.

For around $100 I'd have the Livue LB100.

For around $140 I'd have the Jokiin cam.

For around $200 I'd have the Lukas LK7900.

I wouldn't go much beyond $200 as e.g. the FineVu CR500 is double the price but doesn't offer anything extra as far as I'm concerned.
 
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Most Easterly Pandas said:
You've been able to pic up cheap ones like that for under £25 for the last few years now, only seem to last 5 min though, but good for duct taping to the bumper around a track :devil:
Click to expand...

I bought one for about a tenner last year, only lasted a couple of days, field of view is very narrow so not good for in car use.

put it on the dog's collar and sent her off up the garden.

did get a full refund off the seller though, and they didn't want me to send it back which gives you some indication of how often they fail.
 
Yea even the new one only has a 90 degree FOV lens, though a 120 is mooted. It has a different chipset and hence an all new PCB so past reliability problems shouldn't indicate future problems on the new camera (well, they could have made the same mistakes :eek:). The old ones have been used by many as dashcams simply because they are so small and cheap. For $100 they can keep it, was just putting it out here (y)

NB not all key chain cameras are born equal. According to Techmoan the Hetai ones were always the good reliable ones.
 
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I've still got my cheapo keychain cam - for the money it was very good. A real PITA to have to remember to turn on/off & really only good if you set up in advance using a suitable monitor (I used my laptop & used the keychain cam as a webcam so I could see where the thing was pointing).

If they come in at a good price, I'd have a couple, one each side of the dash & maybe try to set them up so their images 'just' overlapped/touched in the middle of the car.

There is an 'extension' lens for the old cams - not sure if these would work on this new one - but it was a lens on the end of a 15cm piece of ribbon - so the main body could be mounted well away from the lens.

My local cheap shop sells a 3 gang cigar socket extension for a couple of quid, rip the guts out & do a decent job fitting the keycams, reorganise the power supply - a nice little unit on the dash, looking like a power socket extension but giving you 2x 90deg coverage? (the keycams could be taken out of their own cases to better vent their pcb).
TBH, with my recent experience of the DR32, I think I'll wait a year or so to let them iron the bugs out.
 
Talking of the DR32.
Since giving the ebay seller neutral f/b on ebay, I've now had 3 emails from them :-
05/05
Wish you have a nice day!
May i know does the camera work well now?
Does the audio issue had solved?
Waiting for your kindly reply soon.
Your sincerely,
Rita

I told them, although the audio was improved with the new firmware, it still wasn't anywhere near as good as all the footage used to advertise the product & sent y/t links to my before/after vids as well as links to their/techmoan's vids...

06/05
Hi,dear, (WTF?)
Would you mind help me revise the feedback to us?
We really need you support on this matter.
if you find some interested item in my store,i can give some discount to you,would you agree?
Waiting for your kindly reply soon.
Your sincerely,
Rita
07/05
So sorry bother to you！

Would you pls help us revise the feedback to us?
Waiting for your kindly reply soon.
Best wishes!

One more and I will be revising the feedback - from neutral to neg(n)
 
I left them negative and got the same thing, lots of messages from Rita.

Tell them you want the 1080p keychain camera for $50 :)

I got offered something (unbelievable really..) and I did change it to positive, they are back in my good books.

I honestly think they have very good intentions. I hope the chump who substituted the microphone in the dr32 got bollocked. Was really bad for everyone including them.

Despite the issues they aren't doing anything dramatic like failing and it does have the best video quality of any $100 dashcam. So you are sorted for a basic can with very nice video quality.
 
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"Hi Dear" is a common salutation used mainly by Asian business people. They obviously don't realise it is not exactly apppropriate, but it is a harmless mistake. I get called "dear" by men and women all the time (and they haven't even met me).!
 
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