Sunday
Sep122010
A review of the Car DVR D011 dash camera.
Sunday, September 12, 2010 at 9:39AM Over the last couple of weeks I've been testing out a mini video camera designed for the purpose of recording footage from a car. It has performed well - but I think I've reviewed enough of these mini cameras for a while.
Most of the models I've tested recently have utilised the same image sensor technology - albeit with slight functional variations.
I now think that I will hold off doing any more mini video camera reviews until something different turns up. If a native 720p sensor becomes as cheap as the ubiquitous 720x480 device used in most of the current crop of mini cameras I will no doubt look again at these devices.
If you are interested in seeing how the Car DVR D011 performs - click the video below for a full review.
Reader Comments (25)
This little mini records 5min sections with a 2 sec pause, does it over-rite the file or does it make a new named file until the card is full, also will it record video when plugged into usb/charging ?
D.
HI your review of the dvr d011 was excellent. I want to buy one do you by any chance know where its available in Uk?
Thanks.
Like your reviews on the mini-camera's. They where very helpfull to me. Just letting you know that a special version of this camera is available on e-bay and some chinese websites, which has mountingbrackets for the use on helmets and (motor)bikes.It is called the CVLS-DV20. It also should have a different way of recording movies. The description says that it will not record continouysly and thus override earlier made movieclips.
I ordered it for about €45. Now I'm waiting till it's deliverd.
@ Amit - You can buy this camera from 7dayshop.co.uk. Search for Bike Cam on their website.
@ Richard (from the Netherlands). Thanks for the info. I quite like the cycled recording, but I could see why others wouldn't want it. I hope your new camera has a wider angle lens - but I doubt it will - good luck.
Hi.
Really good review but does leave me with one question; can you disable the datetime stamp being recorded?
Tempted to get one for my snow helmet but will give it a miss if the stamp is always on.
Cheers!
@cats. Unfortunately the time stamp is always on.
@ techmoan, have you ever tried to replace the original lens with a wide angle lens? On ebay there are some sellers wich sell some replacement wide angle lenses. I'am a noob when it comes to electronics, but considering the price of a cheap chinese camera and a replacement lens, it might be worth to give it a go.
@techmoan, thanks for the update.
The software disc didn't work, I managed to download one but that's not much use...I can't change the time stamp.
I have a netbook so it hasn't got a cd drive, therefore i cant download the software. Where can i download the correct software??
Thanks
Check the Files & Drivers link at the top right of my front page. Driver discs have been uploaded just for people like you.
Hi
do you know the angle view of this camera?
Thank you very much
I recently bought one of these micro cameras from eBay for £38.00, and to be honest I am extremely disappointed. Firstly in not one single listing I have seen does it state that a micro SD card must be present for the camera to function. Without a card you cannot even use it as a webcam. Secondly, the "instruction manual" is printed in the smallest font size known to mankind and in a language similar to English... but not English. For example: "the blue light is on sometimes bright" is of no use whatsoever. Similarly with the green light, the yellow light and the red light. This manual is a waste of a tree. The softcopy of the manual supplied with the purchase is corrupt and will not load onto any of my computers. Thirdly, after inserting the SD card and switching the camera on, the blue light illuminates, flashes a couple of times, then illuminates constantly... after which the unit cannot be turned off. It will not record, it will not do anything of any use... £38 well spent?? Do not buy this camera under any circumstances, it is severely flawed.
@Warren...lots of people have bought these cameras without the problems you mention. Did you format the micro SD card as FAT in your PC before inserting it into the camera or perhaps you just have a faulty camera.
If your camera isn't faulty and you manage to get it working, my video review should give you all the info you need on how to operate the camera, that's the reason I explain the operation in m videos, because the instructions are useless.
Also...if it locks up for any reason, just press the recessed reset button with a pin or paperclip.
Thanks for your response. I think we can safely say that the camera I got palmed off with is a dud. The recessed reset button you mentioned I can only assume is the tiny hole between the blue and red lights (nothing in the instructions about this feature). And a tiny hole is all it is. There appears to be nothing within it. Inserting a straightened out paperclip 1.5 - 2 cm has absolutely no effect (I may try a 1/4 inch drill bit next! followed by a 2.5 lb hammer!!) This was definitely a waste of money.
I have a 16GB Micro SD card on order, but my previously formatted 1GB card is now no longer recognised by my computer. So it looks like that has been messed up too. I don't think I want to risk any more time, money or hardware on this project. I would urge anyone considering buying one of these cameras to rethink and calculate how much money they are prepared to waste.
Hey Warren,
I have the same problem. It worked for a little bit but now it doesn't even work. the blue light stays on regardless of what i do to it. turn off , on, toggle switch, plug it in, sd card in sd card out, different sd cards, hold the button, press the button, press hold and press, rapidly pressing the button.
nothing happens. just a solid blue light.
i tried the reset button too but i can't feel anything in there.
since my d011 is toast i decided to take it apart. the hole where the button is is actually the hole for the microphone. there doesn't seem to be a reset button on the device at all.
I've drained it completely leaving it on with just the blue light. nothing.
left it plugged in for 5 hours, nothing.
no change at all in the camera.
solid blue light.
I hope somebody manages to put the internals of the 808 #11 camera into this form factor, maybe upping the battery life in the process.
I'm looking for a camera to record motorsport activities and a tube would fit better than a key fob.
@Clive C. Check back in a few days and I'll have a review of an HD camera in a similar form factor to the DVR D011.
I wish those cam can conned to a flash or harddrive.
Hi all,
I have had one of these camera's for a while. The video quality is far better than my Veho Muvi, but it does have quirks, such as only recording when it feels like it :o( Could be a card issue though, so I can't blame the camera.. yet.
If the blue light stays on and the camera is 'locked up' (happened to me a couple of times), remove the SD card and reformat it as FAT, using an external card reader.
Then, with the card out of the camera, press the hidden reset button via the hole in the case, then power it down.
Insert the card and power up and it should be OK.
Trying to reset the camera with the card in, or reformat the card with the camera connected via USB just does not seem to work, only the card reader route does the trick.
Hope this helps,
Graeme.
Have just bought one of these and although the image is ok when stationary, as soon as the bike starts moving the image is really wobbly. Looks like its being projected on a sheet that is lowing in the wind, all ripply.
Any thoughts or is this just a dud unit.
@Stuart What you are experiencing is CMOS Roll, the image is wobbling before the shutter gets a chance to create a full frame. You need to dampen down the camera's vibrations. Try attaching it to your helmet/head first, so that you can see the difference in results you can get. Then try and figure out a way of mounting it permenantly to some foam/sponge/rubber etc.
Is there any way to change the 5 minute limit for video file? So to avoid the 2 second drop in video between files?