People have been expecting me to have a look at this camera, so who am I to argue....here is my review. If you want this camera, it's available on Ebay Price at the time of writing is approximately £38 ($59).
Moving away from the Jumbo 828 for a minute....I've got to reiterate how much the HD808 #16 camera has improved since my review. I managed to kill off my original #16 camera during testing, so I ordered a new one from on Ebay and when it arrived I installed the latest released firmware. Everything that I mentioned as being less-than-perfect during my original review of the #16 has been improved/addressed and fixed. If you were to ask me what the best micro HD camera is today I'd have no hesitation in still recommending the 808#16. I really hope that the manufacturers of the #16 manage to find a way to put it into a proper action camera case soon.
Hi there, thanks for all the reviews. You said you killed off your original #16 during testing, how long do you think/ expect these cameras to last? Also you say in some of your reviews that you have to use the reset button "because the camera's go mental". Are they worth buying for extended use? Like for a car camera? People in my city drive like nuts and are always cutting me off. It would be nice to have a camera that would work for a year or so to help tell the story if anything should happen. Can these hold up that long in continuous use?
Thanks for answering my email. Great review, I hoped that camera would be recomendable for a friend (I have the old 808 jumbo), but I will recommend the #16 version.
@Steve I believe that the FOV on my new #16 cam is the same as on my old #11 cam (and that was the same as my original Jumbo). I need to read the 175 page RC groups thread to see what happened, but I suspect that they changed the lens they use between my review of the preproduction model and the replacement cam that I used in this review.
I was watching your video and was intrigued by that small wire inside the camera. There is also the bluetooth sticker you speak about. Do you know or test anything about bluetooth connection? The wire really looks like an antenna. Thanks.
I'm with Fernando. That bluetooth sticker and a wire inside are for something.
Quite what you would do with it is another matter.
What a strange, pointless, disappointing and badly made camera that seems to be.
The one thing the Jumbo body has that the HD808 does not is the option of a handlebar mount which gives the original Jumbo the edge over the smaller body of the #11 & #16 for me.
Hi there. I've been watching your reviews and you have given me feedback via youtube (qfproductionsuk). I finally bought myself a new HD camera. But went for something completely different. A MEDION® LIFE® X47023 HD Camcorder with Touchscreen (MD86423). However, I usually have a few of those MD80 spycams about but the ones I had been using died and I went to buy another from ebay and the supplier has gone missing, without sending me the item but taking my £10! So buyers beware. My point about this review is that I am always on the lookout for decent cheap small cameras. But when they make them the shape of a key fob, as a camera it makes it difficult to place anywhere. Tripod or clips etc.
I'm pretty sure the bluetooth sticker is just there to cover up the Toyota badge. I'm sure if they had an 'Intel Inside' sticker they would have used this instead. I didn't pull it apart enough, but I thought the wire seemed to head towards the reset switch (something that I had to press a few times during testing when it locked up on me). After doing my review I found out that there is a thread over on the RC groups forum that probably explains all these things - RC Groups 1080p Jumbo Thread They are like a dog with a bone with these cameras and go into a lot more depth than I could ever do. I'm more like the Littlest Hobo - I like to move on to something new after I've done a review.
Turns out that the 808 #16 FOV was improved by the latest firmware 0.18. After reading through most of the RC groups thread about this camera it appears that earlier firmwares were cropping the video to avoid vignetting...firmware 0.18 removed the cropping and shows the full frame.
I ordered one a couple of weeks ago and just received it. I have a Mac and had no problems. A card reader makes it a simple process, but isn't necessary. Follow the instructions here: http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1556994 (scroll down) One caveat- copy the firmware file outside of the DCIM folder that pops up inside the white disk icon on your desktop.Either use the USB adapter cord, or put your micro card in an adapter and put that adapter (looks like a standard SD card) into a card reader. Most micro cards come with an SD adapter.Do yourself a favor and order a cheap card reader and adapter .So far I think with camera is a fantastic value for the money, and very easy to use.
Tuesday, February 14, 2012 at 11:01PM
Reader Comments (15)
Hi there, thanks for all the reviews. You said you killed off your original #16 during testing, how long do you think/ expect these cameras to last? Also you say in some of your reviews that you have to use the reset button "because the camera's go mental". Are they worth buying for extended use? Like for a car camera? People in my city drive like nuts and are always cutting me off. It would be nice to have a camera that would work for a year or so to help tell the story if anything should happen. Can these hold up that long in continuous use?
Thanks again for all the reviews and info.
Neil
Thanks for answering my email.
Great review, I hoped that camera would be recomendable for a friend (I have the old 808 jumbo), but I will recommend the #16 version.
Thanks man
Just an update, I think the ACT20 bullet camera suits my needs more.
Thanks again for all the great reviews. You're saving people time effort and money.
Neil
You mentioned in this video the #16 firmware upgrade has a better FOV, does that mean its close to the #11 now?
@Steve I believe that the FOV on my new #16 cam is the same as on my old #11 cam (and that was the same as my original Jumbo). I need to read the 175 page RC groups thread to see what happened, but I suspect that they changed the lens they use between my review of the preproduction model and the replacement cam that I used in this review.
I was watching your video and was intrigued by that small wire inside the camera. There is also the bluetooth sticker you speak about.
Do you know or test anything about bluetooth connection? The wire really looks like an antenna. Thanks.
Great comprehensive and entertaining reviews. I was curious if you'll be posting an updated #16 review now that you've got an improved one?
I'm with Fernando. That bluetooth sticker and a wire inside are for something.
Quite what you would do with it is another matter.
What a strange, pointless, disappointing and badly made camera that seems to be.
The one thing the Jumbo body has that the HD808 does not is the option of a handlebar mount which gives the original Jumbo the edge over the smaller body of the #11 & #16 for me.
Hi there. I've been watching your reviews and you have given me feedback via youtube (qfproductionsuk). I finally bought myself a new HD camera. But went for something completely different. A MEDION® LIFE® X47023 HD Camcorder with Touchscreen (MD86423). However, I usually have a few of those MD80 spycams about but the ones I had been using died and I went to buy another from ebay and the supplier has gone missing, without sending me the item but taking my £10! So buyers beware. My point about this review is that I am always on the lookout for decent cheap small cameras. But when they make them the shape of a key fob, as a camera it makes it difficult to place anywhere. Tripod or clips etc.
I'm pretty sure the bluetooth sticker is just there to cover up the Toyota badge. I'm sure if they had an 'Intel Inside' sticker they would have used this instead. I didn't pull it apart enough, but I thought the wire seemed to head towards the reset switch (something that I had to press a few times during testing when it locked up on me).
After doing my review I found out that there is a thread over on the RC groups forum that probably explains all these things - RC Groups 1080p Jumbo Thread
They are like a dog with a bone with these cameras and go into a lot more depth than I could ever do. I'm more like the Littlest Hobo - I like to move on to something new after I've done a review.
Turns out that the 808 #16 FOV was improved by the latest firmware 0.18. After reading through most of the RC groups thread about this camera it appears that earlier firmwares were cropping the video to avoid vignetting...firmware 0.18 removed the cropping and shows the full frame.
Hi,
Your addendum to the #16 review pushed me over the edge. I've ordered a camera from eletoponline365 on ebay/US
You say you updated the firmware on the new #16. Did you use a Mac or a PC? If your answer is a PC, s it possible to do the firmware update on a Mac ?
Thanks again for the great reviews.
I ordered one a couple of weeks ago and just received it. I have a Mac and had no problems. A card reader makes it a simple process, but isn't necessary. Follow the instructions here: http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1556994 (scroll down)
One caveat- copy the firmware file outside of the DCIM folder that pops up inside the white disk icon on your desktop.Either use the USB adapter cord, or put your micro card in an adapter and put that adapter (looks like a standard SD card) into a card reader. Most micro cards come with an SD adapter.Do yourself a favor and order a cheap card reader and adapter .So far I think with camera is a fantastic value for the money, and very easy to use.
Version 808#16 is better than this camera?
You say I hope they put this 808 in a nice action camera sort of case.....?
Have you seen this deal. I laughed when I first saw it and I thought of you right away!
http://ped-products.com/index.php?dispatch=products.view&product_id=121 and at the same time they sure are "proud" of this 808 in a "holder".
I guess it's better than no "holder" at all, <<<>>>> for the cleverness??