pullin-gs

I hope I'll never need it.
It is a Mini-801 HD mounted in front of the rear-view mirror.
It will record about one hour in 5-minute length video files.
Once the flash fills up (internal 8GB), it will cycle through deleting the oldest files first.
It continues to record one hour after I cut off the engine.
It automatically powers on when I start the car.
Video is pretty good, audio is OK.
I've got a 32GB mico-SD card on order (will give about 8 hours of video).
Stamps video with GPS locations, and records locations to a log/time file also.

SonnyAK

Please give us more feedback after you use it some...I've been thinking about getting one like this but had no idea where to start since there's so much junky stuff out there. Thanks

jim lockwood

I have two of these cameras, one in each of our daily drivers.

With a 32GB mini-SD card, we get 2 hours of video, not 8.

Also, recording shuts off about 1 minute after the ignition is turned off.

For anyone thinking about getting one of these cameras, a couple of things to know:

1. The GPS function is optional and exists in the mounting foot. Be sure you know what you are buying. For some screwy reason, a camera which is set up to expect a GPS foot will work with a non-GPS foot BUT the converse is not true: You can NOT add a GPS foot to a camera not factory configured to work with GPS.

2. The 8GB memory is also optional. With 32GB of removable memory, I saw no advantage to having the internal memory so neither of our cameras were purchased with it.

3. In use, the camera gets pretty warm and I'm not just talking about being warmed by sunlight through the windshield. It generates a pretty good amount of heat all on its own.

4. The wide angle lens has no sun shade and glare when driving in the general direction of the sun is pretty bad. I'm going to make some kind of "awning" for the lenses of our cameras to see if I can cut down on the glare somewhat.

5. The Chin-glish in the manual is difficult to understand. Actual operation and set up is pretty simple once you figure out what the author was trying to say.

Bottom line: Overall, not a bad camera for the money.

Jim

Brian VH McHale

I've been using the SmartCam HD 2 from dashcamusa.com
very nice camera.

ohiovet

Anyone using a GoPro and whats your opinion of it?

Roger Walling

I heard that Kerrmudgeon has one that is pointed at the passenger seat. (Thats where he gets all his avatars from)

pullin-gs

I'm seeing much longer than that....are you sure you got a 32GB and not a rip-off version (restamped 8GB, sold as 32GB)?? I'm getting 120 minutes with just the internal 8GB at full-HD.
Anyway, you can use a lower-res codec (such as a 720p) and times go way up.

Not true.....install a Power Magic timed delay power feed. Is programmable from one hour or more power delivery to camera AFTER power is shutoff (even from the battery-disconnect).

For anyone thinking about getting one of these cameras, a couple of things to know:
Not true.....8GB IS OFTEN SOLD CHEAPER than one without memory at all....go figure. Price before you buy.

pittsaj

Not sure I understand the reason for this front facing camera in the car.... ??
Afraid someone will back into you ??
Fun later watching the road go by at high speed ??
I would be more afraid of having my Vette driving habit captured for later review by who knows who... Humm....

Godholio

Search youtube for "dashcam" and you'll see a million reasons it'd be handy to have one, in addition to watching the scenery.

People actually do backup into the vehicle behind them to initiate insurance fraud. This kind of thing is insanely prevalent in a few countries, like Russia. That's why there are so many dashcams there nowadays. Also, most of that crazy meteor footage a few months ago was from dashcams.

jim lockwood

My mistake. Our 1st camera has a 16GB SanDisk chip and we get right at 3 hours of video with it.
Huh? Both of our cameras shut themselves off about 1 minute after the ignition shuts off. Exactly as I wrote previously.

The 8GB internal memory wasn't available when we got our camera. 512 MB was the limit. I do notice that cameras with internal memory are $10 cheaper right now on Amazon but that wasn't the case in the past.

In any event, internal memory is an option.

Jim

pullin-gs

But this isnt about your camera.
The thread is about my setup, which records for an hour after I turn the car off.
http://www.blackvue.com.sg/power-magic-pro.html

" acts as a countdown timer where user can set the preferable duration to have the [Mini 0810] operates when parked."

jim lockwood

Your initial post made no mention of an add-on, supplemental power supply for your camera.

What I wrote about the camera shutting off after power is cut was and is accurate. That's a trait of the camera in general, not just the ones I own.

pullin-gs

Sure Jim.
I'll post some pictures of my one-hour setup when I get some better ones taken. One hour (programmable to eight??) gives me piece of mind when I leave the car. These things run hot, so I've also made an aluminum heat-shield which doubles as a sun visor for the camera. It blends it better with mirror giving it better stealth. The cable is hidden inside the passenger side windshield pillar.
I had direct-power to the battery already run for my receiver, so a lot of the wiring had already been done.