tomintx
Member
- Joined
- May 29, 2015
- Messages
- 56
- Reaction score
- 19
- Country
- United States
I had wanted to get an SG9665 but owing to a planned car trip and the lack of availability of the SG I snatched-up this CF-100 deal that I was alerted to here (from Amazon). Got the model with the GPS and rear camera, though I've not installed the rear camera yet (no time to do it). Anyway here's my 2 cent's worth on this cam:
1. The lack of a screen seems daunting at first to mount the unit, but it's got a very wide-angle lens so this is less tricky than I expected. I stuck mine behind the rearview mirror to left-of-center (driver's side here in US) and I can see the two blue LEDs and the Emergency button below the lower edge of the mirror. Works, though I think it's irresponsible of the mfr/distributor to not even offer the video cable for sale much less include it in the package--would greatly help the setup process for those of us with small video monitors to use with it. Oh and thankfully it came with latest 1.3 installed so I didn't have to add to my trepidation the firmware update process.
2. The LEDs are just a little bright for night driving. About halfway through my overnight driving we fashioned a piece of paper to hang-over the unit to block the lights! I will tape these as Gibson99 I think did.
3. The micro SD card is not the easiest to get into and out of the unit, but I haven't dropped/lost mine (yet) nor have I moved the cam position when inserting or removing the thing.
4. The .tmp file issue discussed in another thread here is alarming at first (to have deleted the files but then they come back somehow) but the thread explains this. Once one accepts that we're never going to save many hours of video from a long trip anyway, lack of memory becomes a non-issue.
5. The G-sensor saves all manner of road bumps. I set it to Low and only got about 3 or 4 bumps saved into the Events folder over 1400 miles. It's GREAT that the CF-100 beeps to advise you that it's saved a file owing to a bump. I do like its UI a lot (both LED and voice feedback).
6. The Events saved files/Emergency button feature is very cool. See something interesting, oh, I have a cam, pinch the Emergency button, there it is later.
7. The ball mounting is more robust than originally expected. As Gibson99 had advised me, I can pinch the Emergency button (and remove/reinstall the microSD card) without disturbing the "aim" of the cam.
8. The imagery is decent, but not great. At least I can read road signs which the other, supposedly HD cam I had for a while could not. I find the Viewer application to be very cool indeed, with the MPH and GPS/GoogleMaps display, and G-sensor XYZ axis thing. But the video quality is only good IMO for previewing. When I've found something I want to look at more closely, I open the file with VLC Player instead.
I think I'd prefer a 720 60p format instead of 1080 30p, but as another member here warned me there's only so much quality to be gotten out of a dashcam given vehicle speed and available light.
All in all I'm very pleased with my $99 CF-100, and I don't even use the Parking or Rear Camera features (yet)!
1. The lack of a screen seems daunting at first to mount the unit, but it's got a very wide-angle lens so this is less tricky than I expected. I stuck mine behind the rearview mirror to left-of-center (driver's side here in US) and I can see the two blue LEDs and the Emergency button below the lower edge of the mirror. Works, though I think it's irresponsible of the mfr/distributor to not even offer the video cable for sale much less include it in the package--would greatly help the setup process for those of us with small video monitors to use with it. Oh and thankfully it came with latest 1.3 installed so I didn't have to add to my trepidation the firmware update process.
2. The LEDs are just a little bright for night driving. About halfway through my overnight driving we fashioned a piece of paper to hang-over the unit to block the lights! I will tape these as Gibson99 I think did.
3. The micro SD card is not the easiest to get into and out of the unit, but I haven't dropped/lost mine (yet) nor have I moved the cam position when inserting or removing the thing.
4. The .tmp file issue discussed in another thread here is alarming at first (to have deleted the files but then they come back somehow) but the thread explains this. Once one accepts that we're never going to save many hours of video from a long trip anyway, lack of memory becomes a non-issue.
5. The G-sensor saves all manner of road bumps. I set it to Low and only got about 3 or 4 bumps saved into the Events folder over 1400 miles. It's GREAT that the CF-100 beeps to advise you that it's saved a file owing to a bump. I do like its UI a lot (both LED and voice feedback).
6. The Events saved files/Emergency button feature is very cool. See something interesting, oh, I have a cam, pinch the Emergency button, there it is later.
7. The ball mounting is more robust than originally expected. As Gibson99 had advised me, I can pinch the Emergency button (and remove/reinstall the microSD card) without disturbing the "aim" of the cam.
8. The imagery is decent, but not great. At least I can read road signs which the other, supposedly HD cam I had for a while could not. I find the Viewer application to be very cool indeed, with the MPH and GPS/GoogleMaps display, and G-sensor XYZ axis thing. But the video quality is only good IMO for previewing. When I've found something I want to look at more closely, I open the file with VLC Player instead.
I think I'd prefer a 720 60p format instead of 1080 30p, but as another member here warned me there's only so much quality to be gotten out of a dashcam given vehicle speed and available light.
All in all I'm very pleased with my $99 CF-100, and I don't even use the Parking or Rear Camera features (yet)!
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