G90 A7LA70 unfocused videos

Mandami

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Dash Cam
G90 A7LA70 1, 2, 3, 4
I was quite happy today when I received my dashcam, but my happiness didn't last long. Today it was a slightly cloudy day (but without rain), outside temperatures 19-20C/ interior temperature 20.5C.

1.first clip was taken at 2304x1296_25fps, firmware SVN r3xx (I didn't pay attention for its full name)
https://www.copy.com/s/cJCrrP0QMweH9dm1

it's impossible to read the plate number from this distance
mAGDhxlTUprTtEMA

full image: https://copy.com/hCo4oVm6sE7VmL7o

and not even to identify the brand of this car
rVU6IUPncvZcsuWz

full image: https://copy.com/NW7WCaUTYu8PI2oQ

2. second clip also taken at 2304x1296_25fps, firmware SVN r3xx
https://copy.com/VWywrNOy4UYES0JD

I updated the firmware to SVN r469, and removed the bear;
RDLiT86iUncnCwq4

the results aren't better

3. third clip taken at 1920x1080_50fps, firmware SVN r469
https://copy.com/VOmXA1d8jwNJQqzS

instead of having a clear warning the sign we can read what is written on the GPS
ocEp8RJKgE0kHk66

full image: https://copy.com/4lG7bv8yjzUSHGAS

4. fourth clip taken at 1920x1080_50fps, firmware SVN r469
https://copy.com/1V0jJAlGJUqTejAW

a big yellow sign with black text is not enough
WJ14ZgeFI1kxDhyi

full image: https://copy.com/jvqa6mPtv38r2PHs

and what about this ?
TRkGQvNIOwTOBnYh

full image: https://copy.com/hkBrXHIFKjgE6kVC

5. test clip taken at 2304x1296_25fps, firmware SVN r3xx
the dashcam works amazing, even in low light, only for close shooting
https://copy.com/X13RP6l4IJuiumEV

I was expecting better results. For example searching among the videos posted by @Hilts
for a resolution of 1920x1080_25fps HDR Off , slightly cloudy day, and running at higher speed than me, the results are far better
CtHkkC0ltoWoZIoB

full image: https://copy.com/yKACAzNCkEyHvdF4

What do you think ?
  1. it's a faulty unit
  2. crappy dashcam
  3. my fault, and I have to do something
 
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Maybe you have higher expectations.
Turn hdr off and see if it is better.
Expectations ? to have videos as those from @Hilts.
No video was taken using HDR on. In fact there is only one resolution 1920x1080_25fps_HDR_on, but I haven't use it.
 
If what's on the GPS on your dash is in focus but what's up ahead is not (can't see this on my phone) then it's because the lens focus is incorrectly set, you could open up the camera and refocus if you're keen and returning the camera isn't a practical option
 
silly question and dont sass me, :) but, is there any protective coating on the lens? ive a g9o and it shipped with a protective plastic on the lens...

worse case the lens needs to be refocused which means you will have to take the cam apart (i just took one apart yesterday), get a focus chart and refocus. its highly possible the lens was not setup properly at the factory...
 
If what's on the GPS on your dash is in focus but what's up ahead is not (can't see this on my phone) then it's because the lens focus is incorrectly set, you could open up the camera and refocus if you're keen and returning the camera isn't a practical option
Exactly as you're saying. The GPS is well focused, but not the outside.
 
silly question and dont sass me, :) but, is there any protective coating on the lens? ive a g9o and it shipped with a protective plastic on the lens...
it's not a silly question, but yes the plastic sheet was removed. And after removing it, on the sides of the lens I saw some fingerprints o_O

worse case the lens needs to be refocused which means you will have to take the cam apart (i just took one apart yesterday), get a focus chart and refocus. its highly possible the lens was not setup properly at the factory...
and after focussing (at what distance ?), how do you keep the distance fixed between lenses?
 
Exactly as you're saying. The GPS is well focused, but not the outside.

Lens is fixed focus and is adjusted by hand during production, human error means they can be out sometimes, it can and does happen regardless of make or model unfortunately
 
Refocus is not hard and that could fix this.
Also clean inside of windshield.
I have noticed that condensation develops inside windshield during rainy or slightly colder weather including on the lens.
Condensation makes video out of focus.
 
Refocus is not hard and that could fix this.
Also clean inside of windshield.
I have noticed that condensation develops inside windshield during rainy or slightly colder weather including on the lens.
Condensation makes video out of focus.
In generally is clean. Also for the clips 1, 2 and [3,4] the suction cup was removed and stuck again on the windshield. So, it's not exactly the same location.
About condensation, I haven't seen. The temperature outside was 20C, inside 20.5C.
 
Lens is fixed focus and is adjusted by hand during production, human error means they can be out sometimes, it can and does happen regardless of make or model unfortunately
:mad: if there is one faulty product among 100, guess what ? I'll choose, without knowing, the faulty one.
 
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Why not?
It's pretty easy.
Much better than hassle of returning and waiting.
But open to find out if it is glued or not. And since you'll be in there, why back out without fixing?
 
I have had two kinds of glue there, one kind that can be removed with knife or other sharp object, and other kind which was virtually impossible to take off.
My procedure was first to scrape visible glue off from that seam and then with suitable pliers gently turn lens open or back and forth with small moves.
I could try that but if lens don't start moving i would let it be, what is necessary force i can't tell you, that information is in your fingertips.
It depends from camera is it necessary to take lens housing off the pcb board before trying, sometimes it's safer to do so.
 
Did someone try to refocus the lenses of a G90 ? (@Sunny, or @Sabe maybe ?) I know I read somewhere about this but I can't find it anymore where.
That means the answer to my questions in the first post
What do you think ?
  1. it's a faulty unit
  2. crappy dashcam
  3. my fault, and I have to do something
is "1. faulty unit" ??

Also, what I didn't specify is that I'll need 4 dashcams and I thought G90 is the best buy.

Why not?
Much better than hassle of returning and waiting.
I contacted the seller, just to ask him what he thinks, but until now I haven't received any answer.
 
Mine is in focus so no need to do anything.
Haven't even opened it.
 
....What do you think ?
  1. it's a faulty unit
  2. crappy dashcam
  3. my fault, and I have to do something
Sorry for the delay responding - was away all weekend and have only just been able to view your images on my computer.

I'd agree with @jokiin - The focus appears to have been set too close, your Sat Nav screen & bonnet appear to be in focus. It needs to be re-focussed further away - I think you have been very unlucky.:(
 
Thank you for all your answers.
@Sunny was speaking about some possible condensation (inside the car), and @reverend made some comparisons with and without CPL filter. I'll make another test on the same road, this time placing the camera on the roof of the car (I wait for a day with a similar weather). Also, I brought the dashcam inside the house; maybe the lens were affected by condensation ?
@jokiin wrote "Lens is fixed focus and is adjusted by hand" and in some conditions (theoretically linked to the heat) the videos become unfocussed. So it isn't the autofocus which doesn't work (it doesn't have one) but something else. Is the sensor ? and what is the link with the focus ?

Is this a thread, so the lenses can be turned freely ?
Z8C4ahDYGeua9Ipx


@Hilts I used your videos in low light (cloudy weather) for comparison. Your results seem much better compared with mine.

The following are some close up photos of my laptop screen using the dashcam (cropped from a resolution of 5312X2988 16M, but not compressed). I placed the dashcam on a tripod and used some double sided tape
cmfMw7BkArKwu61C


The test is far from being perfect, but it gives an idea on how the dashcam copes with near objects. The wepage in this test is https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fixed-focus_lens and the pdf file https://copy.com/uzykyT0uaIKCmuns

The results:
1. at 26 cm between camera lens and laptop screen
GECXtkcHzrZTqVRQ

full image: https://copy.com/NLj01nU3wSrRpLCR
LlCCXy8ZDR6rdNY8

full image: https://copy.com/YIs674yz7rgfexHs

2. at 14 cm between camera lens and laptop screen

fDZdiFA2ZJRrIICE

full image: https://copy.com/UXP7qxfQsUgI4d84
nYmFv6OXP64BEtJ8

full image: https://copy.com/J8lDXCVWAncrqTeD

3. at 10 cm between camera lens and laptop screen
N4sV6H4QbogzOSns

full image: https://copy.com/cWsO4VxJedw9Zmu8
0m7MNlk0c8EiiLG4

full image: https://copy.com/0vJcuv1c6WIHIUSf
 
@jokiin wrote "Lens is fixed focus and is adjusted by hand" and in some conditions (theoretically linked to the heat) the videos become unfocussed. So it isn't the autofocus which doesn't work (it doesn't have one) but something else. Is the sensor ? and what is the link with the focus ?

Is this a thread, so the lenses can be turned freely ?
Z8C4ahDYGeua9Ipx

lens quality is usually the issue when heat changes the focus, plastic lens housing and/or plastic lens base can be prone to this issue

lens is threaded but will have a bit of glue on the thread to lock it in place, you need to chip the glue off and gently turn the lens back and forth to free it up and then you can adjust your focus as you please
 
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