M2 Discussion

One of the key things that has needed to happen here is for Mobius to fully acknowledge the problems that exist in the first place. While that has happened to a certain degree, there has been an odd unwillingness to acknowledge or respond to certain issues I have repeatedly attempted to bring to their attention despite clear documentation. There has also been an unwillingness to answer specific questions. Often I am told, "we'll get back to you about that" and then that is the end of it.

The truth of the matter is that as a beta tester I have been biting my tongue for months when it comes to speaking candidly here on the forum about some of these concerns, both out of a sense of courtesy and wanting to give the benefit of the doubt. The guys at Mobius are an unusually talented and dedicated bunch and Peter, whom I've been corresponding with for the last ten months is just one of the nicest people and I want to see this project succeed. At some point I will probably post a write-up about the whole experience but for now I am still trying to be patient. The bottom line however, is that when a much anticipated, long overdue "Mark II" version of a beloved camera turns out to be nowhere as good as or as versatile as the original, long after its introduction, there is a serious problem.
 
That's a good question. Recently I've considered reflashing the old firmware so I can revisit the question as it has been some time now. Certainly the dual frame version had it own issues, hence its abandonment but I was sorry to see the loss of the potential of what I saw there.
When I get a bit of time, perhaps tomorrow, I'll try to compare the latest v2.08 FW against the older dual-wdr firmware. I'll run both daytime and night-time comparisons.
 
When I get a bit of time, perhaps tomorrow, I'll try to compare the latest v2.08 FW against the older dual-wdr firmware. I'll run both daytime and night-time comparisons.

The latest firmware is quite good in many ways and addresses many of the outstanding exposure and contrast issues that have been pending. For me personally, the primary issue is that I have been unable to obtain an adequately clear and sharp image out of either of the two M2 units I own. The images actually look slightly out of focus. Just the other day I went to the trouble of carefully re-focusing one of the cameras using the AV connector on an HDTV and it made no difference. My next experiment is to try a different optic in the camera to rule out a lens flaw but I question how two different M2 samples with two totally different lenses could have the same problem.

Mobius_M2.jpg
 
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Here is a different example of the problem where I compare the SG9665GC with the Mobius 2.
There is a serious lack of critical sharpness in the M2 image. Exposure is poor as well.

Mobius2_main_street.jpg
SG9665GC_2-main-street.jpg
 
Is it too late for them to go back and use the SDK instead, but keep the existing hardware? Admittedly I don't know enough about the firmware side of things to know if this is even feasible.

I don't work on that platform but that would seem feasible, it may not be able to work the way it does now with the Msetup software though so changing over might not be straightforward and not transparent to the end user if that was the case, short answer, dunno
 
they are working on another new model also which looks like it might be a better performer for dashcam use

And that would explain why they seem to not be doing much with the M2. Almost makes me glad I haven't bought one yet :p I still feel there's more unfound potential here, but with something new in the works we may not see this development anytime soon if ever. Would you know if a similar form-factor is being retained? For me that is a lot of the appeal of Mobius products :)

Phil
 
And that would explain why they seem to not be doing much with the M2.

I think that's an unrelated issue, they have lost a couple of engineers recently but not sure if they were part of the M2 development process or not but they would be short of resources regardless

Would you know if a similar form-factor is being retained? For me that is a lot of the appeal of Mobius products :)

unsure on that, I saw unfinished hardware only
 
When I get a bit of time, perhaps tomorrow, I'll try to compare the latest v2.08 FW against the older dual-wdr firmware. I'll run both daytime and night-time comparisons.
Ran a few day and night comparisons today between the latest FW v2.08, and the last of the dual-frame WDR firmware v1.36. I also have reference shots from my GC.

NIGHT (no headlights)
v2.08 1080p60 WDR on
MOBIUS0002091v2w.mp4_20170427_000152.937.jpg

v2.08 1080p60 WDR off
MOBIUS0002092v2.mp4_20170427_000340.965.jpg

v1.36 1080p30 Dual-Frame WDR
MOBIUS0000014v1w.mp4_20170427_000449.602.jpg

v1.36 1080p60 (no WDR)
MOBIUS0000015v1.mp4_20170427_000654.820.jpg

SG9665GC v2 1080p30 WDR on
2017_0426_205410_394.MOV_20170427_000901.348.jpg
 
Ran a few day and night comparisons today between the latest FW v2.08, and the last of the dual-frame WDR firmware v1.36. I also have reference shots from my GC.

NIGHT (no headlights)
v2.08 1080p60 WDR on
View attachment 30461

v2.08 1080p60 WDR off
View attachment 30462

v1.36 1080p30 Dual-Frame WDR
View attachment 30463

v1.36 1080p60 (no WDR)
View attachment 30464

SG9665GC v2 1080p30 WDR on
View attachment 30465


The night time performance of the early firmware was abysmal; that much we know. What I was referring to was better apparent clarity and motion blur performance during the day with the early dual frame WDR firmware. Wish I had kept my examples but I tend to eventually purge stuff when I clone my drives for back-ups.
 
Daytime comparisons between the latest FW v2.08, and the last of the dual-frame WDR firmware v1.36, with reference shot from my GC.

v2.08 1080p60 WDR on
MOBIUS0002085v2w.mp4_20170427_001349.564.jpg

v2.08 1080p60 WDR off
MOBIUS0002084v2.mp4_20170427_001316.694.jpg

v1.36 1080p30 Dual-Frame WDR
MOBIUS0000010v1w.mp4_20170427_001702.082.jpg

v1.36 1080p60 (no WDR)
MOBIUS0000011v1.mp4_20170427_001813.705.jpg

SG9665GC v2 1080p30 WDR on
2017_0426_180918_337.MOV_20170427_002033.409.jpg
 
v.136 WDR looks much sharper and clearer to me, echoing my experience. My V.208 firmare seems sorta' worse however. :( Don't know why.
 
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These were still frames from static scenes for ease of comparison. I also took driving samples which I can upload another day.
 
These were still frames from static scenes for ease of comparison. I also took driving samples which I can upload another day.

V.136 WDR definitely looks superior to the more recent firmware, static or not!

Edit: Thanks for your efforts!
 
v2.08
I must say I dont see any improvement in quality or file size when switching to H.265

Is this just a promotional gimmick?
 
I will be purging the Mobius 2 from my windscreen soon, and so it will be heading for a drawer, and then get dusted off now and then when a new firmware pop up.
I did get the mobius 2 for action camera use in the first place, just put it in the car window as i drive more than i action ( sadly )

I have not tried H.265 with the newer firmwares, but back when i tried it gave me much smaller files, i even think i put the different bitrates down on type somewhere in here.
If i am not mistaken the lowers bitrate setting and H.265 was 7 or 9 mbit
 
you would have very easily missed it, I was in an office in Shenzhen at the time
That is truly INSIDE information...

Everything I learn I learned outside on the playground. ;)

Hopefully the M3 will be much better than the M2. We will all have to wait a long time to learn if it will be a 2k, 2.4k, or a 4k camera.:(
 
v2.08 is very grainy indeed, and not better when using H.265, disappointing.
Hope they'll fix it soon, otherwise its a waste of money.
But then... some of you been waiting for it to be fixed for like a year now so... not holding my breath.

Also lacks the Mobius 1 shutdown delay after power disconnect.
 
I am busy trying to narrow down my search for a dashcam.
The three things I was looking for are stealth, definition/ detail & must be able to operate when the outside temperature is 30°C. ( In Johannesburg it very rarely goes above 30°C where I stay. The only time my car will stand in the sun in this temp is if I am doing shopping & I haven't been able to find under cover parking)
I am happy with the footage I have seem of the mobius.
The footage I have seen of the Mobius 2 doesn't seem to good.
Should I wait & see if the next firmware improves the footage or should I cross the M2 off my list?
 
The Mobius is still the better choice of the two, don't hang around waiting for a miracle cure for the Mobius 2
 
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