From what I've seen of the Maxi, the sensor is better than most high resolution sensors out there in low light. However, it's not as good as the best. In my opinion, the 2 stops of light you lose from leaving the CPL on will probably degrade the quality of the night picture significantly. We'll only know for definite when one or two people get one on and start testing, espcially in sub urban low light and roads with no lighting.
I think you've misread my post. My reference to the CPL potentially shifting was for a sliding bracket design. A lens cap based CPL isn't going to shift and a hinged design probably highly unlikely over all but the severest of bumps (The 3D printed design looks like it might have a catch to hold it closed), open may be a different matter, but most bump acceleration in a car is vertical in nature so a side hinged bracket would be unlikely to experience the same level of force in the direction of opening / closing.
I think I need to invest in some more DIY tools for such CPL and mounting projects. A dremel (or similar) sounds ideal for working on these little cameras. Electric or cordless?
Sliced off the inner lip and stuck the CPL back using UV glue. Once the front plastic is removed, turn the leftover rubber ring inside out, much easier to work on.
Turning the lens cap inside out to work on it sounds like a clever idea. So, yes, as you may have already discovered if you cut down or sand down the inner lip on the lens cap you'll be able to push the lens cap CPL all the way into the lens bezel. I recommend not removing the lip all the way since it seems to help hold the cap in place. I can confirm that with the lens cap CPL pressed all the way onto the lens there is no vignetting.
I sliced the lip clean off, haven't tried fitting it yet.
If you should find that you need a little of the lip remaining for secure CPL installation replacement lens caps for the Maxi are widely available.
Was thinking how to go about adjusting the CPL. The Android app doesn't work for me and as per reports webcam mode locks up the camera.
That's a shame as I was thinking about going down that route to fit a CPL.This result seems to suggest that ANY CPL solution for the Maxi B lens camera will require a CPL that is directly up against the front of the lens and probably at least somewhat wider in diameter.
Although my Maxi has locked up a number of times for various reasons I've had no problem with the Maxi in webcam mode on a Mac using QuickTime Player. If anyone needs instructions just speak up and I explain how to do it.
Aside from that here's a little trick anyone can try (with either the Mobius 1 or the Maxi) that will make it easier to get the camera to function in web cam mode. Remove the memory card BEFORE you hook the camera up to your computer. When you launch whatever software (Mac or Windows) that you use for web cam functionality the Mobius camera will be seen as a web cam only, NOT a dash or action cam. On the Mac removing the memory card causes the Maxi to automatically open in a window in QuickTime Player when you select "New Movie Recording" without having to do anything else.
I've been using Quick Camera for webcam mode. No hurry, the A129 has a CPL on, plus anyway your testing show there's vignetting with 2.7k.
Try the trick without the memory card in the camera when connecting to web cam mode. I do it routinely now.
OK folks, I have to offer a bit of a correction about my results with the CPL. @Harsh's original assessment that this CPL concept causes major vignetting was essentially correct, with qualifications.
Mounting the CPL closer to the lens with an altered lens cap makes no difference.
I just discovered that with the camera set to record 1920x1080 you will indeed get serious vignetting with this CPL approach. The testing I originally did yesterday and this morning was with the camera set to 1920x1440 which yielded no vignetting. Results in 2704x1524 (2.7K) are nearly the same as 1920x1080 only with a slightly wider FOV.
Seems the settings are using different portions of the full sensor to create the image similar to the M1 in wide/narrow mode. (pixel binning)
This result seems to suggest that ANY CPL solution for the Maxi B lens camera will require a CPL that is directly up against the front of the lens and probably at least somewhat wider in diameter.
Notice how the 1920x1440 FOV is cropped and provides a distinctly telephoto effect compared to the other two settings. I was not previously aware that these resolution settings changed the "apparent" focal length and FOV of the lens to this extent.
1920x1440
View attachment 41860
1920x1080
View attachment 41861
2704x1524 (2.7K)
View attachment 41867
Could the problem be as simple as you need a 25, 27, or 28mm cpl instead of a 24mm cpl like you used?
I've always connected the M1 with the card removed.