New Mobius 1S

[demolition_mango]

I have been using Mobius cameras as dashcams, security cameras, and other uses for almost a decade. Last year the model that was available on Amazon changed to the new 1S which has a new sensor with 2560x1440 resolution and a new blue circuit board. I noticed there was no mention of the newer model on these forums so I decided to do a review. I've been using one for almost a year, and just bought two more to use as parking cameras for my car. They came from the Black Box store on Amazon and were $64 each.

I'll add to this as I go, including photos and sample videos. But I want to point out some major differences first.

1- The settings available in Msetup are totally different from the original Mobius. One major change is the low fps modes are gone. But you can now adjust bitrate with a slider. And the shortest videolapse interval is now 1 second.
2- The body is smooth plastic rather than rubberized, which is good because the rubber would always get sticky with age.
3- The internal "JST" battery connector is different so you can't use an original supercapacitor unless you swap the plug. I had it mixed up with the Maxi 4K. The M1S has the same old plug
4- A tiny hex wrench is no longer included so you need to buy your own to adjust or swap the M12 lens. The lens holder has no screw hole anymore and instead the lens is glued

 

[demolition_mango]

Included paper manual:

 

[demolition_mango]

Mine came with older firmware. Msetup is unable to find newest firmware from the web so I downloaded it manually. Msetup Firmware Update:

 

[demolition_mango]

Msetup settings screens with Mobius 1S 1.24 Firmware:

 

[kamkar]

Daum i have not seen Msetup in a while.

 

[demolition_mango]

 

[demolition_mango]

Reserved for future additions and videos

 

[TonyM]

I noticed there was no mention of the newer model on these forums so I decided to do a review

Perhaps you didn't look in the right place.

I bought my M1S in Dec 2022 and started a thread about it here: Mobius 1S - First Impressions

 

[TonyM]

2- The body is smooth plastic rather than rubberized, which is good because the rubber would always get sticky with age.
3- The internal "JST" battery connector is different so you can't use an original supercapacitor unless you swap the plug.

That seems odd. My M1S has the rubberised coating on the plastic case, and I'm fairly sure the battery/capacitor socket is identical to my M1 cameras.

My local reseller lists the supercapacitor as being compatible with both cameras:

 

[demolition_mango]

Perhaps you didn't look in the right place.

View attachment 78858

I bought my M1S in Dec 2022 and started a thread about it here: Mobius 1S - First Impressions

You're right, I didn't check the Action Camera Brands group, just Dashcams!

I'll recheck the battery connector. I may have been thinking of the Mobius Maxi which definitely has a different connector...

 

[TonyM]

I'll recheck the battery connector. I may have been thinking of the Mobius Maxi which definitely has a different connector...

Yes, the Maxi does have a smaller connector

 

[demolition_mango]

I was surprised today when I opened up one of the M1S cameras I just got, and discovered that the lens holder has no set screw and instead the lens is glued. It seems to be a very strong glue or epoxy and I couldn't remove it. I had planned to put in a 6mm lens in one camera, and a fisheye in the other, but that idea is scrapped.

The PCB is also black. So it's possible they changed the design again. I'll open my older one again and verify but I'm pretty sure it was a green or teal circuit board.

 

[kamkar]

You can often buy lens sockets, what you especially have to be aware of though is the spacing for the 2 holes that hold it in place either side of the sensor.
Playing with lenses / sensors and so on in CCTV and also a little dashcam and action camera have thought me a bit.

Regarding the glue, yes it can some times come off as OMG, but heat can some times help here too.

 

[demolition_mango]

You can often buy lens sockets, what you especially have to be aware of though is the spacing for the 2 holes that hold it in place either side of the sensor.
Playing with lenses / sensors and so on in CCTV and also a little dashcam and action camera have thought me a bit.

Regarding the glue, yes it can some times come off as OMG, but heat can some times help here too.

TonyM's pictures in his thread for the 8mm lens swap show a lens holder with a set screw, so they must have changed since he bought his. I have a socket somewhere that I got with a lens a long time ago, so yes that seems like the easiest fix, just replace the lens holder.

 

[joe384]

Can the lens holder and the sensor come apart then? On minidvcameras.co.uk they sell the "lens modules" but it looks like these include the sensor and lens holder.

I want to get a mobius 1S but only the A2 lens ones are for sale.

 

[TonyM]

TonyM's pictures in his thread for the 8mm lens swap show a lens holder with a set screw, so they must have changed since he bought his. I have a socket somewhere that I got with a lens a long time ago, so yes that seems like the easiest fix, just replace the lens holder.

In my 8mm telephoto thread I mentioned that I replaced the A2 lens + holder in the M1S with a C2 lens holder from an older Mobius 1. The C2 has a set screw, and has a longer internal thread which is may be necessary if you want to install a telephoto lens.

I replaced the original A2 lens holder with a C2 lens holder. This is because the C2 holder is longer, and therefore more suitable for installing third party lenses, especially telephoto lenses.

 

[TonyM]

Can the lens holder and the sensor come apart then? On minidvcameras.co.uk they sell the "lens modules" but it looks like these include the sensor and lens holder.

I want to get a mobius 1S but only the A2 lens ones are for sale.

Yes, you can unscrew the lens holder from the PCB that the sensor is mounted on. It's just 2No small screws.

 

[TonyM]

I was surprised today when I opened up one of the M1S cameras I just got, and discovered that the lens holder has no set screw and instead the lens is glued. It seems to be a very strong glue or epoxy and I couldn't remove it. I had planned to put in a 6mm lens in one camera, and a fisheye in the other, but that idea is scrapped.

Sometimes if you twist the lens to unscrew it from the holder, the force is enough to separate the glue from the holder. Then you can scrape it away.

Alternatively, I use a sharp hobby knife to cut into the glue at the join with the holder, then peel it away. I've done than on many dashcams that don't have set screws (Viofo, Street Guardian & others).

 

[joe384]

Yes, you can unscrew the lens holder from the PCB that the sensor is mounted on. It's just 2No small screws.

Ah right, and I see from your other post that I can use the C2 Lens holder from my mobius 1 (rather than buying the whole sensor + holder part) 👍

 

[TonyM]

Ah right, and I see from your other post that I can use the C2 Lens holder from my mobius 1 (rather than buying the whole sensor + holder part) 👍

Yes you can. Just watch out for different case types. The grooves that secure the lens holder can be in different places to suit the length and thickness of the lens holder.