Review: Hetai Nautilus Nemo's Eye Wi-Fi Waterproof Action Camera (Improved Version, V2)

[Sunny]

Review: Hetai Nautilus Nemo's Eye Wi-Fi Waterproof Action Camera 1080p (Improved version, V2)
I received this camera for review. Thank you @Eve_Lyn !
Manufacturer's site: http://www.htinter.com/
Product link: Nautilus Waterproof WiFi Sports DV Action Camera
*********************************
Description and specifications:
Since there is very little change on hardware, click on my previous thread of the initial version for more details:
https://dashcamtalk.com/forum/threa...e-waterproof-action-camera-1080p-wi-fi.13153/
*********************************
Shipping package is exactly same size as initial version and most contents are same.

Package contents:



What's new in the improved version, V2?
Initial version has few issues, mainly out of focus lens underwater and low/tunnel effect audio.
V2 supposedly has resolved those issues.

V2 has a small lens cover that should help on underwater out of focus issue as the main lens no longer touches water directly.
Haven't seen any difference on microphone location so will see how it works when I test it.

V2 side-by-side with initial version.



Unboxing video:

continued...

 

[Sunny]

Folders and files:
3 minute file is around 389mb in size.
Same folder structure as initial version with EVENT (for triggered clips), JPG (for photos) and VIDEO (for normal videos):

Bit rate: Overall, 18.1 mbps. VBR is 17 mbps and audio is 705.6 kbps.

General
Complete name                            : C:\Documents-Pers\Gadgets\Nautilus\2nd Version\20140701_055720.MOV
Format                                   : MPEG-4
Format profile                           : QuickTime
Codec ID                                 : qt 
File size                                : 389 MiB
Duration                                 : 3mn 0s
Overall bit rate                         : 18.1 Mbps
Encoded date                             : UTC 2014-07-01 05:57:20
Tagged date                              : UTC 2014-07-01 05:57:20
Writing library                          : icat

Video
ID                                       : 1
Format                                   : AVC
Format/Info                              : Advanced Video Codec
Format profile                           : High@L4
Format settings, CABAC                   : Yes
Format settings, ReFrames                : 2 frames
Format settings, GOP                     : M=3, N=15
Codec ID                                 : avc1
Codec ID/Info                            : Advanced Video Coding
Duration                                 : 3mn 0s
Bit rate                                 : 17.0 Mbps
Width                                    : 1 920 pixels
Height                                   : 1 080 pixels
Display aspect ratio                     : 16:9
Frame rate mode                          : Variable
Frame rate                               : 29.970 fps
Minimum frame rate                       : 29.412 fps
Maximum frame rate                       : 30.303 fps
Color space                              : YUV
Chroma subsampling                       : 4:2:0
Bit depth                                : 8 bits
Scan type                                : Progressive
Bits/(Pixel*Frame)                       : 0.274
Stream size                              : 365 MiB (94%)
Language                                 : English
Encoded date                             : UTC 2014-07-01 05:57:20
Tagged date                              : UTC 2014-07-01 05:57:20
Color range                              : Full
Color primaries                          : BT.709
Transfer characteristics                 : BT.709
Matrix coefficients                      : BT.709

Audio
ID                                       : 2
Format                                   : PCM
Format settings, Endianness              : Little
Format settings, Sign                    : Signed
Codec ID                                 : sowt
Duration                                 : 3mn 0s
Source duration                          : 3mn 0s
Bit rate mode                            : Constant
Bit rate                                 : 705.6 Kbps
Channel(s)                               : 1 channel
Sampling rate                            : 44.1 KHz
Bit depth                                : 16 bits
Stream size                              : 15.1 MiB (4%)
Source stream size                       : 15.1 MiB (4%)
Language                                 : English
Encoded date                             : UTC 2014-07-01 05:57:20
Tagged date                              : UTC 2014-07-01 05:57:20
mdhd_Duration                            : 180071

WiFi connection is the same way as before using the iSmartDV app, details here:
https://dashcamtalk.com/forum/threa...-action-camera-1080p-wi-fi.13153/#post-171381

The app has same features as before:



Available settings from the Wi-Fi app iSmartDV:
Firmware version (VER:03.06.07) is also the same as initial version.

 

[Sunny]

Daytime Screenshots: Video quality is pretty good through the new add on lens cover. Focus is good in all areas.
1st real snow of this season in Denver...

 

[Sunny]

Daytime videos:
1. Residential area to highway:

2. Highway:

3. Busy downtown: It's my oops moment @ 00:12.
I thought the car will move and I'll have enough room to clear the intersection but got stuck. At least the only lane I blocked was right turn that couldn't turn anyways.
Better pay more attention.

Audio is still pretty low and has some hiss noise but I'm using the waterproof back cover.
I'll take it off and test next time.
I'm running it off of it's built-in battery, not plugged in.

 

[Sunny]

Night video screenshots and high/low beam test:
Night video quality is pretty good. Not quite good as ambarella based or higher end cameras but good enough.




Headlights off:






High beam:


Low beam:


High beam:


Low beam:

 

[Sunny]

Night videos:
Video:
Night is pretty good. It's little darker than others but not too much like in SJ7000 or Firefly 5S.
It does have EV settings so that can be bumped up for brighter footage.
Lighted areas have decent visibility.

Audio:
After taking the back cover off, audio is much louder.
There is still some hiss but not too bad to interfere with actual audio.

Side streets with some lights and traffic intersections:

Traffic intersections to residential areas with high/low beam test @ 2:10 and 2:33:

 

[Sunny]

Sunny day videos and screenshots:
When there is good amount of ground in the frame, sky becomes overexposed but that could be a good thing as meteors don't hit every day so no need to capture sky.

Highway alongside mountain: Sky is completely white till 00:35 and then adjusts to natural color.

For Vantrue video of same place/time: https://dashcamtalk.com/forum/threa...cam-ambarella-a7l50-ov4689.15092/#post-198655

For Dome D201 video of same place/time: https://dashcamtalk.com/forum/threa...dashcam-gearbest-com.14779/page-3#post-198659

Streets to underground parking:

Screenshots:









Overall video quality is very good for that small size.
Underwater tests coming soon since that's the main issue that is supposedly fixed in this V2 version.

 

[Sunny]

Underwater testing:
I was waiting for nicer weather to test outdoors but it's been snowing and freezing cold so had to test inside.
Good news is the out of focus underwater in original version is resolved.
Good job!
Also the sound is pretty good underwater.
I only tested it few inches below the water so may behave differently when taking it too deep.

1. Audio replaced:

2. Original audio: Hot water caused some clarity issue but otherwise pretty good.

A screenshot:

 

[kamkar]

hehe you need to get a fish tank sunny

 

[Sunny]

hehe you need to get a fish tank sunny

Yes, as if I don't have enough things in the house already.
My little one wants a tank so it may happen sometimes.

 

[dirkzelf]

Sunny day videos and screenshots:
When there is good amount of ground in the frame, sky becomes overexposed but that could be a good thing as meteors don't hit every day so no need to capture sky.

Is that something that can be corrected / fixed?

Doesn't look to be handling the light very good i.m.h.o....

 

[Sunny]

Is that something that can be corrected / fixed?

Doesn't look to be handling the light very good i.m.h.o....

That's due to auto exposure.
If you manually set it, it can behave better in different situations but it won't change on it's own.

 

[dirkzelf]

That's due to auto exposure.
If you manually set it, it can behave better in different situations but it won't change on it's own.

Sorry, I know it's the auto exposure.

Maybe I should have been clearer, I wanted to know if the auto exposure function could be fixed, in some setting or new f/w or something.

Because, really, if this is the result of auto exposure, than the auto exposure function is "kaputt" in my opinion. My Mobius doesn't do that this extreme.

I wonder, if you set AE to daytime recording, then the night recordings would be not OK I guess... ? ?

 

[Sunny]

Of course, FW can change a lot of things but as a user, we can only do what's available and that is either leave it at AE or change at daytime and night.

 

[dirkzelf]

Of course, FW can change a lot of things but as a user, we can only do what's available and that is either leave it at AE or change at daytime and night.

Bummer, and I am used to how things go with the Mobius, but I guess no such developers hurry here?

 

[dirkzelf]

Of course, FW can change a lot of things but as a user, we can only do what's available and that is either leave it at AE or change at daytime and night.

What if you set the exposure a little lower for day use, how much would that effect night recording?

Did you try that?

And then, settings can ONLY be changed with the txt file, right?

With the wifi you can't change the camera settings?

 

[Sunny]

What if you set the exposure a little lower for day use, how much would that effect night recording?

Did you try that?

And then, settings can ONLY be changed with the txt file, right?

With the wifi you can't change the camera settings?

If you have smart phone, you can edit txt file with an otg cable.
Lowering exposure is okay as night video can be processed later if needed.
it may be fine depending upon fov angle.

 

[dirkzelf]

If you still have the camera, would you, at your own convenient time, try it out for us, to set the exposure to a more acceptable daylight level, and record in the dark hours with that same setting to see if it's also still acceptable at night?

Or perhaps use a cpl filter (when in auto-exposure setting) to dim the daylight recording a bit.

If you have one of course .....