Review: Mini 0807 1080P Dashcam with GPS, Dual microSD (Gearbest.com)

Firmware updated to:
DVR: FW 20160606 V1.0 (One thing immediately changed, FCWS started beeping when it detected walls).
MCU: GPS20000000 CARDV20160413 (same date at the end but different first part)

GPS: will update once I hook this up in the vehicle.
Currently GPS takes pretty long time to lock.

Will see how it goes.
Not hoping anything will change for the focus issue though.
 
Thanks for the advice.
As a self confessed addicted Dashcam reviewer [emoji12] / expert, what do u feel barring the oof issue which might be an easy fix or a one off case, should this Dashcam be a good buy @ US$85, shipped. It certainly seems to tick all the right boxes on paper at least.
I am prepared to gamble on gearbest and the Chinese after sales service.

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You may get a good sample but if you do get OOF issue, not sure how easy to get to the lens.
As previous models, the GPS connectors are on the rotating mount that are very delicate and can break apart when opening the case.
 
You may get a good sample but if you do get OOF issue, not sure how easy to get to the lens.
As previous models, the GPS connectors are on the rotating mount that are very delicate and can break apart when opening the case.
Guess will wait for some more till the initial snags are ironed out.


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Audio is pretty good on mine.
Do you have daytime videos?
Hopefully, OOF issue is not widespread.

The audio on mine is very soft... Even softer than the autobot eye...

Here's the day video...
 
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Firmware updated to:
DVR: FW 20160606 V1.0 (One thing immediately changed, FCWS started beeping when it detected walls).
MCU: GPS20000000 CARDV20160413 (same date at the end but different first part)

GPS: will update once I hook this up in the vehicle.
Currently GPS takes pretty long time to lock.

Will see how it goes.
Not hoping anything will change for the focus issue though.

The GPS locks on almost instantly once there clear sky after the update... Before the update, it took about 30 minutes to lock on to GPS...
 
Edit: Please check screenshots and videos after I fixed the lens focus:
https://dashcamtalk.com/forum/threa...-dual-microsd-gearbest-com.19660/#post-257053

**************************
Mini 0807 Daytime Videos after firmware update
:
It is out of focus but easy to fix as mentioned here: https://dashcamtalk.com/forum/threa...microsd-gearbest-com.19660/page-2#post-258680

After firmware update, the only thing I noticed is ADAS feature (FCWS) beeping constantly for the first few minutes even when there's nothing in front.
GPS lock (cold start) is still at around 1:45.
OOF issue is slightly improved (still bad) but could just be different lighting conditions.

Mini 0807 Daytime video after FW update:


Compare this with MERRiLL APPLE F2701 video at the same time here to see what the same video looks like with good focus.

Mini 0807 screenshots:


06191752_0023.MOV_20160620_104501.943.jpg

06191752_0023.MOV_20160620_104831.662.jpg

06191755_0024.MOV_20160620_104853.818.jpg

06191755_0024.MOV_20160620_111116.909.jpg

And compare these screenshots against good focus of Merril F2701 here that look excellent: https://dashcamtalk.com/forum/threa...verse-dashcam-gearbest-com.19730/#post-258398
 
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Has anyone taken the mini 0807 apart yet?
I can try to fix the OOF issue by twisting the lens.
I'm afraid I'll break it if I attempt on my own like I did with 0806. :D
 
I opened it up and not too difficult but the lens doesn't budge.
I scraped the glue and housing in the process but still it doesn't move at all.
Even tried Acetone, but no cookie.
I put it under the Sun outside to see if heat makes it easier.
We'll see...

DSC04883-Mini-0807.jpg

DSC04885-Mini-0807.jpg
 
After scraping the glue, it was very difficult to twist the lens.
I was afraid of ripping the base apart so left it under the Sun for few hours and it finally gave in.
Video is still grainy but focus is good.
May need to fine tune or it's just the quality of low VBR on ambarella.
Here's one before clip that's OOF:
06191248_0001.MOV_20160621_160313.848-OOF.jpg

The first clip below is same as above to show how good it is now, rest are random:
06211418_0034.MOV_20160621_160337.667.jpg

06211418_0034.MOV_20160621_160443.500.jpg

06211418_0034.MOV_20160621_160551.313.jpg

06211421_0035.MOV_20160621_160630.267.jpg

06211421_0035.MOV_20160621_202253.847.jpg

06211421_0035.MOV_20160621_202315.511.jpg

06211424_0036.MOV_20160621_202534.076.jpg


Here are few videos after lens is focused:



Now all we need is higher VBR as this low VBR is pretty grainy even in full sunlight.
 
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Now all we need is higher VBR as this low VBR is pretty grainy even in full sunlight.


That's great if the Out of focus is solved.
Isn't increasing bitrate on this chipset pretty easy by customising the firmware?



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That's great if the Out of focus is solved.
Isn't increasing bitrate on this chipset pretty easy by customising the firmware?



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It should be as most other Ambarella A7LA50 dashcams have over 18mbps and record at 2560 x 1080p or 2394 x 1296p resolutions.
This camera's resolution and VBR is lower than G1W.
After lens is re-focused, VBR is now at 10 mbps so could be due to more details due to better focus.
 
This is my first week of trying to read up on dash cams so really don't know much, was just reading up on the mini series and apparently even 0805/0826 are recording at VBR of 12 in S. Fine mode at 1920x1080.
Also is the 1296p a limitation of the cmos?

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This is my first week of trying to read up on dash cams so really don't know much, was just reading up on the mini series and apparently even 0805/0826 are recording at VBR of 12 in S. Fine mode at 1920x1080.
Also is the 1296p a limitation of the cmos?

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Ambarella A7LA50 can do 2560 x 1080p and 2394 x 1296p like Dome G95A and Hyundai H100 so not sure why it's limited.
It has ADAS features like other Ambarella based dascams so not sure why it has so low VBR and no higher resolutions.
Maybe it's the sensor that's limiting.
 
Ambarella A7LA50 can do 2560 x 1080p and 2394 x 1296p like Dome G95A and Hyundai H100 so not sure why it's limited.
It has ADAS features like other Ambarella based dascams so not sure why it has so low VBR and no higher resolutions.
Maybe it's the sensor that's limiting.
Probably right, it's the Sony sensor which is limiting the res.
Checked out few other Sony imx322 dash cams and they all have max 1920x1080.

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Still if and when I buy I will certainly try and increase the VBR and check the results.

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Great work with the lens refocusing. I did some more comparisons with my unit, look like the focus issue can also be attributed to heat and temperature...

A Monday afternoon...
ESW0s5Q.png


The following Tuesday morning ...
RLPTThM.png
 
Great work with the lens refocusing. I did some more comparisons with my unit, look like the focus issue can also be attributed to heat and temperature...

A Monday afternoon...
ESW0s5Q.png


The following Tuesday morning ...
RLPTThM.png
Yes the lens base is plastic so heat focus shift will happen but still much better video in both cases after adjusting focus.
I tested after parking under the sun and it was still much better than original oof.
 
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