Review: Papago GoSafe 388 1080p Dashcam

Sunny

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Dash Cam
More than I can review. ;)
Thank you @PAPAGO! for providing Papago GoSafe 388 camera for review.
Product site: http://us.papagoinc.com/products/gosafe-388/
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Conclusion:
PROS: It's very lightweight and small so very discrete from outside.
Works great and both video and audio are very good.
Has nice features such as stop and go, light reminder etc...
388 has slightly wider FOV than GoSafe S30.

CONS: The small sticky mount doesn't have enough leverage to angle down any further than what's in the video here.
***********************************
Description:
The GoSafe 388 is designed to capture the entire road without taking up space on your windshield. Made with ionized molecular material to prevent bacteria build-up this micro-sized dashcam records in high quality 1080HD and 142° angle, so you are certain to capture everything in your path. The motion detection feature protects your vehicle from any mishaps during your absence while the Stop & Go, Light Reminder, and Driver Fatigue warning features help keep you focused on the road. The optional GPS antenna will help track your location and speed. The ability to record more footage is finally here! The GoSafe 388 is one of the few dash cams that can support up to a 64GB MicroSD card. This allows for much more storage space before it loops over old footage. Record even more important instances with amazing footage and precision.

Features
GS388_feat5-1.jpg

Ionized material:
The GoSafe 388 helps prevent any bacterial build up on the surface of the device by using a specially designed ionized material that helps ward off potentially harmful debris.
GS388_feat2.jpg

Compact and lightweight: measures 2.1″x2.2″x1.1″.
GS388_feat1.jpg

More info: http://us.papagoinc.com/products/gosafe-388/

Papago S30 Unboxing Video:


Package contents:

1. Papago GoSafe 388 dash camera.
2. Sticky mount.
3. Adata 8GB microSD with full size adapter.
4. USB car charger. 5V 1A
5. mini USB to USB cable.
6. Product manual.
7. One extra VHB tape.

Product boxes of GPSA-US (GPS Module), S30 and 388:
dsc03816-papago-s30-388-jpg.20771


GoSafe 388 only comes with sticky mount but mounts are interchangeable if needed with S30.
dsc03817-papago-s30-388-jpg.20773


Papago GoSafe 388 contents:
DSC03821-Papago-388.jpg

GPS module for Papago cameras (GPSA-US):
dsc03830-papago-gps-antenna-jpg.20772


Papago GoSafe S30 and GoSafe 388 side-by-side:
dsc03827-papago-s30-388-jpg.20762


dsc03826-papago-s30-388-jpg.20763


dsc03825-papago-s30-388-jpg.20764


dsc03824-papago-s30-388-jpg.20765


dsc03823-papago-s30-388-jpg.20766


dsc03822-papago-s30-388-jpg.20767


Tests to follow...
 
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Reserved...
 
The Papago GoSafe 388 is based upon Sony illuminated sensor that's supposedly gives better night/low light video quality
Looking at specs from the gift boxes I see the S30 version is with Sony CMOS (maybe IMX322?) and I expect the S to be because of Sony name.

enjoy,
Mtz
 
Papago GoSafe 388Folders and file size:
PAPAGO>VIDEOS
A 5 minute clip is around 480mb in size.

Papago 388 Folders and files.jpg

Overall bit rate : 13.1 Mbps
Format : AVC
Format/Info : Advanced Video Codec
Format profile : High@L4.1
Duration : 5mn 1s
Video Bit rate : 11.9 Mbps
Width : 1 920 pixels
Height : 1 080 pixels
Display aspect ratio : 16:9
Frame rate mode : Constant
Frame rate : 30.000 fps
Audio Bit rate : 512 Kbps
Channel(s) : 1 channel
Sampling rate : 32.0 KHz

Looking at specs from the gift boxes I see the S30 version is with Sony CMOS (maybe IMX322?) and I expect the S to be because of Sony name.

enjoy,
Mtz
Yeah, didn't see any chipset name for the 388.
I ass-u-me-d it also has same chip. ;)
The file size and bit rates are all same so it could be same.
Post edited.
 
Daytime video screenshots:
Video quality is pretty good in daytime.
It's in the same category as dashcams based on NT96650 chip.
Audio is good and clear without any distortion.
GPS locks on pretty quick.


 
Night/low light video screenshots:

2016_0213_082225_010.MOV_000136902.jpg

2016_0213_082725_011.MOV_000043936.jpg

2016_0213_085634_012.MOV_000004733.jpg

2016_0213_085634_012.MOV_000017509.jpg

2016_0213_085634_012.MOV_000046933.jpg

2016_0213_085634_012.MOV_000085032.jpg

2016_0213_085634_012.MOV_000121337.jpg

2016_0213_085634_012.MOV_000174158.jpg

2016_0213_085634_012.MOV_000178156.jpg

2016_0213_085634_012.MOV_000263493.jpg
 
Night/low light videos:
Night videos are little darker than S30. Quality is about the same as NT96650 based cameras.


 
One more daytime video:

 
One more daytime video and conclusion:


Conclusion:
It's very lightweight and small so very discrete from outside.
Works great and both video and audio are very good.
Has nice features such as stop and go, light reminder etc...
388 has slightly wider FOV than GoSafe S30.

The only thing that needs improvement is the small mount.
It doesn't have enough room to move any more downward than what's show here.

*************
2016_0305_012401_053.MOV_20160308_180251.515.jpg
 
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Thank you so much for these super useful reviews, and all the samples. I am debating between GS520 and GS388. My trusty SeeZeus Shadow RX300 died yesterday, so I am in business of getting myself another dash cam. 520 is really nice and tempting, price is little higher than the one for GS388 here in Canada. I love 520 form factor a lot better, but not sure if I need to spend extra $50-$60 for GS520. I also love the fact that 520 has battery built in. I know it won't last long, just like in my old RX300, but at least it gives you additional few minutes if power is completely cut off.

Do you by any chance have some of these videos as untouched/uncompressed in post, something that's closer to its raw format that it came out of camera? I know it's not true raw format, but at least it's a lot less compressed version than these YouTube videos. At least something 5-10 seconds so I can see how videos look like, for both 520 and 388 if possible.

Also, I am wondering if I'd be able to use my GPS antenna I used with RX300, because it's still in great condition and if it works with these cameras, it would be a huge waste to throw it away. It's same as in this photo below...
Thank you so much in advance!

N0duH6T.jpg
 
If it has same number of connections, it may work.
388 is smaller so much discrete but 520 has better video quality.
388 has GPS port while 520 doesn't so there's no way to plug in GPS, working or not.
 
Thank you! Yes, I've noticed 520 has way better image quality, especially at higher resolutions (2K). I'm just trying to justify spending $60 more for GS 520 over the GS 388. I was hoping to find unedited, videos with no additional compression (straight out of camera), at least few seconds clip, just to see "raw" quality that comes out of GS 388. So far I was not able to find anything out there. Usually people post videos on YouTube and then leave a download link where we can download "raw" video files.

Cheers!
 
If can find some files in my computer, I'll upload but it's been a while so not sure if I have any saved.
 
If can find some files in my computer, I'll upload but it's been a while so not sure if I have any saved.

Thank you so much! As I said, even if it's 10 seconds clip only, that's more than enough.

BTW, when we're at that, do you have any other good dash cam to suggest? I was looking at these GS520, GS388 and GS272. Those are available at my local shops here in Toronto. I'm trying to avoid waiting for my dash cam to ship from China or somewhere else, I'd rather go in, pay and pick up at the spot if possible :)

Any other models you'd happily suggest and I'll try to see if anyone is selling around here?

Thank you!
 
If can find some files in my computer, I'll upload but it's been a while so not sure if I have any saved.

Hi,

Sorry don't mean to bug you. Today is my D-day... need to purchase something rather quickly. I am still deciding in between GS 388 and GS 520. I like the idea of GS 388 being capacitor unit vs battery ones. It's just it's really unclear what is GS 388 image processor. It does not mention Sony or anything like that, it sounds rather cheap (HD 1.3 Mega Pixel Sensor). I just want to see non-altered, "raw" video sample, directly from camera so I can decide if that's good enough for me.

I'd appreciate if you have some short clip available, and if you could upload it or provide a link in case you already have it somewhere available.

I can actually go GW1-C route, many local sellers are selling it here in Toronto/Mississauga, but I am little afraid they all are knock-offs, since there is really no 100% certain way of checking it, unless you crack open one and see processor inside. I know people are saying about HDMI plug and video format needs to be MOV and not AVI in order to be sure your camera is original... but some people reported they purchased knockoffs and dash cams actually had HDMI port installed. As for the video format, there is really no easy way to tell at the spot in which format camera is recording, unless you are at your computer, which I will not be if I'm going outside to buy the dash cam.

Thank you
 
Hi,

Sorry don't mean to bug you. Today is my D-day... need to purchase something rather quickly. I am still deciding in between GS 388 and GS 520. I like the idea of GS 388 being capacitor unit vs battery ones. It's just it's really unclear what is GS 388 image processor. It does not mention Sony or anything like that, it sounds rather cheap (HD 1.3 Mega Pixel Sensor). I just want to see non-altered, "raw" video sample, directly from camera so I can decide if that's good enough for me.

I'd appreciate if you have some short clip available, and if you could upload it or provide a link in case you already have it somewhere available.

I can actually go GW1-C route, many local sellers are selling it here in Toronto/Mississauga, but I am little afraid they all are knock-offs, since there is really no 100% certain way of checking it, unless you crack open one and see processor inside. I know people are saying about HDMI plug and video format needs to be MOV and not AVI in order to be sure your camera is original... but some people reported they purchased knockoffs and dash cams actually had HDMI port installed. As for the video format, there is really no easy way to tell at the spot in which format camera is recording, unless you are at your computer, which I will not be if I'm going outside to buy the dash cam.

Thank you
The screenshots I posted are obviously from the actual file, not from youtube so you can guess the quality.
I found few files.
Here's a clip of both day and night together.
Download and view in computer, not in dropbox player:

https://www.dropbox.com/s/6yabxc2zau3zu9p/Papago 388 Videos.mov?dl=0
 
The screenshots I posted are obviously from the actual file, not from youtube so you can guess the quality.
I found few files.
Here's a clip of both day and night together.
Download and view in computer, not in dropbox player:

https://www.dropbox.com/s/6yabxc2zau3zu9p/Papago 388 Videos.mov?dl=0

Super helpful! Thank you once again. It seems like GoSafe 388 has better image quality than my old SeeZeus Shadow Rx300, I just compared your video with one of my old ones. I found similar footage, similar time of the day and the night footage. Even though 388 has way inferior picture quality to GS520, it still looks better than RX300.

Now, onto deciding which one to go with... :)

Did you happen to run into DOD LS360W by any chance? That's my other option, I can get it for $120 today, brand new sealed package.

Thanks again!
 
Never owned DOD models.
 
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