The Thinkware F550 Dual Camera is a Korean dashboard camera which sells under the name Inavi FXD900 in Korea. Inavi Thinkware is one of the most popular dash cam brands in Korea and they recently focused outside of that country.
The front camera records at 1080p, 30fps with a bit rate of 10 Mbps. The rear camera records at 720p, 30fps at a bit rate of 6 Mbps. Video quality during the day is very good and night is good for the front camera in most conditions. Rear camera is average during the day and grainy at night. When the camera was released in 2013, the video quality was very respectable. However, as of 2015, a number of 1080p front and rear dual cameras are available making this camera less attractive.
The F550 front camera is based on the Texas Instruments TMS320DM8127 processor and Sony Exmor CMOS sensor. The rear camera can be purchased separately and is known as the BCH-300. Overall, the image appears a bit dark at night which is surprising given the Sony Exmor CMOS. It also can be grainy in some driving conditions, a common issue with Texas Instruments based processors.
Beyond image quality, the F550 has some nice features:
- Low profile design of main unit and small rear camera size allows discreet installation
- Built-in GPS, G-sensor and parking mode (buffers video and saves 10 seconds before and after the event on both cameras)
- Dual Save technology records to the MicroSD card as well as internal memory in the event of a crash
- Built in battery discharge prevention / low voltage shutoff (11.7V to 12.4V, changeable by 0.1V)
- Thermal sensor which triggers automatic shut down if the camera gets too hot
While the shape of the camera is discreet, the front camera is quite large at 105.2mm x 161.5 mm x 41mm. Also the lens surrounding is a silver / chrome color, which makes whole unit more visible from outside the vehicle. All black would be preferred. On the other hand, the rear camera is much smaller and very stealth.
One of the biggest negatives with the FX500 is that it takes about 70 seconds to “boot-up” from parking mode to driving mode recording. The following video shows the boot-up sequence.
We would like to thank our member niko who provided the review for this camera on our forum.
Size Comparison
Thanks to niko for this size comparison photo.
Known problems
Video Gaps
When recording in 2 channel mode ( front + rear camera ) and later joining video clips, there is a very small gap or “jump” between for the front camera videos. This does not occur if only the front camera is recording. Thinkware is looking at correcting this problem.
Mounting the Camera
FX550 Teardown
Thanks to our member niko for providing this teardown.
Sample Videos
Day Video – Front
Night Video – Front
Should I Purchase?
While we like the form factor of this dual camera, the video quality, while decent is not great. The 70 second boot time is a huge negative as well. Considering the front camera sells for $300 and the rear camera is an additional $100, it is hard to recommend this camera. At that price range there are newer dual 1080p cameras available which should be a consideration.
Firmware
The latest English firmware and player can be downloaded from the Thinkware site.
User Manual
You can download the manual here.
Specifications
Detailed Specifications
| Read Review |  |
| Camera Type | Dual Channel |
| Form Factor | Wedge |
| Country | China |
| Processor | Texas Instruments TMS320DM8127 |
| CMOS Front | Sony Exmor |
| CMOS Rear | Unknown |
| Channels | 2 |
| Screen | No |
| GPS | Yes |
| G-Sensor | Yes |
| Wi-Fi | No |
| Parking Mode | Buffered |
| Lock Files | Auto or Button |
| Max Resolution Front | 1920×1080p |
| Front Frames Per Second | 30 |
| Max Bitrate Front (Mbps) | 10 |
| Max Resolution Rear | 1280×720p |
| Rear Frames Per Second | 30 |
| Max Bitrate Rear (Mbps) | 6 |
| Video Format | AVI |
| Compression | H.264 |
| Diagonal Viewing Angle Front | 143° |
| Diagonal Viewing Angle Rear | Unknown |
| SD Card Type | MicroSD |
| Max Size (Spec) | 32GB |
| Max Size (User) | 64GB |
| Size Front (mm) | 105.2 x 161.5 x 41 |
| Size Rear (mm) | Unknown |
| Mount | Adhesive |
| Power Supply | 12V |
| Operating Temp | -20°C to 65°C |
| Battery | Capacitor |
| Error Notification | No |
| Swivel (To Record Side Windows) | No |
| Apps | PC |
| Cloud Connectivity | No |
| Release Date | Jul 2014 |
| Unique Features | Buffers video in parking mode (10 seconds before & after motion detection) Dual Save technology |
| Advantages | OK video quality for a dual camera Battery Discharge Prevention |
| Disadvantages | 70 second boot time |
| Final Word | Good form factor but 70 second boot time is a huge negative. At this price consider dual 1080p cameras. |
Published: January 12, 2015
Thinkware F550 - DashCamTalk
The Thinkware F550 has a good form factor but 70 second boot time is a huge negative. At this price consider dual 1080p cameras.
Product SKU: Thinkware F550
Product Brand: Thinkware
Product Currency: USD
Product Price: 400
Price Valid Until: 2023-01-01
Product In-Stock: SoldOut
5.2