Just a dashcam review
As any technology matures it inevitably becomes less fascinating. This also happened with the dashcam. When I started reviewing them the term 'dash-cam' didn't even exist - they were known as 'Car DVRs'. But nowadays it feels to me like anyone who wants one should already have bought one.
After feeling like the moment had passed - I took a break from reviewing dashcams for a while. So it will be interesting when this video goes live to see if there is still an audience for this type of review.
Dashcam reviews were never really of too much interest to most subscribers though - they were more something that would be discovered by non-subscribers as a result of a youtube search. Although they were the one thing my channel became known for in the first few years.
One big benefit in the past with these videos was if the camera was worth buying then the affiliate sales would generate some income. The big flaw with this system though was if a dashcam turned out to be unworthy of recommendation I'd spent my time making a video with low viewing figures and no affiliated revenue.
Unfortunately that's the situation I face here. I've been using this camera for five months and believed it was doing a respectable job. It's only when I came to render this review that I discovered the camera had a glitch that created some corrupted video frames
The positive that comes out of this is that I now know I should really swap this camera for another one, but as to whether I'll review the replacement, I'd best wait and see if there is still any interest in my dashcam reviews.
So consider this more an experiment with viewing figures than anything else. Probably the best bit for general viewers is the appearance of a 'Cow Car' at around 12:16
I aim to have another (more interesting) video ready for you within the week.
Aukey DR-01 Dashcam Review ...and it was all going so well (YouTube)
Comments (38)
As others have pointed out, I could cheerfully also watch a whole vid of 'Techmoan points out muppets not just at the end, but on the road, too.' Shame about the cameras killer feature. You'd have to avoid it being too Partridge though, 'Let's see what this guy did... ....In Wythenshawe!'
"Low bridge ahead! Horns down!" Seriously, the resolution on this dashcam is pretty impressive: I could read every word on the side of the blue VW cow car. Regarding the dark overall exposure when driving into full sun: Even my near-$2K fullframe DSLR does that when set to auto / programmed exposure. There's at least a 50:1 brightness ratio between the sun and the shadows to either side, and there's currently no way (short of HDR) to solve that in a single frame.
Yes the resolution is very good and the lens is sharp. All too often the advertised resolution on cameras isn’t matched by the results. This shows what good 1080p can do.
Off topic, but can someone from the UK explain what the wacky lane borders mean that start at 13:16? They zig-zag all over the place, and I'm sure it's not accidental!
It’s to mark a pedestrian crossing. No parking or overtaking allowed in that area.
One more potential dash cam buyer here and my first thought was "let's see what Techmoan would recommend". Unbiased critical videos like this one pay out in the long term. Thank you for the useful information!
Super and thorough review as always, Mat. I am still happy with the DDPai you recommended a while back. I say 'happy', but I've only ever needed to refer to recordings once since owning it, and they were fine. I am thinking I really need a rear view camera as well now as I was recently aggressively tailgated by an HGV on the M1. Really not sure about running the cables neatly from the rear window though. Keep up the good work - it's clear from the comments that whilst you have a core of followers/supporters who enjoy everything that you produce, the great unwashed out there are rather more selective and working out what will attract them in on a regular basis is more of a challenge for you. I guess detailed analysis of your viewing stats may be the only way to get insight into that.
At this point I’m happy to hold my hands up and say that the general public audience will always remain elusive. When I look at what is really popular on YouTube it’s usually stuff that you’d have to pay me a lot of money per minute to watch. So I think chasing after a big audience is probably not a great way for me to spend my energies. I’ll just keep making videos about things I find interesting and hopefully others will too.
You certainly like living on the edge mentioning vehicle makes (Audi man). This might bring out the diatribe on YouTube. Particularly the “look at me I paid over the odds for my VW”, Arrogant Underskilled Drivers Initiative, perhaps. I liked the video though. Dash cams are how I first discovered your channel , that in turn resulted in me fitting front and rear cameras to the cars in my household. Subsequently showing I was completely innocent when stopped by some less than honest policemen, (which shook my confidence but made me eternally grateful). So thanks again and keep up the great work.
When I realised that whatever I say in a video - however innocuous, always makes dozens of people pretend to be upset...all bets are off. It’s like the boy who cried wolf. Also...glad you’ve got the cameras fitted before rather than after the incident. So often it’s after.
I think the first of your videos I watched was about magnetic USB charging cables. Thanks to that, I bought 3 of them and use them all the time. And the quality of your videos, regardless of topic, is such that I enjoy every one of them.
Same goes for me, came for the dashcam reviews and stayed. I still like the dashcam and odd kitchenware video's. Offcourse I understand the business model too, but sometimes I just think of the "old times" :-)
What car did you get?
The funny thing is that I bought my dashcam because of your review of it. I bought a Chinese market version and flashed the international firmware to it so I could understand the messages it was flashing at me. And now, here I am, a Patron. I suppose it is one of those things. If someone finds you because of this video and really enjoys your personality and work... Then they will subscribe. My theory of Youtube success is that personality is probably more important than actual subject matter a lot of the time. There are channels I watch because I really like the person doing it, even though I am not really that into the subject they are covering on that video.
Hi love the reviews i just got a new dash cam after having lots that i hated its the new hikvision one. You should take a look it has a host of good features gps g sense speed wifi ect ect but also some cool new ones it reads out the speed signs tells you when the traffic light turns green or when the car in front moves off and its held in place by magnets but the best bit by far is it has a little wireless button that you can stick any where. you hit it and it automaticity saves a clip so easy as the others you are always trying to find the button at night n hit the wrong thing or move your mirror or something it was also fairly cheap $280NZD abough half the price of the good ones over here also the joys of having a button is that i put a second one in the back and the one button activates both cams.
I may look into that one, thanks.
It's too bad there is that problem in the end. It may be worth a quick-vid follow up where you test the rendering in other editing packages. I'd love to get one of these, I've got quite a few things under this brand. Regardless. Keep up the good work, I think could listen to you talk about anything for hours.
The glitch is visible in the video files no matter how they are played. I just dismissed it as a momentary interference, but what I initially didn’t think was it was corruption of the file itself. So any video editing package or player will not like these files.
As somebody who was recently rear-ended (and then, to my shock, *ticketed* for it!) I'm kicking myself for not having a camera up and running. So, my selfish whims definitely want to know what you have to say about dashcams, and what your favorite is. ;)
Have a look here: <a href="http://www.techmoan.com/guide-to-dashcams/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">http://www.techmoan.com/guide-to-dashcams/</a>
Eagerly awaiting your upcoming reviews of methane-powered cars. Do you have to carry the cows with you all the time?
Have you ever shared a confined space with a cow? LMFAO.
I've always been curious about getting one, wouldn't mind a review about getting one. I don't have home wifi or home internet. I only view content via my phone. Is it even worth getting one for those who don't have home computers? It would primarily be for safety, accident, or other such use.
If I listened correctly, that sound sample is from Leo laporte twit.tv Podcast Network. More precise the macbreak weekly Podcast.
It was. I used that because I’d forgotten to do a normal audio test.
I really enjoyed the 8 bit guy crossover. Is it too much to hope for a LGR, 8 bit guy, Techmoan real life summit video? The holy trinity.
Well we all get along - but I'm not sure what subject would need to bring us all together. I don't rule it out though.
I'm not at all interested in these, but I'll still happily watch it 🙂
Dashcam review videos may not be at the top of the "most interesting video subject matter" list, however, your dashcam reviews are very important for folks, when it comes time to purchase one, as objective unbiased reviews that we trust are very rare on the Interwebs!
would love to also see the anker or A129 as a review love these. nice you were listening to twit
I've got an A129 in the other car. I have shot the majority of the video, but I've yet to edit any of it together.
As I've said before Mat, if you were to make a video about the paint on your conservatory wall drying, I'd watch it. This video stands out to me, because of your commentary on the idiots you share the road with. Pure poetry. Bampot, indeed.
I try very hard to keep up with the patois, but at some point you called one of the idiot drivers something I can't make out. Barn pot?
Gosh, yes that's an old phrase from my childhood meaning a stupid person.
For me, this review is quite relevant. I do not have a dash cam on any of my vehicles which may place me in the minority, but perhaps not? I've been considering purchasing one but was waiting for you to do a review or two of the current crop of cams available. I've watched your older dash cam reviews but considering the speed in which this type of technology is advancing, thought they weren't too relevant in today's market. If this one gets a respectable number of views, then perhaps you could review a few alternatives. Always enjoy you videos, no matter what the subject matter. Thanks for making them.
I for one appreciate your continuing the dashcam reviews. I may be late to the party, but I am giving consideration to installing one in my vehicle. Please carry on! Hasn't this company reached out to you in the past about one of their products? I ask because I'm wondering if they have a fix for the video issues - or if this review might be the first they're aware of the situation. Please let us know if something develops along those lines.
I can't remember if I've ever communicated with them, but I suspect this review won't be their favourit. I'll probably get plenty of 'well mine works fine' comments - but I can only report on what's in front of me.
While honest reviews result in less views and no affiliated revenue, they gain subscribers. Honesty and integrity are appealing, and usually rewarded (and I believe that's how I first decided to subscribe as well -- you were honest about how disappointing something was, and I thought "That's a guy I want to follow").