REVIEW – I’ve reviewed a couple of dash cams, but both were from the same company (PAPAGO), so I jumped at the opportunity to review the Geko Starlit S200 dash cam so I could see how other cams measured up to those. Turns out the Geko is also made by or at least owned by PAPAGO, so I’m not sure if this is really “another brand”.

What is it?

The Geko Starlit S200 dash cam is a vehicle dashcam that can record day or night Full HD video, or capture photos. It features a 140-degree wide-view lens, Sony Starvis sensor, and a 64GB SD card capability.

What’s in the box?

• Geko S200 dash cam
• Adhesive mount
• Suction cup mount
• Window Mount sticker
• Power cord
• Mini-USB cord
• 16GB micro SD Card and Adapter
• User Manual

Design and features

The Geko S200 is pretty much your typical dash cam, featuring a 2-inch screen and five control buttons. It comes with 2 mounting options, a window sticker with an adhesive mount and an adjustable suction cup mount.

The S200 can record in 1280×720, 1920×1080, or 1728×1296 resolutions. The photo capture mode can record in various sizes up to 14mp. The video mode can capture in 1080p at 30 frames per second, h.264 mov format.

I had difficulty using both mounts in my pickup truck. The adhesive mount wasn’t the correct angle for my windshield and the suction cup mount would not adjust to an angle that I could see the screen correctly, however, the camera view was correct. The lens pivots and adjusts, but it doesn’t appear to stay where you put it. It appears as though they designed this camera to be high on the windshield and for a driver that sits lower in the seat.

The video captured by the camera is outstanding. The Sony Starvis sensor in this camera really is one of the best. Signs and license plates could be made out at a fair distance, and the image was clear even when driving into the setting sun.

The Geko S200 has the ability to playback captured video and photos, which is something that the other dash cams I reviewed didn’t do. I had assumed that was simply because it took more processing power to playback than to record, but apparently, it is possible in these small devices.

I found the buttons a bit hard to press. When you press them it requires enough force that it also moves the camera position. There’s no reason to have such buttons on a device like this where you won’t really be accidentally pushing the buttons.

The Geko S200 has three modes: Video, Photo, and Playback. The video mode is self-explanatory, capturing video as you drive. The photo mode will take a single photo, or multiple photos at specified intervals of 2, 5, or 10 seconds. The Playback mode will allow you to view videos and photos that reside on the memory card.

It took me quite a while to figure out how to get the camera to switch between video, photo or playback mode while it was plugged in. The menu system gets locked at various times, which is indicated by a key icon on the screen. To enter the settings, you have to press the power button to unlock it. That’s very non-intuitive.

The S200 also has G-Sensor-enabled recording that detects impacts, drastic braking, or sharp turns and will save the video so it will not be overwritten. As a typical dash cam does, when the memory card is full, it deletes the oldest clips so that you’re always recording. The camera can record loops in the following lengths: None, 3 min, 5 min, or 10 min.

The following is a list of the menus. The included manual includes what settings are possible with each menu. You can download the manual PDF here.

Video Mode Menus
Resolution
Loop Recording
HDR
Exposure
Motion Detection
Record Audio
Date Stamp
GSENSOR
Date/Time
Parking Monitor
Beep Sound
Language
Screensavers
Frequency
Format
Default Setting
Version

Camera Mode Menus
Capture Mode: Single, 2, 5, 10-second intervals
Resolution: 2M to 14M
Sequence: On/Off
Quality: Fine/Normal/Economy
Sharpness, White Balance, Color, ISO, Exposure
Anti-Shaking: On/Off
Quick ReviewOff/2 sec/5 sec
Date Stamp: On/Off

One thing that I really didn’t care for is the on-screen icons that are always visible. This includes a battery icon that is always blinking when the camera is plugged in.

Sample Video

Night video starts at 3:00 minutes into the video.

What I like

• Excellent video quality
• Video playback capability

What needs to be improved

• Too many on-screen icons
• Mounting bracket needs to be designed differently
• Constant blinking battery icon
• Hard to press buttons

Final thoughts

The S200 records great video and photos, which would be expected for an item at this price point. The playback feature is very nice and could be quite handy if you needed to transfer a video file via a smartphone or tablet while away from home. However, the camera and screen positioning features leave much to be desired unless you just happen to have the right vehicle.

Price: $159.99
Where to buy: BestBuy
Source: The sample of this product was provided by Geko.

Filed in categories: Reviews

Tagged: Car Gear, dash cam

GEKO STARLIT S200 Full HD 1080p Dashcam review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on August 26, 2018 at 9:00 am.

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REVIEW – I will admit this guilty pleasure up front: every now and then I watch dash cam videos from around the world. These videos make people look like the worst drivers in the world. I also know that the good ole’ USofA has its share of people who should not be on the road (don’t get me started on drivers staring at their phone while driving). When I was offered the Thinkware F70 dash cam to test, I was intrigued. I’ve never used a dash cam before, but I thought that in the event of an accident, a dash cam could help prove my innocence—or guilt. What I discovered was that dash cams are cool, but have an issue I naively did not ever consider.

What is it?

The Thinkware F70 is an entry-level front facing dash cam. A dash cam records what you see as you drive. If you are involved in an accident or are witness to one, it will be recorded—as long as it happens in front of you. A separate rear camera is necessary for seeing behind you. The F70 attaches to the windshield via a mounting base and is powered by a 12V (I still call it the cigarette lighter) port.

As an entry level cam, the F70 does not come with GPS (optional if you want it), Wifi or other higher-end features. However, it does have 1080P HD video, 140° Wide Angle, Thermal Protection and incident detection.

Hardware specs

• Camera: Sony Exmor CMOS 2.12M
• Resolution: 1080p Full HD (1920 x 1080)
• Capacity: Micro SD Card 8GB(class 10), 16GB/32GB/64GB(UHS-I)
• Recording Modes: Continuous Recording, Incident Recording, Manual Recording, Audio Recording, Parking Surveillance Recording
• Sensor: 3-Axis Accelerometer G-Sensor (3D, ±3G)
• GPS: External GPS Antenna (Optional)
• Power: Input Power: DC 12/24V
• ETC: Operation Status LED

Design and features

The F70 is a small cam. I’m surprised that it records the image quality it does. When looking at recorded material, I did have trouble reading some license plates on moving cars, but I could clearly make out plates when stopped at red lights. One reason for this is the 140° viewing angle. While it gives you a commanding view of the road, it also makes items appear smaller, so details can get lost. At least the 1080P recording quality helps. 

The cam base mounts in the upper-center of the windshield using a strong adhesive. Once it’s attached, the cam easily slides on and off the base. One major (for me) issue is that the F70 dash cam is not wireless. Call me slow, but that never occurred to me. I have since found out that most—if not all—dash cams are wired because of thermal issues. The heat that can build up in a closed car can harm batteries, so wired it is. 

The wiring is supposed to be tucked under the trim around the windshield, but that didn’t work with my car, so I had to resort to some included adhesive wire clips that hold wires out of the way along the edge of the glass. However, Thinkware only gives you three tabs and I needed about 10-15 tabs—I kid you not. The result is an ugly display of hanging wires—not a good solution. Thinkware offers additional wire clips; five to a pack at 15 bucks/per pack or in my case—$45. That’s almost half the price of the cam! 

Note: Certain car audio shops will perform hardwiring (that will be hidden) for an extra charge. I would only consider that if I had a top-of-the-line dash cam, not an entry-level model. But that’s me.

Once I decided to live with wires hanging down, the F70 dash cam performed flawlessly. In fact, because of its small size and where it was mounted, it became almost invisible—except for the wires. The only reminder I had a dash cam was an audible message I heard when the car was started that told me it was recording. 

Since the F70 plugs into the 12V port, I had to remember to unplug it when I parked the car. Otherwise, it will keep recording even while parked, thus drawing power from the car battery. This could become an issue if the car is parked for a long time. Thinkware does offer an optional external battery that allows 16 hours of parking mode recording.

The F70 has a Front Vehicle Departure Warning.  In case you’re day-dreaming at a red light or looking at your phone (shame) the FVDW warns you that the vehicle in front of you has started to move. This can cut down on those embarrassing honks behind you when the light turns green and you’re still sitting there.

There are three recording modes—Continuous, Manual and Event. Continuous is what it says—it records all the time. Manual only starts when you press the record button. Event is interesting, It has what Thinkware calls Active Impact Monitoring System. It will automatically store video ten seconds prior to and after an event (such as a  collision). I didn’t have to experience Event mode, thank goodness. I decided to set the mode on Continuous and leave it there. 

I muted the audio recording of the car interior. It creeped me out knowing that the F70 was recording private conversations or me (badly) singing along to the music. 

Note that many of the setting changes can only be made through a free Dashcam Viewer app—available for either Mac or Windows. Thinkware calls the app PC viewer, but the app itself is called Dashcam Viewer.

The Dashcam app is a mixed bag. I never could get the video to show up in the app window. Since I have a mac, all I had to do was load the MicroSD card into the included adapter and insert it into the back of my iMac. There is a folder on the card that holds all the videos. 

There are a couple of things to note here: all videos are in 60-second chunks, so a 5-minute trip will be 5 videos. This allows for easy searching and no video is so large that it limits sending or streaming. Also, the provided MicroSD card is only 8GB so it fills up fast. Once the card becomes full, the oldest recording gets overwritten. This allows continuous recording. If you want to save more recordings, just get a MicroSD card with more capacity. The F70 will accept cards up to 128gb.

What I like

The F70 is a simple to use, no nonsense starter dash cam. It’s light, strong, and can be mounted out of the way. If you can tuck the wiring out of the way—great!

What needs to be improved

More adhesive wire clips (at a reasonable price) would be welcome. 

Final Thoughts

I can foresee a future when every car has built-in cams. Until that day, we have dash cams. If you’re undecided about whether you want to live with a dash cam, I recommend trying the Thinkware F70 first. Then, if you decide a cam is right for you, you can always upgrade later to a better model with more features. Thinkware makes many different cams with advanced features like built-in GPS, night vision and more, depending on the budget. 

Price: $109.99
Where to buy: Amazon
Source: The sample of this product was provided by Thinkware.

Filed in categories: Reviews

Tagged: Car Gear, dash cam

Thinkware F70 dash cam review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on August 7, 2018 at 9:00 am.

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REVIEW – With the advancement of technology in today’s world, we have the ability to automate numerous tasks and to better manage our security. A Dash Cam is becoming more common and necessary for recording accidents or interactions with other individuals. It also allows you to take scenic pictures and videos as you drive. While there are many models available, I am looking for one that takes great quality video and is easily removable for storage when I am not in my vehicle. The VAVA Dash Cam 2K seems like it could work, so let’s see.

What is it?

The VAVA Dash Cam 2K is a windshield mounted dashcam that records video as you drive and is capable of snapshots either via the app or by using an optional remote.

What’s in the box

1 x VAVA Dash Cam
1 x Car Charger
1 x Windshield Mount
1 x Micro USB Cable
1 x Pry Bar
5 x Cable Clips
1 x Instruction Manual
1 x Quick Installation Guide

Design and features

The VAVA Dash Cam 2K is a small, compact and lightweight dash cam that connects magnetically to its mounting base. This type of mount allows you to swivel the camera 360 degrees to record your entire surroundings. It  records in either 2560 x 1440p 30fps QHD or 1920 x 1080p 60fp.

The base attaches to the windshield via the usual suction cup action, and on the other side where the Dash Cam connects, there is the magnetic circle for that attachment, and the micro USB port for the power connection via a micro USB cable and a DC car lighter adapter. The micro USB cable is very long, with enough length for you to use the provided pry bar to run it around the perimeter of the roof and pillars of the car, hiding it in the process. I did not install mine in this manner since I am testing it and did not want a permanent installation. The cable clips that are included are for this purpose.

On the opposite side of the camera lens, there is an SD card port (Supports Class 10 or Above SD Cards up to 128GB), a reset button and two LEDs, one for wifi connection indication and one for power indication.

Performance

The Vava Dash Cam has a 320mah Built-In Battery that allows the 3-axis G-sensor to activate and start recording footage even in parking mode. Both the video recordings and the snapshots are very clear, and the video stabilization is very good.

Snapshots:

Videos: (The following 2 videos were exported directly from my smartphone and then uploaded to YouTube)

On the daylight videos, it is quite easy to see the license plate of any vehicle in front of you. While the nighttime videos are clear as well, the reflection of opposing car lights make that task somewhat harder.

Each time you hit the brakes suddenly or hit a pothole, the Dash Cam detects it as a possible collision and starts an emergency recording. You do have the option in the settings to set the sensitivity for this action. When viewing the camera live on my phone, I noticed that every minute or so the screen would get completely grey and refresh. I did not see this in actual recordings on the SD card. I am not sure if the connection would be different and require less frequent refreshing if it was Bluetooth instead of WiFi.

App

Both iOS & Android Mobile Apps are available for this Dash Cam. Use of the app allows you to Preview, share, download, and edit photos and videos directly from your smartphone. You can also purchase a GPS module separately for GPS tracking. Once you download the VAVA Dash App and select it, you are on the Home Screen as shown first below. There are 4 icons at the bottom of the screen.

The second icon from the left takes you to the Dash Cam connect screen. The app sees the Dash Cam once it is powered on, and the manual provides the default password to connect to it. It connects via WiFi and not Bluetooth. You can also choose the video resolution from the “connect” screen.

Once you connect to the Dash Cam, you have the option to play the live real-time video, and below the video display screen, there are 4 icons. the top 2 icons allow you to take a snapshot of record a quick scene video just by touching them. You can also purchase a snapshot button that would allow you to instantly capture a photo. The bottom 2 icon allows you to view the videos or pictures recorded.

The 3rd icon at the bottom of the app takes you to a screen that allows you to view the recorded Snapshots, loop video, and Emergency videos.

The 4th icon to the bottom right takes you to the Register/ login screen. This screen also includes access to several other data and configuration screens.

With the use of the app and your smartphone, you can manage the recorded media directly without removing the SD card. These functions include previewing, sharing (you can share to social media platforms), downloading and editing photos and videos directly from your smartphone.

What I like

• The size of the Dash Cam.
• The great versatility created by the magnetic mount which is really just a great design.
• The video resolution choices and the quality of the recorded video.
• The built-in battery and the Parking mode.

What can be improved

• Provide video resolution up to 4K

Final thoughts

The VAVA Dash Cam 2K is arguably one of the best dashcams that I have tested. And while I will admit that I have not tested more than 5 or 6 dashcams, I really like this one and the features that it offers. The ability to attach and detach the actual camera from the base magnetically is one of the best designs I have seen for this type of device. I no longer have to unscrew anything to remove the dash cam, and I cannot stress enough the convenience and efficiency of this quick release capability.

Another great feature is the availability of optional add-ons. I am about to purchase the optional GPS module so that I can always journal my trips and in the unlikely event that my whereabouts are ever challenged, I will have some level of proof. While it would be great to be able to record up to 4K, 2K is more than enough, especially since the recordings will eventually record over previous recordings. In my opinion, this dashcam is a great bang for the buck.

Price: $99.99
Where to buy: Amazon
Source: The sample for this review was provided by VAVA.

Filed in categories: Reviews

Tagged: Car Gear, dash cam

VAVA 2K Dash Cam review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on August 4, 2018 at 9:30 am.

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