AdvoCam-FD5S Profi-GPS recorder review: “witness” with a 3-inch screen and wide-angle optics
About a month ago, the AdvoCam brand hosted an update to the registrar line, three models were released - FD5S Profi-GPS, FD6S and FD7S. The whole three have already visited me, so I would like to consistently share my impressions, I will start with the AdvoCam-FD5S Profi-GPS. I think that the “predecessor” represented by the AdvoCam-FD5 Profi-GPS is familiar to many motorists who were faced with the question of choosing a registrar. At the time of release, the model looked extremely attractive. Now the requested 7,490 rubles (~ $ 234) seems a bit overpriced, since the new AdvoCam-FD7 with Ambarella A7 and (so-called) Super Full HD costs 7,090 rubles (~ $ 221).
I enclose the KDPV. Interested (in the registrar) I invite under kat.
The boxes at the two recorders are standard, made of cardboard, with good printing.
The new design of AdvoCam recorder packages is more appealing to me, as a pile of different colors and fonts looks more appropriate on an advertising poster.
What I especially liked - with more, if this is your second registrar, you do not have to open the instruction. Aspects of model management are available on the back of the box. However, AdvoCam-FD5 has the same explanations, only on the side of the package.
On the box with AdvoCam-FD5S Profi-GPS there is a sticker informing about the sympathy for brand registrars Viktor Travin, president of the board of legal protection for car owners. I must say right away that a brochure is attached to the registrar in which Travin explains the procedure for using the recorder's video in the event of an accident. It is clear that the same Travin’s advice can be viewed on YouTube, but not all motorists and the Internet can use it.
The configurations are almost identical: exactly the same long power cords (4 meters), very similar vacuum mount suction cups. A slight difference is that the external GPS antenna of the AdvoCam-FD5 is removable, while the AdvoCam-FD5S has a built-in mount. I see no reason why the GPS module should be removed, so I think the second option is more logical.
According to the materials of the case, the devices are similar, in both cases there is soft touch plastic. Only in AdvoCam-FD5S is it diluted with a glossy insert covering the right / left ends and the area around the screen.
One of the main differences between the models is the diagonal of the screen, with AdvoCam-FD5S it grew from 2.7 inches to three. Basically, this was reflected in the height, in comparison with the predecessor, this parameter in the model increased from 32 mm to 52.8 mm. But the AdvoCam-FD5S slightly decreased in length and "lost" almost "ten" to 71.5 grams.
In terms of management, working with AdvoCam-FD5S looks simpler, the number of buttons has been reduced from six to four. Saved quick access to popular functions - sound control, backlighting, emergency file marking, menu and instant photo. The buttons are located on the upper and right ends. So the space on the sides of the screen was saved.
Separately, it is necessary to note the hinge bracket. This is the mounting option used in all AdvoCam models, and nowadays it is regularly found in registrars of other brands.
Plus, number one is compactness, due to the extremely short legs, the holder with the recorder form the most compact design. Plus, number two is a hinge, with it the camera position is quickly and conveniently configured. All kinds of screw options still seem to me archaism. Plus, with the AdvoCam-FD5S hinge, you can turn to the side without any problems in an instant. That will never be superfluous when communicating with the inspector. Plus number three is power through the bracket. So the recorder is removed / installed faster, you do not need to connect the cable every time. And this is even better, if at all to make power from the ceiling.
AdvoCam-FD5 shoots video with a viewing angle of 120 degrees, while AdvoCam-FD5S - 170 degrees, which gives a small fish-eye effect, however, it is not very noticeable when watching videos. In the end, we are not making a feature film, but the most informative video material aimed at use in court. More recently, I was reviewing a selection of amateurs to jump abruptly under the wheels and portray a downed pedestrian - once again questions about the relevance of the wide viewing angles of the registrar disappeared.
By the way, both registrars come with a 4 GB microSD card in the kit, which is enough for about 40 minutes of Full HD shooting. In my opinion, with cyclic shooting with files of 3 minutes each (options for 1 or 5 minutes are also available), this is quite enough. As a rule, the entire episode with an accident in a pinch takes 2-3 minutes. If anything, the recording will continue due to the built-in 130 mAh battery. Well, how to proceed - just one minute, exactly for the correct completion of recording in an emergency.
I will add that I got the test AdvoCam-FD5 without a memory card, and I decided to insert a 2 GB card accidentally found on the shelf there. The result was intermittent shooting due to the low recording speed. The manufacturer specifically stipulates in the instructions that the memory card should not be any niche of class 4, and puts 4 GB cards in the “correct” box.
Now about the video. The AdvoCam-FD5S has a 3 megapixel 1/3 "matrix manufactured by Aptina. The lens is a 5-lens, clear glass. The next situation with the processor is the brand SunPlus, but it is not clear which model, which is not very important, since AdvoCam-FD5S turns out that the way from an analog image to a “digit” is initially favorable for good quality, regardless of the weather and time of the day. Files are recorded with a high variable bitrate of 12-13.4 Mbps. Alas, the weather somehow didn’t work out. from the first days of autumn, because the shooting was conducted exclusively in conditions high clouds and "gloomy" clouds. I would not mind a little increased exposure, though, and so the picture is good, the real distance readability rates reached up to ten meters. I suspect
I liked the night recordings due to the almost complete absence of “stars” from headlights and lamps, and in general the contrast and color rendition left a positive impression. If there were less digital noise, it would be really great. With viewing the numbers, the situation is standard, there are a lot of lubrications, but they are typical in such conditions for almost any registrar. Specifically, in the given example, AdvoCam-FD5S clearly showed the numbers of almost all passing cars.
Just in case, I’ll give a head-on comparison of AdvoCam-FD5S and AdvoCam-FD5 night shooting.
In general, I did not notice a serious difference in the recording quality of AdvoCam-FD5 and AdvoCam-FD5S.
PS A couple of words about useful "goodies." In the presence of an accelerometer, eight levels of sensitivity are available. GPS, as expected, records the coordinates of movement for later viewing the route on Google maps. There is a player on the supplied disc for viewing video, maps and data from the accelerometer. Stamps over the video - date, time, coordinates, speed and license plate number. There is a motion sensor (not the one that has a G-sensor), and with it a parking mode with shooting when moving objects are detected in the frame. A useful thing and repeatedly helped citizens to capture criminals.
I can’t say that AdvoCam-FD5S is some kind of innovative registrar, but nowadays it’s not easy to find a simple “hard worker” for shooting. In the plus model, first of all, I’ll write down stable operation, loss of files or unreadable content, GPS “glitches” were not noticed. According to the set of functions, there is a complete "stuffing" - both the accelerometer, GPS, and parking shooting are included. Compared with its predecessor, AdvoCam-FD5S got a larger 3-inch screen (instead of 2.7 inches) and a 170-degree viewing angle (versus 120 degrees). Significant deficiencies could not be found, depressing only too little battery life. It is clear that there are models for 10,000 rubles without a battery at all, but nonetheless. The price of the issue is 5,490 rubles (~ $ 171), the version without GPS costs a little cheaper - 4,590 rubles (~ $ 143).
PS I still do not lose hope that I will be able to get to the BytErg plant (owner of AdvoCam) in the city of Aleksandrov (Vladimir region) and talk about how registrars are developed, and also they check the quality of finished batches.
I enclose the KDPV. Interested (in the registrar) I invite under kat.
Meet by clothes
The boxes at the two recorders are standard, made of cardboard, with good printing.
The new design of AdvoCam recorder packages is more appealing to me, as a pile of different colors and fonts looks more appropriate on an advertising poster.
What I especially liked - with more, if this is your second registrar, you do not have to open the instruction. Aspects of model management are available on the back of the box. However, AdvoCam-FD5 has the same explanations, only on the side of the package.
On the box with AdvoCam-FD5S Profi-GPS there is a sticker informing about the sympathy for brand registrars Viktor Travin, president of the board of legal protection for car owners. I must say right away that a brochure is attached to the registrar in which Travin explains the procedure for using the recorder's video in the event of an accident. It is clear that the same Travin’s advice can be viewed on YouTube, but not all motorists and the Internet can use it.
The configurations are almost identical: exactly the same long power cords (4 meters), very similar vacuum mount suction cups. A slight difference is that the external GPS antenna of the AdvoCam-FD5 is removable, while the AdvoCam-FD5S has a built-in mount. I see no reason why the GPS module should be removed, so I think the second option is more logical.
According to the materials of the case, the devices are similar, in both cases there is soft touch plastic. Only in AdvoCam-FD5S is it diluted with a glossy insert covering the right / left ends and the area around the screen.
One of the main differences between the models is the diagonal of the screen, with AdvoCam-FD5S it grew from 2.7 inches to three. Basically, this was reflected in the height, in comparison with the predecessor, this parameter in the model increased from 32 mm to 52.8 mm. But the AdvoCam-FD5S slightly decreased in length and "lost" almost "ten" to 71.5 grams.
In terms of management, working with AdvoCam-FD5S looks simpler, the number of buttons has been reduced from six to four. Saved quick access to popular functions - sound control, backlighting, emergency file marking, menu and instant photo. The buttons are located on the upper and right ends. So the space on the sides of the screen was saved.
Separately, it is necessary to note the hinge bracket. This is the mounting option used in all AdvoCam models, and nowadays it is regularly found in registrars of other brands.
Plus, number one is compactness, due to the extremely short legs, the holder with the recorder form the most compact design. Plus, number two is a hinge, with it the camera position is quickly and conveniently configured. All kinds of screw options still seem to me archaism. Plus, with the AdvoCam-FD5S hinge, you can turn to the side without any problems in an instant. That will never be superfluous when communicating with the inspector. Plus number three is power through the bracket. So the recorder is removed / installed faster, you do not need to connect the cable every time. And this is even better, if at all to make power from the ceiling.
Check by Record
AdvoCam-FD5 shoots video with a viewing angle of 120 degrees, while AdvoCam-FD5S - 170 degrees, which gives a small fish-eye effect, however, it is not very noticeable when watching videos. In the end, we are not making a feature film, but the most informative video material aimed at use in court. More recently, I was reviewing a selection of amateurs to jump abruptly under the wheels and portray a downed pedestrian - once again questions about the relevance of the wide viewing angles of the registrar disappeared.
By the way, both registrars come with a 4 GB microSD card in the kit, which is enough for about 40 minutes of Full HD shooting. In my opinion, with cyclic shooting with files of 3 minutes each (options for 1 or 5 minutes are also available), this is quite enough. As a rule, the entire episode with an accident in a pinch takes 2-3 minutes. If anything, the recording will continue due to the built-in 130 mAh battery. Well, how to proceed - just one minute, exactly for the correct completion of recording in an emergency.
I will add that I got the test AdvoCam-FD5 without a memory card, and I decided to insert a 2 GB card accidentally found on the shelf there. The result was intermittent shooting due to the low recording speed. The manufacturer specifically stipulates in the instructions that the memory card should not be any niche of class 4, and puts 4 GB cards in the “correct” box.
Now about the video. The AdvoCam-FD5S has a 3 megapixel 1/3 "matrix manufactured by Aptina. The lens is a 5-lens, clear glass. The next situation with the processor is the brand SunPlus, but it is not clear which model, which is not very important, since AdvoCam-FD5S turns out that the way from an analog image to a “digit” is initially favorable for good quality, regardless of the weather and time of the day. Files are recorded with a high variable bitrate of 12-13.4 Mbps. Alas, the weather somehow didn’t work out. from the first days of autumn, because the shooting was conducted exclusively in conditions high clouds and "gloomy" clouds. I would not mind a little increased exposure, though, and so the picture is good, the real distance readability rates reached up to ten meters. I suspect
I liked the night recordings due to the almost complete absence of “stars” from headlights and lamps, and in general the contrast and color rendition left a positive impression. If there were less digital noise, it would be really great. With viewing the numbers, the situation is standard, there are a lot of lubrications, but they are typical in such conditions for almost any registrar. Specifically, in the given example, AdvoCam-FD5S clearly showed the numbers of almost all passing cars.
Just in case, I’ll give a head-on comparison of AdvoCam-FD5S and AdvoCam-FD5 night shooting.
In general, I did not notice a serious difference in the recording quality of AdvoCam-FD5 and AdvoCam-FD5S.
PS A couple of words about useful "goodies." In the presence of an accelerometer, eight levels of sensitivity are available. GPS, as expected, records the coordinates of movement for later viewing the route on Google maps. There is a player on the supplied disc for viewing video, maps and data from the accelerometer. Stamps over the video - date, time, coordinates, speed and license plate number. There is a motion sensor (not the one that has a G-sensor), and with it a parking mode with shooting when moving objects are detected in the frame. A useful thing and repeatedly helped citizens to capture criminals.
See off the mind
I can’t say that AdvoCam-FD5S is some kind of innovative registrar, but nowadays it’s not easy to find a simple “hard worker” for shooting. In the plus model, first of all, I’ll write down stable operation, loss of files or unreadable content, GPS “glitches” were not noticed. According to the set of functions, there is a complete "stuffing" - both the accelerometer, GPS, and parking shooting are included. Compared with its predecessor, AdvoCam-FD5S got a larger 3-inch screen (instead of 2.7 inches) and a 170-degree viewing angle (versus 120 degrees). Significant deficiencies could not be found, depressing only too little battery life. It is clear that there are models for 10,000 rubles without a battery at all, but nonetheless. The price of the issue is 5,490 rubles (~ $ 171), the version without GPS costs a little cheaper - 4,590 rubles (~ $ 143).
PS I still do not lose hope that I will be able to get to the BytErg plant (owner of AdvoCam) in the city of Aleksandrov (Vladimir region) and talk about how registrars are developed, and also they check the quality of finished batches.
