Mio rear camera. Mio VixCam C10 review

Among video camera users, there is a whole layer that does not need all these buttons, toggle switches and levers. One button on the body, maximum two, which don’t even require explanatory notes - that’s the ideal. We are talking, firstly, about extreme sports people, people involved in extreme sports (or non-sports) and who want to record their adventures on video. Secondly, this category can also include more “boring” users, namely drivers of vehicles who are not racers. Ordinary car/motorcycle owners who need to continuously video record everything that happens on the road.

Today we will tell you about one such “one and a half button” gadget.

Design, technical characteristics

The device comes in a durable bright orange cardboard box. The list of all available functions printed on the ends of the packaging is made in Russian and clearly describes all the capabilities of the device.

You hardly expect that this small, well-made box can contain, in addition to the Mio MiVue M300 DVR itself, such a number of accessories, namely:

waterproof charger cable;
mains charger;
camera holder;
motorcycle mount;
USB charger with adapter for cigarette lighter socket;
USB cable with sealed plugs at the ends;
basic mount;
tripod thread mount;
universal fastening with belt;
wrist strap;
user manual and disk with software and full version of the manual.

The body of the device is made of impact-resistant plastic; the parts forming the structure are tightly tightened with screws. The two buttons on the top of the body have obvious roles: turn the camera on/off and start/stop recording. Next to the power button, which is closer to the lens, there are LED indicators for power and camera status. It is unlikely that you can accidentally turn the camera on or off; to do this, you need to press and hold the power button.

The lens of the device is protected by durable scratch-resistant glass. The fact that the glass is recessed into the body by three millimeters only increases the security of the lens.

The back screw-off lid has an eyelet for threading a wrist strap. This cover, when screwed into the camera body, reliably ensures the tightness of the device. Under the cover you can see a panel where the following are located:

microSD memory card slot;
LED indicator that changes color depending on the camera operating mode;
Mini-USB connector;
a recess in which the reset button is hidden;
camera operating mode switch (camcorder/photo camera).

The microphone is located at the bottom of the camera, hidden in a long groove that runs the entire length of the body. Looking ahead, we note: this microphone should not be considered an analogue of video camera microphones. Not only is it protected by a membrane; When water gets into the microphone hole, the recorded sound is almost completely muffled.

Now let's talk about something important, but invisible in the photograph. The chamber has a vibration motor. Like in mobile phones or smartphones. This vibration is perfectly felt even through a thick glove. It’s probably not worth explaining why, or more precisely for whom, this function is intended. Of course, for motorcyclists who do not have the opportunity to look at the LEDs indicating the operating mode of the camera - after all, at this time it is quite possibly attached to the helmet. The vibration response operating pattern is easy to remember: turning on the camera's power and starting and stopping recording are accompanied by three vibrations, and turning off the camera is accompanied by a single vibration.

Let's talk briefly about accessories. Let's start with the main thing: the power adapter. This adapter plugs into the cigarette lighter socket (see below). The adapter, in turn, is screwed with one end of the supplied USB cable. It is screwed on, ensuring complete tightness of the connection between the adapter and the cable.

The USB cable connected to the camera (or rather, screwed in) also ensures water resistance.

And this is an “ordinary” adapter that receives power from a household electrical outlet:

As can be seen in the photograph, it consists of two components that are separated in a cunning way.

The following photo shows two mounts. They look identical, but they are not. The attachment on the right is designed to attach directly to the camera body. For secure fastening, a threaded fastener is also provided: this design, once fixed to the camera, simply cannot bounce off or fly off. Unless as a result of a very strong blow, after which only chips will remain from the fastening. The other mount, located on the left in the photo, is a regular mount for attaching to a steering wheel or any other tubular base. After it is attached to the steering wheel, the camera clicks into it with its mounting platform. The reliability of the connection of the two parts is enhanced by a folding tail-latch.

The kit also includes several mounts with similar mounting pads for the camera: two with a sticky base and one for screwing onto a tripod with a standard thread.

This universal belt mount can be used to attach the camera to some bulky objects; To tighten the belt there is a carabiner with latches.

This is what the camera looks like with the mount attached to the tripod mount:

The built-in battery has a capacity of 650 mAh and allows continuous video recording for 105 minutes. A little. However, this is still more of a recorder than an action camera.

The main technical characteristics of the video camera are given in the following table:

Lens viewing angle
Image sensor	CMOS 1/3.2″ 5 MP
Dimensions, weight	101.7×39.9×33.7 mm, 95 g
Battery life included	up to 105 minutes of continuous video recording
Carrier	SDXC/SDHC/SD memory card up to 32 GB,
Video format	H.264 (AVI) 1920×1080 30 fps + AAC 48 kHz audio
Photo format	JPEG, 2592×1944
Waterproof	IP X8 (long-term immersion to a depth of more than 1 m, fully waterproof, the device can operate in submersible mode)
Interfaces	Micro-HDMI Micro-USB 2.0
Other characteristics	USB charging recording while charging

Video/photography

The device in question is not a video camera. It's just a harmless DVR. Unfortunately, the device does not have a video output. Actually, all his skills are limited to only one thing: the model allows you to record what is happening. There are, of course, settings in the camera, but changing them will require a computer, as well as technical documentation. Moreover, one that is intended for the developer, since the information offered to the user in the instruction manual is extremely scarce. In order not to bore the reader, we will reveal the meaning of all that has been said: the camera settings are stored in a text file located on the memory card. Here he is:

EV:6
CTST:100
SAT:100
AWB:0
SHARPNESS:100
AudioVol:1
QUALITY:0
LIGHTFREQ:0
AE:0
RTCDisplay:1
LoopRecording:1
RecordTime:1

Every time you turn on the device, it reads this file and brings its internal settings into accordance with those specified in it. Let's look at a short example from the comments to the settings:

White Balance(AWB)
0 ~ 3, def:0, 0(auto), 1(Daylight), 2(Cloudy), 3(Fluorescent)

It seems that everything is clear here. This parameter (one of many) adjusts the white balance in the camera. 0 is auto balance, 1 is daylight, 2 is cloudy, and 3 is fluorescent lighting. However, before making any corrections, you should think - is it necessary? After all, the next time, if you need to change the white balance, you will have to connect the camera to the computer, open this configuration file in a text editor and type in the desired number. Fortunately, the default settings are set to automatic white balance - keep them that way.

The same applies to other settings. The developer made sure that the “default” parameters satisfied the majority who were going to use the camera. For example, the default video quality is set to High, the sound level is medium, the saturation is medium, and so on. Simply put, the default settings have optimal parameters that should not be touched. The quality of shooting with these parameters is quite consistent with the optical part of the camera and its matrix.

Here is an example of shooting in good lighting, taken both on land and underwater:

What conclusions can be drawn? They are obvious: such a camera can most likely be used as a regular recorder. And it’s even necessary, since not every device is capable of working underwater. It is work in any conditions that is, perhaps, the only advantage of the gadget in question. Other characteristics of the camera, related primarily to video quality, are unlikely to suit a picky user (however, we should not forget that this is still an ordinary DVR).

The microphone is not working properly. It only picks up sounds whose source is located a few centimeters from the camera.
About the lack of stabilizer It’s quite strange to say, after all, this is a DVR, not a video camera. But nevertheless, if we compare our material with video obtained by a conventional video camera, we should remember: the picture will always be shaky, no matter how carefully you hold the recorder (it’s no secret that a huge number of users have no idea about such a thing as image stabilization , optical or software). A stable picture with the camera in question can only be obtained by mounting it on a tripod.
Coding defects. These defects, sometimes called artifacts, can occur in complex scenes (such as a waterfall) due to insufficient bitrate or due to the use of a poorly optimized codec.
Rolling shutter. We can conclude that the camera uses a rather slow matrix, which removes information from the lines at a speed that is insufficient to obtain an undistorted image (you can read more about rolling shutter in the material Rolling Shutter in video shooting).

By the way, about the rolling shutter. The following video will help to more clearly assess its degree:

Other features of the video recorded by the camera in question can be safely left out of the equation: let us repeat once again, this is a recorder. And the developers of the device had no goal of obtaining a cinematic picture.

By the way, while watching such an underwater video, it may seem to someone that this camera has a flat lens that compensates for the refraction of water and eliminates zoom. This is not so, the next video will show that the lens here is the most common:

Shooting in low light levels was a bit surprising: every single gadget designed for active shooting or recording is usually blind in the dark. Unlike most similar cameras, the device in question has a higher sensitivity, which allows you to see even small details in the night cabin of an airplane:

Of course, along with the level of illumination, the resolution of the camera also decreases. By the way, let's talk a little about her. There is only one way to find out the resolution of a camera: by taking a test pattern. But doing this when the camera did not have a screen, much less a video output, turned out to be quite difficult. However, by shooting blindly, we chose one of the most “correct” frames.

Having studied it, we can come to the conclusion that the camera’s resolution is approximately 800 lines. This result can in no way be called very low - rather, it is typical for “full-fledged” video cameras in the middle and low price segment.

But what about the car/motor recorder mode, for which this camera is actually intended? Here the device will not suit everyone, certainly not the motorist. The thing is that the camera does not turn on automatically when power is applied, as most car recording devices can do. To start recording, you must press the appropriate button. But there is a plus: the camera is capable of simultaneously recording and recharging the battery. The duration of the videos into which the ongoing recording will be divided is adjusted in the settings and can range from one to five minutes. The resolution of the camera is enough to see license plates of cars located quite far from the camera.

The same applies to night shooting in recorder mode: car license plates are usually backlit, thanks to which they are clearly visible even at a great distance.

Fortunately - and this is what the device in question can boast of - there is no pause between the created videos. This fact can be verified literally frame by frame.

Unfortunately, we didn't have a motorcycle helmet on hand to attach the camera to. And there was no motorcycle either. However, a car will also do. Moreover, the weather outside is now the most suitable, disgusting weather. Cold with light rain and dirty puddles on the road, but the camera in question does not care about such conditions.

By the way, after watching this video, any attentive reader will note one small flaw made by the designers. Have you noticed how dirty slurry gradually accumulates on the lens glass? This is a result of the lens glass being flat. Moreover, it is also recessed into the body, representing a sort of bottom of a saucer. Now, if there were a couple of drainage channels in the edge of the housing surrounding the lens, then perhaps the accumulation of liquid on the lens glass could be avoided.

The photos the camera produces are close in quality to those that can be taken with a modern smartphone. The image size is 2592×1944 pixels. Let us remind you: to switch to camera mode you need to move the mode slider, which is hidden under the unscrewing back cover.

Software

We have already described the camera’s built-in software; it is virtually absent, and all control is carried out by making edits to a text file located on the memory card (by the way, the current date and time are entered in exactly the same way).

However, we are not going to end this chapter here. The fact is that the camera comes with a CD, which, in addition to the manual in Russian in PDF format, also contains a proprietary application - MiVue Manager.

Unfortunately, for us this application did not want to launch, well, not at all, stubbornly requiring the preliminary installation of some codecs.

Hmm, all the necessary codecs are already available in the operating system - I mean Windows 7 and younger. Well, you need codecs - you'll get them! FFDSHOW - didn't help. Even installing the hated K-Lite packs didn’t improve the situation!

However, technical support came to the rescue, sharing a link to the latest version of the program. And voila.

This program is reminiscent of many applications that come with car DVRs, including those equipped with GPS. To view these same geolocation tags, there is a special window where a Google map is displayed. Unfortunately, our camera is not equipped with a GPS receiver (the M388 has one, but this is not an action recorder at all). Thus, all the benefits that can be obtained from this application are quick navigation through shooting dates in the calendar field, quick viewing of selected videos, creation of still images, and uploading of the selected video to YouTube or Facebook.

conclusions

You can express dissatisfaction with the quality of video encoding, high levels of rolling shutter, inaudible sound... But before doing this, you need to remember that we were not looking at a video camera at all, but a simple video recorder, which, unlike many other video recorders, is more than fully equipped , which will allow you to attach it to virtually any surface.

In addition to this, the camera is protected from both shock and water.

The latter circumstance turned out to be extremely useful during testing, when I was lucky enough to swim in the ocean. This is where the camera helped capture rare moments, albeit not with cinematic quality.

A regular video recorder will allow you to record everything that happens in front of the car. But in some cases this is not enough. This is where they come to the rescue DVRs with two cameras, price which is practically at the same level as single-chamber analogues. The devices will help film events from behind or from the side of the car. The device can also be used to control what is happening above the passenger seats, which is especially important for minibus drivers and parents who have small children. And the rear-facing camera will help when parking.

In fact, it's worth buy DVRs with two cameras and with their help you can replace two devices with one camera, and this saves budget and space on the windshield, and also does not interfere with the reduction of visibility.

How does a DVR with two cameras work?

The operating principle of the devices is in many ways reminiscent of single-chamber analogues. The main difference is the presence two cameras. In order to be able to use the screen to observe what is happening on both, it is divided into two sections: one displays what is happening in front, and the second in the cabin or behind.

All data captured by the device is recorded on a memory card. Its volume is determined by the capabilities of the device, in some cases it reaches a size of 64 gigabytes. With loop recording, digital media never becomes full and new files are written on top of the oldest ones.

Modern DVRs often turn on and off automatically - as soon as the car engine starts working, the device immediately begins to perform its functions. When the power unit is turned off, the gadget stops recording. If this mode of operation does not suit you, you can purchase a video recorder with an integrated battery of sufficient capacity; it will be able to function without being tied to the operation of the motor.

Some DVRs are equipped with motion sensors that, when triggered, begin recording. Among the convenient functions of the devices, night photography can be noted. For this purpose, gadgets are equipped with infrared illumination and a special matrix, and they also have special filter curtains.

How to choose DVRs with two cameras

If you want it right choose a DVR with two cameras, then the basic principles remain the same as for conventional devices. So, it is desirable that the frame rate per second be 30; it is also worth taking into account the functionality of the device. In addition, inquire about the presence of a shock sensor or G-sensor, thanks to which the device will record video recorded in an emergency in a special memory compartment that is not automatically erased.

An important point is the viewing angle of the recorder. Moreover, you need to take into account that when using two cameras, each of them may have a different indicator. Many experts note that an indicator of 120-140 degrees will be quite enough. Devices with such data will be able to record not only everything that happens on the road, but also traffic lights, road signs and pedestrians moving along the sidewalk. Some people want to purchase a device with a higher viewing angle. In this case, you need to take into account that other characteristics will suffer.

AutoProfi store offers best dvrs with two cameras from the most reliable manufacturers. In our product catalog you can find devices with different technical characteristics and price ranges. And if you encounter difficulties when choosing them, the company’s specialists will provide practical assistance. Contact us! We have everything to make your car trip as safe and comfortable as possible!

I previously bought the Mio MiVue 786 - a convenient, functional, overall pleasant DVR. More recently, a useful addition was released to it - the rear view camera Mio MiVue A30. On Russian roads, when you don’t know which direction it will come from, this is a useful thing.

A review of the Mio MiVue A30 rear view camera is definitely incomplete without a review of the recorder itself. So I'm sending you to mine. After reading, meet here and continue the conversation about the rear camera.

Mio MiVue 786 DVR

Why is it even needed?

The DVR on the front is clear what it is needed for. You always have indisputable evidence of any incident and that you are right, no matter what happens on the road.

For example, over the past 8 months, the DVR has personally saved me twice. The first time was when a friend in the car in front suddenly (!) began to back up and didn’t notice... my car. Yes, this is not a joke - the man was backing up, looking back and still drove into an obstacle. He could easily say that it was me who drove into him. And without a registrar, it would be extremely difficult for me to prove the opposite.

The second incident happened quite recently. A friend decided to quickly slip (apparently this is the Russian motorist’s favorite word) between my car and the cars parked along the road, without letting me pass, walking in my lane, and without changing it. Here the situation, of course, is simpler, but just one viewing of the video saves you from long and tedious verbal explanations of who is right and who is wrong.

However, all this concerns the DVR, which films forward. Everything is clear here. But why a rear camera? What is she filming?

I don’t think that the residents of Russia need to be convinced that truly incredible things often happen on our roads. And, if you suddenly become a participant, it is better to have something more significant than the loose tongue or the gift of persuasion of traffic police officers.

In short, the Mio MiVue A30's camera captures the aggressive and erratic driving of vehicles behind you.

The scoundrel can be captured on video even on approach and before the incident itself. Even if the event was recorded unclearly on the front camera and the situation can be interpreted in different ways, then recording from the rear camera will dot the i’s. For example, how the character began to do something incomprehensible on the road in advance.

And aggressive driving is one thing, but car set-ups, which, as a rule, are arranged correctly, are another. I am sure that the people who trade in such things keep their own statistics, in which everyone has DVRs, but in 98% of cases there is a blind spot in the back. This is exactly what such characters clearly do not expect.

Fine. What's with the camera?

Frankly, I thought the camera came in some kind of bag. Still, this is not a DVR, but only an addition to it, an accessory. I was wrong. The Mio MiVue A30 camera is packaged in a separate, beautiful box. Everything is grown-up.

Inside there is the most necessary thing: a Y-shaped wire with three plugs and a 5-meter Micro USB cable for laying around the cabin.

One end of the first wire is connected to the DVR, the second is connected to the main power cable (included), and the third is an adapter for connecting a long wire to it.

And immediately a minus.

The cross-section of this triple wire is very thick.

Yes, this is good from the point of view of reliability, it will not fray over time. However, this is not the wire that you constantly pull. I tucked it under the casing and forgot, but in this case it will not be easy to do this, because the section is really very thick - you need to farm something, somehow lay the whole thing along the glass, but the kit does not include any accessories, clamps or fasteners for this .

The 5-meter wire is easily routed throughout the cabin. You don’t need very straight hands for this, so you don’t need to go to the service center - you can handle it yourself, I believe in you.

Connection and installation took me about 30 minutes, and this despite the fact that I photographed the entire process, selected angles, etc. So expect a 15-20 minute install for a regular sedan/hatchback, no bells and whistles in terms of trim.

By the way, in my case there was about 1.5 meters of extra wire left, so without thinking twice, I stuffed the rest under the roof sheathing - there’s a lot of space there, you can stuff all 10 meters.

I mounted the camera itself directly on the rear window. The double-sided tape on the backing holds it in place at the back perfectly. It is better not to attach the device to plastic - it is guaranteed to come off in a couple of minutes.

By the way, it is very convenient that there is an adjusting washer right on the backing - it allows you to rotate the camera lens at the desired angle. You can glue the camera and only then adjust the desired viewing angle using this very washer.

Next, the procedure is extremely simple - you insert the cable from the DVR into the cigarette lighter, turn the key (that’s how I do it) and turn on the power supply to the car’s on-board network and you’re done. An inscription immediately appears on the recorder screen that recording has started from two cameras. Everything is extremely simple and clear, you don’t need to configure anything at all.

How is the quality?

The rear camera of Mio MiVue A30 by default records video in a resolution of 1920 x 1080 pixels at 30 frames per second.

The quality is decent - during the day, license plates behind cars are visible from a distance of 10-15 meters - this is quite enough.

However, look at the example for yourself.

At night, visibility is expected to deteriorate to 10 meters, no more. However, the license plates of cars from behind are visible even through the low beam headlights.

The video recording comes with sound - the sound is recorded on both video files (from the front and rear cameras) by the microphone of the recorder itself.

By the way, when buying a Mio MiVue A30 rear view camera, be sure to buy a larger flash drive. 8 GB will be extremely small - half an hour and the recording will go in a circle, erasing all previously saved videos. It is not good.

If anything, a three-minute video takes up about 330 MB of space. We add about the same amount from the front camera to it and we get 600 MB of occupied space on the card. And this is just 3 minutes of recording.

Specifications Mio MiVue A30

Sony IMX323 sensor (matrix size 1/2.8’’, resolution 2 MP, aperture f/1.8)
Lens viewing angle 130 degrees
operating temperature: from minus 10 to plus 60 degrees (humidity 5-85%)
dimensions: 46x 42 x 32 mm
weight 48.5

A few words about compatibility. The Mio MiVue A30 camera is suitable for use with DVRs: C380D, 765, 785, 786 (), 788. Of course, it is not compatible with any other DVR models or other brands.

Bottom line

The MiVue A30 camera showed excellent performance. Easy installation, good video quality and decent functionality (paired with a branded DVR and nothing else). The only thing that confuses me is the price. Now you can buy MiVue A30 for 4,990 rubles. A little expensive, especially compared to the DVR, which itself does not cost much more - 7-8 thousand rubles.

On the other hand, with such a gadget in the car it is much calmer on the roads. Well, if something happens (God forbid!) the MiVue A30 camera will help you get a complete picture of what happened. You yourself know what miracles regularly happen on our roads.

In any case, it's worth thinking about.

The majority of traffic accidents are rear-end collisions.

As the number of inattentive drivers using phones while driving increases, the number of such accidents is increasing. It feels like you need an extra pair of eyes to keep an eye on what's going on behind the car. Luckily, the MiVue™ A30's rearview camera can provide additional control on the road.

The MiVue™ A30 rear view camera is discreetly mounted on the rear windshield. Video recording is in Full HD 1080p resolution and is of high quality thanks to the presence of Sony's sensor. The viewing angle is 130°. Double view of the road, twice the safety. MiVue™ A30 connects to your main DVR and starts working when you start the engine. Thanks to recording support With two cameras of the MiVue™* series DVRs, you can be sure that everything that happens both in front and behind the car is recorded.

Main characteristics:

Full HD 1080p, 30 fps - high-resolution video recording using the H.264 codec to save files in a small format

High-quality Sony's sensor - excellent video quality both day and night

Wide viewing angle of 130° - allows you to get a complete picture of what is happening on the road

F1.8 aperture - brighter and clearer videos even in low light conditions

7-step E/V exposure control - adjustable independently of the main DVR, brightness level is manually adjusted

Metal body - durable, compact and lightweight

Fastening with double-sided tape - easy installation

* Compatible models with MiVue™ A30 camera - MiVue™ 765, MiVue™ 788

Designed for connection to recorders of the same manufacturer models c340, c765, c786 and c788. The device will allow you to synchronize recording from two cameras at once. They are usually installed at the front and rear of the vehicle.

Peculiarities Mio MiVue A30 rear view cameras:

The F1.8 aperture and exposure adjustment (EV) allow you to install the device even on tinted glass.
Rear camera recording in FullHD quality with the highest quality Sony optical sensor.
Capture angle 130 degrees, IR filter and glass lenses.

MatrixSony- the best of the best!

The model uses an optical sensor from the Japanese company Sony, which will allow you to obtain excellent quality recordings even in low light conditions.

Full resolutionFullHD 1080 P

The camera records in FullHD quality and 30 fps. Using the H.264 codec with such indicators allows you to capture all the details while traveling.

DiaphragmF1.8

An aperture of this size increases the amount of night light that enters the lens. As a result, the recording becomes clearer.

Wide viewing angle

A modern lens captures the image at an angle of 130 degrees. The EV value can be adjusted and has 7 levels of adjustment. This is done in a similar way to changing the brightness level.

Synchronizing recording from both cameras

Supports the recording synchronization function, which is found in various DVR models. This will allow you to look at the situation from different angles.

Impeccable quality glass lens

The optical system includes an IR filter and glass lenses. The device allows you to withstand elevated temperatures without any deformation. It lets in a lot of light and allows you to enjoy high image clarity.

Convenience and ease of mounting

The model is equipped with a removable holder and a customizable mount. This allows you to perfectly position the recorder and customize it perfectly to your needs.