About the need to use such a device as a DVR, disputes among drivers have ended a long time ago. In the age of wholesale motorization and a multiple increase in traffic, a situation often arises when it is necessary to capture the inappropriate behavior of other road users or the fact that a traffic police officer exceeded his authority. Now it is difficult to find a driver who would not like to install this modern device in his vehicle. The only thing that sometimes stops potential buyers is the price of the device. It is unlikely that the owner of an old overcooked “penny”, who does not even have the funds to bring to mind, in fact, a car, will buy such a gadget for quite a tangible amount of money. Recently, however, many budget options for video recording devices have appeared with poor output image quality, but they do their job quite well.
The review below will focus on the DOD LS400W DVR, which belongs to the middle price segment, will be detailedanalyzed the functionality of this gadget. The reviews of Internet users about this device will not be left without attention.
Package: what was the Taiwanese manufacturer generous with?
The device comes in a traditional rectangular box. On the cover of the package there is an image of the gadget and its name. Also, the buyer immediately receives information about the device's built-in WDR system and the maximum shooting resolution. There are also pictures showing two ways of attaching the gadget to the windshield.
So, the following items were found in the box:
- registrar DOD LS400W;
- USB lanyard;
- HDMI cable for connecting to TV;
- car cigarette lighter power adapter;
- two windshield mounting options (both with suction cup);
- DOD LS400W instruction manual;
- warranty cards.
The bundle is not bad, some more expensive models often come without an HDMI cable, not to mention two kits for mounting the gadget in the car.
Device appearance, design and ergonomics
DOD LS400W is an elongated brick with rounded edges. On the front panel, in the very center, there is a massive wide-angle lens of the device. To the right, at the top edge, there is a light peephole for shooting in the dark. The brand logo and the proud WDR inscription are also present here. To the left of the eyeoptical module, you can see the model name of the device. At the bottom of the front panel, at the same distance from the lens, there are decorative grilles, one of which covers the speaker of the device.
In the center of the upper end of the DVR there is a mounting part that connects to the bracket on the windshield of the car. On the left are the buttons for turning on and activating video recording (photography). On the right are the USB connector and analog video output. The bottom edge of the gadget is not burdened with any elements.
On the right side of the device there is a slot for micro-SD memory cards closed by a flap. On the opposite side, the buyer can find an HDMI socket hidden under the cover and a “RESET” button recessed into the case to reset the device to factory settings.
Almost the entire surface of the rear panel is occupied by a large display. On the sides of it are the control keys, three on each side. Also on the left, near the edge, there is a DOD LS400W microphone and an LED indicator.
The appearance of the device is pleasant, access to all buttons is quite convenient. Due to its small size, the device does not block the driver's view.
A little about the mount
At first, the presence of two brackets for the windshield in the kit is puzzling, but this fact itself cannot be called a minus. But it is difficult to call the implementation convenient. But first things first. One of the mounting options is generally patented by DOD as its own invention. In thatIn this case, the part of the fastener that is on the glass is inserted into a special groove on the registrar and clamped with a screw. A bit strange implementation and does not contribute to the rapid removal of the device from the bracket. The second version of the fastener is classic. It is simply a sliding slide that allows you to quickly remove the device from the bracket by simply pulling it to the side.
Specifications
The following are the main parameters of the DOD LS400W:
- Tiotech A8 chip;
- allowable shooting resolution 1920 x 1080 pixels (FULL HD) at 60 frames;
- built-in WDR system;
- viewing angle - 140 degrees;
- 2.7" TFT display;
- 500mAh battery;
- 128MB internal memory;
- using micro-SD memory cards up to 32 GB (speed class 6 or higher);
- motion sensor (activates shooting when the situation in the frame changes);
- shock sensor (G-sensor);
- Auto start recording when the car ignition is turned on;
- USB port;
- analog video output;
- HDMI connection jack;
- external dimensions of the device: length - 113 mm; width - 45 mm; thickness - 25 mm;
- device weighs 82 grams.
Shooting quality in various conditions
Testing during daylight hours in sunny weather. The device does its job well as expected. The viewing angle of the DOD LS400W is excellent, license plates are well read at a considerable distance asoncoming and passing transport.
Testing during the day in cloudy (rainy weather). And here the device showed itself only on the positive side. Only a slight deterioration in the sharpness of the picture can be noted, but otherwise there are no complaints.
Check at night. In the dark, under the light of roadside lamps, the recorder copes well with video recording. Of course, the sharpness is lower than during the day, and the distance from which you can distinguish the state numbers of cars is significantly reduced, but this does not detract from the merits of the device. High-quality shooting in the dark is helped by the WDR system, which smooths out sharp transitions in light changes that cannot be avoided when driving at night. The backlight, although stated in the specifications, is present in the device rather for statistics, it does not fulfill its functions.
Comments about the device on the Internet
Reviews of the DOD LS400W DVR are mostly positive. But there are also negative judgments.
The advantages of the device include:
- shooting quality;
- WDR system;
- availability of instructions in Russian for DOD LS400W;
- good quality night shooting;
- ergonomics and appearance of the device.
Cons of the gadget:
- Incomprehensible implementation of the device mount.
- Instability of DOD LS400W firmware in some instances of the device.
- No night illumination.
In the bottom line
The device turned out to be quite interesting andfunctional. The overall impression is spoiled only by the use of an inconvenient windshield attachment system. If this is not important to the buyer, then the device can be safely recommended for purchase.
