My quick review
I was given a chance to test out INNOVV newest dash camera system the K1.
This is how it arrived at the door:
Peeling back the DHL packaging, this is how the K1 Box looks like
What it comes with:
Unwrapped parts
Come with
- recording unit with bag. also comes with slim plastic holder
- two lens. each marked separately with different cord length (front had longer cable)
- cigarette male and female connector
- AV plugs
- GPS unit
- on/off switch
- 3M double side tape
- Mini SD card reader (not show in picture)
- instructions paper
All of the parts seems to be very good quality: the camera housing was machined very well, wires are wrapped properly for weather insulation, and the recording unit felt sturdy. Heck, the wires were even labeled so even a 5th grader could make the correct connections (see below).
When first trying to figure out all the pieces and the functionalities, I was left more questions. The instructions are on a folded 11x14.5 inch paper. I’m sure INNOVV’s website will have more details once the product is launched but it would be nice to have a small pamphlet or instruction booklet.
The heart of the system is the recording unit. This is where all the wires go into along with your SD card. The interface reminds me of old handheld camcorders - simply and easy to use. Some of the options were not as intuitive, and as mentioned before, more details from the instruction manual would be helpful here. I like the really cool split screen view.
Installation:
My installation was super easy. I connected the cigarette female adapter directly to the battery. Then I plugged in the camera feeds for the front and rear - super simple. To turn it on, I plugged in the male adapter. Done.
My setup was merely for testing out the features of the K1 so I kept installation to the KISS method - Keep It Simple Stupid. If I wanted to permanently mount the unit, I would have done a better job (IE use Ram mounts, tapped into my tail lights for automatic power on, etc). I think this is where most people will have issues - keeping the install tidy or managing the wiring according to personal preferences. And of course installation will vary depending on bikes and desired camera positioning. So in other words.. Installation YMMV. With that said, I’ll have a better setup. Willy and I are working through issues with my bike’s installations hiccups - will updated once completed.
Here are my crappy install pics (installed on a 2012 Triumph Street Triple R):
Testing:
I wanted to test the K1 in real world situations and for me that was commuting on freeway and street speed. Also capturing light transitions and resolution were my main use cases. Here are my videos from those tests:
Test1
Front
[youtube]JHnHUxPTZv0[/youtube]
Rear
[youtube]gaeRaJJkoWM[/youtube]
Test 2
Front
[youtube]67q_gjAW6Sk[/youtube]
Rear
[youtube]0P54A6x1vpM[/youtube]
Test 3
Front
[youtube]YENPsZIU4wc[/youtube]
Rear
[youtube]WztNyLP6_Us[/youtube]
Test 4
Front
[youtube]5qPejxjrKyk[/youtube]
Rear
[youtube]_QxmdceTrEo[/youtube]
Note: on some of the videos, I used youtube to flip the camera around. The K1 has built in software to accomplish this so it'll look more professional. In addition, there is also a GPS tracker that will indicate location and even speed. Both of these were not used in my test.
My summary:
As a dash camera, the quality of the videos are really good. From the videos, I can clearly see license plates and some faces - both very important in case of accidents. The K1 handled light transition very well. I liked the fact that the recording unit tells you when it is recording (a voice prompt is heard from the unit) - a very cool feature. Another neat feature is that you can get a live view from the recording unit, making camera adjusts easy. My only complaint about the system is the form factor. I’m lucky to have a bit of room under my seat to house all the equipment, but for those sportbikes that have no trunk space, installation will require some creativity.
All in all, would I buy one and use it as my daily dash cam?
Yes!
Is it going to replace my GoPros?
No. This system is NOT an action camera. It’s purpose is to capture unexpected traffic moments and it does a great job at that.
Rocky and other members here will have the trial program up and running soon. Like Aaron has said, I think most will be surprise with the quality ease of use of this system.
Feel free to post here with any questions.
cool
