[a4anurag]

Originally Posted by rkg

I have read in some forum ( may be dash cam talk) that the author has died in a road accident. He is from soviet block

Yes that's right. The author died and the website too isn't existing anymore.

[harsh79]

Originally Posted by a4anurag

[*]The biggest plus point of this cam is the data storage capacity. with 2 memory card slots available (Slot A & B), each slot can take a maximum of 128 GB which gets the total limit to humongous 256 GB. I am currently using two Samsung 64 GB memory card of Class 10 (As recommended). After two hours of drive with resolution set at 2560x1080 - 30 fps - 21:9 the total files that get saved are of size 12 GB. I was

Have you tried recording till one of two cards is full and the mini 0806 has to switch over to the 2nd card?

Curious to know as there have been numerous reports of the mini 0806 not switching over to the 2nd card, thus nullifying the purpose of the 2nd slot.

I would gladly upgrade from the 0805 just for the CPL feature if the switching works as it should.

[a4anurag]

Originally Posted by harsh79

Have you tried recording till one of two cards is full and the mini 0806 has to switch over to the 2nd card?

Curious to know as there have been numerous reports of the mini 0806 not switching over to the 2nd card, thus nullifying the purpose of the 2nd slot.

Shall check on this. Card A isn't full yet, still has 34GB space left in it.

Will update once I check on this. Thanks.

[espraveen]

That's an excellent review .
The Dashcam does look like worth investing in!! (with the kind of roads we have to drive on daily and the mad driving we witness often on them!!)

[drivebyfire]

Note to mods: uploaded images from tbhp url using "insert image" option but the images are being displayed in full resolution hence going outside the monitor area. Any way to resize the image display so that people can see them conveniently without scrolling?

Hi A4anurag, very nice DIY tutorial and a nice camera as well.

I feel you are not using the CPL filter properly. When used correctly CPL filter is able to cut down dashboard reflections almost completely depending on the angle of the sun. Your results should be something like below:

Originally Posted by drivebyfire

quoted my own post above from here

What you are getting is:

Without CPL Filter - Glare from dashboard
Removed oversized link

With CPL Filter - Slight reduction in glare
"removed oversized link"

As far as I can see there is hardly any reduction in dashboard reflections.

You have to rotate the CPL filter to the point where you see that the dashboard reflections off the windshields either disappear or are at their minimum. You will get best results when the the angle of the sun is 90 degrees to angle of you camera. That is if your car is angled such that sun is either coming in from your right window or left window.

The dot that you show in the following image:

CPL Filter mounted and set at the required position for best results
Removed oversized link

is not for best result of CPL filter but its just for reference, so if you were to move the position of the camera (say if you had suction cup mount) then every time you wont have to re-adjust CPL filter position, you can simply remember the relative position of dots and adjust CPL filter for best result instantly without looking at the video.

CPL filter works both ways - it can eliminate glare and reflections completely whereas in opposite orientation it can maximize glare and reflections as well (as is the case in Punto Evo picture above). So it is important to adjust CPL filter correctly or else you might end up worsening your dashboard reflections.

You can watch the following youtube video from techmoan to see how to best adjust the CPL filter:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0QWlG4saBnA

By the way techmoan also has a good video on this dashcam so am putting in the link here for other members to see:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MG7kU0rwEwU

Note from mod: Please do not link to full sized images, it leads to whole page formatting errors

[a4anurag]

Originally Posted by drivebyfire

Hi A4anurag, very nice DIY tutorial and a nice camera as well.

I feel you are not using the CPL filter properly.

You can watch the following Youtube video from techmoan to see how to best adjust the CPL filter:

Thank you sir for the points and correcting me.

Since I am a total noob in dashcam and the CPL Filter adjustment, shall take my car out tomorrow and adjust it correctly and repost the images and videos.

Thanks once again.

I have seen that video by techmoan already.

[F150]

Great DIY anurag !. Pretty adventurous at that too, testing the fuse slots etc. The video quality at night doesnt seem to be good. Any specific reason that you chose this model over the Indian made Blaupunkt or Transcend ?

[a4anurag]

Originally Posted by F150

The video quality at night doesnt seem to be good. Any specific reason that you chose this model over the Indian made Blaupunkt or Transcend ?

Thank you F150.

I have checked the Blaupunkt DVR BP 2.0 and transcend DrivePro 220 where two of my colleague had but not happy with the size. Both these dashcam weren't actually small up go unnoticeable. Transcend DrivePro 220 was retailing at 9.8K.

Found the MINI 0806 to be mini in size with good reviews for both day any night videos. Hence plunged in. Pretty happy with the purchase.

[sunilsoft]

Awesome Post ******* .Please post aliexpress link to buy.

[a4anurag]

Originally Posted by drivebyfire

I feel you are not using the CPL filter properly. When used correctly CPL filter is able to cut down dashboard reflections almost completely depending on the angle of the sun.

Sincerely thank you for pointing out the mistake I made all these days by not using the CPL Filter as it should and was mistaken that the dot on the body and one in the first must match for best results.

Went out today and adjusted the CPL Filter and was shocked by the results.

Here's the images:

Before adjustment:



After adjustment:


Before adjustment - Direct sunlight


After adjustment - Direct sunlight


Initial setting of CPL Filter


Current setting of CPL Filter


I am very happy with the results. Thanks once again for pointing out my mistake.

Originally Posted by sunilsoft

Awesome Post ******* .Please post aliexpress link to buy.

Thank you sir.

I bought it from GearBest website. Not through AliExpress for a change.

[drivebyfire]

Originally Posted by a4anurag

Sincerely thank you...

Went out today and adjusted the CPL Filter and was shocked by the results.

Amazing results - just as I expected. CPL filters really work like magic, I consider it literally the best accessory I ever bought for my DSLR.

It is particularly useful for dashcams and as you show the dashboard reflections are close to gone during day time. At some angles of the light the reflections will be reduced to absolute 0%.

You will find that CPL filter will be just as effective during night time as well, because maximum reflection is caused when car passes under a street light. At that time the reflected light coming from dashboard is at 90 degrees to CPL filter which means that the filter will reduce reflections close to 100%.

Provision of CPL filter is a huge USP of the Mini 0806 which often goes unnoticed as not many people know the utility of CPL filters. I guess this just makes a very competent camera even better.

[a4anurag]

Originally Posted by drivebyfire

You will find that CPL filter will be just as effective during night time as well, because maximum reflection is caused when car passes under a street light.

How about the glare from oncoming vehicles with their high beams ON? Will the CPL Filter have any effect on that by reducing it?

[drivebyfire]

Originally Posted by a4anurag

How about the glare from oncoming vehicles with their high beams ON? Will the CPL Filter have any effect on that by reducing it?

CPL filters nullify polarised light from reflections and scattering, so i dont think it can reduce direct glare from on-coming high beams. However it will reduce glare due to dust on windshield/scratches on windshield. But it wont be able to reduce direct light from high beams.

I also dont know too much about this, just letting you know what I have observed by using the CPL filter on my dslr.

On my dslr CPL filter blocks some light (basically reducing light by 1 F stop), so it CAN reduce some incoming light from high beam hitting the camera sensor but effect will not be very pronounced. This is my guess though, so please take it with a pinch of salt.

[jkrishnakj]

Thanks for this Anurag. Ive been thinking and juggling between the different options of dashcam and your post came in so very timely.

Its been 2 months now, that i am totally convinced of having one for my car, given the nerve wrecking daily ORR rides that i do at Bangalore these days. Many thanks for this again,.

[a4anurag]

After adjusting the CPL filter correctly here's a sample video.

1920x1080 - CPL Filter adjusted correctly

Frame Rate: 45 fps

1280x720 - Driving through mild rain (CPL Filter adjusted correctly)

Frame Rate: 59 fps