Yard Sale
Regular Member
Pictured is a "gum stick" digital video recorder next to a 9mm Luger cartridge. It records in 720x480 motion JPEG to AVI containers.
It's advertised as 30 frames per second but with a 4GB class 4 microSD card I'm getting significantly less, 23-25 fps. I have class 6 cards on order and perhaps the higher throughput will help the framerate.
The color is good, there's no image stabilization so it's jittery, it doesn't have low-light capability, and the sound is inconsistent with shooting and motorcycle riding in traffic. However, it's good enough for recording conversations with people several feet away. Others have described it as "cell phone video."
The built-in battery is charged via USB. While testing its longevity, it seems I filled up the 4GB card with just under 1.5 hours of recording without draining the battery. The DVR gracefully saves the current file at full memory or low memory. It seems this DVR could record over 1.5 hours with a 8 GB card, despite the crappy Engrish instructions which say it's a one-hour battery.
It includes a pocket clip and only about 1/2" of the device, with the lens, protrudes above the clip. Status lights are on the side opposite the lens, with a red light blinking while recording. I will use black gaffers tape in high-risk situations to cover the lights, the function button, the on/off switch, the photo/video switch, and the memory card slot. (A video camera containing Brady evidence was stolen from me previously.)
The device can also be used for still photos and voice recording but I haven't tried it for such functions. The video function has a standby mode where it records upon sensing sound greater than 60dB but I haven't tried that either.
It records video by first sliding the switch to the ON position, then holding the function button until the red light blinks. At that point it's ready but not recording. Hold the button again until the red light blinks repeatedly and you know it's recording. To stop recording, hold the button again until the red light stops blinking.
It's about $15 direct from China on fleabay. You'll need to spend a few bucks more for a microSD card.
After testing this one, I have more on order.