First impression / Short Test

The part not just makes a high impression, including with 175g. Battery + about 74/75 g with the supplied bracket but a lightweight. If one side secured the part of the helmet, you must have a counterweight hanging on the other side so as not to get a kink in the neck.

Reminiscent of the layout / size to an eTrex. The lens is quite forward and non-protected area because scratching might be inevitable. It is fixed with 4 screws, so interchangeable and they can be as (exchange) purchase accessories. Garmin has probably noticed and then immediately offered as accessories. So I would recommend each already a protective bag during transport. Why Garmin has not to fix them a rubber boot? A rogue ... But there is neither Garmin offer.

When the battery compartment cap were able to probably again not decide at the "pressure equalization hole". Is present, but from the inside (slightly sloppy) was sealed with an adhesive / resin. The battery sits quite tight inside after insertion, without sharp tools you do not get the out. The Micro SD is under the battery (up to 64 GB for smooth moving images is class 10 recommended). When with me (not supplied as standard) inserted 32GB microSD Class 10 I get at 1080p a capacity of 3hr 26 min displayed.

The battery life is Garmin yes to 3 hours. Today I times the camera with 100% charged battery with 1080p in ultra-zoom mode with image stabilization and distortion correction on "to" let go through to shutdown: the run time was here 1:47:17. The battery was fully charged but only once, because thus could still be present capacity. Addendum: by then already repeatedly charged battery I came up with this setting now on 2:20:03.

Since I question what happens when VirbElite me if you still have GPS on there, recording the track and external ANT + sensors are coupled ????

What struck me as I was passing through the Virb yes: it was not saved a video, but after each 5- 23:56 minutes / 3,41 GB will appear automatically creates a new file (which is likely to be due to the FAT32 formatting the microSD ).

What's more, I noticed a little uncomfortable, the camera has become relatively warm. (Addendum: has not repeated at another test with the heating so)

Operation via the 4 right mounted buttons is easy, the menu opens up a short time later. Merely for the different video modes / field of view settings (which is what ...), I had the (as always) use scarce manual. Schön is left attached, extra large slider, with which you can immediately send the respective preset shooting mode, even when wearing thick (winter) gloves, in the recording mode, the camera, even if it is completely off.

Coupling the Fenix ​​/ Oregon 550t (each with the latest FW) for use as a remote control (start / stop recording; Photo shoot) also works flawlessly. In the Fenix ​​I would hope that even allows the Garmin Fenix ​​for the Hot Keys that you directly recording also start / stop can with them by pressing a button, without having to pull themselves through this menu. I could incidentally also link my Fenix ​​+ Oregon simultaneously with the Virb.

Since I have no bicycle / car holder for Virb, I had to improvise a little. The recordings are actually came out pretty well, I find the colors a little pale, could / should be stronger because you can not change the set Unfortunately Virb. Recordings I present here or elsewhere not purely, on YouTube there are, as you can see this with the "pale" also m. E. (can of course also be subjective). Do I still continue to observe.

Since the Virb contrary to VirbElite has no GPS / altimeter / track record, I have recorded a track with my Fenix, which I then merged into VirbEdit with the video. Ant + has the Virb only neutered: just as remote control- so no Ant + sensors like HR / Tempe etc. directly with / on the Virb.

The image stabilizer is only available in the Ultra Zoom mode ("... takes a very focused area on. Use this mode for telephoto shooting or in enclosed or covered environments" lt. Manual) available.

The included bracket with a slightly curved base plate and a smooth base plate are fitted with removable adhesive surface, if necessary to secure the base plate on the helmet or dashboard or the like. Brackets for bicycle etc. etc. there as a paid accessories.

The PC editor Virb Edit Mehr are at Garmin for download. A handbook there is no corre- only a short (English) (Werb-) video. The Virb is detected quickly after starting the program. I downloaded the pre-recorded videos and the respective, recorded with the Fenix ​​track added.

One can then so far Speed ​​/ height / HR Display (only if necessary together, not individually), at a later VirbEdit update is to be added or the temperature (Tempe sensor). Image and speed were data, although both started at the same time / recorded, initially not quite in sync (standing at 21 km / h the red light), but you can adjust the something with the Progi. With a little trial and error but it went relatively easily by hand. What has struck me VirbEdit needs some time to import the footage from the Virb. My Video 1:47:17 needed probably extrapolated> 1 hour- it was not important, I dropped it.

It would be nice also if you could provide the videos in VirbEdit with imposable own texts.

So, these were my first impressions to Virb / VirbEdit.

Addendum: with a 3 month old, standing in full sap battery of a friend I am, after all, come on 2:20:04 with 1080p / Wide / camera light "off". But still some distance from the announced Garmin 3 hours. Garmin, how do you do it with the 3 lessons? / Extrapolated theory in the laboratory at the desk? Sorry, there are in forums etc. No experience other to find the battery life (as of 05.11.2013). Will but surely change soon. I am gespannnt.

Addendum: the next two experiments came to 2:17:15 and 2:17:45.
Addendum: my Virb has now leveled off at 2:26 (tested with 2 batteries); but no chance of more in 1080p.

Addendum: The Virb can optionally also with an external battery pack (with my mobile just tried 4400mAh) operate, where there is, of course, if necessary wetterungs- Outdoor / application-related, make sure that no moisture penetrates then. In the car etc. Virb can optionally also via a corresponding adapter via. Current / Ziganzünderbuchse be operated via the on-board network.

The display of Virb is not lit, you can also turn on any lights. If you want to insufficient light to change a setting in the menu now times, you have to use an external light source (room / flashlight), or wait until it has become bright enough outside (is something like that in the manual). With sufficient lighting / sunlight it is good ablsebar - due to insufficient light / sunshine not really good; but the readability of made recordings / photographs on display is of poor quality and advertising photos of them are 100% finished and not endsprechen reality.

For field of view does not have Garmin, webBikeWorld has identified the following by tests, the values ​​can only take one as a reference:

Wide angle: 150 degrees
Zoom 1: 110 degrees
Zoom 2: 100 degrees
Ultra Zoom: 90 degrees

The most recent, downloadable via WebUpdater FW for Virb is 2:40 - on my loaner is already installed 2.60. I do not know what's changed since wurde- with other Garmin devices often so that on newer devices a current FW is, which is then optionally incorporated later in future FW update.

The PC editor Virb edit requires mindestenss after Win 7 operating system with XP so nothing works. Is there also for Mac, but have no idea, but what Mac version runs as.

Those looking for the microphone at the Virb (in the manual, I was not able to find): it is located at the rear end of Virb bottom left (small hole) - see photo adjusted. If the Virb mounted in the holder (there's also a small hole inside), the tone must also through this about 6mm deep tunnel his way lanes.

The officially shown in the display (advertising) Photos show the way some functions of Virb Elite (satellite icon, BMP representation), the Virb has these functions not so.

Who mounted the Virb z. B. the MTB with the bike mount on the handlebar, will quickly when something rougher route, the images something shake (the image stabilizer works anyway only in the ultra-zoom setting), because the MTB blows the track (despite suspension) downright gives to the handlebars / holder, thus the Virb. One should think about the Virb z. B. the helmet (if you for a bear) to be mounted (although looks kinda stupid out), but the body absorbs the track better than the Virb mounted on the handlebars.

Supplement 12.17.2013
With the image quality I am now no longer quite satisfied after intense testing, with speedy ride by MTB / Bike see the "margins" but sometimes a bit blurry and transitions of light / shadow, it could be better. For this reason, I go down a star to 3 stars, maybe Garmin improved since even via FW update by (then I go back up if necessary). I can not judge whether other cams do better but lack of knowledge.

Supplement 12.21.2013
why the display is not switched off, puzzled me more and more. A) could thereby prolong the battery life and b) when the cam has mounted on the helmet, because you can not look at it anyway; in other applications it is also likely to be so. Those interested in a good and detailed report (but in English), should times in detail on the website of "DC Rainmaker" go- and worth reading. He, incidentally, is also not ran to the 3 hours of battery life, slow kristalisiert out that this is more of a theoretical value that applies Garmin here.

Meanwhile, there is the FW version 3.10.

Supplement 12.22.2013
Sound quality
The "quality" of the sound recordings via the internal Microfone I would call a bad judge (particularly for outdoor). On YouTube there is a video for "sound quality"; simply enter there times Virb Microphone.

Since then good is also particularly Outdoor no external Microfone, a) wg. lack of attachment option b) WG. Elimination of weatherability. Why the built-Micro is installed at the rear cam, also opens me not perhaps full- wanted one so from the outset minimize wind noise (?) ...

This time my FW at 3:10 assessment is the Virb (Stand 23.12.2013):

+ Hardware (well made, weatherproof)
+ Battery life (2.5 hrs. While 3 hours advertised.)
+ Extensive accessories (holder, etc.)
+ Compatible devices (Fenix ​​/ Oregon etc.) remotely (recording start / stop / photo)
+ Tracks from Fenix ​​with elevation data, speed etc. can be "pairs" Edit with recorded video via Virb
+ Street price (about 220)

o PC editing program Virb Edit (for Mac and Windows from Win 7 Although ongoing updates, but during operation)
o Guide Virb ok (there are worse by Garmin)
o weight (which is certainly due to the robust hardware and the strong battery)

- Recording quality (I would only describe as satisfying as it is but this is a cam and that is their area of ​​responsibility, there is a - instead of o)
- Sound quality is not particularly
(Photos, film image) display can not be disabled during recording / non-illuminated, movies / photos discoverable not good in advertising photographs the images on the screen are reworked 100%, especially in terms of color intensity
-Manual To Virb Edit There is not (?)
-Bildstabilisator Only in Ultra Zoom can be activated (not in zoom1 / Zoom2)

Would you buy me again? Can I currently frankly neither yes or no answer. Due to the current recording quality (still hope to make changes via FW update) and the lousy sound quality, I tend rather to a "no" ...

Supplement 25.01.14

Who wonders how / if you really must acomplish 3 hours of battery life with the Virb / can; Here the answer from Garmin:

Question:
How do you manage with the Virb given three hours of battery life in 1080p? I can handle a maximum of only ordinary 2:36, but not 3 hours.

Answer in Garmin Navigation Garmin Pocket Chat from 23:01:14:
"3 hours pass laboratory values ​​that are accessible technically ideally. Battery life are influenced by many factors and 2:36 are already well above the average for Actioncams".

Addendum 08:02:14
With 960p I came in tests on a duration of 2:40; 720p at 2:43. So actually quite ok. Garmin D has now "changed. So it should have been there always are, because the Garmin US side is also uniformly" on its website concerning the technical data, the "more than 3 hrs. At" up to 3 hrs. Up to 3 hrs ".

Anyone who wants to make a Virb, should possibly still remember that you still loose 100 (or rather more) must allow for necessary accessories (correspondingly large Class 10 micro SD (s), spare battery, bike mount, spare adhesive mounts, storage bag, etc.) , Although the original Garmin accessories are not cheap, but makes a good quality impression, and is also quite practical and robust.

I just an advertising brochure of Virb / Virb Elite fallen into the Händer. Since I can only shake his head. It says again: "battery with more than 3 hours duration> 3 hours at 1080p / three hours of battery life.".

The Verzehrungskorrektur / image stabilizer we praised to the skies again, no evidence that he Ultrazoom only modes available and a gefaktes color photo on the "brilliant" Chroma displays can also be seen again.

This misleading misstatements / representations annoy me.

But you write so on the back of the brochure: "All Rights Reserved / to change without notice"

Addendum 16:02:14
I have to get rid of (Windows version 2.32), another word about PC editing program Virb Edit:

if I will provide a 59-second video with a track of my Garmin Fenix ​​+ overlays need my PC for a completely unacceptable Export> for 40 minutes (with no track data / overlays max 10 seconds). Virb edit not apparently works with all PC / graphics card well together (my Windows 7 PC; AMD E-450 APU, memory (RAM) 8.00 GB, Graphics AMD Radeon HD 6470M (the latest drivers)
Graphics 4853 MB total available graphics spoke); the CPU displays a load of 100% during the export. As you can indeed calculate how long a 1 hr. Would need. That's banana and so makes absolutely no fun.

Addendum 19:02:14
yet another word for PC editing program VirbEdit:

not only that you can, as before, a computer running Windows 7 must have, so that you can use the program. Many older Win7 computers are absolutely overwhelmed due to CPU and / or video card, recorded videos, which have been provided with track data and overlays to export in a reasonable timeframe. So take a 19 second video with track data / overlays on 3 different PCs / laptops with me> 40 minutes !!!! Well, you should know well in advance. In Windows 7, you should have a sufficiently fast computer, as well as 1080p video when exporting to 4 GB (ie just under 24 minutes of recording) limited, with longer videos interrupts otherwise export some point after a long time off. When Win 8 that is not the case. That is why I feel obliged to go down to 2 stars.

Text to video:
Since the shoulder visually do not like the only Amazon review also speaks wiggle of neat, I once tried to Handstrap as buttstock on Rücksackgurt. Recording is at 720p, wide HD (without consumption correction and image stabilization (the image stabilization is also only in the Ultra Zoom)). Here the short video to. Image quality is by uploading something bad, I kams only on wiggle while hiking on foot to ...