Currently, the Drift HD Ghost as spurs for little money is going to have quite the opposite to the current models of large competitors with its almost unmanageable number of variants and infusions (an example is the GoPro Action Camera Hero3 + White-Silver-Black Edition called where you must einfuchsen quite deep to understand at all where the weaknesses are and fits the model to the intended use.
So I would like to partly very critical reviews make my own aside and answer the crucial question:. Why would anyone want the Drift HD Ghost (or its successor, the Drift helmet cam Ghost-S, Buy 10-007-00?
- Because the weathering defies very well without pesky Polycarbonate (waterproof up to 3m, drop height up to 2m)
- Because they (0.5m fixed focus to infinity, front lens for small money separately as E-part) a rotatable front unit has, with the otherwise quite fiddly adjusting the horizon line is significantly simplified,
- Because of easily replaceable Li-Po battery (1700mAh, charged to 100% within an hour on my smartphone charger) really hold out long,
- Because is a bi-directional remote control included, which with its four LEDs never in the dark about the current operating mode lets the user (red radiofrequency panic flashing light: less than 15% in battery, 1x red: photo, red flashing light: Video recording, blue flashing light: camera remote control signal received flashing green: Standby mode video, Blinking Amber: Standby Photo mode, purple flashing: Standby time lapse mode, cyan flashing: Standby Photo Burst mode)
- Because it is a zölliges standard tripod mount (with screening, exchangeable) for self-constructions are on the rubberized metal housing,
- Because a jack (3.5 mm) is installed for external microphones,
- Because the unit (this cable) logs on to the PC via a USB-A to Mini-A connection without any software as a mass storage medium, thus eliminating the need constantly to uSDHC memory card (max. 32GB) fumbling and
- (Eureka!) Because a color LCD with 5cm diagonal (display cover made of scratch-resistant safety glass) with already installed.
No additional Smartphoneapp, no WiFi, no Bluetooth - just look at the monitor and adjust the line of sight. Priced at GoPro course specially for the higher price one must then bear the "Teletubby look" and runs the risk, easy to shave in hard Endurogangart the far-rise unit from the helmet.
The modes: 1080p with 90 ° / 127 ° / 170 ° and 25 / 30fps, 960p at 170 ° and 25/30 / 48fps, 720p at 170 ° and 25/30/50 / 60fps, WVGA with 170 ° and 25 / 30/50/60/100 / 120fps. The knowledgeable reader recognizes naturally from the data that there is no optical (but only a useless digital zoom) are and simply instead only pixels of the Sony CMOS sensor can be connected together to allow photographing from around 11MP, the HD Ghost can to make something video-compatible.
This must also be clear that the 170 ° material in low light conditions (since firmware 2.4.4.0 from 10.07.2014 there are modes with Enhanced Data Rate, "Normal", "Vivid" and "Low Light") quite different roars than 90 ° (former Although still clearly visible but less, because of the larger "macro pixels").
Slow motion (ie higher frame rates) in helmet cameras are already widely overvalued, 120fps correlates with an exposure time of no more than 1 / 120s, which is the case of small sensors and low light already scarce, will not turn on the amplifier noise is pregnant. The helmet camera Drift largely identical Ghost-S, 10-007-00 can also submit at 720p even 120fps at 960p and 60 instead 48 frames / s, you pay though nearly 100 charge and accepted a 30 minutes lower battery capacity. As always popular.
Much more important: Even at 720p with 170 ° viewing angle and increased data rate the image is really crystal clear and sharp, with no visible rolling shutter (where Me sundries, often even professional GoPro material already weak was in the stomach) and H.264 -Artefaktmatsche, which are known by others' Full HD "cameras so. Maybe a bit too cool (bluish =) in the white balance. No hectic pumps with variations in brightness by the way, Exposure Compensation -2EV to + 2EV of, microphone level three-stage adjustable, without external Micro, however, strong wind noise.
With 105x52x33mm ^ 3 and 167g (I 155g measured, including battery.) The device may be somewhat greater (concession to the LCD monitor) and heavy (metal case) than the competition - whether the supplied goggle strap holder can reliably manage, remains to be seen ,
Den elsewhere reported "design flaw" (rear housing cap is screwed into the battery compartment cover, which locking nose obviously demolition or overheard, and so the water tightness compromised) I could not understand, but must admit that the circumferential rubber sealing requires care. The part just sort reinzuwürgen inevitably leads to meltdown. Even with "Corning Gorilla Glass" advertised LCD cover has survived with me until now. Clear: glass is not indestructible. Allegedly, the device hangs occasionally (in the test not be observed) when battery extraction does not help, you should try a "master reset": press Left / Right / Menu buttons simultaneously, hold, then set the "Action / Play / Record / Select "button on. So about 20 seconds, or at least hold out until the preview is displayed. Done.
Short for Software: Self-explanatory, via the four keys to use intuitively and without Manual ("Menu", "Left", "Right", "Action"). Memory locations A, B, C, D, (not all!) For many settings for fast switching. Since the pragmatists no desire remains open.
The package: an option called "video tagging" (recording a time interval [Tt; T; T + t] with adjustable distance t to the trigger time T), m. M. n. A splendid option if one wants to maintain appropriate driving situations without much stress. Since afterward eliminates much cutting work. Occasionally one hears reviews that drift but should rather on the _last_ t seconds before the keystroke limit, but you can not feel right for everyone.
There is a phone and iOS app that a subset of the functions of the HD Ghost via WiFi (without encryption, ID with three digits) can control. Here, however, only the frame rates 25 and 30fps are supported and there is (at least on my SEMC Xperia Active) occasional disturbances, stuttering and asynchronicities. Preview works but - even better if you have the remote support is disabled.
The remote control (350mAh LiPo, not trivial interchangeable) itself is great, two buttons for all relevant functions, Velcro for the wrist, USB Mini-A charging socket. Caution: Sealed, but not waterproof. Go swimming one should therefore not so.
Well, now to question why one should the Drift HD Ghost * NOT * buy:
For a model I tested the "Menu" button often does not work or unreliable. That is suppressed. You until the microcontact 'click' says under his rubber armouring and it does nothing. If you press then more strongly and almost anything with violence, then it works. The "Right" button feels the operating behavior or otherwise, since there is no audible sound - but it is working properly.
The very dedicated and quickly responsive drift customer service surmised: "[...] The camera buttons can be quite stiff at first, Although do ease up through use, and Should not Cause you any troubles If you find the button unusually hard. to press and not react, the camera functioning as Intended, then this does indicate an issue with the camera's button. [...] ". Prima! Thus, since someone has read and thought along my support ticket meaningful entnehmend. Also not self-evident nowadays.
Whether is actually exchanged and if the result turns out satisfactory, may perhaps be doubted.
Because another unit of the same, I heranzog for comparison purposes, already with a few strange oily drops came in the case of untapped sales package. Hmmm. At other differences immediately stabbed in the eye, that especially with wide-angle photos (as the entire sensor and the entire lens is used), the camera had to drop my pants: It turned out under identical shooting conditions at # 2, a white balance problem as a green / yellowness , the image also got some warm-toned.
OK, this can be corrected in post-production. A real problem, however, were the significant compression artifacts and striking blur in the upper left, lower left and lower right corner, possibly right up could be certified in respect to model # 1 tie, also in relevant videos midrange weaknesses in # 2. Overall seemed # 2 in all viewing angles (170 °, 127 ° and 90 °) and even in reduced viewing resolution to be blurred. Lens out of adjustment?
Very annoying also: A weakness in the firmware that does not adapt the preview image in Photo mode when you switch the angle. Should read: Judging from 170 ° to 90 °, is in the info bar quite the correct number, the picture is, however, still on super wide angle. The (photo) recording takes place but actually at 90 °. Try investigational led to the conclusion: If you switch to video mode, where the angle of view, then back to the photo mode, and happy you.
So it compress the fears that drift with its smaller series production processes obviously not in control. Serve with the story of an acquaintance whose HD Ghost no longer wanted to load, regardless of battery he used. The display is called "Charging ...", but the battery was, even after hours never full. Three complaints rounds inclusive.
In conclusion: Of course there are all sorts of fixtures (partly even in the delivery of the basic package.), Which is also known by other POV or Actioncams, 3M adhesive pads, pipe clamps (also RAM Mounts with Tripod screw work great!), Breast and shoulder straps, goggle strap adapter, etc. advantage here: The "Universal Mount" via tripod adapter / thread a rasterized rotation about the central axis is possible, although the camera sits stably. Of Sony HDR-AZ1 and HDR AS30V can only dream of - with no additional housing is the option: botch with tape or cable ties.
Maximizers miss possibly a slightly modified rear cover with perforated thumbscrew, through which you can thread a key ring together with safety cord. Because _noch sicherer_'s just safer than safe.
Conclusion: It is a mixed picture. Pragmatists and lucky to buy the thing well - as a pleasant alternative to what the leader could have done and been intended several years ago. Three full star deduction for avoidable fluctuations in quality ("Made in China"), Firmwarebugs that lack mounting possibility of a safety cord, the stubborn smartphone app and a (at least at the helm and for my taste) a little too heavy. Unfortunately.
Fall and accident-free driving, and always come out looking great!
