Pittasoft BlackVue DR500GW-HD Car Camera review

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Since my review of the Dash Cam Dually in 2010, I’ve had my eyes open for a quality in-car video recorder that wasn’t so large.  The Pittasoft BlackVue DR500GW-HD car camera is a tube-shaped device that promises to be just that, and it’s packed with some interesting features.

(Click on any image for larger size)

I’ve been in hit-and-run accidents before, so I’ve always kept my eye on dash cams for the car.  I’ve tried two different GoPro cameras, including the newest Hero 3 models, but despite the stunning image quality, they won’t start recording by themselves; you must manually press a button on the camera or via remote.

The DR500GW-HD boasts full-HD recording (1920 x 1020p, 30fps), a 156-degree viewing angle, 2MP CMOS sensor, and a 3-axis G-sensor.  It also comes with a 16GB microSD card, Class 10. (Click specs below for enlarged view).

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The DR500GW-HD comes in a handsome white box that reminded me of some Apple products, minus the tiny cardboard tear inside the Blackvue packaging.

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In addition to the camera, you’ll find the instructions, cables, a microSD card, USB reader, and cable clips.

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I was also sent the Power Magic Pro device.  When installed, it will provide power from your car to the camera to allow recording to continue for a programmed duration after the vehicle is turned off  – “6 hrs to infinity”, according to the website.  The printed instructions were in Korean so I couldn’t read them to confirm the time.

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It comes with a 12V power receptacle.  You plug in your dash cam here.

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I had no use for this device, since I wasn’t interested in recording video after I parked.  But I did notice that out of the box, the Power Magic Pro was missing some “teeth” on the DIP switches that are used to select how long you want power sent to the camera.

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Now, back to the camera itself.  Here it is, in the hand.

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The camera comes with a little lens cap.  I like to slide it on when I’m carrying the camera to and from the car.

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Lens cap removed.  Note the chrome lens surround.  I wish it was blacked out to make the camera less noticeable.

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Rear view of the camera.  There’s not a lot of branding.  What little there is seems fairly tasteful.

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Closeup of the rear.  The slot is the speaker vent for alert sounds.

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The top side of the camera features a double row of vent holes.  I’ve read on on-line camera forums that the previous version of this camera suffered from heating issues.   Note the lock button on the mount.

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The bottom looks much like the top.  There’s a tiny white LED under the camera lens.

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Remember that lock button?  This releases the camera from the rotating mount.  Note the grooves on the camera.  These detents determine the angle which the camera is pointed.  Think of the detents on a scrolling mouse wheel.

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On one end you’ll find a cover that pops off to reveal the power, WiFi toggle button, microSD card slot, and reset button.

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You may be wondering why they used the cylinder shape for a car camera?  I love it.  It allows for a lower profile mount, since the only adjustment you’ll need to make is vertical (up and down) aiming.  Here the camera is mounted behind the rear view mirror near my radar detector.  The slight purple reflection on the camera is the touch sensor, which toggles in-car audio recording on and off.  I don’t know why they went with this kind of switch instead of a mechanical one.

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Installed view from the other side.  I’ve removed the round end cap for convenience.

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I’ve blacked out the mounting “ring” with black tape to mask the silver paint.

Let’s get right to what you’re probably waiting for:  How does the video look?  Here are two samples:

(Note: Audio is muted on purpose.  You don’t want to hear me singing along to a cover of “Call me Maybe” sung by Corgis.  You’re welcome.)

There are two video quality settings.  The highest quality you can get out of this firmware (1.005) is about 7.5 kbps.  This is far lower than say, a GoPro camera.  You’ll notice some motion artifacts that make reading fine detail difficult, such as reading a license plate.  The low-ish bitrate conserves video file size, and most likely keeps processor load down to manage thermal issues.

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Crop of a still image from the DR500GW-HD. Note the “blocky” artifacts. Some fine detail is lost, but it’s not as noticeable during motion playback.

There’s also a free iOS (and Android, not tested) app that lets you adjust settings, download video, and most impressively, a video viewfinder feature via WiFi.  If the WiFi is enabled on the camera, you can “connect” to it and aim your camera.

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It’s actually iPhone 5 compatible; note the full screen width.

You can download the video files directly off the microSD card, or you can use the included viewing software (comes in Mac and PC versions).

With the app, you can view individual video files and read GPS information overlaid on Google Maps.  From the setup menu, you can also set up motion sensor trigger levels, audio alerts, volume, LED indicators, and more.

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I’m glad I didn’t hit that dad on the bike. But if I did, it would be on video.

The preference pane shows you all the tweaks you’d ever want (click for full size).

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Basic preferences page
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Sensitivity page
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“Etc. & WiFi” page

Other things I noticed:

  • The DR500GW-HD starts recording when it gets power, and stops when power is removed.  There is a large capacitor inside the camera that keeps the power going for a few moments afterwards to finish writing the file.
  • Glare from dashboard:  If your dashboard top is a lighter color or reflective, you can see the glare recorded on the camera.  I found that a black dashboard or a “dash mat” (carpet) helps.  In the past, I’ve tried polarizing filters on GoPro cameras with mixed results.
  • The smartphone app video preview is good for aiming, but there’s a slight lag.  Don’t be alarmed!
  • The Mac viewing software only has a few Asian countries for timezone settings.  The iOS and PC app have a complete list.
  • For a while I could not get the time stamp working correctly.  Then one day, it did.  I’m not sure why.
  • The included software does not have an option to remove the “DR500GW-HD” stamp in the lower-right of recorded images.
  • If you leave the WiFi turned on during power up, your phone may switch over to that when you drive.  My iPhone 5 (Verizon) was off the network during that time and not getting emails, as it had detected the camera instead.  I left the auto WiFi turned off, and I simply press the camera’s round WiFi button only when I need it.
  • There is no iOS app for the iPad at the time of this writing.
  • Camera writes in .mp4 files, saved in a folder on the microSD card.
  • In the PC software, you can right click on the video list and delete individual video clips.  You can’t do that in the Mac version.

The Pittasoft BlackView DR500GW-HD is a well-built dash cam that worked every time it powered up for me.  The GPS and adjustable motion features are a nice touch.  Although the camera lacks an LCD screen, the smartphone app is far more useful for added functionality and keeping the size down.  It may not be GoPro quality, but this camera has found a home in my car.

 

Product Information

Price:On-line prices vary between $300-$400
Manufacturer:Pittasoft
Requirements:
  • MicroSD card for memory (Class 10 or better)
  • Mac or PC for viewing software
  • iOS or Android smartphone for mobile software
Pros:
  • Starts and stops recording on power-up and shutdown
  • Overwrites oldest video
  • WiFi enables smartphone preview and configuration (great for aiming)
  • GPS records position history
Cons:
  • A little pricey
  • Video quality not up to "GoPro" standards
  • Gets a little warm

12 thoughts on “Pittasoft BlackVue DR500GW-HD Car Camera review”




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  2. Jean-Denis Haas

    Thanks for the review! I have a question if you don’t mind:

    – with the camera mounted at the top, behind the rear view mirror, is the power cable dangling down to the power outlet then?

  3. It’s up to you. You can let the power cable hang down, or you can try to hide it in the headliner of the car. You’re only limited by your creativity.

  4. Thank you for your review. it’s very helpful.

    Have you compared to other devices such as Boyo VTR104? I’m just curious which is a better device overall. Thanks!

  5. I have a DR400G-HD Season 1 unit and in less than a year it is slowly burning out. I contacted Blackvue’s main office but since I bought it off of E-Bay they refuse to honour the warranty, or even give me a break on a new one… and that ios within the `supposed’ 1 year warranty period. So unless you are willing to shell out big bucks to them directly, expect NO warranty coverage or support!!!

  6. I absolute agree with Rick about their warranty. Virtually once you paid them, warranty GONE. They never support you. Stop buying them, may be they would change.

  7. Hi, just wondering if you can stop/start recording as required if you only want the camera to record certain parts of a journey??

  8. An expensive failure for me this camera (the BlackVue DR500GW-HD). It died after only 22 months use and the supplier and importer in Australia want far to much to repair the camera (up to two thirds the initial cost). Supplier offered a paltry 10%-15% discount with free express shipping if I were to purchase a new camera from them. Not in your bloody life mate. To those who may read this please be aware of the lack of durability and poor quality of this product.

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