Playme ODDER-Dual Channel DVR Review

A two-channel DVR is not a luxury, but a means of more complete control over the traffic situation. Especially if both of his cameras shoot in high definition, and not just the rear, as is often the case.

However, in the segment of two-camera car DVRs, for some reason, for a long time, the difference in "vision" between the front and rear cameras was considered the norm. Rather, the desire of manufacturers to save money on the matrix of the rear camera and on the processor, which, in the case of a reduced resolution of one of the cameras, could be simpler and cheaper, was simply passed off as the norm ...

The overwhelming majority of "two-eyed" recorders filmed in Full HD (1920 × 1080) resolution for the front camera and just HD (1280 × 720) for the rear camera. This deliberate understatement of the quality of shooting is found everywhere to this day, but in the Playme ODDER model, the evolution is obvious: both "eyes" give out an honest Full HD resolution (1920 × 1080) and have the same pixel density-2 megapixels!

In fact, let's be honest, the cameras are still different in Playme ODDER! At least for the reason that the rear is limited by the volume and dimensions of the body in terms of the placement of the objective lenses. For it must be compact enough. The viewing angle is also slightly smaller. But at this stage in the development of mass electronics technologies, not "merging" the resolution of the rear camera into banal HD is the maximum that manufacturers can do.

Specifications Playme ODDER

• Processor-JL5701.
• Image sensors: 2MP (GC2053)-front camera, 2MP (F37)-rear camera.
• Camera viewing angle: front-150 °, rear-140 °.
• Video resolution: front-1920х1080 30 fps, rear-1920х1080 fps.
• The video format is MOV (H.264).
• Display-2.45 ", IPS.
• Additionally-G-sensor, microphone, built-in power supply-supercapacitor.
• Power supply-12-24 volts.
• Dimensions-75x55x28 mm, 45 g.

The main unit of Playme ODDER has the shape of a classic camera. The characteristic protrusion of the body on the front right for a grip of the hand, the power button in place of the shutter button, the protruding "barrel" of the lens. The reason for this is not in the desire to be like a camera, but in the optimal geometry of the camera, which is simply successfully copied. The shape of the case allows you to put/remove the gadget on the bracket with maximum convenience, place the screen and control buttons on the front panel, and in general rationally distribute the filling inside, providing heat distribution from the processor and photo matrix.

The power supply system of the recorder operates in both 12-volt and 24-volt networks. As an internal source necessary for the completion of recording and saving video when the ignition is turned off, it is used, as has recently been practiced everywhere, not a Li-Ion battery, which tends to swell in frost and heat, but an ultracapacitor (otherwise called a supercapacitor).

Magnetic attachment to the bracket today is a sign of almost every decent registrar. Such a retainer is comfortable, reliable and does not force fingers and nails to break (especially in cold weather) by inserting a classic slotted latch with a spring-loaded tongue.

A powerful double magnet holds and positions the device in the mating part of the bracket, and the contacts for power and signal input from the rear camera pass through the spring-loaded gold-plated "pins". There is only one hinge in the bracket (and very rigid in terms of vibration resistance)-for adjusting the vertical position of the camera (tilt/lift). But there is no horizontal centering-it is provided by one-time positioning when gluing the sole to the glass on double-sided tape.

The bracket has a so-called pass-through design-a typical solution today. The bracket provides both power to the main unit and the rear camera without plugging any connectors into the main unit.

The rear camera is equipped with a long (nearly 6 meters) cable, which is more than enough for most cars. The set includes a self-adhesive sole, both for the main unit, and a pair of self-tapping screws for attaching, for example, to the plastic of the license plate frame (the camera, of course, is waterproof).

The Playme ODDER functionality is controlled using a typical four-button panel to the right of the display. Menu, cursor up/down and OK. During shooting, the menu keys have quick functions-for example, stop/start video recording, turn on/off the microphone. All this can be easily figured out empirically, again without reading the instructions.

The device interface is quite simple and not overloaded. The only moment that became a slight obstacle in the way of intuitive clarity was the entrance to the menu-in order to get into the settings, you first need to stop the video recording.

There are two sections inside the menu-general and video. There is nothing superfluous in them, and it pleases. Decent manufacturers do not try to "make an impression" with an abundance of unnecessary items to the user. For example, I am glad that the option to change the shooting resolution has disappeared from the menu: the time for low-capacity memory cards is gone, and the video recording resolution is left with only one-the maximum. Although, for example, the ability to flip the image for the rear camera would be useful.

The display is quite comfortable for monitoring what is happening, but the "frame in frame" of the rear camera in the upper right corner is too small-you have to peer. However, he does not require special attention: once he set the position of the lens, and that's enough. It is not the screen in motion that should be considered, but the recordings from the flash drive on more or less large displays. The format for recording and organizing files on microSD is in the form of two folders named FRONT and BACK. The clips from the front camera, respectively, have the letter F in the title (consisting of the date and serial number), and those from the rear camera have the letter B. The number of clips in both folders is the same, and it is not a problem to find matching clips and filmed at the same time.

Playme ODDER shooting quality

The rear camera, despite its modest dimensions, demonstrates excellent resistance to light, which is very important for outdoor installation, and decent performance in low light conditions. Despite the fact that the video from the rear camera sometimes even seems sharper and slightly overexposed than from the front camera, the front camera shows excellent detail, which can be seen in any freeze frame with an oncoming car-the numbers are clearly legible. One commercial vehicle that we met along the way had a sticker with a QR code, and from the screenshot of this video, the smartphone easily recognized the link encrypted in the code. Although, as often happens, the quality of the video from the front camera is reduced by the heating stripes of the windshield and the partial reflection of the torpedo in it-due to this, again, the image from the "stern" camera mounted on the license plate frame looks even more advantageous at first glance.

Regarding the settings: the zero exposure position seemed to us a little excessive, so in the early days of using the device it makes sense to experiment with the adjustment in terms of making it coarse.

It's just that ODDER (and other two-chamber 2xFullHD models, which will certainly follow it), at no extra cost to the consumer, closes the remaining small niches in the characteristics, where it is possible to improve the characteristics of a solid recorder of the middle class, without fundamentally changing the technical process of creating the filling. And this is important against the background of the global trend towards a shortage and rise in the cost of chips, when maintaining a well-functioning circuitry (without introducing semiconductors of next generations) can keep the prices of gadgets at the same level.

You can buy a Playme ODDER video recorder with delivery in Kiev, Kharkov, Odessa and Ukraine at 130.com.ua .

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