K1S - The First Front & Rear 1080p Hidden Recorder Car Dash Cam
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- čas přidán 1. 08. 2024
- 2016 UPDATE - I've received reports of reliability issues on cameras purchased after mine - perhaps they changed something in manufacturing...but whatever the reason for these failures I CAN NO LONGER RECOMMEND THIS CAMERA
USA Amazon: amzn.to/1MKU4lY ebay: goo.gl/R5k1g8
UK Amazon: amzn.to/1MqFbJ1 ebay: goo.gl/UIk9FM
My Sample Clips are here: goo.gl/7J18Hp
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Just in case you have the annotations switched off - the video samples look blocky on youtube due to the re-encoding process. If you want to see the original (non-blocky) footage you'll have to download some sample clips from my website, here: goo.gl/7J18Hp
You'll also find my full list of seller links on there. This will be updated as and when new sellers are found.
Good news everyone, I have some new updated MUCH CHEAPER Amazon US Prices for the K1S
With GPS: amzn.to/1MKU4lY
Without GPS amzn.to/1DBbUpZ
Seems like the resellers are starting to appear. I'll add more as and when I find them.
thank you for posting
Excelent, thanks. This is for sure the best dash cam for the buck I've seen.
Just an update from the links. I bought the "without GPS" one and it does come with the GPS so its better to go with that one since its cheaper.
***** I've just bought this from the above link. Shipping was $18. the total I paid including shipping was £152.97, this doesn't include any import duties I may incur
Hi my name is kat I am after a car camera day/night but there's so many to chose from £ 100.00 to spend can you advance which one is a good one please. Ta Katrina
UPDATE 02 March 2015
I've received the answers to a few questions I asked the manufacturers.
1) The Car Lamp Open/Closed menu as expected does warn the driver if they are driving in the dark with the headlamps off. It judges this by the exposure.
2) Apparently the battery used is a Standard GoPro size....which is great. Normally I try to avoid dashcams that use batteries, because when the internal battery fails you have to replace the whole camera - in this case you can buy a new battery. Just a reminder - I can't comment on the long term reliability of any cam after only a month of use.
3) I wasn't sure how the emergency button handled the files. I was concerned that if you saw something you wanted to keep - but the camera started recording the next file before you managed to press the button then you would be protecting the wrong clip. Well it turns out the manufacturer has thought of this. "When this button is pressed, if current recording is less than 1 minute, then current file and the file before this (together 2 files) are locked"
4) Not a question, but I have raised the issue of the need for resellers in China who can export to Europe and also the Speedcam database is no use in the UK until the camera can support additional database formats. Both these things are being explored...but the database issue isn't a simple quick fix.
Techmoan Any word on whether there will be a capacitor version for hotter markets where sun + battery don't mix?
+gracej79 Blah, how about one that pipes into the abundant 12VDC electrical system installed in pretty much every car manufactured since the 1950s?
A solar battery charger option might help when going o short trips while using that parked mode & eBay has relatively cheap 12v one's. This might aid on having constant power during the day at least.
That sounds like a good idea! - Thanks for that Timely Solution!
might as well just keep it plug in to your car.
After watching your channel about 3 or 4 years ago, I decided upon the mobius action cam and have thoroughly enjoyed it. Great sound and picture quality and very small. I mounted it in the matrix with a magnetic mount which I can easily remove on a hot day or to take inside to view the clips. I have caught so many close calls and even hit a deer one morning and put these on my CZcams channel. Thank you so much for your reviews. I trust your opinions.
I really appreciate the quality of the reviews you do. I liked this one so much in fact that if nothing new comes available relatively soon I will be getting this solely based on this video. Cheers.
Excellent review as always Mat! Really liked the "to camera" intro and outro shots of your good self. You always come across as very personable and it gives your videos a really nice inclusive kind of feel (if that makes sense). Keep up the good work and look forward to your next upload.
***** Thanks old tracks (chap).
@@Techmoan Hi from the US. I know it's quite a few years late for my comment. However I must say. You do have a professional approach to products that you review but in a natural sort of way. For example: The square of chessboard you reviewed. The natural part of that is how you felt being beat by a computer. Hope you and the Mr's ( think that's the proper way to spell it? ) LOL Are doing well and look forward to more videos in the future.
I love your reviews and the unboxings!!! thank you - keep up the good work. I bought the 1080p £30 dash cam on your recommendation and its been going strong with every day use. I'm going to get this one too!
Hey thanks a ton for your efforts Technoman! I've watch a good number of your review videos and I just wanted to say that your work is outstanding. Cheers!
Tipped for the top... solid views every time and growing. Your methodical approach, unbiased evaluations and dry humor beat any other tech channel for me. Watch this space
A great review again, as allways. The quality of your videos is really exceptional. Thanks again!
[][][][][][][][][]>>>>> READ THIS BEFORE POSTING (yet) ANOTHER COMMENT ABOUT THE (current) PRICE
Fantastic, I've was looking for just a one camera system like this until the 0803 mini you reviewed (Work colleague also got one based on your video) but always found they had 480p res. Will keep an eye out as a few hundred quid for a solution like this I would pay for. Unsure why anyone would want a suction cup, I simply have a dirt cheap £30 dashcam I have in the boot if I have to use another vehicle.
Chris Smith Yes there are a few multi-channel low-def car DVRs based on analog cameras, but like you, they aren't the kind of thing I'm interested in installing in my car.
yes I would be interested in the price but in U.S. Dollars
mPky1 Yes but ddemier is probably wanting it from a supplier who isn't selling a dodgy copy that will fail after 4 mico seconds
Thank you. This is the ideal setup for me too but the price does feel steep. I hope the price does decrease.
Brilliant. Love the idea of having small cams connected to a larger central unit tucked away instead of a bulky camera stuck to the windscreen and trying to make it fit. I see this as the future of dash cams. Great review as always! I might just be returning my Blackvue that's on its way.
Wow, that is an awesome package they put together there. I would guess the OEM on this is the same as the SJCAM series by looking at the case styling and software menues.
I really like that we see more of you speaking to the camera. You are a brilliant host, and should be more on camera (i'm quite serious on this). Thank you for making these brilliant videos.
***** the OEM is Koonlung. The SJ4000 is made by Shenzen Hongfeng Century Technology Co Ltd.
Thanks for the positive comment about my intro/outro segments. Most videos I make don't warrant this, but with this one it made sense.
I HAVE HAD NO ISSUES WITH THIS CAMERA THAT I PURCHASED SOON AFTER YOU UPLOADED THIS AND BASED ON YOUR RECOMMENDATION - ITS GREAT!
Thank you so much for your reviews & advice. I bought and fitted this one and am very happy. I fitted it in the boot and swapped front and rear cameras around. My car has a cigarette lighter type socket in the boot which made it very easy. Will await the first time you review a 3D dash cam! 🙈
Excellent review once again, Matt. Many thanks for the time and effort you put in to these reviews.
BLOODY YIPPA MATE. I've been wanting a Car Cam JUST like this one. Separate camera's from the actual recording data block. Looked on CZcams and for around $300 plus it's a dam good deal. Thanks again for your past videos you've done and particularly this latest one for the K1S. Again, BLOODY YIPPA MATE. Cheers, Kev
Good to see that Koonlung are sticking to what they do best, shame that this didn't come out before I bought one of their bullet cameras that you featured a few years ago.
Bought this camera after this review which I have now had for three weeks and I love it...thanks fella :)
I've been waiting for this type of DashCam design for years! Hopefully this form factor is well received and becomes more common (and cheaper).
Another great review, doesn't matter what you review because you give the answer's we need, honest review's with no bias.
Just gone through a few of your car-cam vid's. Very informative, I should say, as well as interesting. What I do like is your audio presentation. You have the perfect voice for this kind of 'info-vlog' (did I just invent that word?) But, in any case, you do a great job. Great video's, very informative and fantastic presentation. Well done you.
I plan to get this as my first dash cam...finally...but my dream unit would have one additional camera...one with good sound that I can hide and point towards the driver's side window for protection against lawless marauders (of any sort) who typically approach the driver's side of the vehicle. There may be more of a need for this in the USA than elsewhere but the need is very real. Perhaps you can convey this to manufacturers in you travels. Regards and thanks for the wide variety of gadget reviews at different price points. I appreciate all you do here.
I love your reviews. Very thorough, a touch of humour and all the info you could possibly want to base a purchase upon. Thanks for another great and very professional review.
I had no need to, or real interest in buying this camera. But I watched the whole video just because I like the way you review things.
I like that your reviews are actually reviews and not just unjustified opinion based on personal preferences.
Since creating a polarizing filter for my mobius actioncam I watch everyone of your reviews to consider how I could make one for each camera. I don't know how that much dash reflection doesn't bother you, it would drive me crazy. As always thank you for the review as you've been the greatest help in explaining every function and feature to fully inform the audience to make a decision as what works best for them.
Quite pleasant of review this was. Clocking 22 minutes I was worried to engage; so rich with information I was surprised by the ending. Thank you for the quality [time] you've invested.
Woaw, i've been watching your videos for at least 4 years, and researching a dashcam to put in my car, i realize that you had a smart roadster... wich is a car i own since 2015 and that i love, same color, but lhd, and with the 3 branches alloy wheels.
Seeing the roadster on the video cover when my mouse clicked it, i couldn't believe it, since it's a quite rare car. i hope yours is still driving somewhere even if you sold it !
Cheers
Thank you for the review! very informative and non bias!. I have now chosen my event recorder! thanks again!
Thank you for another excellent review! I'll keep an eye out for this dash cam.
Thanks so much Techmoan for all your reviews. Having suffered a road rage incident yesterday have spent the afternoon watching your videos! Really like the look of this one but - as you say - impossible to get in the UK at the mo. So also looking at the Vico Marcus 5 Dual. Definitely want a front and back one. Anyway thanks again!
We installed the K1S this week and it seems to work great. Several problems we have are with the rear camera on a 2014 Toyota Avalon. With the rake of the rear window and the defroster grids, there were only two places to locate the camera. Middle of the window or about five inches from the top center. The only places the defroster grid were wide enough to adhere the base without covering the grids. This produces an extraordinary amount of glare from the rear window shelf (tan interior). Covering the shelf with a dark towel has helped but figuring out how to attach a CPL filter would probably eliminate 90 percent of the glare. Other than that and wish the GPS cable were longer. The camera does pretty well in both daylight and night driving. We did tweak the AE down to -0.7. Techmoan thanks for your great reviews.
That's bloody brilliant, TM. I bought a 12v sd recorder that gives me 2 video inputs and let's me record, but this is so much easier. I have a cam on my car now that I'm not too fussed on, ill certainly make a point to buy one of these when the price permits. I love the smart car, too, TM, I like them a lot. Thanks, a brilliant review as always.
His vids never change. and always quality
Ugh... the lack of appropriate audio is a deal breaker for me. Totally would have bought this one too as it has everything I was looking for (except acceptable audio). Love the videos, thanks for doing these.
Thanks for the review... it was great. I just purchased one, and this really helped.
Another excellent review, T.
I've held off on buying & wondered why no one made a car cam like this. this is definitely closer to what my idea of a good vehicle cam should be. my ideal is one that is completely integrated (not visible) & totally fuss free while driving. i want it to be trustworthy so if anything occurs during a drive, I know it'll be recorded. I do wish the remote cams were smaller on this unit.
You are the best You Tube reviwer ever! Love your work! Francisco from Argentina.
FranciscoLezica Thanks for that.
Hi Again, Just letting you know that I've just checked out prices on eBay and for this unit under the brand name "Ambarella A7LA70 K1S Mini Car Dash Camera Front Rear 1080p 64G Hidden 2CH DVR " it's selling for $332.69 from China which I think is pretty dam good for what you get in this package. Date of view is 6/06/2016 at 19:12:53. Again from the first post I sent, it's a BLOODY YIPPA MATE. Thanks for all your reviews you do to help "US" choosing the best product that suits our needs. And with this one, I didn't care how much it was even before I typed it in eBay. I would have paid up to $500 for it. Thanks, Kev.
Well done for an excellent produced video. It's just the type of dash cam that I'm looking for.
Neat product, thank you for the disclaimer in the description.
Hi Techmoan. I bought my K1S following your initial review and it has been great. Very pleased and no issues.
where did you buy from ? here in Australia i can not find anywhere
@@gtutton42 Hi Glen.
The company is Koonlung.com Phone: +0755 83858300. Located in South Korea
@@gtutton42 The company is Koonlung.com and their phone is +0755 83858300 (South Korea)
Koonlung, South Korea.
great review, you are clear and succinct. I appreciate the time you put into this.
Your reviews are superb, well done.
Nice video as usual. Very informative. I found only one for sale on ebay here in the U.S. and it was going for $345.00 or 224.00 pounds. Quite expensive. The sound quality is important to me as I belong to a neighborhood watch program & currently us a gopro 2 mounted directly in front of me on the dash and the video and the sound was used to disprove a confrontation I had with a person when he pulled up next to me and tried to say I confronted him. It was priceless when presented at our next meeting and to the sheriff's deputy who attends our meetings. I would have liked to have had a dual
lens camera at that time. Thanks for your work. I do subscribe.
I really like the somewhat-new more-talking-head instead of voiceover powerpoint view. Great review, neat product...I want one!
I love the file save button, its quick and easy...Nice camera system, covers many bases. Great review as usual:)
This is exactly what I was looking for. Got mine on 06-06-2015. Was easy to install. Decided to test it by driving in St. Louis. The system freaked out while on the Daniel Boone Bridge on I-64/U.S. 40/61. It didn't like the action of passing under the green superstructure. Other than that it worked well. As you noted, the audio is hideous! For what it is, it does the job. Barely. I'm happy with it, and $240 is a fair price. Now if it survives excessive summer heat and the deep freeze winter cold we have in Missouri, then it'll earn my respect.
Nice review and nice introduction and end seeing your face! I like to see you talking to the camera! One thing (maybe somebody else asked this before, but I couldn't find it): May having the screen unit inside the door pocket be the reason for the poor sound quality? Where's the microphone? Maybe having the display over the dash could improve the sound. It's just one thought I had while watching your video. Anyway, I agree with you, this dashcam looks very interesting! Thank you!
Thanks. Really professional review and TV quality production.
Always good reviews, subscribed.
Another great review, I personally like the parked recording feature but think it should have a way to set a timer so it doesn't run down or perhaps some motion sensing record feature. Could be good for security around the car, maybe. Thanks for all your reviews thus far, great advice as always!
Excellent review, I think this is the right dash cam for me, Thanks!
Fantastic review, well presented as ever. I think this is better than the Blackvue you reviewed, which i bought based on your review. A UK outlet and price would be most appreciated when you have the detail. Keep up the excellent work.
It's good to see a decent effort at a product like this. In the near future, all-in-one systems, even the best of them, will be toys compared to robust modular systems. Of course, I've been saying that for a while...
Great video as always, Mat. You're worth every cent.
Joseph Billing since these videos don't cost anything, I'm not sure how to take that. ;-)
Take as an attempt at humour. In all seriousness though, you do outstanding work. I'm not surprised they snapped you up for Top Gear LOL YOU ARE JAMES MAY LOL
Great review, I will keep a look out for this one.
I have been looking a dash cams for awhile and after your excellent review, I have settled to purchase this one. I am very interested in the rear camera as a reversing camera as well.. As I run a dual battery system in my vehicle I will have problem with the battery running flat by using the 12v plug..I just paid $517.70 AUD, but I am sure I am definitely going to get my bang for the buck out of this... Keep up the great reviews.. Cheers
I've been using this cam for almost three years now. Just had to replace the SD due to the other one dying from write issues. It's still of rather good quality, though the internal mic is gone (probable due from living in a desert and the heat killing it.) The image quality is also going a bit as well.
Thanks for the video. Here in Michigan, I have seen some weird things driving. I think it's time to seriously consider a dash cam for my own protection, insurance wise.
Scary, seeing you in person! Hehe.. but the voice actually corresponds well to your looks, so it feels great =D Great video also, as all previous I've seen! =) Keep up the great work!
Chris Fredriksson If you think this is scary, you should try walking around with this face 24/7 - it's the stuff of nightmares.
Techmoan hehe.. not sure what you really mean, but I didn't mean any disrespect, it was just positive thoughts from me! =) But I must say now that I've finished watching the video, it's just as excellent as all your other videos, very informative and you get all the details. Love it! =)
Techmoan Why is it people always make themselves out to be monsters? I understand that we are our own worst critics when it comes to our appearance. I think you look fine. The great thing about the human race is that we are all different and fantastic. Do you really think you would have over 100 000 Subscribers if people didn't like you. So stop this silliness about your appearance. Thanks for the video it was great!
Big Guy Review It was only a joke - self deprecating humour.
Big Guy Review Its our British self deprecating humour.
I use this cam for everyday use, and for its price it's very good. Especially the program it comes with. The thing I recommend the most though if you live somewhere hot, then take the little console inside with you, and use the car outlet and not the battery for constant power.
Great video as always, love those smart cars
Gr8 review! Love watching your videos.
Thanks for another informative review, like this camera system, just with the camera's where a bit smaller. Definitely want one that I can hide away the main unit.
Are there other hidden cameras like the K!S with the hidden recorder?
Another good video. The commentary clear and easy to absorb. My only difference from you, is I need GPS location on my dash cam. Living in OZ and finding myself in the middle of NO WHERE GPS is a good thing. A good quality Navigator will also have GPS. But still it's good to have a back up when all you can see to the horizon is, NOTHING! when the temperature is 45 degrees C ( 113 F in the shade). I need to know which way is water, & home.
Your videos are particularly well put together. Thanks for this excellent review. I think Im going to buy one of these and upload a video response with a quick blast up parbold hill :)
Great video keep them coming I am still looking for a dual dash cam for my car and love people who have the time to do the research for me very please with the information on this video Thank you Techmoan very much for doing this video
I must have gotten one of the older ones, I've been using mine for over a year now with no issues.
Another polished performance, sir.
The best carcam I've seen demo'd, so far.You use your Smart car to demo items; How about a report on the car?
Great video as usual techmoan. Will be interesting to see what the proper price is when it's released. Looks like it's pretty much ideal.
Darn it, now I want this one, just got my mini 0805 last week - had chosen that after watching the excellent 0803 review...
Great to see you on video and another stellar review. I bought the Mobius Camera after reading your review, but I am tempted by this one though. Unsure of all the routing to the back though. Is the control device best kept in the back or front? I guess it depends..
Thanks for video..can you use a celllink B battery pack with this dash cam to record extra time in parking mode?
Techmoan has the best ability I've seen to create reviews on technical equipment that doesn't assume viewers have a reasonable level of IT nous (that's me !). I only recently embarked on research to decide what dashcam to get and Techmoan has been a brilliant resource for me. Huge thanks to you Mr. Techmoan.
If this IT numpty could ask a question please ....... The layout of my car means that the front camera lead supplied with the K1S isn't quite long enough to facilitate hiding the wire out of sight. With your expert knowledge of electronic gizmos, are the connecting plugs fitted to each end of the supplied camera lead such that a decent electronics retailer would be able to supply a lead I could use to extend the reach of the supplied lead ? (if any other viewers have been able to resolve this problem, any clues to take the pressure of Mr. Techmoan would be most welcome). Thank you.
Thank you for your videos. Great work. Just to add on this camera night recording quality...this seems to be the only camera that does not have "Street lights flickering effect" . Majority of cameras that you have shown us, produce that effect and I am guessing this is due to the the video quality rate.
I like it! Was debating on the Marcus 5 but that large front unit is just so large. Going to be good replacement for my failing Mini 0803.
Good to see you. Nice review. Good job.
very entertaining and informational as always, thanks
Very good job of reviewing this dash cam. Thanks. I am looking for a 2 camera system.
As always - thanks for great review :)
Thank you! very informative and detailed video.
Interesting to see how these devises are progressing. I bought mine from one of your recommendations. I do feel at times i could also do with a rear camera, so I will be watching your site to see when this one is available in the UK. Thank you!
That is of course when they have sorted the reliability!
I do need better sound quality however so i will wait for a better design that you recommend!!
Finally got to see ur face! nice to meet u. your videos are really awesome. keep up the good work. (Y)
Thanks Mat, great review, love your videos! This is just the camera I want! I think you give the Channel 5 Gadget Show presenters a run for their money!
Great video as always! cant wait untill manufacturers start catching on to this and start building the controller seperated from the camera so we can have better quality cameras and if need be bigger control boxes that we could hide with out being in the way! i wonder if they support bigger cards for this. maybe next dual set of cameras would be 1080p front and rear with dual cards or something for longer record time.
Always enjoy yer videos, good to put a face to a voice, Cheers yer star, Brigs :)
This could well be the dash cam that I've been waiting for. :) Great review as always and your new intro and outro where you're talking to the camera were fantastic! Cheers, b. :)
Biggles - it's not like you to like a camera. My advice is to wait it out on this one until people start selling it at a sensible price. I'm also waiting to hear back from Koonlung if replacement batteries are easy to find, which is something that is very important as hot weather and charge cycles can kill batteries pretty quickly.
Techmoan
I won't be rushing in. My 13yo car is tired, broken and badly in need of replacement. Mind you, the same could be said of me. :P Cheers, b.
biggles1024
You could convert it to a EV Vehicle, it's the new rage in the USA. Taking 50 year old cars and putting in some EV Warp 9 motors along with Calb 80 batteries.
TekReview's
Not going to happen, not now, not ever. :)
Well it was an idea, but yeah I know a lot of people are very lazy and never want to help the environment until it affects their own health.
Nice review, appreciate your work.
Awesome very usefull as we are now looking to buy a dash cam after a close shave the other day. So will defo be checking out that beginers guide
Awesome review!! I cant upvote you stuff enough.
BluSpdDemn Thanks old chap.
As always, I thoroughly enjoyed this review, however I do miss the fact that towards the end of this video, you did not sum up the pros and cons of the test device, as you have frequently done in the past, either way all good, and I look forward to seeing more videos (with or without pros and cons synopsis) Cheers Paul.......
I acquired this in 2015.
Mine did stop recording at a point, but the issue was resolved when I changed the microSD card. I have since acquired a high endurance microSD card specifically targeted for dash cams.
My unit is not on the dash or in the glove box it is well hidden, so although it's warm, I don't recall it overheating.
I love these reviews..... Top Man......
i like that on/save/off button. useful for capturing tailgater when you see one trying to tailgate you even though you are already going 5mph over the speed limit. then slam your brakes and watch them pay for your car and other already broke stuff on your car. Priceless. Most people buy dash cam to record every day. thats not me. i only record when i feel like it. Dont really see any other dash cam with that kind of a button, so i guess i gotta buy this one.
This looks absolutely ideal for an inconspicuous dual camera set up on a bike.
can this be useful with the rear camera facing inside the car ,like for taxi/rideshare recording?
Excellent review. Thanks.
Great review Mat!... Nice to see more of your mug on camera too :p
Question... This or the Marcus 5?!?! They both sit in a similar price bracket (for now). I have a Marcus 3 already so have no issues with the bulky front cam of the 5, however this review may be a game changer as I was about to buy the 5?
Cheers
Just picked one of these up and it's a great system overall. If I had one complaint, is it's use of micro USB connectors for everything. If you have to remove the unit that's 4 plugs to remove and we all know how unreliable they can be in the long term. Would be nice to see a future model have a more robust connection system.