Mini DV D005 Spy Camera Review

[stan43]

HEY is this motion activated?

[Afrocanuk]

I have a Mini DV D005. I use it as a dashboard camera. It works great and without vibration since I glued a suction cup onto the camera mount and stick it to the windshield.

[studioartures130]

oplaca sie kupic



[deusredeemer]

bought this cam second hand no manual and stuff for recording hunting scenes and couldnt find the damn continuous mode MANY THANKS M8 :D

[TheComputerNerd0101]

haha, you really sound like james may :9

[999pfam]

my brother bout a camera that looked just like this

[TheDaniel500]

LOL are you James may? that is a funny question

[Pa3ck0]

Can I set text to the date and time? (for example Patrick's headcam)

[manageablerecoil]

Thanks for the video. I found it to be very detailed and informative. I am sorry to hear you will no longer be doing these videos. For whatever it is worth, I do not find them repetitive. It is nice to see a physical comparison of these cameras.

[JGuilty1313]

I have this little camera it seems to be quite good for putting on my RC planes and whatnot, but why are the file sizes SO LARGE for these videos? How do I compress these files down? Sorry, but Im new to this kind of stuff....great videos by the way!!

[Gnodabisme]

I love your videos man, i must say. However I know where you live :D

I would really like it if you reviewed the following camera:

Mini Wireless Hidden Color CCTV Video Camera Spy can (eBay)

[Techmoan]

@Gnodabisme unfortunately I won't be doing any more cameras for a while....I don't want to become too repetitive. I know where I live too....but if I ever get lost, I'll be sure to ask you to point me in the right direction.

[fredintheshed1]

A very good review, thanks for uploading

[sneburubens]

Friend.... thank you very much.. You helped me alot with your comparison. Good Job

[ForeignKhaos]

Lol D:D:D U RLY DO SOUND LIKE JAMES MAY ! D:D:D:D awesome, right ?

[Craziestout]

LOL,

All i can say is that people who buy this so called "spying" in 2011 are STUPIDOS!

For recording sports and stuff like that it might be good. But for everything else there are much better solutions.

It's so obvious that I'm not gonna tell you guys what.

And I'm not only talking about the body worn stuff. If you wanna Spy in your living room, you don't need a damn surveillance cam.

GOD, use your intelligence people haha.

You'll will be thankful, that I wrote this comment lol.

[IdoZatTimeInaVan]

Give us a break TechMoan. Pleeeease?

You realise you aren't evaluating multi-'000 quid broadcast cameras don't you?

Look - if it doesn't come up to expectations then give it to a nephew or someone for Christmas!

Arrrhh - never mind - everyone has to have some way of feeling important.

[IdoZatTimeInaVan]

Arrrggghhhhhhh

FELLAS I'll bet you splash the cost of one of these on the bar on a Saturday night.

The evaluations are good, but PLEASE STOP MOANING about their minor shortcomings given the performance you get for the money

[IdoZatTimeInaVan]

Grrr - maybe someone can tell me how to include the link to the youtube video link?

[IdoZatTimeInaVan]

Fellas!

What are you grizzling about?

Bought from DealExtreme a year ago for Oz$17.85 delivered; 11GBP. Expected it to die after a month, but didn't. Rattles about in my pocket with coins and keys, or in car console.

Trialled it for 'action' video. Stuck to wobbly headrest with tape :)

Jerky video?  Get a Class-6 SD card.

Has good colour saturation and light/dark response (see video).

This was the camcorder standard 20 yrs ago. Pls be real. :)

[unclearless]

Hello, Is it voice activated video and audio? Or audio alone? Ty.

[franknblunt]

Odd that the packaged name is DV D005 but the computer interface recognizes the hardware as SPCA1528 Still Camera Device. Happens quite often with gizmos and devices making traceability and obtaining support difficult at times. Another reason to moan about tech eh?

[AirsoftNDirtbikes]

My computer wont take micro sd cards. So can I just plug it in using the usb and drag files onto my PC? thus copying them or deleting them from the camera but saving them on my PC? Thanks bro!

[mongoosekid14]

hi im using a mini laptop (advent) do you have to install the disc first on your computer before you can put footage onto you computer.

[Techmoan]

@mongoosekid14 No - the disc is just webcam drivers. As long as your PC can read the camera as a USB drive then (Windows XP/ME/7) then you will be fine. If you hit a snag, just use a memory card reader.

[bymacorg2]

Nice work. Good review, and a cool camera! i love it! And this camera is great for Time Lapse Photography too! you just need this device: tempusALL.bymac.org

I got very professional time-lapse videos with camera! cool sunset videos!

[wvXvxvXvw]

At least I'm not the only one who hears James May in your videos. I appreciate the reviews you have done. I picked up a couple novelty cameras recently, the Keychain Camera being one of them. I also purchased the I-Kam Extreme sun glass recorder. I've used them both for paintball and ATV action videos. The Keychain camera really had me stumped as the directions seemed twice translated and were vague at best. Your review helped me a ton. If you would like I can send clips of the I-Kams to you.

[wvXvxvXvw]

Would be nice to have a good review/shakedown on them. I prefer the keychain camera over them because of the quality. The only spot that needs improvement on the 808 is the microphone. It seems to only pick up sounds that are very close, it doesn't do well at range. Thanks again.

[pkbdHidro12]

seriously, are you really james may? your review is very nice, i wanna buy one :)

[kasuno1]

Wow you did a very nice work on this review. Thanks you man!

[hurmpfff]

640x480 looks good. what do you mean dated and washed out? you don't like the 80s style? you can get all your friends and family to wear sweaters and makes some 80s tv and news

[hurmpfff]

lol. i like reviews with the english accent and language

[CesarNegri]

Hello friend, is to remove the date and time? Thank you.

[Techmoan]

@CesarNegri Not possible on this camera unfortunately.

[JAEGERSTER]

WHER DO I BUY ONE

[MonkeyCrewEU]

Thank U so much Ur excellent reviews.

U got a perfect voice for that,

Cheers from Germany

[retrotails]

2:14 "I was hoping for a wider angle lens" just as some fat chick walks past

[RascalKyng]

You must do this professional... Its a very soothing review... Awesome..

[CondemnedGraham]

looks like my MD90 i think the MD90 is smaller though.. and a bit harder to use many times i had a hard time trying to record with it and ended up with some pictures lol

[slothboy79]

Ok, so how do you look up ladies skirts with it...?

[aleksejtur]

good review.

[gencouple]

Very helpful review, thanks for taking the time to post it.

[UltimateBlackCharts]

Where can i buy the lens ? wo kann ich die linse kaufen

[MetalMullishaMonster]

Which is the best for making a dirtbike helmet cam?

[Techmoan]

@MetalMullishaMonster The HD 808 #11 - See my other review.

[majorrong]

don't care much for camera but full marks for a great review.

[SEAWEEDER1]

I got my Mini DV D005 delivered in the same way as in this video...the driver disk is cracked..does anyone know where i can download it from. thanx

[Techmoan]

@SEAWEEDER1 The webcam drivers are available on my website TECHMOAN.COM - click on Files and Drivers at the top right of the front page.

[SEAWEEDER1]

@Techmoan Thanks it allowed me to transfer avi carture to pc...having a little problem using it as a web cam on windows 7, just comes up as a mass starage device.

[Techmoan]

@SEAWEEDER1 Sorry - didn't try it on Win 7 - It's probably incompatible, unless someone knows differently.

[SEAWEEDER1]

@Techmoan Ok thanx..your quick at replying..all the best

[techgeek52]

@Techmoan Thanks mate !

if you ever come across to anything like this and you find a solution please let us know

Best regards

[376metagross]

In your experience with these cameras, in order of worst to best... In what order would put the following models?

DVK808, DV808, DV D005, M80

[Techmoan]

@376metagross Well - you have to remember that there are many variations on each and some have improved since I reviewed them (e.g. the MD80), but purely on the cameras I've had in my hand..... Worst>Best = MD80>DV D005>DVK808> 808HD #11 (The 808HD #11 is best by a mile).

[376metagross]

@Techmoan Excellent answer, but... and the model DV808?..(NOT DVK808)... What Order? :S

[Techmoan]

@376metagross Not too sure which one the DV808 is ...but there is no point getting anything other than the #11 808 anyway.

[376metagross]

@Techmoan I´m from Mexico... I want the model 808HD#11 OR DVK808 but there not are sellers here

-_________-

[Techmoan]

@376metagross There are none in the UK either....only available from Hong Kong at the moment

[techgeek52]

@Techmoan thanks for a great review

I have this problem with the D005

1. When turn off the camera it looses the coreect time and goes back to 2008

2. I can record 1,2,3,4,5 videos etc. BUT when TURN OFF the camera and ON again and record more videos it REPLACES the old videos (e.g. SUNP0001, SUNP0002, SUNP0003 etc) and records newest Videos with same name and replaces the old ones with the new.

Do you have the same problem?

Do you have any suggestions please?

Best regards

[Techmoan]

@techgeek52 Hi, I didn't experience those problems myself - but nothing surprises me with these cheap cameras. I can't think of a solution to your problem either - sounds very frustrating. Sorry.

[techgeek52]

@Techmoan Thanks mate !

if you ever come across to anything like this and you find a solution please let us know

Best regards

[chartle1]

@techgeek52 This is just how it works for all of these cameras.

Don't turn it off with the ON OFF Switch but by either letting it go to sleep or holding in the Mode button.

As long as you don't turn it off or let the battery go dead it should keep time.

[techgeek52]

@chartle1 Thanks a lot mate!

That's what the manufactuer said to me too. I've already tried that. So it's kind of manufactuerer's fault.

Thank you

P.S. By the way, I'm getting soon 10 pieces 808 #11 1280x720 camera as I've already tried it and it's gret

[DarkDeath876]

so which one do you recommend for rc flying? correct me if im wrong but would it be the keyring one?

[Techmoan]

@DarkDeath876 808 #11 cam is the best camera currently available for your needs.

[DarkDeath876]

@Techmoan thanks

[boba697]

"Are you James May? - NO"

I lol'd. You do sound like him, Techmoan. :P

[Techmoan]

@SorryMentalyRetarded The HD 808 #11. See my new video.

[Jacno77]

quick questions, are you James May?

[jackthespratt]

I got an MD80 of f of a hobby site and it arrived without the CD, I've been trying to find the driver to use it as a webcam but nothing i find on the internet works. Do you know where I can download it from. I would greatly appreciate it please.

[Techmoan]

@jackthespratt Yes, the drivers can be downloaded from my blog TECHMOAN.COM just follow the files&drivers link on the front page.

[narcissusdark]

can you buy any of these pen cams/key ring cams that can do night vision? or havent they been invented yet?

[barkyindustries]

Very interesting. I've watched 2 or 3 of your reviews very nice.

Which one would you reccomend for audio quality?

gadgetfreakz.co.uk/720p-hd-spy­-pen-4gb-usb.html

Also can you review the product video footage for this spy pen and could you tellme if it's too zoomed in like the key ring camera and do you think the Audio quality is good

[briseburettes]

great mini cams but impossible to turn off stamp date

[themanwithaplan13]

What's the name of the car around 2:40?

[MetaView7]

thanks for the review

[JOSEPHVENTURABRAND]

Dude, sell me one! lol

[waynercarter]

great review but, how come its never mentioned if its windows 7 compatible? will this work on my windows 7 OS ??? help !

[purplemutantas]

@waynercarter I don't know about webcam functionality. But unless there is something seriously wrong with win 7, it should come up as a flash drive. 

[slick4401]

Looks like the manufacturers of the RD52HE can't help being Chinese. They have changed something inside the camera and now the quality has gone down and the motion detection function sucks. The old models had a crisp day/date in yellow digits. The new ones have some ugly reddish big digits in a single line. Probably they changed the electronics inside to save a buck or two. Idiots.

[Techmoan]

@slick4401 Thanks for reporting back with this info, shame to hear that there are numerous versions of this camera now as well. Buying any of these cameras is a bit of a gamble.

[slick4401]

@Techmoan Thanks for your thanks. My critics are directed to the original manufacturer, a company called Red Leaf. In my experience whenever most Chinese manufacturers get something right, in less than a year they will ruin it, making it cheaper and cheaper to get more and profit. In the end the products become complete junk. Cheaper electronics, cheaper batteries, faster assembly procedures... The RD52HE was a very good camera. What a pity!

[slick4401]

@nksh666 Sorry can't do. Sold them all, am out of stock and did not keep sample videos. I'll post when I get a new shipment. Cheers!

[DrReal5000]

ugly nails!!!!

[Techmoan]

@DrReal5000 Sorry. I tried to get Flo Jo in, but she was a bit dead.

[krazbar1]

Hey got a dv 80 today... for motor bike riding ... to attach it to my helmet but it just wouldent go can u plz help me

[angelb650650]

are you James May? :))))))

...or James Bond...

[l0lr0flm40]

Do you know of any DVR's that are capable of being hooked up to a bullet cam through an A/V-input? Im kind of on a budget, and I'm trying to find a DVR that I can use to record videos through my bulletcam as an action camera, but so far... no luck =P Can you help me?

[adanwindowsxp]

Soo.. The AEE Md80 is good? cause I just bought it xD

[madmikefalkirk]

QUICK QUESTION!

In 'sound record' mode how long will it last (on standby/waiting to record)

and can you tell me the voltage/ markings on the battery??

ta, great review by theway!

[taclow123]

so far... which of these dvr cheap cameras u prefer?

[Techmoan]

@taclow123 I still prefer the keyring camera (version 3). It's the smallest one with the same image quality as the DVR D011 and the D005.

[z170alba]

@Techmoan hello very good video, you could make a video explaining how to put an extra battery for short-lived, I have an amp in PARALLEL for more beautiful thanks cat

[scubanutpaul]

@Techmoan Are any of these cameras compatible with Windows Vista 64 bit do you know?

[fishingfreak222]

these ones are realy bad they broke the first time i used them but there is another one i got that works and it can go under water to like 20 meters or something

IDV.net.au

[sw1ft2U]

@Techmoan hi i love your reviews !! can you some how upload the cd drivers so i can download it because my key chain didnt come with one and i would like to use it as a web cam also.

[Techmoan]

@sw1ft2U Drivers are already on my website TECHMOAN.COM. Look for the Files & Drivers link at the top right.

[strayedsparks]

I recently bought this camera based on your and other reviews, but my computer won't play the files. The CD which is supposed to have the driver had a bug or something, and spits out an error whenever I try to run its exe file. I've been looking online, and it appears that I am missing a codec. So, tried to install the K-lite codec pack to no avail.

Do you have any other suggestions? I'm running Windows 7.

[Techmoan]

@strayedsparks Try playing the files in VLC media player. If that won't play the, nothing will.

PS The drivers on the disc are just for using it as a webcam, nothing else.

[strayedsparks]

@Techmoan Well, after watching this video, I realize that my camera more closely resembles the MD80... The package said D005 though. It certainly isn't AEE though.. Some sort of knockoff. The VLC player does play the files. They have a lot of fuzzy speckles though. And whenever I try to save/convert them, it doesn't create any file... I'd like to eventually upload videos from it like you have done. Any other suggestions?

[Onipetsu]

Are You JAmes May? LOL :DD

[edzaskadka]

You realy sound like James May!

[molteni54]

Great review as always! Does this video camera overwrite old files?

[Techmoan]

@molteni54 Thanks. No, when the DV D005 is full, its full, no overwriting.

[ghosttroop]

Solid review, Techman. Many thanks. Bought a NEW D005 Mini DV Camera + 8GB MicroSDcard + MicroSDcard-Adapter + MicroSDcard-Reader for US$33.45. Sweet! Its going in the RC cars and the helicopters. I guess the FOAM inside the case is for SHOCK-ABSORBTION.

[Techmoan]

@ghosttroop Sounds good. I'm looking forward to seeing your videos on youtube.

[guyjos]

I thought the MD80 recorded at 720x480 not 640x480 (VGA)

[Techmoan]

@guyjos The original metal bodied AEE one I got was 640x480. I believe that there are some more recent models that do 740x480. There are probably half a dozen different models, some good and some bad, available now.

[guyjos]

@Techmoan Wow cheers for a rapid reply! I've ordered one this week, so I'll see what it's like - considering I only paid £6 for it I'm not that fussed!

[dirtdiver1025]

Nice review

[myozone]

Who did you get it from on ebay ? link ??

[Techmoan]

@myozone eBay Seller from HK called strong-stock

[Afrocanuk]

I use the Mini DV D005 sometimes when driving. Works great with very little or no vibration. I just wish it would run longer. That's my only complaint.

[JirkaCZEEE]

Q: Are you James May

:-D LoL

[slick4401]

Great review. That camera is a clone of the RD52SHE. The original RD52SHE (VOX activated) and RD52HE (motion activated) have much better image quality, they are well made and reliable (and more expensive). Cheers!

[Techmoan]

@slick4401 Wow - thanks for the info. I had no idea that this was another clone. These things are so hard to pin down. Many thanks.

[svenakerlund]

@slick4401 Where can I get the RD52HE (motion activated) camera?

[efectomariposa7]

hi !!, thx for sharing ¡¡

[TwinLocusts]

Thanks for another well done review.

[SpheredShadow]

I swear to god you buy everything from China. Did you buy your house from China by any chance? Did it come flat packed? LOL!XD

[Techmoan]

@SpheredShadow No, but I did consider getting a wife from there (joke - in case the gfriend reads this).

[charliewt]

good review as usual

[AVFCDUDE1874]

U r better than jon4lakers and soilderknowsbest

[thegamersheep]

Great Review. The spy ring cam I have is shit quality compared to yours. Kind of strange!

[sebpearce]

another wicked review

have you thought about blagging a load of dongles and portable wi-fi devices and doing a real world side by side test?

just got my self the new Huawei E585 mi-fi device from 3 mobile its fantastic

happy with the purchase of the lenovo N5901 but my get similar device from logitech as i could do with the back lit keys

[Jesusability]

Lack of timestamp disabling seems a bit of a downside.

Looks fairly solid...

Did you you mention the price or did I just not see it?

[Techmoan]

@Jesusability Its right at the end (it does scroll past a bit quickly though).

Anyway it cost me £13 including delivery to the UK from an Ebay seller in HK.