MiVue C330
Whether you already own one or not, dashcams are fast becoming the norm, and not just in ex Eastern Bloc countries, capturing driving nasties for YouTube.
This is the C330 by MiVue: ‘The world’s No.1 dashcam brand’ according to parent company – Mio. It’s a compact unit that captures videos in 1080p, HD quality. The C330 is by no means at the top of the MiVue range, but at circa £110, it sits at the higher end of their more budget cameras.
Is it Easy to Use?
If you’ve never used a dashcam, the C330 could be a good place to start. Straight out of the box, it’s user friendly, even to the novice. Insert your memory card, plug into your car’s cigar lighter, stick to your windscreen and that’s it – you’re good to go. After you’ve used the C330 for the first time, it’ll automatically power-up once the ignition is turned on, so you can just leave it in situ and never have to fiddle with it.
The C330’s 2.0” screen may not be the largest but it’s clear and, despite not being touchscreen, it’s a doddle to use. There are four buttons down the side of the screen that perform a different function, dependent on what you’re trying to achieve. It literally takes a minute to get used to navigating around the operating system so any technophobes need not fear.
Fish-Eye lens
Obviously, something this small is also going to have a pretty diminutive lens. To achieve a wider range, the C330 has a fish-eye lens that goes to 130° and works pretty well even in low-light conditions. If you do a lot of night time driving, though, you may have to look elsewhere for something with a suitable night-vision style lens.
Once you’ve got your footage, downloading it to a computer or even sharing it on social media is as done via Mio’s MiVue Manager which is free to download from their website. This also helps organise your videos and even show which direction you were travelling and where you were when an incident occurred.
Yes, you can pick up a Dashcam for £20, but………….
The C330 might not be the cheapest dashcam on the market, but it does more than you might expect. It doesn’t just record video footage, it can also take stills of, say, an accident. It has GPS built in so it’ll not only track your route, but also display your speed if you wish. It also has a setting to warn of any fixed speed cameras, the locations of which are updated monthly – free of charge.
Now, This is Clever
The smartest feature I found on the C330 was the in-built 3-axis G sensor. What this does is detect any sudden, movement – for example, a collision with another vehicle. What it then does is record footage in emergency mode, which can’t be accidentally deleted. Such a clever feature that could prevent a whole world of arguing and heartbreak because something’s been wiped.
Nobody likes the thought of having an accident or using video footage if you do, but when something’s as easy to use and good quality as the MiVue C330, it’s definitely worth considering.
By Ben Harrington
Leave a Reply