Outlast is the only reason that I'm looking for a night vision camcorder, but the one in outlast has and IR LED on top of it as a lightbar and the only lighbar was a red Parasonic 36 LED light bar and I can't find a good camera for less than $200 and actually decent but every camera is crap and can't fit the IR LED :(
Thanks for making the review! I purchased 2 of these for paranormal investigations. I have an old Sony DV cam but it's pretty noisy. Decided it was time to go digital. When testing these out at home, I noticed the auto focus problem, so glad you explained the use of the AF Lock! It works great for the price & the IR mode works well. I also made additional IR lights which extends the night vision.
You are so correct, a good image when it is in focus, the night vision is better than the camcorder full spectrum I use. Too bad they cant get the firmware updated, your right, the audio sounds like it is ran thru a high pass filter, I wonder if they are trying to filter out the zoom motor noise, very weird.
I found with this camcorder is when you shoot in night vision mode, take all your footage and convert to black & white through a video editing program (windows movie maker). You get a nice b&w image that is much better then the purplish image the original gives you.
Really the Night Vision isn't that bad. I actually like the color, and think it is very cool. And of course Night Vision is going to like bad when there are lights on!? It's " Night Vision " for a reason. Over all it is the sound the kills it, but if you do the settings right, you can make it better. Thank you.
Thanks for your feedback on this kind of camera, I am not an expert at all on cameras, but I am looking for one infrared or night vision camera, I watched your review on the 900 but you said is grainy when recording, and is expensive. This camera run for $260 dollars at the most, brand new. I do want a camera to record in pretty much close no none light, plain darkness per say. I looked at your review and I do agree on the sound, I wish it would pick more sound, as for focus and recording in night vision I personally (being ignorant) think is pretty good. Now I have a couple of questions 1)What's LCD and LED? 2) Does LED records in the darkness as I think I see on this video, but in color? 3) If I record in LED will I be able to transfer the video to my PC without any problems at all? would that be the same for LCD? 4) Is there a camera similar to this one that does not have that many problems, or no problems at all at an affordable price (about the same price as this one) 5)How much recording can you do when using this camera at the highest resolution 1080, and also at 720. 6) What kind of memory card? (excuse my ignorance) or whatever you need to record more footage can you get for this particular camera. 7) What kind of night vision camera would be your recommendation for an affordable camera with good quality in video and audio recording. Thank you very much, I like your videos, most appreciate it.
as a paranormal investigator and a full spectrum photographer .... for the money of this camera it is a good buy.... the ir light that comes with it is not strong enough if you add a extra ir/uv light you will love this camera.... :) happy hunting
My guess is the auto balance is disabled in IR mode, they remove the IR filter mechanically from the lens. If this camcaorder does both IR and can video during the day , they must be making the day shots using a mechanical filter ring or thru the white balance control circuits.
Thanks for the Video, had this thing in my cart all ready to pay.... Stopped copied MFR item number and pasted into you tube and now I didn't waste $199 on a sh*tty device..
Thank you for this review. I was considering purchasing this camcorder, but after I realized that you cannot turn on NV during recording, I made up my mind to not buy this :)
My Sony is not alot different. Thanks for the info on remedies, there are a few I can do without permanent modifications. I am going to boost the out put with a more powerful wide angle infrared lamp. Maybe I can make better use of my 40 x optical zoom.
I bought the same camcorder used on ebay and night vision is only seen when i move the camcorder about 3 to 5 inches away from the object . Unlike your demo which is around 5 ft. Is there as setting for the night vision that i didnt do?Thanks
i live in houston and at night are a lot of activity going on here but I dont have a good night vision camcorder . any recomendation will be good ,thank u
The nightvision looks good,even if it is blue. I do a lot of paranomal investigation, so need a camcorder with good infrared. I currently use a Sony Digital 8 machine and have used it for the last 7 years, But I need something that I don't have to mess about with tapes and firewire to get the video onto my computer + longer battery life from something with no moving parts whold be a bonus. I can live with the poor audio and having to lock the focus. Apart from that is it any good and also how much does it cost and where can I get one in the UK?
I will try to work the best I can with this camcorder because I bought it online but I just haven't seen it, it's at my aunts house and I'm using the night vision for paranormal investigations and such, so I like your review and I'll keep every thing in mind while I'm working with this camcorder
I purchased this camera. The audio is of very low quality. The color changes in the Night Vision are due to it being Full Spectrum instead of just IR. My camera also had the focus problems in regular record mode (non ir). Setting the focus lock only lasted for 10-15 minutes. Then automatically switched off. The other problem I have is that the footage files needs to be converted. Only the softwares that comes with the camera can read and convert the files. This wouldn't be such a big deal but I never received the key code for the software so I am unable to install it.
I just noticed something. When you turn the infra-red light on and you're aiming the camcorder at the package of Tasty Treasures, you can't read the text on the label, you can't even see it. You can see it when the white LED light is on. Is that behaviour normal with infra-red capable cameras?
I'm looking for an inexpensive night vision camcorder to mount on the front of my motorcycle. I use a GoPro in daylight. Difficulties I foresee are needing to add more IR lights and mounting the camera. Any thoughts or suggestions?
IR LEDs will be useless for driving at night because they only have, at best, about a 15 to 20 foot range, so virtually everything the camera sees while driving will be beyond that distance.
@@CamcorderTests yes they do ! I've actually seen them with my naked eye with other people at the same time. The paranormal is very real, you say that because you have not witnessed anything.
I have seen some specs for IR illumiators that claim to light up to 60 feet. Or try to make you're own IR light, they have electronics suppliers and they are cheap to buy the few parts you need.
These cheap camcorders are getting better, but yes, those stupid little problems still ruin what could be a good product. I really wonder if anybody over in China even tests these units or if they just start production without making any prototypes before!
Dude, you got a Dell! hehe... our first computer was a Dimension 2200, and it literally cost an arm and a leg new. It still seems crazy that those units can be had for as low as $7.99. Oh well, Dell made decent stuff back then. You're right about the sound quality! That is absolutely atrocious! It sounds like a cheap children's tape recorder or something like that. All that's missing is a loud motor noise. The wild colours are kinda cool, but I suppose if someone were to use it professionally, they might not like that. You would absolutely hate my Canon A800. You can't change a single setting during recording, not even focus. In fact, you adjust the focus by putting gentle pressure on the record button. Sometimes it takes multiple tries to get the focus just right, and on the low quality screen, it's hard to tell if it's actually focused correctly... but I digress, I'm starting to get into my own rant here lol.
I've read that you can record in .mp4 format, but I don't seem to have that option either. I only get .mov files, which don't work all that great on my windows computer.
I own this camera and the touch screen has always been a problem. it's sensitivity has gotten worse over time. wish I'd seen this review before purchase.
I GOT THE SAME MODEL AND LATELY IT HAS BEEN SHUTTING DOWN ON ME WHEN I USE NIGHT VISION AND I CANT FIGURE OUT HOW TO RESET IT ANY TIPS HOW I CAN FIX THIS?? AND ANY WAY I CAN ADD AN EXTERNAL MICROPHONE TO IT?
IR Camcorder Test - Bell and Howell DNV16HDZ-BK Full 1080p HD In the comments section, someone answers your question. Thanks for posting your question, or I would have bought it and wondered why as well. This person mentions that if you download Adobe movie maker, you will be able to hear the audio, you can download it free.
IR might vision is supposesupposed to be a purple and go to different colours. That's why its call IR. There is nothing wrong with this camera. It's actually really good. No the audio isnt great, but trust me when I say it's better than what's out today.
I agree with the fact that its stupid not being able to cycle through No LED, Regular LED, and IR LED without stopping your recording. I HATE that about this camera. I have an actual video test video on my channel on this camera, which explains how to fix the autofocus issue while in night vision.
Just to let people know, I have had this camcorder for a year and now it will not turn on without the charger not being plugged in. I like it till than. It really is nice but broken in a year is really sucks.looking to buy a canon
Cancel what I said about the mic. I just learned where the mic is and it means this thing only records mono audio. To me that's a deal-breaker. I wouldn't touch this thing with a barge-pole if it's only mono!
You know, buying a new cam/video camera. They should have a headphone mic jack. Something like that.. Those camcorders can be different that they can or cannot take one of your earphones/Apple EarPods microphone! In my opinion, that video camera is ok but, that version/firmware it's a little messed up! Especially the night vision and the microphone frequency.. That's all I got to say!
I assume the camera lights its way, can the light emanating from the camera be viewed by the naked eye at night? I which to use this to investigation crime in the area that I live.
Thanks! Why do you think thermal cameras are so expensive? Is there some patent making it so? I can buy much more complicated pieces of equipment for far less.
I think your attempts at reaching Bell + Howell will continue to be a problem as they have only licensed their name for placement on this camera. I would focus on trying to contact Elite Brands or perhaps the retailer you bought this from.
Someone help me I got a new 1080p cam well I can't record in 1080 cuz it lags hard idk why says 1080 but I use 720 anyway on the camera or video even if playing in pc the camera has fuzzy bits on screen is it just cuz it's bad cam but like it's fuzzy I can't explain but um it's just like dots and fuzzy makes it look bad quiltys tho it's 720 p what can I do why doing it it's new so not broke lens
A function of infra-red cameras is to break out heat sources. Animals, humans, equipment and heat leaks appear using it. You should have videoed an animal, someone or a piece of operating equipment.
One Error! -- It is Wrong to say night mode SHOULD BE switchable on/off during filming. that would enable the probable error of switching it on during a day shot, RUINING the PRODUCTION!! AFAIK there are NOT live circumstances where you must remain live rolling WITH a need to cut in and out of night mode. I would bet you no company sell a vcam which permits live switching. I wager you such a dangerous feature is useful for just one silly purpose. Which is the demonstration of the A/B distinction. I hope you concur. PS: You are dynamite to provide these, and you gotta be a maverick to be get loaner cameras to make reviews. Congrats! PS: Night Vision THROUGH clothin is a hoax, yes!? My assumption is the clothes are ALREADY translucent. Period.
