Nextbase’s new GW modular collection, together with the $230 422GW reviewed right here, have raised the bar for dual-channel sprint cams. They’re dear, however function an HDMI port that, apart from outputting video, accepts any certainly one of three $100 rear cameras: a cabin view (inside) module, a conventional rear-window mounted unit, and a singular telephoto rear module that captures what’s behind you with out the effort of wiring, or obscuring your view.
Beyond that, there’s telephone connectivity, Alexa, GPS, and a touchscreen. If it weren’t for the dearth of infrared lighting for inside evening captures, the 422GW can be hands-down one of the best sprint cam I’ve ever examined. For my functions it nonetheless is, however in the event you’re driving a taxi or patrol automobile at evening, the unit’s inside captures aren’t going to chop it.
Design and options
As you may see by the duvet picture, the 422GW is a good-looking product with a long-necked lens physique. There’s a 2.5-inch show, and since it’s touch-enabled, solely two buttons: on/off and defend (from overwriting). The latter button has the Nextbase emblem on it and is centered on the sting of the digital camera just under the show. I didn’t acknowledge it as a button till I learn the documentation (studying a few product up-front is a no-no when attempting to evaluate ease of use). The on-screen interface is top-notch, well-organized and straightforward to navigate.
The 422GW {couples} magnetically to a mount that gives snap-on adhesive tape and suction choices. It’s a fairly slick design, however it was harder to take away the digital camera from the mount than it needs to be—Nextbase might need been only a tad enthusiastic with the power of the magnet. On the opposite hand, I had zero concern of the digital camera’s falling off. Choices.
Given all of the innovation elsewhere, I used to be shocked that Nextbase opted for mundane mini-USB slightly than Type-C connectors, in addition to auxiliary/cigarette energy slightly than always-on OBD-II. On the opposite hand, mini-USB is extra widespread than Type-C within the sprint cam world, and cables are simpler to exchange. There is a regular hardwiring package obtainable from Nextbase, however not an OBD-II package. You can seize one of many latter on-line for $10 to $15.
With a touchscreen and solely two buttons (the emblem is a button), the 422GW gives a sexy streamlined look.
The 422GW’s 140-degree field-of-view entrance digital camera is able to capturing 1440p video at 30 frames per second, in addition to 1080p at each 60 fps and 30 fps. All three rear digital camera modules seize at 720p. The 422GW additionally saves lower-resolution 864×480 movies for viewing on board with out using extraordinary processing energy.
The 422GW doesn’t miss a trick with the GPS, which is each watermarked and embedded into the video. Embedded GPS lets you retrace your travels with the MyNextbase participant proven under, which you’ll be able to obtain from the corporate’s website.
IDGNextbase gives viewing software program that makes use of embedded GPS information to point out the place you had been at any given time throughout a video.
Nextbase additionally gives a cloud service the place it’s possible you’ll add your movies, do you have to survive the accident you wish to doc. Kidding. I hope. You also can add movies to the service through the MyNextbase participant app.
There’s no bad-driver tech on board the 422GW, however that’s hardly a foul factor from my perspective. Anyone who wants lane departure, collision avoidance, or crimson gentle digital camera warnings shouldn’t be on the highway anyway. Additionally, such alerts may distract you whenever you most want to remain targeted.
There is a backup operate for the rear-view cameras (not cabin view), and there’s additionally SOS Emergency assist (if obtainable and also you’re signed up) in the event you get into an accident and need assistance.
IDGhe Nextbase Connect app is used for configuration, viewing movies, and establishing Alexa.
The 422GW helps Alexa, though on the time of this overview Amazon had but to qualify the Nextbase “skills,” so I couldn’t management the digital camera with it. Normal Alexa instructions labored, however you are able to do that along with your telephone. When the abilities are applied you’ll have the ability to say things like, “Alexa, turn off Nextbase.” I desire swearing at different drivers, however to every their very own.
The view behind you
As I famous firstly of the article, the Nextbase 2 collection cameras have a mini-HDMI port to accommodate any of three further cameras: a 140-degree inside view module, a 30-degree telephoto module which attaches on to the 422GW to seize occasions behind you, and a 140 diploma rear-windshield digital camera which connects through a cable that provides you a extra panoramic view out the again.
NextbaseThis little port could not seem to be a lot, however it could possibly couple with any certainly one of three separate rear cameras: cabin view, telephoto rear view, and a conventional rear digital camera that mounts on the rear window.
I used to be fortunately shocked on the effectiveness of the telephoto rear view digital camera. It exhibits much more of the highway than I anticipated—just about what you’ll see within the rear view mirror. Obviously, it could possibly’t cowl as a lot as a digital camera connected to the rear window, however then once more, it doesn’t impede your reside view as these do.
The cabin view module is appropriate for professionals who wish to monitor what’s taking place within the inside of their automobile, until they work at evening—there’s no infrared lighting to compensate for low-light situations. Nextbase stated it was conscious of the shortcoming and prompt an infrared cabin view digital camera module may effectively present up within the close to future.
Performance
The Nextbase 422GW’s day captures video are very, excellent, and as I stated, the telescopic rear digital camera was a really nice shock. I’ve a really small again window on my convertible, and the rear view digital camera nonetheless captured numerous info, as you may see under.
IDGThe telephoto rear view module doesn’t cowl as a lot space as a rear-mounted digital camera, however needless to say that is the rear window of a Miata convertible. Most rear home windows are fairly a bit bigger. Also observe that this is excellent high quality video for 720p.
The 422GW’s day captures are detailed, colourful, and never susceptible to moire or different defects. Motion compensation is kind of good as effectively, although there’s a little bit of fish-eye.
IDGThere’s a little bit of fish-eye from the 140-degree FOV entrance digital camera, however by and enormous ithe 422GW’s captures are top-notch.
The unaltered evening seize proven under exhibits numerous element to the entrance, and handles headlight flare significantly better than most.
IDGhe 422GW’s evening captures are fairly good, with little headlight flare. More element within the speedy neighborhood might be revealed by rising the brightness and distinction in editors.
The picture under exhibits how particulars within the surrounding space begin exhibiting up whenever you improve the brightness and distinction in your participant. This shouldn’t be the case with all cameras. In different phrases, particulars are being captured, however not displayed with the default brightness curve.
IDGar extra element is captured than is obvious in the event you depart your participant at its default brightness setting.
As you may see within the seize under, the inside captures with out infrared lighting are missing in usable element at playback default settings.
IDGWithout infrared lighting, the 422GW’s inside evening captures don’t lower it. There is, nevertheless, extra element than is quickly obvious in the event you twiddle the brightness and distinction sliders in a video or picture editor.
You can see under that inside evening captures do supply extra element than you’ll see in the event you merely play them utilizing your video participant at its default brightness. But it’s nonetheless not what you’d get with infrared, so I can’t advocate the 422GW for night-driving execs.
IDGdding brightness in post-processing does reveal some element from the inside digital camera’s evening captures, however it’s not practically what you’ll see from digital camera’s with infrared lights.
I used to be so enamored by the 422GW in any other case that I spent a while on-line on the lookout for IR gentle sources. I didn’t discover any, however you’re welcome to attempt. Let me know in the event you find one. Otherwise, evening drivers ought to watch for the hinted-at infrared inside module to reach.
Climate, battery, and caveats
Battery life with the 422GW (15 minutes max) isn’t sufficient to maintain parking mode by itself, however it gives greater than sufficient run time to seize incidents which will disrupt your automobile’s 12-volt system. The 422GW is rated to be used from 14 to 120 levels, which is nice sufficient for many climates. The unit runs heat to the contact, and a bit hotter nonetheless when related to the telephone. However, the thermals should not worrisome, and given the general construct high quality, I’d anticipate the sprint cam to survive the one-year guarantee.
There’s one notable caveat. While it’s typically a foul concept to take away or insert an SD card with most sprint cams whereas they’re powered up, within the 422GW’s case, it’s a foul concept to swap out something. The 422GW froze when switching the rear modules, requiring a protracted press on the tiny reset button on the underside of the unit to convey it again to life. Removing the GPS mount, the digital camera turned caught with a inexperienced display, however power-cycling fastened that. Bottom line, energy off the 422GW (and any sprint cam) earlier than altering its bodily configuration in any means.
Other fashions, choices
The 422GW is certainly one of three Nextbase cameras that settle for the rear-view modules. The subsequent step up is the 522, which provides a bigger 3-inch show and built-in polarizing filter for $270. There’s an elective polarizing filter for the 422GW, however I didn’t have it to check.
One step down you’ll discover the 322GW, which is just $170 in the event you’re prepared to forgo Alexa and 1440 video (1080p is ok for many customers), in addition to take care of a barely smaller (much less gentle) f1.6 aperture. This may negatively have an effect on element in low gentle, however with out the digital camera to check, I can’t say how a lot.
The smartest thing going
Because of the dearth of infrared, the 422GW shouldn’t be one of the best system for taxi, Uber, Lyft, police, bus drivers, and different use circumstances that contain working at evening. For everybody else, the 422GW, together with its 322GW and 522GW cousins, are on the prime of the sprint cam meals chain in the mean time. The telephoto rear module is a stroke of genius—give that particular person a increase.