Stewart's SEA-Horse Corral

Evaluating the Mobius Action Cam
page 43
visitor #

These pages were created during the development cycle of step 1 firmware. As of 2014-Jan, step 2 firmware is now released and in testing. Therefore consider most of the following issues to be out of date.
The TOP HALF of this page is for archival purposes now.

Many of the tests below can not be duplicated until winter ends, so no new comparisons can be posted immediately.

With those color/brightness problems no longer current, I am moving up the video of photo time lapse activity, showing the happy reaching of a goal:
thumbnail
Click to play AVI
time-lapse video
2013.Sep.04 - Nov.09
Here is a time lapse video, hand picked one minute from each day, gravitating toward sequences of good weather and favorable sun angle, sped up x60. Shows rapid recovery of water level by busy beavers, then new trees fallen, and now day by day tree limbs get chewed off and added to the dam. Water level chart jumps up faster during this sequence. Watch for autumn colors, first snowfall, and a second dropping of water level leaving behind the ice layer.


2014-Jan - Step 2 firmware v1.13

I posted some sample videos of how the color/brightness issue affects motion detect video at rcgroups thread page 6


2013-Dec - Mobius Action Cam running firmware v0.59

• The Brightness portion of the strobing issue is mostly fixed, very stable now. The color tint portion is not yet fixed. I can post some JPG files upon request for the moment the color shifts from normal to blue, and back. But since this is a known issue, I will simply await the arrival of step 2 firmware.

2013-Nov - Mobius Action Cam running firmware v0.57

• White balance strobing is generally fixed at first glance, but after a few days running I can see parts of it are still there. I'm not rushing to post new files, as it seems to be nothing seriously new or different enough.
Edit Nov-14 Changed locations and wow the strobing is definitely still there. Just needed to look (light meter) a different part of the sky.

Date/TimeLocation
Results

Pond SWphoto mode time lapse
2013-10-26 14:54
      - 18:08
Test results running firmware 0.54
Little change from 0.44 for this issue.

strobing exposure
value near sunset
2013-11-01 14:36
      - 17:43
Test results running firmware 0.57
Fixed.
v0.57 WDR onBarn Sphoto mode time lapse
2013-11-14 16:28
      - 16:32
MPEG4 AVI 3 sec 1.9Mb] Resized and rencoded to save space. Focus on the pattern.
strobing exposure
value near sunset
[JPG raw still photo 873Kb] imag3982 Last steady image before strobing.
This brightness level repeated in: imag3984,3986,4005,4007
[JPG raw still photo 877Kb] imag3983 ISO_SpeedRating 600
pattern repeated: imag3985,3988-3990,3992-3995,...
[JPG raw still photo 943Kb] imag3987
pattern repeated: imag3991,3996,3999,4002,4008


2013-Sep - Mobius Action Cam running firmware v0.44 - 0.47

• Color saturation is less pronounced, but still higher than real-life-colors
• White balance has faster transitions to shadows, and makes changes in smaller steps

But, unfortunately, there is a bug that only occurs in specific lighting conditions:
• Within 10 minutes of sundown, local time specific to your longitude, upon power on and auto record, the white balance hunts excessively, sometimes looping every 2.5 seconds, and sometimes strobing 8 times in the first second before settling down.
Added Sep.03: Same result with v0.45, and with WDR off.

Here are the results of testing:
Date/Time

color change at sunset
Location

Thumbnail
JPEG Header EXIF MetaData
Results
ExposureTime
1/___
ISOSpeedRatingShutterSpeedValue
___/10

Road SE
2013-08-31 19:47Road SEn/an/an/aloop every 2.5s
[MPEG4 AVI 12 sec 1.2Mb] Resized and rencoded
to save space. Focus on the pattern, not the quality.
2013-09-01 14:339805099steady
[JPG raw still photo 531 Kb]
2013-09-01 19:1012019669steady
2013-09-01 19:176012959steady
[JPG raw still photo 1,197 Kb]
2013-09-01 19:246018259settle in 1s
[JPG raw still photo 1,153 Kb]
2013-09-01 19:293013049settle in 1s
[JPG raw still photo 1,208 Kb]
2013-09-01 19:363018649settle in 2s
[JPG raw still photo 1,120 Kb]
2013-09-01 19:403023749settle in 2s
[JPG raw still photo 1,132 Kb]
2013-09-01 19:453016949loop every 2.5s
[JPG raw still photo 978 Kb]
2013-09-01 19:473038349loop every 2.5s
[JPG raw still photo 1,018 Kb]
2013-09-01 19:503060049steady
[JPG raw still photo 1,059 Kb]
2013-09-01 19:553060049steady
2013-09-01 20:013060049steady
2013-09-01 20:063060049steady
black ground

Trail NE
2013-09-01 19:093031749settle in 2s
2013-09-01 19:143034349settle in 2s
2013-09-01 19:183036449settle in 3s
2013-09-01 19:223038849strobe 8/1s
[1080p MOV raw but clipped to 3 sec 5.4Mb]
[JPG raw still photo 936 Kb]
2013-09-01 19:283043949settle in 7s
2013-09-01 19:353060049settle in 1s
2013-09-01 19:383060049settle in 1s
2013-09-01 19:443060049steady
2013-09-01 19:493060049steady
2013-09-01 19:543060049steady
2013-09-01 20:003060049steady
black
2013-09-01 20:063060049steady
2013-09-01 20:103060049steady

Pond SW
2013-09-01 19:323016749steady
[JPG raw still photo 1,134 Kb]
2013-09-01 19:423022549loop 2.5s
only 2 times
then slow drift
[1080p MOV raw but clipped to 2.5 sec 4.5Mb]
[JPG raw still photo 984 Kb]
2013-09-01 19:573060049steady
[JPG raw still photo 675 Kb]
2013-09-01 20:033060049steady
v0.45
WDR off
Pond SW
2013-09-02 19:493035549loop every 2.5s
[MPEG4 AVI 17 sec 1.5Mb] Resized and rencoded
to save space. Focus on the pattern, not the quality.
[JPG raw still photo 728 Kb]

Paddock W
2013-09-02 19:523040749loop every 2.5s
[MPEG4 AVI 14 sec 1.6Mb] Resized and rencoded
to save space. Focus on the pattern, not the quality.
[JPG raw still photo 595 Kb]

Pond SWphoto mode time lapse
2013-09-04 16:24
      - 20:05
. Time lapse covering 4 hours at 5 sec intervals
[MPEG4 AVI 1 min 38 sec 9.6Mb]
Resized down to 640 wide.
Watch for beaver activity at dusk.

strobing exposure
value near sunset
v0.47 WDR onPond SW
2013-09-11 18:09 - 19:43 Test results running firmware 0.47
No change from 0.44 for this issue.

strobing exposure
value near sunset
2013-09-11 19:16 [JPG raw still photo 1,129 Kb]
beaver in water next to dam
2013-10-06 16:29:3712010869normal, before color shift
[JPG raw still photo 1,093 Kb]
2013-10-06 16:29:4212010869very next photo: became blue for 1-3 frames, kept shifting back and forth for a minute
[JPG raw still photo 1,130 Kb]
2013-10-06 17:12:1312017069stayed very blue for 40 minutes
[JPG raw still photo 1,121 Kb]
2013-10-06 17:12:1912017669color shift jump to normal
[JPG raw still photo 1,089 Kb]

2013-Aug - Color comparison with Mobius 0.44 firmware version.

Canon, GOAL
resized from 4000x3000
#16 20203 Auto,
Standard, +1 saturation
Mobius, WDR on,
resized from 1920x1080
Click to enlarge
All frames are captured from the .mov video file. Those filenames ending in c indicate it was cropped to match ratio and/or location of the scene.

The color shifting problems from older Mobius firmware versions seem to be mostly fixed now, [archived first Mobius review], and although the image now looks less over-saturated, the colors are still quite vivid. So the "washed out" feel seems to be coming only when in the shade or pointing up-sun.
As these photos show, when pointed down-sun in bright and sunny weather, the frames are clear and bright. Very nice and clear.
Even in the shade, the edge in the sun is still over-saturated, so the remaining issue is not that.


2013-Jul - Measuring EMR emissions that may interfere with other devices, as discussed recently with GPS signal reception.

Yes I noticed the Mobius is noisier than the 808 cameras, (emits more unwanted electro-smog)
Click through my pages to learn more on this subject.
Here is a excerpt from my testing page, specific to the Mobius and 808 cameras:
device being measured Acoustimeter
at zero distance, and
distance for audio to disappear
Zap Checker 180
at zero distance, and
distance to get 5 at 10
Cornet
at zero distance
GaussMeter
at zero distance,
and distance to
get <= 0.2mG
GS meter
808 #16 Keychain Mini DVR 0.06 V/m

5 feet (152 cm)
80 at sensitivity 6 (bottom)
20 at sensitivity 5 (top)
6 inches (15 cm)
0.010 mW/m² 12 mG

2.5 inches
(8 cm)
n/a
Sound recording of Power On, Auto Record 10 sec. Shutter off. Power Off.
Mobius Action Cam DVR

Causes RFI (interference) with GPS devices
0.38 V/m top
0.13 V/m bottom
9 feet (274 cm)
30 at sensitivity 6 (bottom)
50 at sensitivity 5 (top)
8 inches (20 cm)
0.032 mW/m² 9 mG

2 inches
(5 cm)
n/a
Sound recording of Power On, Auto Record 10 sec. Shutter off. Power Off.
Carcam HD Car DVR
pre-IR night vision
and HDMI
0.11 V/m

10 feet (304 cm)
100 at sensitivity 6
10 at sensitivity 5
8 inches (20 cm)
0.020 mW/m² 5 mG

5 inches
(13 cm)
n/a
EZO Power USB
5200mAh Li-Ion battery
0.06 V/m

8 inches (20 cm)

FM radio:
12 ft. (366 cm)
30 at sensitivity 4
6 inches (15 cm)
Below calibrated threshold,
Test mode detects
approx≅ 0.0015 mW/m²
0.6 mG

1 inches
(2.5 cm)
n/a
Using this battery as a power source to run the 808 camera does cause significant (40 ft.) interference with FM radios of passing vehicles. It is not recommended for stealthy surveilance. The USB cable acted like a broadcast antenna, although just the EZO alone caused significant EMR and RFI.
6000 T-Pocket Power
5000mAh Li-Lipo battery
USB (4 blue leds)
0.23 V/m

49 inches (124 cm)

FM radio:
12 ft. (366 cm)
40 at sensitivity 6
13 inches (33 cm)
Below calibrated threshold,
Test mode detects
approx≅ 0.0017 mW/m²
3.5 mG

2.5 inches
(6.4 cm)
n/a
Solar Charger USB
2600mAh Li-Po battery
<0.02 V/m

1 inch (2.5 cm)
5 at sensitivity 10
0 inch (0 cm)
Below thresholds 4 mG

2 inches
(5 cm)
n/a
Using this battery as a power source to run the 808 camera does cause damage to the battery and charging circuit, as it is unable to deliver the needed 5.0V under load for more than 2 hours.
Just Mobile PP-08 Mobile Power Pack
4400mAh Li-Po battery
<0.02 V/m

0 inch (0 cm)
75 at sensitivity 7
3 ft. (91 cm)
Below thresholds 0.2 mG

0 inches
n/a
Recommended: Using this battery as a power source to run the 808 camera. It does deliver 11 hours of run time.
When used to power the Mobius ActionCam, this battery does maintain good voltage of 4.88 V while delivering 242 mA. (photo time lapse mode or on standby)
Auto USB Charger N10117 Z528 <0.02 V/m

0 inch (0 cm)
10 at sensitivity 10
0 inch (0 cm)
Below thresholds 0.22 mG

0.1 inches
(0.2 cm)
n/a
Mains AC Adapter USB Charger Model KY-758 0.76 V/m

10 inches (26 cm)
15 at sensitivity 10
5 inches (13 cm)
Below calibrated threshold,
Test mode detects
approx≅ 0.0012 mW/m²
10.5 mG

15 inches
(38 cm)
113 gs
When used to power the Mobius ActionCam (photo mode or standby), drawing only 210 mA, the voltage was LOW at only 3.94 V, which is out of spec. This device's rating of 1000 mA is not consistant with this observation.
Mains AC Adapter USB Charger Model KY-02 0.65 V/m

7 inches (18 cm)
15 at sensitivity 10
2 inches (5 cm)
Below thresholds >13 mG

12 inches
(30 cm)
230 gs
When used to power the Mobius ActionCam (photo mode or standby), drawing only 210 mA, the voltage was LOW at only 3.95 V. This device is only rated for 300 mA, which is below the Mobius draw when recording HD video.



2013-Jul - First tests with the new Mobius Action Cam running firmware v0.34

• Excellent clarity at 1080p and 720p, better than the previous 808 #16 lens (A & B) quality.
• MUCH better audio quality, excellent signal to noise ration. Although the slight buzzing of the DSP working can still be heard, but MUCH less than the 808 #16.
• Startup delay to recording is 5.3 seconds.
• Very welcome change in design to put card slot and usb plug in the back, along with a red led that is visible (when driving).
• Still in a very small case.
• The power button is recessed, so is less likely to be pressed accidentally.
• At 1080p Standard quality, a 16Gb chip will hold 47 files of 3 minutes each. I can press the Mode button to save interesting events, as many times as memory allows. (Another dedicated car cam I considered only allowed 5 files to be saved... Not adequate when living in a rural area with the nearest large town over an hour away.)

1920x1080 good frames, beautiful views
White Mountain, Kettle Crest, WAColumbia River, Kettle Falls, WA

318Kb JPG

360Kb JPG
Click to enlarge
JPG files have been saved at quality=90



Previous review of Mobius 0.34
Comparisons of 808 cameras, including color comparison with Mobius 0.44

To get current firmware, or find sellers, visit the forums at:
Mobius Action Cam Read the first post for sellers, and links to comprehensive reviews of all mini DVR cams.
Do not ask questions in these forums without first reading the first 5 posts!


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Stewart Andreason
Republic, Washington 99166

mobius44.html   Updated 2015-Jun-19