Judging by the numerous reviews of ordinary motorists in various specialized forums, an ideal DVR should have only two critical characteristics: to conduct high-quality shooting at any time of the day and not interfere with the review, that is, be compact, and almost no one has spoken about the cost of the gadget itself.
Today's test subject - Lexand LR-4500, at its not the most affordable price, is simply obliged to please not only the average car enthusiast, but also drivers picky about trifles and other surroundings. The device was made in China, but this does not stop it from claiming high-quality assembly and good filling.
So, here is an overview of the Lexand LR-4500 dashcam: model features, design, features, as well as other advantages of the gadget along with disadvantages. The opinions of specialists in this field and the reviews of ordinary owners of the device will be taken into account.
Contents of delivery
The device is packed in a very nice box in a brand-specific coloring. All inscriptions are made in Russian, so you can easily get acquainted with the main characteristics of the gadget and its awards. Sometimes there is a variable package, where you can see a couple of praises of the device Lexand LR-4500. Owner reviews will be presented in the article.
In the box you will see:
- the device itself;
- bracket;
- a charger designed for a standard cigarette lighter;
- three cables of the type mini-USB, mini-HDMI and AV-cable;
- detailed manual in Russian;
- warranty card;
- other advertising waste paper.
The package bundle can be called mediocre, but due to all kinds of inserts and spacers, the box has very impressive dimensions (just right for a gift), despite the modest dimensions of the gadget itself.
Design
The Lexand LR-4500 model with all its appearance looks very much like an ordinary camera, and there are good reasons for that. Firstly, it is a five-megapixel lens, which protrudes from the monoblock for a good two centimeters and is located in the upper right corner. Secondly - the buttons on the end, very reminiscent of the familiar "Descent" and "Change of focus." Thirdly - this is the display, exactly the same as it happens with ordinary "soap dishes". Despite the slightly clumsy and specific design, this does not prevent the gadget from being somewhat attractive and even somewhere solid.
The left end of the device is devoid of any elements, and on the right are two connectors - HDMI and mini-USB along with a âcloverâ of an additional speaker. The lower edge is reserved for the interface for micro-SD-cards, with the slide quite deeply recessed. On the top of the gadget we will see three oval-oblique buttons - Mode, Menu and Mute, as well as a thread for the bracket on the Lexand LR-4500. User reviews note that the key layout is not very convenient, because some motorists are used to installing the recorder on a âtorpedoâ or âupside downâ, which greatly complicates access to the buttons in our case.
On the back panel of the device there is a display, a slightly higher operating status indicator, and on the right there is a block of function keys together with a microphone and a hole for resetting data (âcold startâ).
The entire design of the Lexand LR-4500 is assembled from a fairly high-quality plastic with a matte and dumb metallized surface. The gadget is as if divided into two parts by a black stripe that runs along the entire perimeter. Its purpose is not entirely clear, so we will consider this moment as a designer chip.
As for the build quality, then, as noted by users, it is quite solid: there are no any backlashes, creaks or crunches. But for some reason, a feeling of thoroughness does not arise if you hold the Lexand LR-4500 video recorder in your hands. Responses of owners more than once noted some visual flimsy design; Among other competing vehicles, this is clearly not a Mercedes.
Software
The ordinary software that comes with the recorder is clearly not ergonomic and intuitive. Not everyone can deal with the settings, menus and basic functionality, and even with an interface fully translated into Russian.
In total, the gadget has three working screens: video recording, photography and working with existing material (not counting the settings). By the way, users note that the menu is quite extensive and confusing with Lexand LR-4500 (firmware 2013.4500LR.1806.2709). Itâs better to deal with it right away, how to set it up and donât get in there without the need, especially in motion.
The main working area is reserved for the viewfinder. The lower and upper sections of the screen show the current parameters: operating mode, video quality, battery indicator, time, etc. The entire recording in motion is shown on a small screen, which for some reason cannot be turned off, and this can distract some drivers.
By itself, the Lexand LR-4500 does not turn on, this function was left to a rather sensitive motion sensor: with the slightest shake, the gadget immediately starts recording. I am glad that the sensitivity indicator can be configured in the menu, and with a large spread. In addition, there is an adjustment of the duration of the video being shot, that is, the cycle - for 1, 3 and so on minutes.
Screen
The diagonal of the device (2 inches) is determined by the dimensions of the recorder itself, and a large screen would simply not fit in it. It does not shine with attractive characteristics: pixelation, controversial gamma and coloring of elements are noticeable, but the screen copes with its main tasks no less than the topic. Lexand LR-4500 has no problems with setting modes, choosing menu items, photos / videos.
The gadgetâs angles are at an acceptable level, but you donât have to rely on being able to make out the numbers of passing cars or other small elements. To do this, you will have to turn to identifiers or to more advanced models of this manufacturer for help.
Photo and video shooting
Judging by user reviews, a good five megapixel camera can cover an area of ââabout 140 degrees, which is good news. For the most part, this was promoted by a lens noticeably extended from the housing. Nevertheless, the Lexand LR-4500 camera still has some âfishinessâ in the picture. Overview of the angles, although at the proper level, but all the time there is some blurring of the areas on the sides.
The very quality of the shooting, according to the owners, looks very good: almost all the events that occur in front of your hood and even slightly touch the curb fall into the frame. There are no white spots at the cyclic joints (1, 3, 5, and 10 minutes) in the recordings. The Lexand LR-4500 camera does not have infrared capabilities, but working in the dark is quite acceptable due to the good photosensitivity of the main elements.
Battery life
Car owners note that a 350 mAh non-removable battery is a weak spot in the recorder. Such a funny capacity is enough for no more than half an hour of shooting. Of course, itâs good that the device, due to its size, does not take up much space on the windshield, but constantly keeping it âon a leashâ with the cigarette lighter is not the most convenient option. Although, on the other hand, itâs not so often that you meet a car enthusiast who uses only the autonomous mode, regularly charging and disconnecting the recorder between trips.
Competitors models
Oddly enough, but if you do not take into account nameless gadgets with blurry characteristics from the Middle Kingdom, then our respondent will not have so many obvious competitors, and specifically only two. We will consider them below.
MiVue 358 from Mio
Having almost the same price tags, dimensions and basic technical characteristics, the Mio 358 is inferior in viewing degrees - only 120 versus 140 ° LR-4500. But unlike our experimental Gadget âMioâ is equipped with a special night mode, which is much better than the capabilities of the LR line.
In addition, the 358th model has a noticeably larger screen diagonal (2.4 inches) and is characterized by a higher battery life due to the capacious 470 mAh battery.
Cubex V31 from Neoline
Another competitor to the LR-4500 can be called a pretty device from the Neoline V31 series. Just like in the first case, Kubeks has smaller viewing angles, but a more attractive screen and battery life. The original and really beautiful design of the model, a good 2.4-inch screen, a 470 mAh battery and an affordable price tag make the gadget a little more attractive than our respondent.
Summarizing
For users, the LR-4500 DVR from Lexanda leaves behind some mixed feelings. On the one hand, this is a hypertrophied type of optics, but on the other, it doesnât seem to interfere, and viewing angles are noticeably larger than competitors.
The quality of the gadget's recording did not disappoint. Although the night mode is not stated in the specification of the device, as well as the backlight, the video can nevertheless be written in the dark, and it is quite legible. The menu and all its branches, of course, canât be called but a damn leg, but once you figure it out and set it up, you can forget about it.
In general, if you are looking for a registrar for high-quality recording, but do not have a big budget and are ready to put up with small "Chinese" shortcomings, then the Lexand LR-4500 is quite suitable for you.