The NAVITEL R67 2K car camera combines functionality with a compact design, seamlessly blending into your car’s interior. The camera features a SONY IMX335 sensor that offers a 2K resolution (2560×1440). The manufacturer promises that the image will remain clear even in challenging lighting conditions. How does it perform in practice?
The NAVITEL R67 2K dashcam boasts compact dimensions, making it a perfect fit for various vehicles while maintaining discretion and avoiding unnecessary attention. Its dimensions are 85 mm in width, 40 mm in height, and 50 mm in depth, with a weight of just 70 grams.
The device’s elegant, elongated design has been well thought out for functionality. On the left side of the casing, there is a power button, while on the right side, you’ll find the micro-SD card slot and a USB-C power input. The top of the dashcam features a swivel with a magnetic mount. A metal piece with double-sided tape is attached to this mount, allowing for easy and quick detachment of the dashcam. It’s essential to level this element accurately during installation to ensure the camera doesn’t hang crookedly, as you can only adjust the camera’s tilt angle.
The part of the device facing the driver is equipped with a minimalist display. It is not used for navigating menus or viewing footage but provides information about the device’s current status. It displays icons such as recording video, recording audio, Wi-Fi activity, or a lack of memory card. Additionally, the current time is displayed on the screen. Control of the dashcam’s settings and options is done through a dedicated mobile application.
Navitel DVR Center App
When I saw in the instructions that a special app was required for the proper operation of the dashcam, I felt some apprehension, especially after encountering the low average rating of the app and recent user comments. The Navitel DVR Center app received a rating of only 2/5, and users described various difficulties in connecting the app to the Navitel camera. With some skepticism, I proceeded with the setup, but it turned out that my concerns were unfounded. After connecting power to the camera, whether in the car or on a computer, the camera automatically appears on the list of available Wi-Fi networks on your smartphone. Then, all you need to do is connect to this network, enter the default password provided in the instructions, and launch the Navitel app. This process is straightforward and intuitive. The app provides information about the connection status and offers various configuration options, such as adjusting the G-sensor sensitivity, setting the time, specifying recording lengths, or recording frequency. It also allows you to browse the contents of the memory card, change the language of voice prompts, and adjust the volume. An additional advantage is the availability of the Polish language.
The app also allows you to play back recordings saved on the memory card. Users can fast forward and rewind recordings at different speeds and quickly switch between clips. It’s worth noting that there is a progress slider next to each recording, theoretically allowing you to navigate through the recording similar to YouTube. Unfortunately, in the current version of the app, this feature does not work correctly – the slider does not respond to attempts to move it, and the clip is played from the same point at the beginning. Nevertheless, the ability to quickly access a specific part of a recording is very useful, and it would be beneficial to improve this in future app updates. Additionally, there is no easy way to mark clips as emergency recordings.
Daytime Image Quality
Driving in bright sunlight can cause the sky to be completely overexposed, affecting the image quality and making it challenging to identify certain details on the road. Generally, there is noticeable compression, which may result from an attempt to extend recording time without changing the memory card. Exposure jumps can be noticeable, especially in dynamically changing lighting conditions, such as driving in tunnels or in the shadow of tall buildings. Despite these imperfections, the image is reasonably good, allowing you to understand the road situation and potentially identify other road users. As for the increased screen resolution, it may be challenging to perceive its benefits in everyday use.
Nighttime Image Quality
Nighttime driving poses a unique challenge for the Navitel camera. During normal nighttime driving on well-lit streets, especially in urban areas, it is noticeable that reading license plates of parked cars or oncoming vehicles can be difficult. This is often due to the contrast between bright car lights and the dark surroundings. During slow driving, for example, when maneuvering in a parking lot, license plates are more visible, especially when the car momentarily stops. Nevertheless, in many situations, license plates can be overexposed by the car’s own headlights, making them difficult to read in the recording. LED lighting, which is now commonly used in many vehicles, can further complicate matters as it emits very bright and concentrated light.
