Vivitar DVR 892HD review.

So I have been after an action/pocket camera for quite some time. Looking around I found the Vivitar DVR 892HD for a reasonable price. It came with an SD card, and software, etc..

After arriving, it wasn't until a few days later I decided to try it out.
It wouldn't work.
It would turn on and nothing would happen. So I was going to send it back.
The next day, I needed an SD card for a quick file transfer, and seeing the camera I decided to take the card out and use it. I put it in my computer, and the computer said it was locked. Took it out and checked it. Slider in unlocked position. Tried again. Card locked.
So wondering if this was the problem with the camera, I put another SD card in it. Lo and behold, it worked.
So I took a couple of films to try it out. Took card out and put it in computer, card locked. Checked tab. It said unlocked. Put it back in computer, and it said it was locked. Put card in camera and camera stopped working.
I tried a third card, with the same results. Worked fine. Went in camera. Recorded. Card in computer. Locked. Back in camera, and camera stopped working.

Now before people suggest my card reader is at fault, I would like to point out several things.
1. The first card went into camera first.
2. Second card was erased by computer before going into camera.
3. Third card came straight from my stack of formatted cards into camera.
4. Since then, I have used the card reader successfully to read and save onto other cards.
5. Tried cards in card reader on another computer.

So I can only surmise that somehow this camera damages cards to incapacitate then to some extent. How? I have no idea.
And to be honest, the Video quality isn't that great either.

One final issue with the camera, when plugging it into the PC, the PC cannot detect it. So you cant just fit a card and leave it in there either.

The camera came with an 8gb card, and also destroyed a 16gig card and a 4gig card.

So if you are coming across this blog wile researching this camera, do not buy it.

My Volvo V40

Well, I have owned this car for a little over 2 weeks now and so far?

It's nice.

It's nice to look at, it's nice to drive, it's nice to be in, it's nice and comfortable, it's nice and relaxing, it's nice and fuss free, it's gear change is nice, it's handling is nice, economy is nice, the heated leather seats are nice, and hold you in a nice way, the visibility is nice, the heater is nice.

I can't say anything bad really.

Except one thing.

It's nice.

Don't get me wrong, I like the car. It is hard not to. But I like it in the same way I like not having the clap.

It is a lot of car. It has enough toys to keep anyone happy. It has nice features like the light you home headlamps, and the little plastic clip on the windscreen for holding parking tickets.
I can get in it knowing that it will work. It's a Volvo for christ sake. As long as it has an engine and 4 wheels, it will work. It is not an unpleasant car.

But, it isn't fun.
The Vitara I had was fun. No matter where I drove, I did so with a smile on my face. The Vitara was fun to drive, fun to be in, fun to look at, fun knowing that despite having a foot of snow on the roof, it will still start and go. I got in it with a smile on my face, and I got out with a smile on my face. I put that car through hell and back, and it just laughed back with that look of 'Let's do it again' about it. The exhaust got ripped off in blaenau ffestiniog, and it charged down the M5 sounding like a WW2 fighter bomber. I had ear defenders on my head, and I still had a smile on my face.

I don't get that fun factor in the Volvo, but to be fair, a Volvo isn't meant to be fun. It's meant to be,
Well....


Nice.

Wierd things I think of #1

Car ages:

I was thinking earlier, that the car I currently own is the newest I have owned. It is a 1997 P reg.
Or is it?
It is the newest in the sense that it is newer than the rest of the cars I have owned, if I still had them all. But is it the newest car relative to when I owned it?
No

My first car was a 1982 Austin maxi. I owned this in 1993. So that was 11 years old.
Next was a MK4 Cortina. 1976. It was 17 years old when I owned it in 1993.
Next was a 1983 Ford Escort MK3. I owned this in 1994. 11 years old.
Mk3 Capri. 1983 again. I had this in 1995. 12 years old.
Sierra Sapphire. 1987. I owned this in 1995. 8 years old.
Mk3 Escort. 1982. Owned in 97. 15 years old.
Peugeot 309GTi. 1988. owned in 98. 10 years old.
Mk2 Sierra. 1990. owned in 2000. 10 years old.
MK5 Escort. 1993. Owned in 2002. 9 years old.
Vauxhall Senator. 1992. owned in 2004. 12 years old.
Renault Espace. 1990. Owned in 2004. 14 years old.
LDV200. 1997. Owned in 2005. 8 years old.
Vauxhall Astra. 1996. Owned in 2007. 11 years old.
Suzuki Vitara. 1997. Owned in 2008. 11 years old.
Vauxhall Frontera. 1997. Owned now. 15 years old.

So the Sierra Sapphire, and the LDV200 were both 8 years old when I got them. So maybe they were the newest cars I have ever owned?

But there is one last thing to consider. I used to be the registered keeper of a van that the re-enactment group I am with once owned. We bought it in early 2000, and it was a 1997 N reg. So could that be the newest car I have owned?
We had it 10 years before we scrapped it in 2010. It did us well.

My new car.

Well a few weeks back, I decided to part with my lovely Suzuki Vitara.
There was 2 reasons for this.
1. It was starting to rust badly.
2. Strange noise from transfer box.
I had been fairly lucky with this car. It had done me proud, lasted well and has been relatively cheap to repair. (compared to previous cars).
my new choice of chariot is a Vauxhall Frontera.
Even though it is not the best model of the group, it is still a very good car and I got it for a very good price.
However, it isn't without flaw.
The first flaw is that you only have 10 seconds from unlocking the car to turning ignition on. Which means, you cant unlock the car, put your shopping in, strap the kids in then get in and start it. Oh no, you have to unlock and turn it on within 10 seconds. This is a pain in the arse.
The second fault was that before I had it, it had to have a repair to the fuel line. Somehow, the repair had come adrift resulting in me using £60 of petrol in 70 miles. Trip back to garage fixed this in 2 minutes.
Other than that, it has been an awesome car so far. Nice to drive, comfortable to sit in, easy to control.  I have enjoyed every minute behind the wheel.
The only issue with it is me. I have spent the best part of the last 4 years driving a low geared car. Which meant I could go up hills in top gear, where most cars would have to change down a gear. Now I drive one of these cars, and I keep forgetting. So end up bogging down on hills.
Tis a minor inconvenience.

My Vitara

I would like to tell you about my Suzuki Vitara.
It is quite possibly the best car I have ever owned. I have no idea what the Suzuki Vitara insurance group is, but it only costs £280 a year to insure for me. It's fuel consumption is in around 25mpg which is quite high for a 1600, but reasonable for a petrol 4x4.
It is a reliable vehicle, and apart from consumables (tyres, fluids, filters, etc) the car has cost less than £500 in repairs in the 4.5 years I have owned it. And as it only cost me £500 I think that is quite a bargain.
It is my first 4x4 vehicle, and I quite enjoy using it off road. As a four wheel drive vehicle, it is more than capable on most terrain. It's only downside is its low belly. But hopefully, in a few months, I will have sorted this problem.
As after the next MOT, I will start beefing it up in earnest to create a nice looking, capable 4x4 car.