In case you like your sprint cams small and unobtrusive, simple to make use of, with good day and night time captures, then Garmin’s tiny, $130 Sprint Cam Mini 2 is what you need. It’s so miniscule, it was utterly hidden behind my MX-5 Miata’s dwarfish rearview mirror. That’s small.
This evaluation is a part of our ongoing roundup of the perfect sprint cams. Go there for info on competing merchandise and the way we examined them.
Design and options
Once we say small, we imply the Sprint Cam Mini 2 measures a mere 1.23 inches vast by 2.1 inches tall by 1.5 inches deep, together with the lens physique, and it weighs in at round an oz. Garmin calls it car-key-sized, however it’s walnut-sized in my e-book. Significantly, with out mini-USB cable hooked up, it’s simple to lose observe of this tiny little bit of tech in your backpack. I did—twice. Then I began leaving the cable hooked up.
Stated USB cable marries to the fitting aspect of the digicam, whereas the left is residence to the micro SD card slot and the audio mute button. Urgent the latter may also format a clean reminiscence card (8GB or better). One other button on the again saves a snapshot and video, and when long-pressed, pairs the Mini 2 to your telephone for entry by the Garmin Drive app.
The digicam is able to 1080p at 30 frames per second. It sports activities a large 140-degree area of view. The one factor it does not match into its tiny body is GPS, which is disappointing although comprehensible given the scale.
The Sprint Cam Mini 2 opts for a supercapacitor, possible as a result of there isn’t sufficient room for the lithium-ion battery present in Garmin’s bigger sprint cams. Nonetheless, the supercapacitor is hefty sufficient to maintain the Mini 2 working for a superb two to 3 seconds after you pull the plug. Certainly, whereas testing (and earlier than studying the specs) I used to be beneath the impression that there was a battery.
Voice management permits you to save a video, take an image, and switch audio recording on and off. Different notable options embody short-term cloud storage (as much as 30 days) by means of Garmin’s Vault portal, Reside View with the aforementioned Drive app, and Parking Guard. The latter two options require a relentless energy supply. I like to recommend an OBD-II cable.
Putting in any sprint cam entails largely the identical steps, although with completely different mounts and positioning. I used to be just a little disenchanted that the Mini 2 doesn’t use the identical magnetic disk and mount that Garmin’s different sprint cams make use of. As a substitute, it makes use of a semi-permanent adhesive disk of the identical dimension. I truly caught it to the mounting disk from the not too long ago reviewed Sprint Cam 57.
You may pop the Mini 2 off of the mounting arm on the ball-joint coupling (on the digicam), however it doesn’t half methods as simply because the magnetic different and is prone to break from stress sooner. As a result of the Mini 2 is so small and arduous to identify, you might be able to depart it within the automotive with much less threat of theft.
Efficiency
After reviewing Garmin’s Sprint Cam 57, I need to admit that I grew used to the 1440p captures. The Sprint Cam Mini 2 is proscribed to 1080p, so there’s a drop intimately. The video remains to be excellent, and completely usable legally, however should you’re on the lookout for top-notch, get the Sprint Cam 57.
As you may see under, the 140-degree lens captures a somewhat giant swath of highway, however it additionally catches a number of windshield glare on a sunny day. Colour is top-notch and correct. Particulars are properly processed and readily seen.
Night time captures are fairly good—truly a bit higher than what you’ll see under. It was inconceivable to maintain moisture off of my windshield the night time I took the captures. That’s what occurs with the marine layer right here in San Francisco.
The areas surrounding the automobile to the edges present as a lot element because the view ahead within the night time seize above. Headlight flare was minimal.
Conclusion
The Garmin Sprint Cam Mini 2 takes good video each day and night time, and is by far the smallest, most unobtrusive sprint cam obtainable. There’s no GPS, however the set-it-and-forget-it’s-there Mini 2 remains to be certainly one of my favorites. An awesome sprint cam at an inexpensive worth level.