ALDI Light/camera?

[ZuluWarrior]

Hi all...
Anyone used an Aldi bike light/camera?
Any good? Bad?

 

[Dogtrousers]

The OP of this thread might know https://www.cyclechat.net/threads/aldi-bikemate-rear-light-video-combo.263165/
Unfortunately @Stribe hasn't been around here for a while

 

[annedonnelly]

My brother bought one of those. Last I heard he hadn't got it working 😕
I'll have to ask him what happened

 

[ZuluWarrior]

The OP of this thread might know https://www.cyclechat.net/threads/aldi-bikemate-rear-light-video-combo.263165/
Unfortunately @Stribe hasn't been around here for a while

Thank you

 

[ZuluWarrior]

My brother bought one of those. Last I heard he hadn't got it working 😕
I'll have to ask him what happened

I'd be keen to hear his thoughts on them

 

[Mike_P]

Not particularly good reviews on the Aldi web site https://www.aldi.co.uk/rear-bike-camera-with-light/p/710418525419400#product-reviews

 

[annedonnelly]

I'd be keen to hear his thoughts on them

Not much help I'm afraid. He found that he needed extra software to be able to view the video and couldn't find any free so hasn't used it at all.

 

[Mike_P]

Not much help I'm afraid. He found that he needed extra software to be able to view the video and couldn't find any free so hasn't used it at all.

VLC media player is free https://www.videolan.org/

 

[Mike_P]

The VLC Media Player has a useful zoom function, albiet it takes a bit of setting up initially as the required settings are not that obvious https://www.videoconverterfactory.com/tips/vlc-zoom-video.html
Below is a still off a video last week I posted in the Your ride today thread concerning a lack of markings on a shared surface cycle route and an encounter with a cat

This is the video zoomed (at a slghtly different point)

 

[annedonnelly]

VLC media player is free https://www.videolan.org/

Yeah, I've used that myself. Don't know if my brother spotted that one or was trying something different. I'l tell him about it. Though all those reviews about the mounting bracket snapping make it sound fairly pointless.

 

[Bazzer]

IIRC, there was a thread about the cameras a year or two before lockdown. Again from memory, whether they worked as intended was hit and miss, with the consensus more towards the latter. If you check the search function you may find the thread.

 

[Arjimlad]

I bought one to look at it, I already have an old Maxtek Aldi rear light/camera combination which has never let me down.

I didn't like it because

1. the firmware still records footage in .avi format which is harder to edit
2. the bracket is a flimsy plastic affair and if it snaps there's no obvious way to attach the camera to your bike (presuming you manage to find it!) - whereas the older camera attaches direct to my seatpost with a velcro strap. I also think the plastic bracket will allow the camera to bounce about more producing worse footage than my old one.

In short it looked like the camera was no improvement on my old one and in respect of the mounting, actually worse.

Maybe worth looking at the ETC Watchman?

https://road.cc/content/review/etc-watchman-action-camera-rear-light-280131

The footage is never going to be GoPro quality but as a close-pass recording tool it looks like it should be adequate.

 

[currystomper]

I got one, it's HUGE, got the video out no problem and it's seems pretty good. The support to the bike connector looks very flimsy and the clamp is a bit poor. Only really used it once, probably I will put it on ebay.

 

[Nibor]

I had one but is worked ok for a while but packed up and now won't turn on if anyone needs a bracket i may well still have it

 

[Mike_P]

When did you buy it as it should be covered by a 3 year guarantee, assuming you still have the receipt