Product Review

(3 of 5 Stars!), Saturday October 29, 2011

by StuntCams Reviews

The IR-90 is a rarity among “body” cameras, in that it has some infared (record in the dark) capability. The IR features, although not the strongest feature of the device, are best utilized for close-in recording, such as while standing close to your subject. (Like with all our products, you are entirely responsible for compliance with any laws and other regulations regarding use of the IR-90.)

In our testing, the IR-90, which does not record while connected to a computer or other power source, had “run to dead” times ranging from 2 hours 15 minutes to 3 hours 45 minutes. (The manufacturer claims five hours, but we have not, thus far, been able to reproduce this.)

The IR-90 records in 50 minute segments, although the user simply turns the camera on for whatever duration is required. The segmenting is done to prevent the loss of data in case of a problem during recording, and is a standard feature of cameras of this type. You will need to keep in mind, though, there will be a gap of a few seconds between segments. (Your client or the prosecutor with whom you are working will need to be notified of this at the outset of your project or case, since it would be distinctly unpleasant for this to come out for the first time while you are on the stand or giving a deposition.)

There is a date time stamp capability in the IR-90. Here is what you do: connect the camera to your computer with the included USB cable. (You can also stick the chip in an adapter and connect it to the computer that way.) In the “root” directory of the chip (meaning NOT inside any folders), create a text file called time. (MS Word documents are not acceptable for this purpose.) Open the text file, and, on a single line, type the following: 2011.10.07 10:24:37. (You must, of course, use the actual date and time.) Do not include the period at the end of the time. Disconnect the chip from the computer, put it in the camera if it has been removed, and power up the camera. Your text file will be read by the unit, and the time will be adjusted. (This must be done quickly after the file is edited, because the time you input will be the “start” time for the internal clock, and if you wait until the next day to activate, your date time will be wrong.)

There is also RESET button located on the backside of this unit that does need to be pressed occasionally, especially after recharging the battery, or if the camera is not operating properly.

We found the IR-90 to be more suited for general body camera use (due to the relatively long battery life), with the IR capabilities as an occasional “extra.”