PAPAGO! GoSafe 272 Conclusion

IMPORTANT: Although the rating and final score mentioned in this conclusion are made to be as objective as possible, please be advised that every author perceives these factors differently at various points in time. While we each do our best to ensure that all aspects of the product are considered, there are often times unforeseen market conditions and manufacturer changes which occur after publication that could render our rating obsolete. Please do not base any purchase solely on our conclusion, as it represents our product rating specifically for the product tested which may differ from future versions. Benchmark Reviews begins our conclusion with a short summary for each of the areas that we rate.

We begin our ratings with performance, which pits the PAPAGO! GoSafe 272 against others we’ve tested such as the Genius DVR-FHD568, DVR-FHD590, and Papago! P3 dashcams. All of these are limited to a 32GB memory card, which I believe should be the starting point for storage capacities and not the limit. The menu on GoSafe 272 is incredibly similar to DVR-FHD568, and are both the most straight-forward and refined we’ve seen on any camera yet that does not require a manual to understand the options or their function.

For vehicle recorder cameras, image quality is paramount. On the PAPAGO! GoSafe 272 dashboard camera, a 2.0 megapixel 1/3“CMOS image sensor captures 1080p video at 30 FPS. Other dashcams offer a larger resolutionor use a larger 1/2″ image sensor. The 2-megapixel 17.30 mm² image sensor produced a picture with fair exposure and decent video quality, but some detail was lost in still frames.

Although everyone has different needs, mine lean towards better detail sharpness. After attempting to read license plate numbers with these 130-140° wide-angle lens cameras, I’m actually most pleased with the results from the 128° lens. Image sensor technology may ultimately improve the situation, but only the 128° lens on FHD590 was able to display readable license plate numbers at reasonable distance. A 120° lens would really help compensate for the low picture resolution and image sensor size.

Appearance is a much more subjective matter, especially since this particular rating doesn’t have any quantitative benchmark scores to fall back on. The PAPAGO! GoSafe 272 offers an elegant glossy black finish that is imperceivable within darkened cabin interiors. This color helps hide the camera from conspicuous view, so to avoid drawing attention to itself. The camera unit measures 3.2″ wide by 2.1″ tall, so it’s easy to find a mounting spot on the windshield.

The GoSafe 272 is built solid, and offers a very durable construction. A reinforced plastic camera housing protects the lends and LCD screen, so the most likely causes for failure would be liquid submersion or electrical damage. This device is designed to endure crash damage and provide video evidence, making it far more durable than other models. The camera will easily survive falls from the windshield or being accidentally dropped.

In terms of functionality the PAPAGO! GoSafe 272 surpasses the others in its price bracket. All special functions on GoSafe 272 worked exactly as advertised. Automatic features intuitively stepped in when needed, such as the Stop and Go alert that warns a potentially distracted driver when the vehicle in front of them is moving. The automatic emergency recording feature that uses the units 3-axis G-Force sensor for collision detection offered peace of mind that you’ll capture the most critical events. If desired, the unit can be detached from the bracket and used as a digital camera to take pictures.

As of January 2015, the PAPAGO! GoSafe 272 Dashcam GS272-US is available online for $159.99 (Amazon | B&H Photo). At this price point there’s plenty of competition, such as the similarly designed Genius DVR-FHD568. GoSafe 272 does not include any onboard memory and requires the purchase of a Micro SDHC memory card. I recommend a fast UHS1/C10 speed product like the Transend TS32GUSDU1E or SanDisk SDSDQU-032G-AFFP-A – which both include USB adapters.

The GoSafe 272 belongs to a growing genre of consumer electronics, and based on my experience with this camera I expect it to do well in the marketplace. This is truly one of the few win-win products I’ve tested in my time, where there’s no downside to having it installed in your vehicle. I plan to continue using the PAPAGO! GoSafe 272 in my vehicle, because it’s been proven so useful with every close call and near hit. This is an outstanding product with many great features, and I highly recommend it to all drivers.

Pros:

+ Outputs H.264 full-HD 1080p quality video
+ Automatic emergency recording for collision detection
+ Motion-detecting IR receiver
+ Small mounting bracket footprint
+ Integrated microphone and speaker
+ Features 3-Axis G-Force sensor
+ Doubles as a 2MP digital camera
+ 420 mAH Li-polymer battery enables recording when car is off

Cons:

– Requires Micro SDHC card (no internal memory)
+ Small 1/3″ CMOS digital image sensor
– 140° wide-angle lens reduces detail quality

Ratings:

• Performance: 8.75
• Appearance: 9.50
• Construction: 9.75
• Functionality: 9.00
• Value: 7.75

Final Score: 8.95 out of 10.

Quality Recognition: Benchmark Reviews Silver Tachometer Award.

COMMENT QUESTION: Which is more important to you: wide-angle view or better detail clarity?