PAPAGO GoSafe S30 Dash Cam Review

By Olin Coles

Manufacturer: PAPAGO, Inc.
Product Name: GoSafe S30 Dash Cam
Part Number: GSS308G
UPC: 840494180013
Price As Tested: $179.99 (Amazon | Newegg)

Full Disclosure: The product sample used in this article has been provided by Papago.

The roads are trafficked with bad drivers, which is why in-vehicle cameras have become a necessity. The streets are a dangerous place for motorists, with heavy traffic congestion and driver distractions adding risk to everything from long trips to short commutes. Defensive driving will help prevent some accidents, but each moment spent in a vehicle is wrought with random chance and uncertainty. It’s never been a question of if you’ll someday be involved in an traffic accident or the victim or violent road rage, it’s a question of when.

It’s impossible to know when someone might run a red light as you enter the intersection, or suffer a tire failure that sends them out of control on the freeway. Insurance companies tend to penalize all drivers involved, simply because they lack solid evidence to prove fault. Now you can capture that proof on video whenever someone is behind the wheel, and let an in-vehicle camera serve as your witness should any incident ever occur. In this article, Benchmark Reviews tests the PAPAGO! GoSafe S30 dash cam (GSS308G).

 

The PAPAGO! GoSafe S30 Dashcam captures crisp and clear 1920x1080p video that helps drivers protect themselves with reliable evidence in the case of an unforeseen accident.

• Record Full HD 1080P video with 130 Degree Wide Angle. 2″ LCD Display. The camera can automatically record hands-free in a continuous loop. Supports 3 Recording Mode: Automatic Recording, Monitor Mode, Motion Detection.
• Supports external storage up to 64 GB Micro SD Card for around 10 hours recording at 1080p setting. This allows for much more storage space before it loops over old footage. (8GB Micro SD Card is included in the package)
• Experience a high performance dashcam in a sleek, space-saving ,and discreet design. Equipped with SONY EXMOR sensor and high quality glass lens you will maintain the highest quality video at night or in inclement weather.
• Driver assist features such as, Stop Sign Recognition, Stop and Go; Driver Fatigue Alarm; Light Reminder, come pre-installed. These features are designed to promote safer driving habits.
• GPS Ready Device. With optional purchase of PAPAGO GPS Antenna (GPSA-US), you will add speed and location data (GPS coordinates) to your footage, so you know when and where events occurred.

Dimensions: 2.16″ x 2.1″ x 1.11″
Display: 2″ LCD
Main Chip: NTK96655
Image Sensor: SONY Exmor
Lens: F1.9
View Angle (FOV): 130°
Video Resolution: 1080p30, 720p60, 720p30, WVGA 848 X 480, VGA30 640 X 480
File Format: .MOV (AVC/H.264,AAC)
Memory: SDHC (64 GB maximum)
Output Interface: USB 2.0, AV / OUT
Embedded Battery: Super-Capacitor
Mount: Window suction and sticker included
G-sensor: Yes
Auto Start (Engine): Yes
Emergency Recording: Yes
GPS Receiver: Optional
Operating Temp.: 14°F~149°F / -10°C~65°C

The PAPAGO! GoSafe S30 is a 1080p dashcam video recorder kit that contains the following items: vehicle recorder, window suction and 3M sticker mounts, 8GB Micro SD card, 12V DC adapter to mini-USB “B” cable, warranty card, and user guide. Available online, the PAPAGO! GoSafe 272 currently sells online for $179.99 (Amazon | Newegg).

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The PAPAGO! GoSafe S30 dashboard camera features a glass lens with high dynamic range (HDR) image sensor technology that records wide-angle 1080p video at 30 frames per second. The GoSafe S30 ultra-slim lightweight vehicle recorder utilizes a large f/1.9 lens aperture paired to an 2-Megapixel 1/3″ CMOS image sensor identical to Apple’s iPhone 5S that captures the sharpest photo details.

Convenience is a key feature behind the PAPAGO! GoSafe 272. The dashcam acts intuitively on your behalf, without requiring user interaction, automatically turning the camera on and recording as soon as power is provided from the vehicle at startup. An integrated 3-axis (tri-axial) G-sensor in GoSafe 272 automatically triggers the device to record an “emergency event” whenever movement crosses the sensitivity threshold, creating an audio/video file that cannot be overwritten unless you specifically delete it. Once the vehicle engine shuts down the device continues recording for a set duration configured in the settings, then automatically saves the file and turns off the camera.

Powered by an internal Li-Polymer 420mAh battery, the PAPAGO! GoSafe 272 maintains a full charge with the supplied 12V DC car adapter to mini-USB cable that plugs at the bottom of the camera. This same mini-USB port enables computer connections to the DVR, allowing for transfer of recorded AVI files. Alternatively, a mini-C HDMI output is available to play back audio/video footage or still photos directly to any HDMI display.

The GoSafe 272 camera body measures 3.2″ W x 2.1″ H x 0.5″ D. At the heart of the kit is an 2.0 Megapixel camera with a large 1/3″ CMOS image sensor using high dynamic range for low-light recording. The video recorder is capable of 1080p full high-definition 1920×1080 resolution at 30 fps, or 720p HD 1280×720 resolution at 60 fps – both using the H.264 CODEC.

A distortion-corrected 140° wide-angle fixed focus (f/2.4) lens captures a large horizontal field of view, Nearly capturing the entire windshield view. The GoSafe 272 works well in all light conditions: bright daylight and nighttime driving. High Dynamic Range (HDR) enables video capture to remain crisp and clear in situations with high contrast.

Along the right side of the camera (as you view the LCD) you’ll find the power button. Menu option buttons positioned beside the LCD screen offer simple UP/DOWN/OK user interface control. Most menu options are straight-forward and require no explanation. During recording operation you can also make adjustments on the fly, including resolution and frame rate settings.

The LCD screen features a large viewing angle, so the driver can easily observe playback without changing position. Recordings can be viewed in real-time, or in playback mode on the 2.4″ color LCD screen. Menu options allow you to change the Panel Off setting to remain on continually, on for 15-seconds or 1-minute, or always off.

An integrated microphone at the back (LCD) side of the device picks-up nearby sounds, such as driver/passenger voices or those coming to aid victims of an accident. Audio is recorded alongside video, giving a complete account of details – including conversations or distractions.

At the bottom of the camera body is a Micro SD memory card slot. Not included with the vehicle recorder kit, GoSafe 272 requires a Micro SD card to save recorded video and photo files. For best results, I recommend using a Class-10/UHS1 speed Micro SDHC memory card for capturing high definition video files. The PAPAGO! GoSafe 272 dashcam will still operate without a micro SD card installed, allowing for ‘offline’ settings configuration.

The PAPAGO! GoSafe 272 vehicle recorder offers a mounting point at the top of the unit, so it can be positioned to hang down from the top the windshield. On most cars, the suction unit fits neatly behind the rear-view mirror, positioning the camera behind or beside the mirror.

PAPAGO! includes a suction-activated glass mount for attaching GoSafe 272 to the windshield. The suction mount is extremely strong even before activating the lever, so combine this with the ultra-light weight of the camera there should be no fear that the unit might fall off while driving (the same cannot be said for very heavy dashcam units). Some experimentation will be necessary for tinted or coated windows.

In the next section, I discuss my test results with the PAPAGO! GoSafe 272 dashcam.

Upon consideration of purchasing this vehicle recorder, the very first thing you’ll want to ensure is that you’ve got a class-6 (or faster) Micro SDHC memory card available for storage of multimedia recordings. Since 32GB is the specified maximum capacity supported, I recommend a fast (UHS1/C10 speed) Micro SDHC memory card like the Transend TS32GUSDU1E or SanDisk SDSDQU-032G-AFFP-A, both of which include adapter cards.

All testing was conducted using the PAPAGO! GoSafe 272 dashboard camera suction-mounted beside the rearview mirror inside a sports sedan, with a 32GB UHS1 (Class-10) speed Micro SDHC memory card installed.

As we’ve seen with other PAPAGO! dashcams, the GoSafe 272 delivers several value-added features not available from the competition. Some of the proprietary functionality includes a fatigued driver alarm, speed limit sign alert, headlight reminder, traffic movement indicator.

When the Driver Fatigued Alarm is configured, the PAPAGO! GoSafe 272 will sound a 30/60/120-minute reminder alarm at designated intervals on long trips so rest breaks may be taken. Stop and Go is a feature that alerts a potentially distracted driver that the vehicle in front of them is moving if you’ve been at a stop for at least ten seconds. When configured ‘on’, the Remind Light feature will alert the driver when darkness could require headlights. Although a more robust feature on other models, the GoSafe 272 will display a symbol whenever a speed limit sign is observed.

The Snellen chart is a common eyesight test used to determine level of visual acuity. Benchmark Reviews has adapted the Snellen chart for the purpose of testing video camera clarity. This is important for reading a vehicle’s licence plate number and identifying text.

Standard license plates measures 6″ tall by 12″ wide, with 3″ block letters and numbers. Our test was conducted two car lengths away from the chart, which we’ve determined to be the edge distance away for all cameras to accurately display standard size license plate text.

Optimistic that these dash cams would clearly display plate text beyond two car lengths, our adapted Snellen chart skips the first line that would have displayed a 3″ letter simulating full-size license plates and begins with 1/2 size (1.5″) letters (“F” and “P”). Unfortunately, we later discovered that none of the cameras would read beyond 1/3 size (1″) text.
First up was the PAPAGO! GoSafe S30 deshcam, featuring a 2.0 megapixel camera resolution and 140-degree wide angle lens. The unit features a 1/3“ CMOS image ensor that yields 17.30 mm² surface area identical to Apple’s iPhone 5S. This dashcam offered the largest field of view, but sacrificed fine detail quality as result. The wide angle lens undoubtedly helps the camera ‘see’ more, which can be helpful for catching events that aren’t directly front and center of the camera lens.

A standard 3″ license plate number could be read from two car lengths away, but at four car lengths away the 1/2 size (1.5″) text was very difficult to read (100% is actual size). Enhancing the image to 200% did not yield significant improvement. Depth is the inherent sacrifice any wide-angle lens will make, at the benefit of larger field of view.

The Genius DVR-FHD568 was next, which utilizes a 2.0 megapixel camera resolution and 140-degree wide angle lens. The unit features a 1/2.7“ CMOS image sensor that yields 21.70 mm² surface area. This dashcam offered a huge field of view, but sacrificed fine detail quality as result. The wide angle lens undoubtedly helps the camera ‘see’ more, which can be helpful for catching events that aren’t directly front and center of the camera lens. Additionally, the large image sensor allows more light to reach the surface to aid in low-light recording.

A standard 3″ license plate number could be read from two car lengths away, but at four car lengths away the 1/2 size (1.5″) text was very difficult to read (100% is actual size). Enhancing the image to 200% did not yield significant improvement. Depth is the inherent sacrifice any wide-angle lens will make, at the benefit of larger field of view.

Next up was the Papago! P3 dash cam, which we reviewed back in March (2014). This camera features an Aptina 3.5 megapixel camera resolution and 130-degree wide angle lens. The unit features a 1/3″ CMOS image sensor that yields 17.30 mm² surface area. Like DVR-FHD568, this camera has a large field of view and captures a large picture. Although the angle is 10° less than FHD568, the fine details are similarly lost.

Standard 3″ license plate numbers could be read from two car lengths away, but at four car lengths away the 1/2 size (1.5″) text was quite difficult to read, matching FHD568. Enhancing the image to 200% did not yield any improvement. Also note that the Papago! P3 dashcam suffered from poor color replication, producing a green hue to the picture.

Finally, we tested the Genius DVR-FHD590, which was first reviewed back in May 2013. This dashcam features a 5-megapixel camera resolution and 128-degree wide-angle fixed focus lens (f/2.4, f=3.0mm). The unit features a 1/3.2″ CMOS image sensor that yields 15.50 mm² surface area identical to the Apple iPhone 5. According to the specifications, FHD590 captures 12° less field of view than FHD568, also 2° less than the P3. However, according to our results it appears that FHD590 has a much smaller field of view that offers greater fine detail quality.

Both 3″ standard license plate numbers at two car lengths away and 1/2 size (1.5″) numbers four car lengths could be read, which makes this higher-priced dashcam move valuable for those looking to capture this information. While difficult to read, 1/3 size (1″) license plate numbers could still be identified. Zoomed in 200% did improve the picture, but only enough to confirm previous results. This camera favors details over field of view and light sensitivity.

There are several obvious uses for dashboard camera devices, such as recording traffic events that might defend you in an accident, but there are many others that also serve equally-important purposes. For example, a dashcam could be used as an autonomous co-pilot for monitoring the behavior of inexperienced drivers, or as a co-witness for driving instructors. Commercial drivers, such as those who operate limousines, shuttles, taxi cabs, moving vans, and buses, could benefit from the footage they record… especially in an emergency. While less obvious, the deshboard recorder could also aid drivers who use a company vehicle, or high-risk operators who transport critical cargo.

Each video clip segment (configured in 1-, 3-, or 5-minute segments) is saved to the Micro SD memory card in .AVI container format. 3-Minute clips weigh approximately 200MB each, but if you elect to save in 5-minute intervals the file size increases to 350MB each. On the 32GB memory card used for testing, over 7-hours of recordings at 1080p could be saved before the PAPAGO! GoSafe 272 automatically overwrites older files.

An integrated 3-Axis G-Force sensor in automatically triggers the device to record whenever an event forces it past the menu-selected sensitivity threshold. This creates an audio/video file that cannot be overwritten, unless you specifically delete it from the menu. At the ‘normal’ sensitivity, at least one recording was preserved as an Emergency file due to suddenly stopping.

Dash cameras are nothing new, but the lens/sensor technology and convenience features help elevate the latest generation of devices to a level beyond previous offerings. There’s no doubt that vehicle recorders will ease fears when dealing with insurance claims or law enforcement, and based on my short time testing the PAPAGO! GoSafe 272, I’m confident vehicle recorders will contribute to numerous online videos that capture road-rage and other driving un-pleasantries.

There have been several close calls recorded, and far too many times where other drivers were captured behaving dangerously to the point of nearly causing an accident. In one incident this year a driver got out of his vehicle to confront another motorist beside me, but when I pointed directly at the dash cam high on my windshield the angry driver returned to his vehicle. It’s possible he changed his mind, but it’s more likely the camera changed it for him.

The only perceivable downside to having a vehicle recorder is the minor obstruction caused by the camera. I was able to alleviate this distraction by hiding it behind the far side of my rear-view mirror, but this still exposes the USB cord that hangs below the camera. The camera’s profile is smaller (shorter) then others we’ve tested, and so is the mounting hardware. The compact size reduces the chance of this dash cam interfering with my vision.

Most consumers are not also camera experts. Manufacturer’s know this, which is why they tout their device’s picture resolution before mentioning the image sensor size. If you’re taking photos with a camera, which typically has a flash or uses staged light sources, then resolution is very important. But if you’re recording video using the available ambient light sources, typically either sunlight in the day or street lights and headlamps at night, then the surface area of the image sensor becomes critical. A larger surface area is typically better.

We tested three different dash cams in this review, and each utilized a different size CMOS image sensor. Making matters worse, each image sensor was classified by a misleading representation of its size. For example, the Genius DVR-FHD568 vehicle recorded featured in this article used a 1/2.7“ CMOS image sensor that yields 21.70 mm² surface area (the largest offered) but only delivered a 2-megapixel resolution (the smallest offered). The Genius DVR-FHD590, which gave us the best detail quality due to less angle in the lens, featured a 5-megapixel camera resolution (very large) with a 1/3.2″ CMOS image sensor that yields 15.50 mm² surface area (very small).

In a perfect world, you’d have both: high resolution effective pixel capture for sharp detail clarity, and an image sensor with large surface area to collect light in dim/dark environments.

The latest dashcams begin to approach perfection, but I’m convinced they could all do better (especially if they marketed their resolution and image sensor sizes more clearly – something none of the manufacturers do). After testing the 128° wide-angle Genius DVR-FHD590 back in May 2013, I was convinced that the lens could be wider. Later it would be compared against the Papago! P3 dashcam, which is 400% bigger and heavier, but featured a 130° wide-angle lens that seemed ideal… right up until the point where I needed to read the license plate number on a car only a few lengths away.

If I had the opportunity to design my own dash cam, it would first include on-board memory for internal storage. Memory is cheap these days, and there’s really no excuse for any of these products not to include their own 8GB integrated chip. That being said Micro SD is the format of the day, so large and obsolete SD cards should not be found on any modern camera.

Next on my design checklist would be a high-resolution camera for capturing fine details. Something 8.0-megapixels or better would do nicely for most motorists. We’re trying to read license plates, not the frame surrounding it (although having both would be nice, if not too unreasonable).

Then we’d address the CMOS image sensor, which would need to step up to at least 2/3″ to yield either 58.10 mm² surface area. Of course, I wouldn’t complain about a or 1″ image sensor offering 116 mm² surface area and nearly capable of night vision. Still, size is a consideration, and I don’t want a heavy dash camera coming unattached from my windshield while I’m driving.

Lastly, I want only enough battery to finish writing the file if the power source is turned off. I’ve discovered half-hour lengths of video recorded after I exit the vehicle, just because the motion sensor captures somebody walking nearby. The large battery adds to the size, cost, and heat output by the unit.

Features such as GPS are nice, if not trivial. Unless the unit is going to offer voice navigation, nobody is using an LCD display smaller than their phone’s screen to read while they drive. It’s not safe, nor reasonable. Additionally, the device should offer frequent firmware updates. This is important for proper GPS functionality, as maps are constantly being updated as changes occur.

These are not impossible requests, and they’re all using technology already presented in other products. If a smartphone can do this and much more, the next generation of dash cam certainly should be capable of my list.

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.

Website: https://us.papagoinc.com/
Support Phone: 909-595-6896EXT120
Support Email: [email protected]

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 $179.99 (Amazon | Newegg). 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.

+ 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

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

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

Quality Recognition: Benchmark Reviews Silver Tachometer Award.

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