Average Reviews:
(More customer reviews)Attached are a nine photographs under customer images on the product page (left hand side of page - click view and share images) which reflect what I saw in various applications using the tool and snapping pictures with the built-in camera. These photographs were stored on the mini-SD card which is not included with the camera but readily available at minimal expense. I think I paid $18 for an 4 GB mini card at a big box store. Comparing what I saw on the video screen with the photographs I captured, reflected some degradation in quality. In use, the screen shows a clearer image for the user.
The instruction manual is surprisingly small, just sixteen pages. Eight of those pages are dedicated to safety and battery information. Accomplishing most tasks is very straightforward. For example, taking a picture or video entails sliding in the charged battery and SD mini card (it will handle up to 16 GB mini card,) installing the cable and turning on the two sections of the camera (LED screen and the camera cable) then, when ready, selecting the picture taking or video button. The included 12 volt lithium ion battery charged in 15 minutes.
So while getting the inspection camera set up is quick, using the inspection camera is not intuitive - it must be played with it for a while to get a feel for how moving the camera affects what is seen on the video screen. It reminded me of using binoculars and searching for a reference point - okay, that's the pine tree on the left now I know where I am. Clearly in certain situations it will be more or less difficult to locate a reference point.
To try out the camera I first looked inside my just cleaned five year old garbage disposal. I am almost embarrassed to post the pictures. Yes, we don't eat out of it but still it looks disgusting and shows a lot of rust. Replacing the unit has now moved up on the to-do list.
Next I looked into one of the floor heating/air conditioning vents. In our first home (a brand new townhome) I found debris in some pretty strange places like bones from fried chicken in the floor vents and uncovered that fast food remnants were the source of mysterious lumps in the carpet. So, I wondered what I'd find when I looked down the heating/air conditioning vents in our current residence, a five year old home.
The debris in the picture is what I encountered about eighteen inches past the opening - just out of view. Lots of sawdust, pieces of aluminum sheet metal, construction material wrappers, insulation trimmings, carpet and padding debris along with a puzzle piece from the previous owner. Then I pushed the three foot cable the full length into the vent, and although I found a penny along with a small amount of debris, it is basically clean.
A look behind the washer and dryer usually requires pulling them away from the wall and sometimes necessitates disconnecting hoses. I saw no leaks and little lint accumulation - it looks pretty good back there.
Next I tucked the camera into my car's wheel well. I honestly don't know enough about cars to know what I am looking at but the photos are a good example of what the user sees. These car photos were taken while I was standing in the garage with the door closed and positioned the camera curved upward at the end.
The three foot cable is stiff but flexible. I shoved it down a floor vent and it was willing to adapt to the terrain encountered. I also bent the cable at a severe 45 and then 90 degree angle and it will stay fixed in that position. The cable is waterproof up to the point where it connects to the base of the unit. Obviously this is a necessary feature depending upon the selected application.
There is an adjustment wheel on the trigger area of the camera that controls the brightness of the light which I found a real plus. For example the garbage disposal required less light than the floor vent. The close-up option increases the image in increments of 1.5, 2.0 and 3.0 times actual.
In a perfect world the tool would provide an option to increase or decrease the picture quality. In its current state it is fixed. I also found the lack of ability to focus the lens, frustrating. One must pull back or push forward the cable to focus which was less precise and more time consuming than simply having that ability built-in to the camera.
With a couple of minor complaints I still found this to be one heck of a handy tool and I'm sure I will continue to find endless uses. For example, I am curious but have resisted the urge to run the cable into a hole I discovered while raking leaves in the front yard. What kind of little animal lives in the hole? Of course it could be a snake, so best let it rest.
I have big plans to drill holes in the wall above my kitchen cabinets and run wire for security cameras and speakers up from the basement. This inspection tool and wire snaring hook and magnet will be invaluable to accomplish the task with minimal aggravation.
If not in a profession where this is an essential tool, this would make a perfect gift for someone who loves tools. It has endless uses and odds are the potential recipient doesn't already own it.
Click Here to see more reviews about: DEWALT DCT410S1 12-Volt Max Inspection Camera Kit
The DEWALT 12-Volt Max Inspection Camera is designed to provide visual access to hidden nooks and hard-to-see areas. The camera features a 3-foot, flexible snake-mounted camera lens with LED, a pistol-grip control, and a detachable LCD screen. A removable microSD card makes storage and transfer of images easy.
3-Foot, Camera-Tipped Snake for Easy AccessThe camera's 3-foot, camera-tipped snake allows you to get that camera lens around corners, inside or behind walls, and through grating so you can see hidden areas of the job site. The camera lens and snake are waterproof and feature a built-in LED, and can be used to inspect the inside of water-filled pipes. Mechanics can inspect engine cylinder walls by simply removing a spark plug and inserting the snake.
The camera comes with a 12-volt lithium-ion battery that fully recharges within one hour for ease of use.
Detachable Screen and MicroSD Card for Easy ViewingThe detachable 3.5-inch LCD screen allows for clear viewing from convenient locations up to 20 feet away from the camera. The camera's 3x zoom capability means you can get detailed shots. Additionally, the camera is equipped with a removable microSD card, enabling quick transfer to a smartphone or computer.
Easy Retrieval of Lost PartsYou can also use the camera to locate lost items in dark locations. A hook and a magnet are included in the kit--each one clips to the end of the camera lens for spot-on pick-ups and time-saving retrievals of small parts.
Warranty InformationThis DEWALT tool comes with a three-year limited warranty, a one-year free service contract, and a 90-day money-back guarantee.
What's in the BoxCamera, lithium-ion battery, microSD card, charger, hook, magnet, and box.
Click here for more information about DEWALT DCT410S1 12-Volt Max Inspection Camera Kit
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