Versatile endoscope camera
The K&F Concept is an endoscope camera with two lenses. It is supplied with a sturdy hard case.
In addition to the actual endoscope camera, consisting of an approximately cell phone-sized control panel (with 5" screen) and mounted endoscope tube, there is a charging cable (USB 3), a mountable support for the control panel, a magnetic attachment and a hook attachment for the camera as well as a quick guide in various languages. A no-name 32GB card is already inserted into the control panel and offers plenty of room for recordings (more on that later). A charger is not included, but any cell phone charger with a USB port can be used without a problem.
The 2600mAh battery was fully charged, so I could start testing right away. Since an apartment is being renovated in the circle of relatives, there were various possibilities for inspection and recordings.
The familiarization with the operation works almost without operating instructions. The upper gray rocker controls the lighting as well as the photo/video recording. The mode button (photo/video/playback), the settings button for the camera functions (resolution, date, shutter sound, language, formatting etc.), the two scroll buttons for the menu settings as well as the enter button in the center are arranged in a circle in the middle of the control panel. In the lower area is the yellow-green rocker with the on/off switch, as well as the button for the back illumination device (flashlight replacement for dark environments).
For wet environments, the camera hose is well shielded against moisture, and the 5-meter hose length is sufficient for expeditions into far-flung areas of pipes, manholes, etc. The illumination of the front camera with the 6 LEDs (dimmable) is good, the illumination of the two side cameras consists of only one LED, but this is sufficient for the close distances without any problems! The illumination also changes when switching between the three lens systems.
After untangling the somewhat stiff endoscope tube, you can get started right away. I had set the highest resolution (HD 1920x1080). I took pictures of a cable basket on a ceiling, a narrow pipe, the end of an old water connection, and an old chimney shaft. The shots are sometimes taken with the central front camera, sometimes with one of the two side camera lenses. All shots looked flawless and perfect on the control panel's screen. Accordingly, I was then disappointed on the computer with a large screen. The pictures are, depending on the recording, just 50-110 KB in size, the quality on the screen is (despite Full HD) accordingly not exactly intoxicating.
The sound is also recorded during video recording, the maximum video resolution is 1280x720 (HD ready).
According to the product page, the front camera is designed for a distance of about 3-10cm, the side cameras for a distance of about 1.5-3cm, beyond that it quickly becomes blurry. In cramped pipes, cable runs, etc., this is enough to do a quick inspection and visual check, but you have to pay a lot of attention to the exact distance, because the camera systems seem to have fixed focus lens systems and are therefore fixed to an exact distance. At the end of the old water pipe, you can see very well how quickly the image can become blurred. Due to the somewhat rigid hose, adjusting to the correct distance becomes extremely difficult in some tight situations. For longer distances such as the cable basket or the chimney shaft, the performance of the camera system is exceeded, here you really have to examine the entire length piece by piece with the endoscope hose for the inspection.
Handling the endoscope system is not easy. On the one hand, the rigid endoscope tube must be brought to the right place, and on the other hand, the control unit must be held and operated. Without a second person, this is extremely difficult. Although there is a small thread installed on the back, it can only be used to attach a small holder that serves as a support. The thread is too small to attach the control panel to a tripod, for example.
The accessories in the form of a hook and a magnetic holder are interesting for fishing out a lost key in a manhole or a screw in a drain, for example. The camera then assists in the search.
Conclusion:
Basically, I find the endoscope camera good, the processing, the accessories and also the control panel and its operation make a very high-quality impression and justify the current price of just under 129 € quite. Anyone who is often instructed to carry out inspections in narrow areas in the private or commercial sector is well served by the system. For a quick inspection or a search, the resolution of the camera system is quite sufficient in the private sector. However, if you want to document a damage with pictures or work in the commercial sector, you will definitely want a higher resolution of the camera and a further recording distance of the lens system. Despite all this, I still give it the full 5 stars.
