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review

Tooo Cycling Front Camera Light Combo - DVF100

5
£299.99

VERDICT:

5
10
More expensive than many far more effective designs
Crisply built and finished
Looks fancy
Nice little touchscreen
Physical design is unsuited to cycling
Buttons are extremely hard to feel
Mic is muffled and prey to wind noise
Image stabilisation is weak
Expensive
Weight: 
145g

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The Tooo Cycling Front Camera Light Combo DVF100 reliably saves crisp footage of your rides – so long as the road is smooth and you don't need usable sound – but its physical design needs a serious rethink. It's like the designers don't actually ride bikes, or even particularly try their own products.

2024 Tooo Cycling Front Camera Light Combo - DVF100 - boxed.jpg

Making a box with only two buttons confusing to use is actually quite an achievement, but Tooo combines haphazard instructions with buttons that are almost indistinguishable from the case to make it so.

After some fiddling (and a full six seconds holding the button to switch it on) you can work out what to do, of course, and from that point on you only need ensure it's recording and it'll take care of securing the footage – despite the manual's implication that button presses are necessary to save videos. At least the little touchscreen is clear and responsive, and you can adjust the various settings easily via a couple of menus.

2024 Tooo Cycling Front Camera Light Combo - DVF100 - menu screen 1.jpg

With it attached screen-up to your bars you can at least check for the blinking red recording indicator (the screen may need waking), but if you've mounted it below an out-front mount on the supplied GoPro bracket, you've only an absolutely minuscule white LED to tell you what it's doing.

2024 Tooo Cycling Front Camera Light Combo - DVF100 - menu screen 2.jpg

The manual says to tap the front button once to start recording, then use the big red button on the touchscreen to stop. But if you're hanging this from an out-front mount, the screen is out of sight... there's no mention that a double press of the button will stop the recording.

2024 Tooo Cycling Front Camera Light Combo - DVF100 - mount.jpg

The manual further says you need to press the rear button once to save a video 'specifically' after an incident, and twice to save a 20 minute video. Do so and you'll see a little 'lock' icon on the file. The unit actually saves everything automatically, however, and you only need the lock to protect a file from being overwritten. Even if you shut the DVF100 down as it's recording, it will still save video up until the last second. That's good if you're the forgetful type.

Long recordings are broken up into chunks, and the default file is three minutes, but you can alter that to five or 10. It's quite a handy way of doing it, as you're likely to be searching for a specific event among miles of ordinary riding, and this helps. One of my single presses to save a video 'specifically' resulted in a zero-second file, however, and I'm still uncertain what 'specifically' means, erm, specifically.

2024 Tooo Cycling Front Camera Light Combo - DVF100 - view finder screen.jpg

Technically you really will need to use the file-locking presses on longer rides, as eventually the 128Gb internal memory is overwritten with new files – it loops so the memory is never unavailably full. Exactly how long those rides will need to be isn't clear, though, as while Tooo claims 2,400 minutes (40hrs) before it loops, it doesn't say which resolution that's using.

The DVF100 can do everything from 4K at 30fps or 1080p 120fps, right down to 720p at 30fps, while the default is 2K and 60fps. Clearly it's going to record longer in 720p than 4K. My tests in the 2K 60fps default gave around 10hrs before it started looping, so presumably the 2,400 minute duration is in 720p.

On the upside, given that a full battery charge only lasts around seven hours and that, as a dash cam, it's most likely to be used on relatively short journeys across busy urban locations, it's largely a moot point.

2024 Tooo Cycling Front Camera Light Combo - DVF100 - underside.jpg

Less of a moot point is that Tooo says files are 'protected' 'in the event of an incident,' and by that I assumed the unit would detect an impact via the six-axis gyro and apply the 'locked' status automatically. That doesn't seem to be the case.

As I didn't fancy crashing, I instead dropped the DVF100 from waist height onto carpet while recording, and no lock icon appeared to indicate the file was protected. I tried again from chest height onto wood; again, there was no change to the status of the recording, just a hell of a bang. I didn't go further for fear of breaking it, but from this I'd say you (or somebody else) would need to stop the recording manually after a crash. It's probable the battery would go flat before any evidence was overwritten, at least.

2024 Tooo Cycling Front Camera Light Combo - DVF100 - base.jpg

There's a small chance the DVF100 will cause your crash in the first place, as the buttons are wretched. Even with bare hands they're hard to feel as they're almost flush with the case and have the same smooth finish; the travel on them is tiny and lacking any sense of resistance; and the raised dot on the front button feels the same as the edge of both buttons.

2024 Tooo Cycling Front Camera Light Combo - DVF100 - side buttons.jpg

I measured these switches as sticking 0.5mm above the case, with just 0.4mm of resistanceless travel. The raised dot that's supposed to differentiate one button from the other is just 0.3mm high, or around half the thickness of a fingernail.

As a result it's hard to tell if you're touching a button or just the case, let alone which button it is. Even when you're on target, it's very hard to know if you've actually pressed it, and if you're wearing gloves it's anyone's guess. This style of 'hidden controls on an expensive 90s hi-fi' look is arguably very slick visually, but it's totally, totally unsuited to cycling.

2024 Tooo Cycling Front Camera Light Combo - DVF100 - top 1.jpg

While we're on the subject, the box shape is fine until you try to fit it in the Garmin-style bar mount. The unit needs to go in at 90 degrees and then twist to lock, which is fine, but the mount needs to be near the stem and there's no clearance in the camera's flat base for that. You can't attach the mount first and then fit the rubber bands either, as the camera blocks the hooks for the bands. The only option is to mash camera and mount together, overstretch the bands and scratch that fancy casing as you twist it across your stem. As there's no quick release, you'll be doing this every time you're away from a secure location.

Once on, it is at least solid and stable enough to give the image stabilisation lots to do, but unfortunately that stabilisation is poor and there's noticeable shake and judder on all but the smoothest tarmac. With minimal shaking the Sony IMX 307 CMOS sensor gives a picture that's plenty clear enough to show number plates – even on the middling default resolution…

2024 Tooo Cycling Front Camera Light Combo - DVF100 video still.png

…but rough roads can seriously blur the images, especially at any sort of speed.

2024 Tooo Cycling Front Camera Light Combo - DVF100 vid still rough.png

You could mount it on your helmet via a GoPro mount for a smoother ride, but at 145g (Tooo claims 90.5g!) the result is top heavy, and if you want the controls you'll need to take your helmet off – it's all but impossible to work while out of sight.

The DVF100 records sound, of sorts, but the mic is muffled by the IPX5 waterproofing and so overwhelmed by wind noise that everything over 5mph sounds like rockets taking off mixed with desperate knocking sounds from lost submarines, asteroid strikes, and that bit in Alien when the Nostromo explodes and just keeps exploding.

2024 Tooo Cycling Front Camera Light Combo - DVF100 - side 2.jpg

Calling it a 'combo' is a bit of a stretch too, as the small light is as basic as they come. It's quite bright at 100 lumens, but its single setting is a random flash and the small lens gives zero visibility from the side. It feels more like a minor extra than a true second function. For town and city use – at least for me – it's only useful as a backup to a proper light with side vision and selectable modes (the box claims 'multiple light settings,' but the single alternate option is 'low power').

The inclusion of adaptors for USB C and mini USB (from regular USB) is a nice touch, and transferring the MP4 files is an easy drag and drop affair. The videos are split between two folders – Archive and Movie – with Archive containing the locked files. Strangely, when connected to my computer, our boxed and apparently full-production unit showed up as Novatech Demo1.

2024 Tooo Cycling Front Camera Light Combo - DVF100 - USB and adaptors.jpg

Both file transfer and charging are handled via a magnetic lead, so the unit is very well sealed.

2024 Tooo Cycling Front Camera Light Combo - DVF100 - charger.jpg

There are no ports or any need for rubber bungs, and a full charge takes just over four hours.

2024 Tooo Cycling Front Camera Light Combo - DVF100 - magnetic charger and port.jpg

Value

At £299.99 this is up against some serious competition, and unfortunately it comes up short. The Cycliq Fly12 Sport is very good and our top choice for a front light cycling camera – and costs 99p less – while the Innovv K6 Dual Lens Camera got a positive review when Dave tested it, and it's only 7g heavier than the Tooo despite featuring both front and rear cameras. It's £70 cheaper at £229.95.

The 4K Safety Camera also films both ahead and behind, is usefully lighter at 115g and is close to half the price at £159.99. It doesn't produce the best quality footage, but otherwise it's very useable.

For another £30 Recall does its Recall Rider Dual Safety Camera (£189.99 and 109g), which is far crisper and, while still not perfect, is also well designed for the task.

If you really want a helmet cam, it's worth checking out the little GoPro Hero, which also does 4K, weighs just 86g, and features the fantastic HyperSmooth stabilisation. You're not going to get the same sort of battery life as a dedicated dashcam, but at least the footage you do get will be clear and smooth. It's a third cheaper than the Tooo at £199.99.

Our best bike cameras buyer's guide covers our top choices from just over £100 to over £450.

Overall

Even I feel like I've given this a bit of a kicking, but at heart this will record reasonable quality footage, keep number plates mostly legible, and last a reasonable amount of time doing it. It's fairly simple to use once you've messed around with it a while, and the build quality/waterproofing feel good. So it's not all bad.

It's just that so much of it is not as good as it should be. The overall shape is ill-considered, the buttons are completely wrong for the job, and the lamp's usefulness is restricted by the minimalist styling – the DVF100 looks smart, but as a direct result it works poorly. That's not impressive. Meanwhile the image stabilisation and sound recording is not really up to the task, especially given the competition.

The unfortunate reality is, you can get similar quality and a design that's far better suited to cycling elsewhere, and for less money tooo.

Verdict

More expensive than many far more effective designs

road.cc test report

Make and model: Tooo Cycling Front Camera Light Combo - DVF100

Size tested: One Size

Tell us what the product is for and who it's aimed at. What do the manufacturers say about it? How does that compare to your own feelings about it?

From Tooo, or perhaps Frooom Tooo:

"The TOOO Cycling DVF100 is a handlebar mounted front 4k Ultra HD camera and 100 lumen light combination designed to film your rides and provides evidence of unfortunate events out on the road. Think of it as your dash cam for your bike. The fully integrated unit will automatically record your ride in glorious 4k Ultra HD (4k - 30fps) with the added security of a 100 lumen front light. In an event of an incident out on the road the footage is automatically protected allowing you to submit evidence to insurance companies and law enforcement."

Tell us some more about the technical aspects of the product?

Recording:Ultra HD 4k recording at 30 frames per second

Battery: 4000mAh internal battery capable of 7 hours record time

Charging: 8 pin magnetic for fast charging (2.5 hours) and data transfer

Field of View: 130 degree wide angle lens

Format: Loop records in MP4 format

Storage: Footage records directly on to DVF100 128gb internal memory (approx 2400 minutes of film)

Operation: Fully operated via two simple push buttons and via the touch screen

Front Light: Integrated 100 lumen white front light with 3 modes

Mounting: Universal handlebar mount fits on all diameters for quick and easy removal and installation. A GoPro style mount is included for mounting on the underside of out front mounts

Waterproof: IPX5 rated allows you to ride in all weather conditions

Sensor: SONY IMX 307 CMOS

Weight: 90.5 grams

Height: 8.9cm

What's in the box: DVF100 camera and light combo, Mounting kit including spares, GoPro style adapter, USB Pogo charging cable, Instruction manual and user guide

Rate the product for quality of construction:
 
8/10
Rate the product for performance:
 
4/10
Rate the product for durability:
 
7/10
Rate the product for weight (if applicable)
 
3/10

More than a third heavier than the claimed 90.5g.

Rate the product for value:
 
2/10

Tell us how the product performed overall when used for its designed purpose

Not well.

Tell us what you particularly liked about the product

Good little touchscreen, saves all recorded footage automatically, looks fancy.

Tell us what you particularly disliked about the product

Stabilisation is weak, the buttons are terrible, it's expensive, and those fancy looks create a form that's entirely ill-suited to cycling.

How does the price compare to that of similar products in the market, including ones recently tested on road.cc?

It's considerably more expensive than many superior cameras – there's a lot of choice around £200 or even below.

Did you enjoy using the product? No

Would you consider buying the product? No

Would you recommend the product to a friend? No

Use this box to explain your overall score

While this is below average in many ways – especially in its physical design – it will film your rides and give good clear images of number plates, so long as you've either got smooth tarmac, mountain bike tyres or suspension helping it out. The fact it will quietly get on with its job for a lot of the time, rather than completely fail, gets it up to an overall average score of 5.

Overall rating: 5/10

About the tester

Age: 48  Height: 183cm  Weight: 78kg

I usually ride: Vitus Zenium SL VR Disc  My best bike is:

I've been riding for: 10-20 years  I ride: A few times a week  I would class myself as: Experienced

I regularly do the following types of riding: general fitness riding, mtb,

Add new comment

8 comments

Avatar
matthaber | 1 month ago
0 likes

Disappointing that it's not more usable. I have the rear DVR-80, and, compared to the Fly 6 CE that it replaced, found it more capable (better camera and much better battery life).

Two things that I would have liked to have seen addressed in your review.

First, they claim superior design b/c the entire unit is sealed--all storage is internal, and I believe charging is wireless as well.

Second, you compare to other cameras, but the fair comparison is to other camera/light combo units (perhaps the Fly 12 is the only option). I have the Fly 12 Sport, and prior had the Fly 12 CE. Both are capable, but the Sport sacraficed battery life for weight. (As opposed to Aluminum Can, below, I want a combo unit, because I want a limited number of devices to install on each ride, and have limited bar/seatpost space)

Lastly, I think it's a worth a moment on weak points that only show up after months of used. The Cycliq units all suffer from mount wear. As a result, the camera images deteriorate as the units age, due to increased wobble. The TOOO DVR 80 mount also wears; my first iteration wore to the point that the mount no longer held it on bumpy roads. There is a UK company that makes replacement mounts for the Cycliqs, and someone I found in the US who 3D prints a mount for the TOOO DVR 80 that works even with a worn unit.

 

Avatar
OnYerBike replied to matthaber | 1 month ago
0 likes

Whilst comparison to other combo units is the more direct comparison, I do think it's helpful to compare to other just cameras too. If you're looking at this, you're probably more interested in the camera functionality than the light. Whilst I appreciate having fewer devices does have an appeal, I think readers are entitled to decide for themselves whether that convenience is worthwhile, or if they are better off getting just a camera and a separate light.

Avatar
Aluminium can | 1 month ago
2 likes

Disappointing.  All everyone wants is a camera with a long battery life, (even better with interchangable batteries) that loops recording and doesn't fill up with water.  None of them need a light, these are best delt with in separate things called 'lights'.

Edit: What I really want is for drivers to stop trying to kill me.

Avatar
Oldfatgit | 1 month ago
2 likes

Another contender for Cycliq's crown fails to meet the grade.

I'm only glad I hadn't parted with 300 quid to find out.

Thanks Steve.

Avatar
Secret_squirrel | 1 month ago
2 likes

Seems odd to not mention the Cycliq Fly 12 Sport in this review. 

Same price (£299), more functions but everything (mostly) functions as it should.

Avatar
SimoninSpalding replied to Secret_squirrel | 1 month ago
0 likes

This is not the first time that they have ignored Cycliq in a bike camera review.
I had issues with the Cycliq app initially but more recent updates to app and firmware seem to have improved things

Avatar
quiff replied to Secret_squirrel | 1 month ago
0 likes

Even more so when it is listed as the best front light camera in their best cameras feature.

Avatar
Tass Whitby replied to Secret_squirrel | 1 month ago
1 like

Ah yes. Added in now. And stills from the vid.

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