Drift Ghost X camera review: car & bike test, rain, night, issues

[@ColKlink-pk9yx]

Thanks for taking the time to make the video. Much appreciated mate.

[@markgillett2500]

Just bought one of these for blogging but the traffic recording function is also must these days. Great choice of music by the way. Great to see there are proper DM fans still out there. All the best

[@007kisvakond]

Thanks. I love Depeche Mode and my favourite is their song: But Not Tonight (anybody hasn’t heard it, the original with lyrics is a must). Unfortunately KZbin makes it hard to use songs we like. I buy instrumental covers, but even those are not accepted sometimes. Recently I made a “Gerbing XR7 heated gloves” video which was blocked every time I tried to upload it. At the end I had to choose from the copyright free music KZbin offered. :( With the new Terms of Service (from July 22nd 2019) we are entering an Orwellian controlled era.

[@MegaMikako]

I want to buy Drift Ghost XL. Thank you, this video helped me.

[@JP1970]

Sir Tom, I just bought one of these off Amazon--should be here tomorrow. Thanks for the video! Subbed!

[@MGExplorer...]

Hi brother,please share your details, purchase like with us if possible thanks...

[@KidCurry666]

Thinking of buying one, thanks for your video.

[@Budget-Cars-And-Bikes]

Looking at One Amazon, and it says the Drift Ghost does have image stabilization??

[@rockincat5723]

Thank you so much for the great review! I'm getting one now.

[@MT-qf7nu]

Non camera related question at 0.22 minutes where are you riding there with the mountains

[@shotkamincyprustriaros6345]

excellent work mate...subscriber earned here.......and a Ghost is a sure buy for me...all things considered its a win situation...battery life, price, image quality....i mean at the price it is offered, even the issues you report i would call minor :)

[@007kisvakond]

Thanks, I’m happy for the feedback. Making KZbin videos is a hobby of mine, but also bit of a ‘giving back’ as I do lots of research here. I still use the Ghost X every day; hopefully you will like it too. If you experience or find out anything about the Ghost X that you wanna add to my video, feel free to share it here.

[@tagexclusivetech7858]

@@007kisvakond thanks for taking the time to reply mate... will definitely follow you and if anything comes up on the X will definitely share...keep it up

[@juddhadley1145]

Seems to be a lot of bad reports of both drift and gopro. I bought the drift ghost x from ebay and had to return it immediately as it was dead in the box, but to be fair I think it was already a returned item as when I received it I could see the packaging had been opened. The replacement ghost x has been faultless, then bought a ghost 4k which has worked perfectly in all weathers.

[@1985safraz]

Perhaps you could use rain repellent if the camera is within a case treat the lens area of the case

[@MotoSnax]

Did you contact Drift Innovation about the issues like not being able to access files while in DVR mode or not being able to record in DVR mode if there are normal VID MP4's on the memory card? This sounds like things that can be fixed by a future firmware update.

[@007kisvakond]

I didn’t contact them. Actually, “Car DVR” mode (as the name says) is very good for car usage if you bother to install it properly. When it’s wired you can forget about it until you need an important footage. It starts when you start the engine, charges, and deletes old files. Mind you, I’d buy a dash cam which was specifically designed for that purpose. The problem with Ghost X that they tried to make it too universal. Can’t please them all. I think it’s rather a helmet cam; yet I use Car DVR mode mostly for riding. I understand that we cannot charge, record and access files at the same time, it’s the matter of breaking these down. They should assign another screen colour to show charging, so you will not connect the camera to the charger at home then accidentally filming a home porn. :D … About the looping problem when VID files present: I agree, a firmware update should fix this.

[@jhonrivera3363]

It would have been nice to ad audio recorded from the mic of the camera. Another review video I saw the quality of the audio was terrible. I don't know if the camera comes with a microphone or the reason why the audio was so terrible on the other review is because the person used a bad microphone. The part with the chicken was amazing... unbelievable

[@tubag4]

Yesterday, after 5 minutes in the rain(first time) on a motorcycle, my Ghost X died at next day - it don't turn on/charging - now it just a small black brick... 8`(( Be carefull with the rain. IPX4 - is just "Protects from splashing water".

[@teshy09]

Cheers for the vid tom, it is greatly appreciated. Hoping to get some decent footage but not sure if to use dvr mode or just record in blocks then manually delete chunks that are not wanted. safe riding bud, take care

[@007kisvakond]

Thanks. Mostly I use Car DVR mode. All in all (if you don’t forget to switch it off before charging the camera, and switch it on afterwards) it’s very convenient.

[@attybong]

very nice ..what app did you use in editing this vid?

[@007kisvakond]

Windows Movie Maker

[@urbanfireblade]

Brilliant review!

[@supercurioTube]

Great review! Thanks

[@cmdr_stretchedguy]

DVR issue fixed with firmware update

[@auldreekiebiker8464]

Is there an off camera battery charging option? If not, how long to charge the standard battery pack?

[@007kisvakond]

You mean a battery charger for spare batteries? I searched accessories for Ghost X, but didn't find any. ... Mostly I use Ghost X for commuting. I get home on Friday, switch off Car DVR mode, and connect it to a USB port. I leave it there for quite a few hours till it's ready for the next week. ... If I do a trip I take a power bank with me.

[@roadwarrior8560]

what's the best setting for high quality video recording? the quality on mine is rubbish compared to my old Drift ghost S HD

[@007kisvakond]

I use 1080p 30 FPS, 115° field of view. I think even my old Gopro 3+ has somewhat better video quality. When it comes to motorcycling I think practical reasons (battery life, streamlined shape) and convenience (DVR mode) makes the Ghost X better fit for the job. (Mind you, Drift should improve many things. I miss video stabilization the most.)

[@roadwarrior8560]

@@007kisvakond thanks, I had it on 1080p HDR, 140, I'll change to your settings and see how much difference it makes, they no longer have a port to connect a mic, have to by an extra cable, it's ok as a dash cam but for recording moto tours it's a bit rubbish quality wise.

[@drewsmith6066]

Mate i have 1080UHD on mine ..? should i run it in that or 1080 30fps

[@007kisvakond]

Try them both, and then tell us your opinion.

[@drewsmith6066]

@@007kisvakond cheers lol

[@djbgatekeeper]

Hi there, I was knocked off my Z1000SX Sunday just gone, what I relief I had my helmet camera on and all was captured on video :-) Needless to say I will now be claiming from the car drivers insurance but it would have been very different without that valuable footage. Can I just ask what software you use to edit your footage please? Great vid and I will be buying a Drift for my other helmet, I will never go on the road now unless fully cammed up! ride safe Sir Tom ....

[@007kisvakond]

Oh dear, I hope you are ok; and the bike too. I noticed that drivers who see the camera on my helmet are tend to be more polite towards me. When I switch the camera on I feel safer, like it was a Murphy’s law that accidents only happen when the camera is not rolling. :) Anyway, I just use Win Movie Maker. If you find editing software which can simply fix shaky footage, please let me know.

[@djbgatekeeper]

@@007kisvakond Thanks for that Tom, the bikes a bit of a mess so insurance company is picking it up this week to assess, I've got lumps and bumps all over and worse is shoulder and ribs... It's surprising how much damage your body takes hitting the road at 25mph. Luckily I have a second bike Triumph 765R so I will be using that when physically able until the Kwaka is fixed, take care mate and thank you for the info 👍

[@pablo123b]

Bristol?

[@007kisvakond]

yes

[@jaquesdaniels2964]

Good review, thanks.

[@viflag]

Why music ? We can check the sound of this cam !

[@Zed-kc7cr]

Do you have to get the other waterproof case to use it in the rain im getting one soon great vid btw

[@007kisvakond]

No, I don't use waterproof case. I only removed the camera (carried in my backpack) once, when the thunderstorm and heavy rain was extreme.

[@1975supermike]

The camera is good up to 40 feet under water I don't think rain will bother it.

[@Adam-ce2fe]

@@1975supermike drift has confirmed this camera is not waterproof only weather proof

[@dmsentra]

@@1975supermike Seeing of quite a few reports of the camera failing due to using it in the rain without the case.

[@dmsentra]

Seeing of quite a few reports of the camera failing due to using it in the rain without the case.

[@Zed-kc7cr]

Cant you mount it ontop of the helmet not the side i preffer it ontop would i get a good angle

[@007kisvakond]

You can, but then you cannot change the angle of incline. You can end up filming only the bike and the road in front of you. However if you find the exact spot on top of your helmet, you can get the best view from there.

[@Zed-kc7cr]

@@007kisvakond cheers

[@007kisvakond]

@@Zed-kc7cr you're welcome. I watched your "Close call remake" video. Good one, mate! However, I think the camera points downwards. It makes me dizzy if I can't see the sky, just the road in front of me. Anyway, let me know how you managed installing the Ghost X. Best of luck.

[@altheam6647]

EIS on?

[@007kisvakond]

As far as I know the Ghost 4K has Electronic Image Stabilisation; the Ghost X doesn’t. I didn’t use image stabilisation for editing the video. My motorbike is uncomfortable (recently I had a ride with a friend’s bike which has superb suspension and I was like: “Is this the same road?”). I’m sure that you could easily make a less shaky video.

[@ricardoglocutor]

Ojo, que algunas de estas cámaras dejan de funcionar y no hay reparación.

[@raymondsmith7020]

Ive bought one and wasted my money,been given the runaround when tried to return it for repair, so i took it apart to fix it myself and found it is very poorly put together,quite a few of the soldered joints had come loose which included the socket for the usb cable and short circuited some of the internal sockets, so people ,dont waste your hard earned money, i bought a £50 action camera from aldi and the quality is as good as the Ghost X.

[@007kisvakond]

sorry to hear that. My Ghost X still works fine.

[@attybong]

factory defects always happen .. it's a customer service issue

[@eduardorocha3263]

I bought 4 Drift Ghost, one Ghost X and three ghost XL, all four had the same problem, the display stops working, all writing disappears and the display is colored and the wifi stops working. In short, there is no way to configure the camera anymore. Make no mistake, if it gets rain it will spoil!

[@rjr-yp9uj]

Strap the camera to that chicken's head. He would be a good gimbal.

[@Mirko_SanSan]

There's a reason kayaker's don't use them. Impossible settings, won't mate with phone, and worst, the sticky mounts don't work with water.

[@007kisvakond]

8 years ago I filmed my first Severn Bore surfing with a Drift Ghost. That old version was a bulky, heavy camera, but it was waterproof without a plastic case. Mount was stable on the surfboard, but I didn’t like it. Gopro mount is safer. For water-sports I use a Gopro Hero3+.

[@Mirko_SanSan]

@@007kisvakond I threw away $250 on the Drift Ghost Pro XL. I mounted it on the side of the helmet like all the bikers who reviewed the camera do. My mistake.

[@ShadKS18XL]

It can't record car plates clear - so what is the point of having it??? In case of accident - you won't be able to use that record because there is no visible car plate on on that video. Couldn't see a single car plate on incoming traffic (other lane) or any car plate of any car that is not directly in front of you. Night time is 100% useless recording - can see only yellow spots where the car plates should be...

[@007kisvakond]

You are right. It’s almost impossible to make out number plates of the incoming traffic. Camera can be very useful in a ‘hit and run’ situation. About a month ago a young guy crashed my workmate’s bike. It wasn’t too serious so after he had a look at it got back in his car. -Wait a minute (my workmate said) do you have insurance? -“No, it’s my mother’s car.” He replied, and drove away. My colleague bought a camera since.

[@SolitaryBro]

Wow, I don't know what camera you are using but I can see number plates fine, especially if you pause the playback.