Harbor Freight Wireless Inspection Camera OK? $64

[Fallguy]

Understand Harbor Freight items can be hit or miss.

Anyone used this (see link).

On sale for $80 and with a 20% off coupon (full page ad in back of most all popular mechanics magazines, and others) can be had for approx $64

http://www.harborfreight.com/wireless-inspection-camera-with-24-inch-color-lcd-monitor-66550.html

Note 20% off coupon can be applied to all items on sale except those requiring a coupon for the sale price (cant double up on coupons but can apply to a reg sale item).

 

[daman]

Hmm not a bad price IF it works like it should and lasts.

i just got my 20% off coupon in the mail

 

[Fallguy]

Dont see using it a lot but the price is as cheap as I have seen it as I have been watching the last year or so. Typically on sale for $100 but now $80 and with the 20% coupon out of magazine $64 is pretty tempting.

Looked online for review and there are a few but curious if anyone here has used?

Regards

 

[Trav]

Your right there isn't a whole of of use for them everyday but when you need it its a life saver.I had something drop down a rear plug hole on a 5.4 (luckily the plug was still in) and without one of these i would have been in a real pickle.
They are useful and well worth owning IMO.

I bought the Milwaukee for a lot more money but it has no camera just live picture,i like the function of this HF one better if the quality is even close its a deal.

 

[Fallguy]

Got it, so far very worhtwhile at $64. Will report more when had more time to play with (when I get it back out from under the tree!)

 

[daman]

Originally Posted By: Fallguy
Got it, so far very worhtwhile at $64. Will report more when had more time to play with (when I get it back out from under the tree!)

haha cool let us know...

 

[Vikas]

One of the reviewer said that you will NOT be able to snake it though a spark plug hole :-(

 

[Fallguy]

Originally Posted By: Vikas
One of the reviewer said that you will NOT be able to snake it though a spark plug hole :-(


Think that is correct the diameter of the head is a bit larger than a plug hole.

No adjustment for focus but clarity is good from 4" out. Can adjust brightness and contrast.

 

[daman]

How big is the head? whats the biggest hole you could get it through?

 

[scott37300]

This one you can not get down a spark plug hole. HF came out with a new version that is around 250 that will get down a spark plug hole.

Looks like they are clearancing this model out at that price and only available in store.

 

[Fallguy]

Originally Posted By: scott37300
This one you can not get down a spark plug hole. HF came out with a new version that is around 250 that will get down a spark plug hole.

Looks like they are clearancing this model out at that price and only available in store.


I would be all over this one as it is way slimmer but just dont have enough use to justify currently other than the $64 model but that would be a nice nice unit!

http://www.harborfreight.com/digital-inspection-camera-with-recorder-67980.html

http://www.harborfreight.com/wireless-inspection-camera-with-24-inch-color-lcd-monitor-66550.html

 

[Vikas]

Why would anybody buy that HF camera instead of this for about $275?

* Removable wireless screen for ease of viewing when in tight areas
* Photo and video capturing on micro SD card to help with documentation (SD card sold separately)
* Hook and magnet accessories included to aid in retrieval
* 3x zoom capability for better visibility
* 3.5" screen for increased visibility

 

[daman]

Why? because of the $275 part.

 

[Fallguy]

Because I will likely only use it once or twice a year. Now if I used if professionally count me in for a higher grade model to be sure.

Note the probe head on the Harbor Freight $259.99 model is only 8.5m wide. Curious what is the Dewalt head width.

http://www.harborfreight.com/digital-inspection-camera-with-recorder-67980.html

 

[Vikas]

I was comparing Dewalt with the $260 HF Centec model. It turns out Dewalt is 17mm, so it fails the test:-(

 

[Trav]

Quote:
Why would anybody buy that HF camera instead of this for about $275?



Maybe because its almost $200 more.That's a lot of extra scratch for a a tool that gets little use by most people including mechanics.

 

[Vikas]

I mean the one which costs $260 from HF not the $64 one

 

[97prizm]

My dad bought one and likes it. And true to what he says "Why Pay $275 when the $64 work 99% of the time." Yeah a pro mechanic that would use it daily/weekly would probably want to get the nicer one.

 

[Fallguy]

Had bit more time to play with it. Works ok for the price but came to the conclusion camera head is bigger and longer than I would like which would make it harder to force through sharper plumbing bends such as J traps. Mine work well on the wireless part but does not work when attached to the pistol head. Never really had much of a need, will return and buy something else or upgrade model with smaller head when there price comes down.