Digital Ally® First Vu HD: A Review

Few things say, “That defendant is lying,” like a high quality video that shows the exact opposite of what the defendant just testified to.  Convictions can be, and have been, won on such counter-evidence.  Few things exonerate a law enforcement professional from a false accusation of unnecessary force better than a high quality video that demonstrates how the officer (often) didn’t even use as much force as could have been justified.  Such is the power of video from body-warm cameras.  That said, the value of the video is only as good as the video captured and the saturation of us.  Let’s be realistic: If it’s not on… not only on your person but also ON as in recording… when you need it, it’s not worth having.

So, the first rule of body-warn cameras: Get a decent quality system.  Don’t get the cheapest thing you can find just so your agency can put out a PR piece bragging about having “body-cams.”  The second rule of body-warn cameras: WEAR THEM and USE THEM. The video can’t save your case – or your career – if it’s not recording when you most need it to be.  Unfortunately, in law enforcement, we simply never know when that exact moment is going to arrive.

Enter the First Vu HD body camera system from Digital Ally®.  Available either as a single (roughly) rectangular unit or as a two-piece system that includes the camera head and the Digital Video Recorder (DVR) as a separate piece, the First Vu was impressive fresh out of the box simply because of the features and options available from Digital Ally®.

Let’s take a look at the listed/published features of the system and I’ll add in comments as necessary to expand on the potential use or value for law enforcement.

• Small, Rugged, Lightweight & Versatile Design:
  - Main Recorder: 2.5”(w) x 4”(h) x 0.625”(d) at 3.1 oz
  - Camera Module: 1.125”(w) x 1.5”(h) x 1.0”(d) at 0.8 oz

Size matters. Don’t ever let anyone tell you any different.  In this case, smaller is better as long as we don’t sacrifice durability and performance.  The First Vu system seems to have found a good balance as this compact unit of two components can provide high quality video as indicated below.

• Can Automatically Start Recording Like or Simultaneously With an In-Car Video System (requires VuLink™)

If you are combining your body-worn system(s) with in-car video, being able to sync recordings and time stamps can be invaluable.  Note that the First Vu body-worn system doesn’t require a Digital Ally® in-car system to automatically start recordings but it DOES require their VuLink product.

• User-Replaceable, Rechargeable Battery Can Last a Full Shift(up to 2.5 days in Instant-Record Standby, 4.5 hrs. continuous recording)

Thankfully, none of us record every moment of a full shift.  (bathroom breaks would get a bit embarrassing if we did.)  So having recording capability for half your shift or more should be more than sufficient.  With over two days of power in stand-by mode, one battery should easily last you a full shift, even with unexpected overtime, court, etc. thrown in.  Add to that the fact that the battery is user-replaceable and you should never have a dead battery in your body-cam.

• Records High Quality SD or 720p HD H.264 Video: different 640x480 and 1280x720 resolution & quality options available

Given that a great many commercially available digital video cameras sold for recording life’s memorable moments don’t even have the option 1280x720 HD H.264 video, this ought to be more than sufficient for your agency needs.

• Audio Always On or Off option allows admin control of whether audio is always or never recorded when recording video instead of using the mute button (must be requested at time of purchase)

While I personally wouldn’t always want every word recorded, unless you have another audio recording system to mate with this, I’d strongly recommend that you have the audio on and kept on.  Yes, that sometimes means we need to filter what we say while we’re angry.  Digital Ally® incorporates this option so that the tool can be tailored to department policies requiring audio always on.  The standard configuration is that the First Vu HD records audio but has a mute button when an officer needs to speak without recording it or if someone wants to make a comment "Off the record," etc.

• 25-54 Hrs. Record Time (memory; depends on quality setting)

See above for battery life. You have more record time than you do energy time (for the most part).

• Wide 130° Field of View to capture faces plus important events

When I was once shown what the camera caught but I didn’t see, it was amazing.  When anyone talks about the evidentiary value of video captured by a body-worn camera, they quite often don’t mention this particular “feature.”  The camera sees without tunnel vision, within the confines of its design.  That means that it often sees things we never consciously registered.  After the fact, during debriefings, after action reports, training analysis, etc., the video is an awesome tool for picking up what we didn’t “in real life” or “in real time.”

• Enhanced Low-Light Sensitivity: .08 Lux for night recording

This sensitivity to light for recording with using (and therefore charging us for) infrared devices or other night-vision enhancements, adds to the long term potential value of the camera and any video captured.

• Water Resistance Beyond IP Ratings: the components of both the camera and DVR have been waterproof treated

Given that we law enforcement professionals have to work in rain, snow, sleet, hail, hurricanes, tornadoes, etc. this is a necessary feature.  While I didn’t saturate or sink my test unit, I didn’t see any issues or challenges with rain either.

• Easily & Securely Mounts Almost Anywhere

This doesn’t need to be expanded on.  See notes below about Bullet Camera.

• Extendable, Breakaway Cable for Officer Safety & Comfort

What mattered to me most about this was the “breakaway” part.  Way back in the academy I was taught that having anything tied to my body, most especially if it went around my neck (like a tie), was a potential noose or come-along for someone to use against me.  If the camera system had a fixed cable connection (as opposed to breakaway) then I’d be concerned about it from the officer safety standpoint.  WITH the breakaway cable, no one can use it to pull you around like you’re on a leash.

• Up to 60-Sec. Pre-Event Recording captures audio &/or video of events that occurred before pressing record

Pay attention to this one.  Read it again.  When you press record the camera/unit already has the past sixty seconds captured.  That means it’s recording on a dump-loop.  It captures and drops video almost constantly.  (While this may not be a correct technical description of what’s being done, it’s an acceptable operational description.)  That means that you can’t curse and act unprofessionally one moment, then hit press and immediately start being Mr. Professional while intending to use the video to prove your courteous behavior.

• Easy One-Button Operation

Because easier is faster and simpler.  ‘Nuff said.

• Saves Date/Time Stamp & Marks (Marks track the location of important events during a recording)

This can be an awesome capability to have when you’re looking for precipitating events that you want to cite in your report(s), briefs, etc.

• Covert Mode: deactivates LEDs on the camera (vibrating confirmations and DVR LEDs remain on)

Let’s be honest: There are times we don’t want people to know that we’re recording everything and there are certainly times we don’t want little flashing lights to give us away.  Being able to “go covert” is a good thing.

• 32GB of Secure Internal Memory may be set so only designated computers can access recordings

Controlling access is necessary for chain-of-evidence logs and testimony.

• Records Non-Proprietary AVI Videos

Because few things suck worse than having a body-worn camera system that records proprietary videos you have to have special players for in court.

• Convenient USB Downloading & Software Upgrading

USB = industry standard.  Industry standard is good.  Lower cost to purchase, install, maintain and use.

• Advance Exchange Warranty (US only; receive an immediate replacement system should your unit ever require repairs)

This warranty lets your agency purchase only the number you need without having to add on “spares.”

• New: Automatic Charging & Uploading Docks, VuVault.NetCloud Storage Option & Stream Live Video &/or Audio for real-time remote situational awareness

Additional services that are optional and can come in handy depending on the needs and budget of your agency.

• Coming Soon: Hat or glasses-mounted bullet camera, Live Streaming Interface, Control / Management Mobile App and other options

While this bullet camera is shown on the Digital Ally® website as “coming soon,” the press release information we’ve received shows it as available.  The bullet camera allows for mounting the camera on the frame of eyeglasses / sunglasses, hats, etc.  I like the idea of mounting the camera on the arm of a pair of eyeglasses or sunglasses because the video captured gives a more realistic image of what the officer sees.  The video is captured from the same level as the eyes and is always facing in the direction that the officer’s face is facing.  With a body-worn camera mounted on the chest, the camera could be pointed to the front while the head is turned to the side and something completely off camera might be necessary to the officer’s case or defense.

The test and evaluation unit I received performed as advertised and wasn’t complicated.  Once charged, the unit was easy to wear, to record with, to download from, etc.  I did wear on my raincoat for about two hours during inclement weather one afternoon and, after wiping dry with a cloth towel, could find no challenges or functional impairments as a result.

I barely noticed having it on and will be recommending it to my agency when they’re in the market for body-worn cameras.

Stay safe!