BITOG approved borescope for 2024?

[mitsuman47]

Looking for a decent quality borescope to peek under valve covers and into cylinders.

I searched and most of the threads with recommendations are from 2021 and prior. I figure technology improves and model #s change quickly on these.

Anyone purchase one recently and like it?

Budget: I wouldn’t mind spending $150-$250 if there’s a noticeable jump in quality over the $50-$100 units.

 

[72C10]

https://a.co/d/6xKSWrg

Saw one similar to this on the South Main Auto YouTube channel, but I haven't tried it myself.

Appears to be on sale with a few hours left and I also see a 5% coupon.

 

[Timmastertech]

I bought this one last year, think I paid 65 bucks at a trade show. Use it all the time in the shop, best one I have ever used
https://www.oasisscientific.com/store/p849/VA-101A-gooseneck-one-way-articulation-USB-borescope.html

 

[Dyusik]

Have this one, https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0BS1CFFH8/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1
No experience with any other ones, but this guy seems to do just fine.

 

[JHZR2]

For all the checks in my Mercedes, I used a Depstech.

https://a.co/d/cycDqJD

It’s cheap. Nicer ones were recommended, but I already owned this one and didn’t end up needing anything else.

 

[mitsuman47]

For all the checks in my Mercedes, I used a Depstech.

https://a.co/d/cycDqJD

It’s cheap. Nicer ones were recommended, but I already owned this one and didn’t end up needing anything else.

View attachment 232935View attachment 232936

That looks very good. Especially for the price. Are you able to adjust focus and white balance? What adjustments do you have when trying to capture an image?

 

[Sumboodie]

I just bought one with a 50ft cord for scoping my poop pipes.
Have a Klein and another that hooks to the phone, both suck. Light is WAY too dim and the resolution is terrible.

Was going to put the link but Amazon keeps seizing up my phone.

The Depswitch one was another I looked at, but wasn't wanting to spend that much. Figure if the poop pipe one sucks, I can return it. If it's ok, I'll keep it, maybe need 50ft another time. Or maybe can just cut it shorter?

 

[Trav]

This one, it has a $150 off coupon.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0C64RBKJ...photo&sp_csd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9kZXRhaWw&th=1

 

[D60]

This one, it has a $150 off coupon.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0C64RBKJ...photo&sp_csd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9kZXRhaWw&th=1

Curse you!! I've often thought the articulating would be fantastic. Now you may have cost me money. Considering ordering.....trying to resist

I too have a Depstech for my phone and have been too lazy/busy to download the app.

 

[Sumboodie]

This one, it has a $150 off coupon.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0C64RBKJ...photo&sp_csd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9kZXRhaWw&th=1

No. Finally got Amazon to stop seizing my phone up.

This one:

Triple Lens Sewer Inspection Camera with 50FT Semi-Rigid Cable, DEPSTECH 5"IPS Screen Endoscope Camera with Lights, 1080P Industrial Borescope, Split Screen, Waterproof Drain Pipe Camera,Carrying Case https://a.co/d/5T1RMdh

 

[D60]

No. Finally got Amazon to stop seizing my phone up.

This one:

Triple Lens Sewer Inspection Camera with 50FT Semi-Rigid Cable, DEPSTECH 5"IPS Screen Endoscope Camera with Lights, 1080P Industrial Borescope, Split Screen, Waterproof Drain Pipe Camera,Carrying Case https://a.co/d/5T1RMdh

Other than a 50' cable, why would you say it's better? I feel like for automotive an articulating head is preferred?

 

[Trav]

Other than a 50' cable, why would you say it's better? I feel like for automotive an articulating head is preferred?

For vehicle service a 6mm head with a 3 ft cable and 360° articulation is ideal. I had one with an 8mm non articulating head and it was not of much value, I had a long one that was just too cumbersome to use, both are on the shelf with very little use, I should probably bin them.

 

[D60]

For vehicle service a 6mm head with a 3 ft cable and 360° articulation is ideal. I had one with an 8mm non articulating head and it was not of much value, I had a long one that was just too cumbersome to use, both are on the shelf with very little use, I should probably bin them.

The reviews for the one you linked give me a little concern. One guy claims the lights stopped working and the company won't respond, although there's an Amazon review like that for EVERY product.

Another guy seems to have more credible complaints about the ergonomics/ difficulty operating joystick.

Do you have that model and find it acceptable?

 

[RooflessVW]

I've got this one:

https://usaborescopes.com/products/...0-4mm-x-1500mm-2-way-articulating-videoscope/

Probably (definitely!) overkill for automotive use. I've been eyeballing this one for more general use:

https://www.milwaukeetool.com/products/3150-20

 

[Trav]

I have it and have had no problems with it. I buy stuff like this from Amazon, give it a good work out and if any trouble it is a problem free return. I don't trust Amazon reviews one way or the other, Amazon seems to give out a lot of free products for good reviews, on the flip side of that there are people who will post bad reviews to dissuade buyers and drive them to another product they have been compensated for.

 

[D60]

Just watched Eric O with an '06 Trailblazer and he seemed to have this one
https://www.amazon.com/Articulating-DEPSTECH-Articulated-Inspection-Tools-4-92FT/dp/B0CXSTNWTW/

There's another one on Amazon for ~$4 less. The models appear to be DS630DL vs DS630-US. Not sure of the difference(s). Both run about $235 less 5% right now.

Either way pretty cool to drop it into a cylinder then turn it 180 and look up at the valves

Video here if anyone cares:

 

[mitsuman47]

Just watched Eric O with an '06 Trailblazer and he seemed to have this one
https://www.amazon.com/Articulating-DEPSTECH-Articulated-Inspection-Tools-4-92FT/dp/B0CXSTNWTW/

There's another one on Amazon for ~$4 less. The models appear to be DS630DL vs DS630-US. Not sure of the difference(s). Both run about $235 less 5% right now.

Either way pretty cool to drop it into a cylinder then turn it 180 and look up at the valves

Video here if anyone cares:

Looks like a great picture on that model.

He uses it at 39:45 for anyone interested.

I was looking around at these a little more and it seems that most of the 6mm diameter cameras are 720p until you step up to some decent money. Though, I’m not sure if 720p vs 1080p matters for these little units. More is better, right???

I got this one because it is 1080p and 6mm with an articulating head. Should be here tomorrow, and I’ll try to mess around with it this weekend.

If the video is terrible, I’ll send it back and spend a bit more money.

 

[mitsuman47]

Just watched Eric O with an '06 Trailblazer and he seemed to have this one
https://www.amazon.com/Articulating-DEPSTECH-Articulated-Inspection-Tools-4-92FT/dp/B0CXSTNWTW/

There's another one on Amazon for ~$4 less. The models appear to be DS630DL vs DS630-US. Not sure of the difference(s). Both run about $235 less 5% right now.

Either way pretty cool to drop it into a cylinder then turn it 180 and look up at the valves

Video here if anyone cares:

And because I’m a kid trapped in a man’s body. From the linked item above: thumbs down for the soft version.

 

[D60]

Looks like a great picture on that model.

He uses it at 39:45 for anyone interested.

I was looking around at these a little more and it seems that most of the 6mm diameter cameras are 720p until you step up to some decent money. Though, I’m not sure if 720p vs 1080p matters for these little units. More is better, right???

I got this one because it is 1080p and 6mm with an articulating head. Should be here tomorrow, and I’ll try to mess around with it this weekend.

If the video is terrible, I’ll send it back and spend a bit more money.

Nice! It could even be the Depstech with a different name, but those can sometimes be dangerous assumptions with Chinese manufacturing.

It seems these all have internal, rechargeable batteries? If so, that's probably what concerns me the most about long-term reliability

 

[mitsuman47]

Nice! It could even be the Depstech with a different name, but those can sometimes be dangerous assumptions with Chinese manufacturing.

It seems these all have internal, rechargeable batteries? If so, that's probably what concerns me the most about long-term reliability

Yeah, that crossed my mind. I’ll be gentle with the battery. Will probably store it at about 60% of charge capacity, and leave it in the house so it doesn’t see the wild temp swings in the garage.