Lukas LK-7950 WD Review
June 4, 2023 by John Booth, CETma
The Lukas LK-7950 WD was created in 2015, and is a dash cam that claims to be a dual-channel camera capable of recording 1080p video on both front and rear cameras. However, my negative experience with it caused me to give it a disappointing rating of 1.75 out of 5 stars. It’s clear to me this dash cam doesn’t live up to expectations set by Lukas cameras.
Although the LK-7950 WD is equipped with the Texas Instruments TMS320DM8148 processor and Sony Exmor IMX322 image sensors for both the front and rear cameras, the device’s performance is underwhelming. The front camera records at 1080p with 30 frames per second (FPS) and 7 mbps bitrate, while the rear camera records at a 5 mbps bitrate at 1080p resolution and 24 FPS.
I found the front camera’s video quality is subpar, particularly at night, and the rear camera’s performance is even worse due to the lower bitrate and frame rate. In comparison to other dash cams on the market offer much better video quality, leaving the Lukas LK-7950 WD trailing behind. In this review I’m going to break down my experience so you can determine if these negative aspects are dealbreakers for your situation.
At A Glance
Pros
- Two cameras
- Loop Recording continuously refreshing
- Functions in Low Temperatures
Cons
- Low Video Quality Front & Rear Camera
- No Micro SD Card included
- G-Sensor Low Quality
- Bulky/Large Size
- Rear Lens Viewing Angle Poor
- Hard to get Installed
- Built in Wifi lacks functionality
- Glitchy PC software with iPhone
- Lukas Android App isn't user-friendly
Product Highlights
Product
Features
* Optional CPL Filter & UV Filter
* Motion Detection Parking Mode
* Adhesive Mount included
Price
My Experience With The iTrue X6D
What I Didn't Like
When I took the Lukas LK 7950 WD out of the box, the first thing I noticed about it is that it feels flimsy and cheap. After only 2 weeks of use, the plastic casing started showing signs of scratches and cracks.
My biggest concern was the large size of the front camera because it blocks the view of the road. This was a safety risk I wasn’t willing to take so I adjusted the viewing angle, which had a negative impact on front lens video quality. Also, the mounting bracket is poorly designed. I kept checking to make sure it was securely attached to the windshield because it was constantly bouncing around.
Based on my experience the camera’s performance is unreliable. I experienced constant glitching and freezing, causing the camera to stop recording or lose footage.
Takeaway: The camera’s built-in Wi-Fi feature is very slow, which made it difficult to transfer footage.
The Lukas LK-7950 WD comes with a high price tag but failed to deliver the performance in picture quality that one would expect from a dash cam in this price range. The vendor for Lukas cameras seems to overhype the camera’s 1080p resolution capabilities, as the footage is too blurry to see street signs or license plates when playing back footage, especially in low light conditions.
The front camera falls short, and the barely functioning motion detection only adds to the overall disappointment. The rear lens produces grainy video, which makes it difficult to make out any crucial details. This means that if an accident occurred, you can’t use the rear camera’s footage as evidence, defeating the purpose of having a dual-camera setup.
Additionally, the confusing user interface is difficult to navigate, which only adds to the frustration when trying to adjust settings or review footage.
Furthermore, the purchase doesn’t include a microSD card or an alternate power source, which means you’re forced to rely on your car’s battery to power the device.
Takeaway: The camera drained my car’s battery, creating even more problems and making it evident the Lukas LK-7950 WD is not worth the investment for me.
What I Liked
One feature I liked was the loop recording functionality in parking mode, which allows for continuous recording even when my vehicle was parked. However, the viewing angle of the parking mode was lousy, making it difficult for the camera to capture motion detection and other important details.
While the Lukas LK-7950 WD claims to perform the same in both high and low temperatures, the performance was still subpar relative to competing dash cameras. Even though the camera might operate in extreme temperatures, the overall quality of the footage and user experience was below my standards.
Unfortunately, the software is super glitchy and I had a hard time connecting to the dash cam without Wi-Fi. Despite receiving a similar final rating from our team, the 7950 WD still outperformed the Wi-Fi Dash Cam pro from a wireless connectivity standpoint. ‘Lukas Viewer’ is the name of their Windows PC software, which is intended to help users manage and review their footage from their computer.
Products like the Redtiger F7N dashboard camera have a more user-friendly software, and regularly fix firmware issues. Which brings me to the next section, known firmware issues the manufacturers refuse to fix.
Takeaway: Despite the fact that Lukas LK-7950 WD comes with front and rear cameras, it’s overshadowed by its shortcomings.
Current Firmware Problems
The publicly known firmware issues relate to trip mileage, corrupted footage files and connectivity problems with the Lukas android app. Unfortunately, I experienced all of these issues after using the dash cam for only two weeks.
The first issue I encountered with the Lukas LK-7950 WD firmware was that it was unable to calculate GPS mileage accurately. This made the dash cam not useful for long road trips when tracking distance traveled is beneficial. The mileage calculated was almost always too high, causing me frustration when I was trying to keep track of my journey.
Sometimes the most recent saved files are immediately corrupted, rendering the footage useless when using the Lukas Viewer. This issue is particularly concerning as it could mean losing crucial evidence in the event of an accident or incident. Furthermore, I was unable to connect with the smartphone app, which should have provided a more convenient way to access and manage my dash cam footage. From my experience, the Redtiger dash cam smartphone app was much more responsive.
Disappointingly, these issues have been ongoing since the dash cam was released in 2015 and still haven’t been resolved. This speaks to a lack of support and development on the part of the manufacturer, which is concerning for those who have invested in the device. It’s difficult to recommend the Lukas LK-7950 WD when there are so many unresolved firmware problems affecting its overall performance and usability.
User Manual
You can find the User Manual located here.
Our Dash Camera Rating Methodology
Our team of reviewers evaluates each dashboard camera product based on the following criteria:
Value For Money – 0 to 5 stars
Does the product provide good value for the price?
Is it priced competitively compared to similar products?
Ease of Use – 0 to 5 stars
How challenging is it to install the dash cam?
Is video playback easily accessible and user-friendly?
Camera Resolution & Lens Quality – 0 to 5 stars
Are high-quality components used in the product? (camera lens, SD card, G Sensor)
Can license plates and street signs be clearly read from the recorded video?
Additional Features – 0 to 5 stars
Is there a parking mode feature in the dash cam?
Does it come with built-in GPS functionality?
Can the dash cam use radar detection to accurately provide information on driving speed?
To learn more about our rating methodology, please visit our product criteria page, which provides detailed information on how we assess the products we review.
Final Verdict for the Lukas LK 7950 WD
1.75 out of 5
1.75/5
My negative experience with the Lukas LK 7950 WD, makes me feel justified by give it a rating of 1.75 out of 5 stars. Between the poor video quality, subpar mounting system, and the unfriendly user-interface, the cons heavily outweigh the pros.
The manufacturer’s high price point isn’t justified in my opinion. There’s plenty of dashboard cameras on the market that offer the qualities the Lukas LK 7950 WD claims to have but at a lower price.
Overall, the Lukas LK 7950 WD is not a recommended dashboard camera for those looking for a reliable and high-quality device. While it may have some features that are appealing – the negatives outweigh the positives, making it a poor choice for consumers.
The Dash Cam Discount team did a full Lukas LK 7900 ARA review a few months back and it performed similarly to the LK 7950 WD. Additionally, the mini 0805 was a dash cam on our radar for a while now, and Glenn did a review on it. Read our best dash cameras article to get a better impression of what we like to see throughout our review process.
About Post Author
John Booth, CETma
John is our go-to guy for all the technical aspects of a dash cam. He's a happily retired Master Certified Electronics Technician (CETma) and pours his tech-loving soul into writing for Dash Cam Discount.
John's crazy about dash cams & thinks everyone should have one for road safety. He's breaks down the technical jargon into easy actionable advice. Contact him directly via his Reddit account or through email.
See authors posts
1 thought on “Lukas LK-7950 WD Review”