Vandlion A3 Digital Mini Camera User Manual

1. Introduction

Please read this manual carefully before using this device to operate it easily and quickly. The information in this manual is subject to change without notice. The information in this manual is copyrighted. It is not allowed to copy any part of this manual without the prior written permission of our company. The company reserves the right of final interpretation of this manual.

NOTE: All products and shown pictures might have slight nuances. In kind prevail. There is no notice about any changes of the product.

NOTE: We recommend that you use a high-quality memory card to ensure the image is coherent and clear.

Thank you for your cooperation!

2. Product Overview

The Vandlion A3 Mini Camera features a metal casing, weighs 72 grams, and includes a small flashlight. One side is magnetic for easy attachment. It supports video recording at 480P, 720P, and 1080P at 30 frames per second, and also has a photo-taking feature. It can be connected to a computer and used as a webcam. The camera has a 2-megapixel CMOS sensor. The camera and light surface can rotate 90 degrees.

Figure 1: Vandlion A3 Mini Camera with labeled parts and dimensions.

Function Definitions:

1. ON/OFF/Auxiliary Light Switch: Controls power and auxiliary light.
2. Photographing Button: Takes photos.
3. Reset Button Hole: Long press to reset if the device crashes.
4. Lanyard hole: For attaching a lanyard.
5. LED Status Indicator Light: Indicates device status.
6. Video Recording/Saving Switch: Initiates and saves video recordings.
7. Audio Recording/Saving Switch: Initiates and saves audio recordings.
8. TF Card Slot: Supports up to 128GB micro SD card (not included).
9. Micro USB port: For charging and data connection.
10. Camera Lens: The main camera lens.
11. Auxiliary Lamp: Built-in flashlight.
12. Back clip: For attaching the camera to clothing or other surfaces.

Indication Lights Description:

• Standby: Blue light is always on.
• Audio recording: Blue light is flashing.
• Video recording: Green light is flashing.
• Power on: The blue and green lights keep on.
• Power off: The indication light is off.
• Charging: The red light stays solid when charging and goes out when fully charged.
• Low power: Blue and red lights flash alternately for 3 times then power off automatically.
• Without TF card: The blue and green lights flash alternately three times then power off automatically.

3. Setup

Inserting the TF Card:

Please insert the TF card into the TF card slot (8) before using the camera. The device supports TF cards from 4GB up to 128GB.

Hint: Please backup the data when you use a 64GB or 128GB TF memory card before plugging it into the card slot of the camera for the first time. If not, the camera will format the TF memory card as soon as switching on and delete all your data on the TF card.

Charging the Camera:

Plug the USB data cable into the Micro USB port (9) of your device, and connect the other end to a USB charger or computer USB port. The red light will stay on during charging and turn off when fully charged. Charging typically takes 3-5 hours for the first use.

Figure 2: Camera connected to a laptop for charging.

4. Operating Instructions

Power On/Off:

With the device switched off, slide the ON/OFF/Auxiliary Light Switch (1) up and hold it for 3 seconds until the blue light turns on. The device is now on. To turn off, slide the ON/OFF/Auxiliary Light Switch (1) up and hold it for 3 seconds until the light turns off. If the device is in standby mode, it will automatically turn off after 1 minute of inactivity.

Audio Recording:

In standby mode (blue light on), slide the Audio Recording/Saving Switch (7) to 'REC' position. The blue light will flash, indicating audio recording is in progress. To save the audio file, slide the switch back to the 'SAVE' position. The recording file is automatically saved every 30 minutes to prevent data loss.

Video Recording:

In standby mode (blue light on), slide the Video Recording/Saving Switch (6) to 'VIDEO' position. The green light will flash, indicating video recording is in progress. To save the video file, slide the switch back to the 'SAVE' position. The video file is automatically saved every 10 minutes to prevent data loss.

Photo Taking:

While in video recording mode, press the Photographing Button (2) once. The blue light will flash once, and a photo will be taken. Photos are saved in the 'VIDEO' folder. Note: The photo key only works during video recording.

Motion Detection:

To enable motion detection, connect the camera to a computer and open the 'time.txt' file. Change the 'motion:0' value to 'motion:1'. '0' means motion detection is off, '1' means motion detection is on. Motion detection is off by default. When motion detection is active, the device will stop recording if no movement or light changes are detected for 1 minute (blue light on). If movement or light changes are detected, it will record continuously (green light flashing).

Figure 3: Motion detection in action.

Loop Recording:

The camera supports loop recording. To enable loop recording, connect the camera to a computer and open the 'time.txt' file. Change the 'Loop video' setting from 'N' (Close loop video) to 'Y' (Loop video). If the memory card becomes full, the camera will overwrite the oldest recordings. If set to 'N', recording will stop when the card is full.

Synchronize System Time:

1. Turn on your camera after plugging in your micro SD card. It will automatically generate three files: "time.txt", "VIDEO", "AUDIO".

2. Click "time.txt" to show "date and time". Change it as you need. “Format (year month date hour minute second)”. Then save your time and unplug your device. Now you can start recording at your set time.

Figure 4: Timestamp example.

PC Camera (Webcam) Mode:

1. Connect the device to the computer. It will pop up as "USB Disk". Gently push the ON/OFF/Auxiliary Light Switch (1) up, then the "USB Disk" mark will exit automatically.

2. You can then open software that supports video calls (e.g., PC Camera, Tencent QQ). The camera will now function as a webcam.

Connecting to the Computer:

1. Plug the USB data cable into the Micro USB port (9) of your device, and plug the other end into one of the USB ports on your computer. It will pop up as "USB Disk" after being recognized.

2. Connect the device to your computer successfully, and the red light will stay on. You can then copy the selected files or folders to your computer.

Tips for Computer Connection:

• The process is the same as copying any file from a USB flash drive to your computer.
• If your computer cannot recognize it and the USB Disk doesn't pop up in a few seconds, please reset your device and connect it again following the steps above.
• We suggest you read the video files from the TF memory card via a card reader. This may provide smoother playback for large video files.

5. Technical Specifications

Memory Capacity Usage:

6. User Tips

• Recording Time: The recording duration depends on the resolution and memory card size. Refer to the 'Memory Capacity Usage' table in the specifications section for detailed times.
• Audio Recording: Yes, the camera records sound. The microphone is integrated near the camera lens.
• Charging while Recording: The device supports simultaneous charging and audio/video recording.
• Auxiliary Light: The auxiliary light can be turned on/off independently. To save battery, turn off the auxiliary lamp when not needed.

7. Warnings

• Never disassemble or modify your recorder for any reason. Doing so may cause the recorder to malfunction or catch fire. Damage to your device voids your manufacturer's warranty.
• Do not allow your device to get wet; liquids can cause serious damage. Water damage to your device voids your manufacturer's warranty.
• Avoid exposing your device to very cold or very hot temperatures.
• The company has no responsibility for data loss caused by incorrect operation, repairing, battery replacement, or other circumstances.

8. Warranty & Support

One-Year Performance Warranty:

We provide a one-year guarantee that all of our products will meet stated performance specifications under normal use and proper care.

One-Year Materials/Craftsmanship Warranty:

We provide a one-year guarantee that all of our products will be free from defects in materials and workmanship, under normal use and proper handling.

For further support or inquiries, please refer to the official product page or contact the seller directly.