Dome D201 Dashcam review (Ambarella A12, 1440p 30fps, GPS)

VIIVIIIXIII

Active Member
Joined
Apr 25, 2013
Messages
144
Reaction score
91
Country
Canada
Dash Cam
ITB-100HD, SG9665GC, Mobius B & C2, T1, Z970WD
Dome D201 Dashcam review (Ambarella A12A55, 1440p 30fps, GPS)

Thanks to Gearbest for supplying this unit.
Official website: http://www.szdome.com/product-detail-229.html
Product link: Price: $105.99USD w/ free shipping
Discount code: D201

Review:

The latest and greatest from Dome. The D201 is one of the first cameras on the market to feature the new Ambarella A12 processor -- capable of recording up to 2560x1440p 30fps (or 1920x1080p 60fps). The unit includes a 5.0MP OV4689 CMOS sensor, external GPS module, 170° wide angle lens, 512GB microSD card support, all standard dashcam functionality, and some extra features you’ll probably never use.

Aside from the new “SuperHD” resolution, there isn’t really much to write home about. Video quality for both day and night is quite good at 1440p with HDR (see clips below). The 1080p 60fps option was disappointing at night but at least it is true 60fps, unlike some cameras that merely duplicate the frames from 30.

The D201 features the typical suction cup mount and external GPS. The mount makes the unit rather bulky and the external GPS is another wire for you to tuck away (Note: the GPS is designed to be placed on the dash facing up). The D201 has impressive build quality like the previous GS98C I reviewed (click here), both of which featured metal body construction.

At $105.99USD, hard to say whether or not this is a good value dashcam. The GS98C records at 1296p with similar video quality but can be had for around $74.99USD. With the D201, you are getting a bump in resolution and support for larger SD cards up to 512GB. The D201 may also perform a little better at night, as I compare the sample clips side by side. There are also other options like the A118C ($55USD) and the Mini 0805 ($65USD) which I'd greatly prefer due to form factor.

Original sample clips:

2560x1440p 30FPS [HDR: ON]



1920x1080p 60FPS [HDR: OFF]




Screenshot:

Direct comparison between the two video modes. 1440p HDR looks really good, but 1080p non-HDR is quite disappointing. The difference in image quality may be attributed to lack of HDR, but there is no HDR available when using 1080p 60FPS mode. This is the best you can get.

2560x1440p HDR

xBk9hf3.png


1920x1080p non-HDR

ckoiSzM.png


Stock photos:

1444180783891-P-3213894.jpg


1444180784391-P-3213894.jpg


Specifications and features list:

• Chipset Name: Ambarella
• Chipset : Ambarella A12A55
• Special Function: Photograph, Night Vision, Loop recording, G-sensor, GPS, HDMI output, Microphone, Automatic Start-Up, IR night vision, Motion detection, Auto power on/off, Time and date display, HDR
• Max External Card Supported: TF 512G (not included)
• Class Rating Requirements: Class 6 or Above
• Screen Size: 2.7inch
• Screen Type: LCD
• Screen Resolution: 960 x 240
• Battery type: Built-in
• Capacity : 190mAh
• Power Supply: DC 12 - 24V
• Charge Way : USB charge by PC, Car charger
• Working time: 6 - 8 minutes
• Wide Angle: 170 degree wide angle
• Image Sensor: 5.0MP COMS OV4689
• Aperture Range : F/1.8
• Decode Format: H.264
• Video Format: MP4
• Video Resolution : 1296P (2304 x 1296), 1080P (1920 x 1080), 1440P (2560 x 1440), 720P (1280 x 720)
• Video System: NTSC, PAL
• Video Frame Rate: 2560 x 1440P (30fps), 2304 x 1296P (30fps), 1920 x 1080P (60fps), 1920 x 1080P (30fps), 1280 x 720P (60fps), HDR 2560 x 1440P (30fps), HDR 1920 x 1080P (30fps)
• Video Output: AV-OUT, HDMI
• Frequency: 50Hz, 60Hz
• Image Format : JPG
• Image Resolution : 14M (4384 x 3288), 8M (3264 x 2448), 4M (2688×1512), 16M (4608 x 3456)
• Audio System: Built-in microphone/speacker (AAC)
• Loop-cycle Recording : Yes
• Loop-cycle Recording Time: 3min, 5min, Off, 1min
• Motion Detection: Yes
• Night Vision: Yes
• GPS: Yes
• G-Sensor: Yes
• HDMI Output: Yes
• HDR: Yes
• USB Function: USB-Disk
• Auto-power on: Yes
• Delay Shutdown: Yes
• Time Stamp: Yes
• Interface Type: HDMI, TF card slot, Micro USB
• Language: English, Simplified Chinese

Box contents:

• 1 x Dome D201 Car DVR Recorder
• 1 x Car Charger (Cable Length 2.9m)
• 1 x External GPS Module (Cable Length 1.5m)
• 1 x Suction Mount Bracket
• 1 x USB Cable (75cm Length)
• 1 x Chinese / English User Manual

1444180784877-P-3213894.jpg


201510300904506478.jpg
 
Last edited:
How is work the parking mode please?
 
I think it work like most dashcams.

1. motion detect ( somthing move in front of camera, this start recording )
2. G-sensor ( start recording if somthing bump your car )

Motion detect can and vill create a lot of false recordings, even a bird flying by can trigger a event recording.
G-sensor is what i would use if i one day should deside on using parking guard.

Normally event recordings cant be overwritten by the camera, so if you have too many of them there is less room for regular recordings on the memory card.
 
Hi OP,

how long it took to get your order from gearbest?
I ordered 4 days ago, but it wasn't shipped for a while.
 
I ordered 4 days ago, but it wasn't shipped for a while.

Hihi, as this car dvr is too hot sale on the Black Friday promotion and Cyber Monday Sale to ship it out.

It will available in next week.

Thanks for your support.:)
 
I like how that Ambarella image fails to place the NTK96655 and NTK96658 chipsets there as they're the real competition to the A12.
 
From the Ambarella side as well?
 
Hi! If my camera format video is mp4 and I need mov format video, how can I do this, please? Thanx in advance. Alex
 
Hi! If my camera format video is mp4 and I need mov format video, how can I do this, please? Thanx in advance. Alex

won't be an option you can change in the camera, @Mtz might be able to suggest some Windows programs to change the header without re-encoding the file
 
I had another brief "AWE S***" on Saturday bringing my count to 3 since mid January. January's adventure was real, I got smacked in the rear quarter by a woman who ran the light. Fortunately for me in that event the cops believed me and the woman was presented with a citation.

So yesterday (Sunday) I decided that I NEED A CAMERA! Just selecting a camera is an arduous task comprising of functions, price and so forth. My intention was to go with the Dome D201 until I came across the latest model the D205 which I almost purchased until I saw the 201's being dumped by someone on EBay for $79 or best offer. I made a ridiculously low offer and finally accepted the seller's low price of $69 and went ahead with the purchase. Was this a great deal? I don't know but it was far less than some of the best out there in the $200 range.

If the thing goes belly up my loss will be contained.

Foggy
 
I bought 2 units of the Dome 201 DVR. The user instructions and specifications state the 2.5mm socket can be used for either GPS in or analogue AV out. However, my car audio workshop tried various means and is still unable to get the AV out from the DVR to my DVD display. They tried on both the DVR units which I had bought as well as using different display monitors. By the way, I am using the 4 sections 2.5mm mini-jack to 3 RCA connections (yellow, red, white). Can any kind soul advise?
 
IMHO even if you do get it working the quality would be lacking. (I have not tried using the jack for video)
Use the HDMI out.
 
IMHO even if you do get it working the quality would be lacking. (I have not tried using the jack for video)
Use the HDMI out.
Hi iptelman, but my DVD head unit only accepts RCA AV inputs, no HDMI. So need to find a way to extract out the analogue video.
 
Are you trying to use the jack for live video or to playback?
(have you tried both?)
 
I bought 2 units of the Dome 201 DVR. The user instructions and specifications state the 2.5mm socket can be used for either GPS in or analogue AV out. However, my car audio workshop tried various means and is still unable to get the AV out from the DVR to my DVD display. They tried on both the DVR units which I had bought as well as using different display monitors. By the way, I am using the 4 sections 2.5mm mini-jack to 3 RCA connections (yellow, red, white). Can any kind soul advise?
Probably a firmware change.
 
Back
Top