Vantrue E1 Pro testing and comparisons with VIOFO A229 Pro

Hack_man said:
I still think Vantrue has the edge with license plate readability as I approach the red car in front of me. It's subtle but noticeable.
Is there a way to force the video quality in the utube links to 4K?
Click to expand...
I don't know what your abilities are, but you could take a screen grab from the video, or if you are using a player like MPC or VLC, save a frame using the menu, paste/load it into anything that can edit photos, maybe enlarge it, copy just the plate that you want to show us, and paste that into your post here, next to one from the other dashcam. That will probably get you full quality that is easy for people to see. Posting whole screen grabs doesn't work, the forum software will reduce the resolution, full frame grabs need to be hosted elsewhere.

I suspect you will see a bigger difference between the cameras at higher speeds under trees...
 
Karagandinez said:
To be honest, I haven't noticed any difference yet.
But I look at the license plates of oncoming cars.
Click to expand...
I think it's like @Nigel said, I have to jump thru some more hoops (which I will try) so you can see the difference in a post. I can definitely see a very subtle difference in a couple frames when I am looking at the original video file using QuickTime Player.

I think Nigel is correct, forum software reduces resolution so posting just a screen grab won't work.
When I view the video in my post, I'm NOT seeing the subtle difference.

Karagandinez said:
When watching a video, click on the star and select 4K.
Click to expand...
I was hoping there was a way to force the video in the link to always be 4K, since not everybody reading these posts knows to click on the star and select 4K.
 
Last edited:
Hack_man said:
I was hoping there was a way to force the video in the link to always be 4K, since not everybody reading these posts knows to click on the star and select 4K.
Click to expand...
It should auto select based on your internet bandwidth, so some people will see it in 4K, while others won't , and for some people, selecting 4K will mean it doesn't play smoothly. So no, there is no way to force it.

You can upload your original video to Google Drive or equivalent, and share a link, then people can see the original video, if they choose to download it. However very few people will bother to download it, so it is not really worth the effort. Just posting a few plate grabs in your posts is the easy thing to do. Or best for the viewer is, if you have the ability, to do as people like Vortex Radar do, and zoom into the plates in the video editor.

Or you can just describe what you are seeing, you are doing a pretty good job of that, and most reviewers don't, so it is nice to hear an actual opinion on the image qualities.
 
I did not enlarge, I just did a screen shot. Is the subtle difference evident that Vantrue is slightly more clear, better contrast? If enlarging helps I can try that.

Viofo.webp
Viofo
Vantrue.webp
Vantrue
 
Nigel said:
It should auto select based on your internet bandwidth, so some people will see it in 4K, while others won't , and for some people, selecting 4K will mean it doesn't play smoothly. So no, there is no way to force it.

You can upload your original video to Google Drive or equivalent, and share a link, then people can see the original video, if they choose to download it. However very few people will bother to download it, so it is not really worth the effort. Just posting a few plate grabs in your posts is the easy thing to do. Or best for the viewer is, if you have the ability, to do as people like Vortex Radar do, and zoom into the plates in the video editor.

Or you can just describe what you are seeing, you are doing a pretty good job of that, and most reviewers don't, so it is nice to hear an actual opinion on the image qualities.
Click to expand...
Yes I have noticed it does not always play smoothly when I select 4K.
How is sharing a link to Google Drive different than viewers here clicking on "Watch on Youtube" which I think is working well to show the difference in quality?

I may play around with the Vortex method, he has posted some excellent images.
 
Last edited:
Hack_man said:
I did not enlarge, I just did a screen shot. Is the subtle difference evident that Vantrue is slightly more clear, better contrast? If enlarging helps I can try that.

View attachment 78004 Viofo
View attachment 78005 Vantrue
Click to expand...
There is more contrast on the Vantrue, the characters are a slightly better shape on the VIOFO.

Yes, that shows a difference well. I can enlarge my screen here, which is probably better than you doing the enlargement.
 
Hack_man said:
How is sharing a link to Google Drive different than viewers clicking on "Watch on Youtube" which I think is working better to show the difference in quality?
Click to expand...
With Google Drive, people can download the original video in full quality, while with YouTube, it gets recompressed and detail gets lost. Not many people will bother downloading the Google Drive video though, so it is not really worth bothering.

I like your plate grabs above, they are clear, so I suggest you stick with that, we don’t want everybody doing exactly the same thing, it is good to be different.
 
Nigel said:
There is more contrast on the Vantrue, the characters are a slightly better shape on the VIOFO.

Yes, that shows a difference well. I can enlarge my screen here, which is probably better than you doing the enlargement.
Click to expand...
I see what you mean that the letters are better shaped on VIOFO. I had not noticed until I enlarged my own screenshots of the plates.
 
Karagandinez said:
To be honest, I haven't noticed any difference yet.
But I look at the license plates of oncoming cars.
Click to expand...
You are testing both with CPL, right?
I'll test in march and also take the Mini2 into account since I think from the size and especially the prizing the E1 Pro will be for most of the customers a competitor against the Mini2 instead of the A229 Pro since a lot of people don't choose a 1CH-Version anyway.

For sure the comparison between E1 Pro / A229Pro1CH is interesting and relevant since it's the same image sensor and Vantrue is a lot cheaper.
But I think in reality by far the bigger group will be the people that will decide between Mini2 / E1 Pro



Hack_man said:
I did not enlarge, I just did a screen shot. Is the subtle difference evident that Vantrue is slightly more clear, better contrast? If enlarging helps I can try that.

View attachment 78004 Viofo
View attachment 78005 Vantrue
Click to expand...
I think the real comparison you will have if you don't judge for sharpness but for capuring license plates. Are they readeble or not?
I think the contrast-settings are a lot about firmware. But contrast settings won't make a license plate readble in very hard conditions if the dashcam wasn't able to capture the information necessary in the first place.
 
DashcamDriversGermany said:
You are testing both with CPL, right?
I'll test in march and also take the Mini2 into account since I think from the size and especially the prizing the E1 Pro will be for most of the customers a competitor against the Mini2 instead of the A229 Pro since a lot of people don't choose a 1CH-Version anyway.
Click to expand...
I have all models with CPL filters. Simultaneous shooting with three models: A229 Pro, E1 Pro and A329.
My friend will soon receive E1 Pro and will compare with Mini 2.
 
DashcamDriversGermany said:
You are testing both with CPL, right?
I'll test in march and also take the Mini2 into account since I think from the size and especially the prizing the E1 Pro will be for most of the customers a competitor against the Mini2 instead of the A229 Pro since a lot of people don't choose a 1CH-Version anyway.

For sure the comparison between E1 Pro / A229Pro1CH is interesting and relevant since it's the same image sensor and Vantrue is a lot cheaper.
But I think in reality by far the bigger group will be the people that will decide between Mini2 / E1 Pro




I think the real comparison you will have if you don't judge for sharpness but for capuring license plates. Are they readeble or not?
I think the contrast-settings are a lot about firmware. But contrast settings won't make a license plate readble in very hard conditions if the dashcam wasn't able to capture the information necessary in the first place.
Click to expand...
Unfortunately I was not testing apples to apples. I had a Heck of a time installing the CPL filter on the A229 Pro so I didn't want to mess with it and the Vantrue unit did not come boxed with a CPL Filter even thought the owner's manual said its included and not considered an accessory. I think because mine is a preproduction boxed unit. This may very well explain why the A229 Pro has less contrast but its subtle.

I think someone who wants the A229 Pro is looking for 2 channel which you can't get with the E1 Pro but wow the video quality From what I am seeing so far is fantastic on the E1 Pro and gives the more expensive A229 Pro a run for its money. I still want to test it more at night to draw final conclusions.

Yes plate is readable by both cameras and it was splitting hairs a bit but I think most would agree there is a bit of difference in my post #45.
 
Karagandinez said:
I have all models with CPL filters. Simultaneous shooting with three models: A229 Pro, E1 Pro and A329.
My friend will soon receive E1 Pro and will compare with Mini 2.
Click to expand...
The E1 Pro and Mini 2 don't look like a fair comparison. E1 Pro is 4K which has over 8 million pixels but the Mini 2 is 1080P has around 2 Million Pixels which is even less than 2K's 3+ million.
 
EricSan said:
That's the primary difference that I see as well with this comparison. I have some screen grabs of street signs that I posted here:
https://dashcamtalk.com/forum/threa...-new-vantrue-e1-pro-dashcam.52535/post-635529
Click to expand...
Yes I can clearly see what you are referring to in your linked photos. The E1 Pro image is much less grainy than the A139 Pro.

My biggest complaints so far with the E1 Pro are lack of rear camera support and I wish there were a back button on the camera to make scrolling settings in reverse easier.
But so far the image quality has been excellent.
 
Hack_man said:
Yes I can clearly see what you are referring to in your linked photos. The E1 Pro image is much less grainy than the A139 Pro.

My biggest complaints so far with the E1 Pro are lack of rear camera support and I wish there were a back button on the camera to make scrolling settings in reverse easier.
But so far the image quality has been excellent.
Click to expand...

This is why we installed the E1 Pro in our SC430 convertible. I did the full 2 channel A229 Pro install in our two Prii including hardware shutoff kits with constant and ACC shutoff kits.
 
Hack_man said:
My biggest complaints so far with the E1 Pro are lack of rear camera support and I wish there were a back button on the camera to make scrolling settings in reverse easier.
Click to expand...
I thought about the lack of a rear camera, but at a price point of $130, this is inexpensive enough to get two and stick the second one in the rear window. I’ve had some random difficulty with my Viofo where it says it’s recording cp2 channels, but there are no rear channel videos on the memory card. Having two completely different cameras solves the problem of connecting the cameras together. Of course, now you need two power sources.

sorka said:
This is why we installed the E1 Pro in our SC430 convertible.
Click to expand...
This is a perfect camera for a convertible! The E360 is also ideal for a car without a rear window.
 
EricSan said:
I thought about the lack of a rear camera, but at a price point of $130, this is inexpensive enough to get two and stick the second one in the rear window. I’ve had some random difficulty with my Viofo where it says it’s recording cp2 channels, but there are no rear channel videos on the memory card. Having two completely different cameras solves the problem of connecting the cameras together. Of course, now you need two power sources.
Click to expand...
Wow that's disturbing, the camera is in two ch mode but no rear ch video files 😱

My issue with two separate cameras is not just the need for another power source, but it's way more administrative headaches. I like to review my footage occasionally and that would be more than twice the work bouncing between cameras and managing two SD cards and all the files. Two cameras would be an enormous drain on a battery pack for those of us using them. An additional rear lens added to a single camera is not nearly as big a drain. If you care about parking mode, two cameras is a problem.
 
And that’s the other primary problem with two cameras - you chew through your parking battery twice as fast. Plus the overhead as you mention. If you are just looking for drive-mode recordings (no parking mode), two of these E1Pro cameras just might be the ticket.
 
There's another USB-C on the side of the actual camera just like there is on the A229 Pro but used for the rear camera. If you look closely, it says LTE "|" <some little monitor / camera symbol thingy> and I think the pipe is an OR. I wouldn't be surprised if a firmware update is coming at some point to be able to use this port for the rear or interior camera.
 
I kind of wish someone would develop a better version (too many negative reviews) of the Blackvue DR970X (a central box with two cameras). You get the benefit of a decent size enclosure which contains lots of well heat sunk processing power, and two stealthy cameras. Put some extra LED's on the front camera for status and a microphone. Seems like the ultimate in flexibility, reliability and performance. But that 's the topic for another thread.

I agree, two E1 Pros for driving-only might be a great setup for some.
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top