Vantrue E1 Pro testing and comparisons with VIOFO A229 Pro

[TonyM]

Was HDR set to off via the HDR-Timer or manually?
Because it really looks that HDR might have been active.

I think there might be some kind of bug existing in the HDR-Timer for the E1 Pro.

I have observed occasional HDR-like artefacts on my E1-Pro daytime footage when HDR was disabled.

 

[Hack_man]

Was HDR set to off via the HDR-Timer or manually?
Because it really looks that HDR might have been active.

I think there might be some kind of bug existing in the HDR-Timer for the E1 Pro.

A partner of us noticed that while doing his review for the E1 Pro (for the N2X as well). I was able to repilcate the error for the N2X (not for the E1 Pro) but I reported it to Vantrue.
They told us it would be prioritised and fixed with the next firmware-update for both models.
(I'm not sure if there really is a bug for the E1 Pro, but If so, for me thats positive because the results might still improve then)
But usually I have to say Vantrue is always very good and fast in bug-fixes from my expericene. 👍

HDR was set to OFF via the HDR-Timer.
What is it about the video that looks like HDR was active?

 

[Hack_man]

It looks like motion blur to me due to a slower exposure, and possibly HDR blur. Do you have HDR on during the day?

I can see what appears to be HDR double-exposure fringing along the edges of the trees at both sides of the frame on the E1 Pro.

My HDR was set to turn on at 5:30 PM in the evening. I do not use HDR during daylight hours.
I think I see what you mean by the fringing, kind of a blurry edge around the tree branches with the Vantrue

 

[Hack_man]

If you take a look at the dashboard you will see what I mean. In this frame it is quite noticeable.

View attachment 78861

Two more examples:
First image the surface of the dashboard can be seen.
View attachment 78862


Here it does struggle:

View attachment 78863

I am being rather dense here 😕
What I should be looking at in the dashboard to see "blocking"
I see the surface of the dashboard but what do you mean "it struggles"?

 

[Chuck McCoy]

HDR was set to OFF via the HDR-Timer.
What is it about the video that looks like HDR was active?

When we first got the A229 Pro, one of the first things I noticed, and complained about was HDR was ALWAYS ON for the rear camera.
There was no setting to turn off HDR.
It was so bad @LateralNW noticed it in my test footage;
Eventually we got an ON/OFF HDR firmware setting for the rear camera.
Here’s an example of how HDR degrades image quality during daytime;

Post in thread 'A229 Pro Test & Review PP'

Apr 2, 2024

A229 Pro - Side Cameras

@viofo @VIOFO-Support @Vortex Radar @evad

Edited post just to remove duplicating what is in the previous post.

In my last post I experimented by installing two IR Interior cameras mounted at the top of my A-Pillars for “traffic stop configuration”.

https://dashcamtalk.com/forum/threads/a229-pro-test-review-pp.49779/post-615623

Looks good.

Nice job.

To get that result are you using a Pro and a Plus using the third camera on both or the rear cameras as I see you also have a A139 Pro? on the...

• LateralNW

• 

I have test footage showing HDR On during daytime improved license plate capture but, it is extremely rare.
99% of the time HDR On during the day makes thing worse.

 

[Julian23]

I am being rather dense here 😕
What I should be looking at in the dashboard to see "blocking"
I see the surface of the dashboard but what do you mean "it struggles"?

These blocky artefacts are the "issue".
It's definitely noticeable.
This only happens in areas with trees that would benefit from a slight bump in bitrate.

 

[Hack_man]

When we first got the A229 Pro, one of the first things I noticed, and complained about was HDR was ALWAYS ON for the rear camera.
There was no setting to turn off HDR.
It was so bad @LateralNW noticed it in my test footage;
Eventually we got an ON/OFF HDR firmware setting for the rear camera.
Here’s an example of how HDR degrades image quality during daytime;

View attachment 78865
View attachment 78866
View attachment 78867

Post in thread 'A229 Pro Test & Review PP'

Apr 2, 2024

A229 Pro - Side Cameras

@viofo @VIOFO-Support @Vortex Radar @evad

Edited post just to remove duplicating what is in the previous post.

In my last post I experimented by installing two IR Interior cameras mounted at the top of my A-Pillars for “traffic stop configuration”.

https://dashcamtalk.com/forum/threads/a229-pro-test-review-pp.49779/post-615623

Looks good.

Nice job.

To get that result are you using a Pro and a Plus using the third camera on both or the rear cameras as I see you also have a A139 Pro? on the...

• LateralNW

• 

I have test footage showing HDR On during daytime improved license plate capture but, it is extremely rare.
99% of the time HDR On during the day makes thing worse.

Why don't I see an indicator stamp in your three images above that HDR is turned ON?
Below is what I am referring to:

 

[Chuck McCoy]

Why don't I see an indicator stamp in your three images above that HDR is turned ON?

This footage was filmed with firmware V1.2 240227 (February 27, 2024)
Rear Camera HDR settings, and text stamp were added with firmware V1.3 240612 (June 12, 2024)

Post in thread 'VIOFO A229 Pro FIRMWARE'

Jun 21, 2024

manual

Browse user manuals for every VIOFO dash cam model. PDF downloads, quick-start guides, and detailed installation instructions.

viofo.com

Firmware Update​

FWA229P.bin (63.13 MB)
Version: V1.3_240612

Change Log for V1.3_240612
Added: 1.Bluetooth Button Function Settings.
2. Rear Camera HDR Settings.
3. 21:9 Resolution
4. Parking HDR Settings
5. Daylight Saving Settings and so on.
Optimized: Footage File Name
Fixed some bugs.

Firmware Update​

EthamTxFw.bin (4.44 MB)
Version: V1.3_240605

Change Log for V1.3_240605
1. Added HDR settings.
2. Other bugs...

• Karagandinez

• 

 

[Hack_man]

The 3 images do look "grainy" to me. I'm used to expecting 4K clarity since I've been reviewing mostly 4K footage lately so I have to remind myself in the above 3 images its a 2K rear camera.
But your point is that HDR was turned on during daytime and the image would have been a higher quality if HDR was off.
Would you have expected the text on the truck to be sharper and not so "fringy" looking?

 

[Chuck McCoy]

The 3 images do look "grainy" to me. I'm used to expecting 4K clarity since I've been reviewing mostly 4K footage lately so I have to remind myself in the above 3 images its a 2K rear camera.
But your point is that HDR was turned on during daytime and the image would have been a higher quality if HDR was off.
Would you have expected the text on the truck to be sharper and not so "fringy" looking?

Resolution is inconsequential.
4K, 2K, 1080P does not matter.
The HDR artifact effect during daytime footage is easily recognizable across all resolutions.
I think the only way you are are going to see what we're talking about is if you see the HDR artifact effect on your own test footage.
The easiest way to do this is with A/B testing.
Set up two identical cameras, enable HDR on one, disable HDR on the other.
Film test footage SIMULTANEOUSLY under the same lighting / vehicle speed conditions.
Review the test footage, and it will stick out like a sore thumb, and you'll never forget it.

 

[Nigel]

I am being rather dense here 😕
What I should be looking at in the dashboard to see "blocking"

H264 divides the image up into blocks of 16x16 pixels for parallel processing, if it has enough bitrate then it will split those blocks into smaller blocks, all the way down to 1x1 pixel. So as it runs out of bitrate, the blocks will get bigger and more noticeable until you end up with a resolution of 4K/16 = 0.25K resolution. Normally you only notice these in areas with little detail, such as the sky, road surface, and maybe dashboard, where there is more detail to record it will choose to use up more bitrate.

It is easiest to see when watching video rather than still frame grabs.

But your point is that HDR was turned on during daytime and the image would have been a higher quality if HDR was off.
Would you have expected the text on the truck to be sharper and not so "fringy" looking?

With HDR turned on, you get a slow exposure for the dark areas and a fast exposure for the bright areas, when these are combined into a single image, you can end up with sharp text with a motion blurred trail to one side. With HDR off, you get a single exposure, which in bright daylight will not have any motion blur, but at night will have motion blur, so in daylight the text can be sharper with HDR off. However on a very bright day the text can also be over exposed and thus unreadable, while with HDR On it would have been perfectly readable. There are advantages and disadvantages to HDR on in daylight, the general conclusion is that it is better turned off. I keep mine turned on 24/7.

 

[phhaily125]

price is almost same as A119 mini 2 but 4K and lots of cool features, just found out this new toy in this afternoon. Wondering the reliability of Vantrue Dashcam in terms of long time usage?
from viofo's user wonder

 

[Julian23]

price is almost same as A119 mini 2 but 4K and lots of cool features, just found out this new toy in this afternoon. Wondering the reliability of Vantrue Dashcam in terms of long time usage?
from viofo's user wonder

To say something about Vantrue:
I have a Vantrue N4 Pro that I am using since July 2023.

Expect for some issues with a bad focus on early units of the rear camera, the unit has been very solid.
No heat issues either.

Can't really say anything negative about either company.

The E1 Pro will have to proof itself in the long run. So far it's a very solid unit for the price.

 

[Nigel]

price is almost same as A119 mini 2 but 4K and lots of cool features, just found out this new toy in this afternoon. Wondering the reliability of Vantrue Dashcam in terms of long time usage?
from viofo's user wonder

Yes, maybe Viofo should release a 4K A119...

However, the E1 and the A119 Mini 2 are both "mini" dashcams, and the 2K has a lot less heat issues than a 4K version would. Since you live in a hot place, heat may be an issue for you, and definitely if you want to use parking mode.

 

[Augustus]

Yes, maybe Viofo should release a 4K A119...

However, the E1 and the A119 Mini 2 are both "mini" dashcams, and the 2K has a lot less heat issues than a 4K version would. Since you live in a hot place, heat may be an issue for you, and definitely if you want to use parking mode.

E1 Pro does get noticeably hotter than Viofo's for me (in the magnitude of 10 degrees Celsius), but as Julian has said above, Vantrue models haven't skipped a beat for me in hot weather testing.

That is one advantage it has over Viofo, and of course the E1 Pro can be had now for cheaper on Chinese sites such as AliExpress over the A229 Pro etc. May be a compelling alternative instead.

 

[Hack_man]

@Panzer Platform
1. Can you please confirm are all three frames in your post #106 are with HDR ON?
2. Please confirm if the video in that post was also HDR ON?
3. Posted below: HDR OFF (first image), HDR ON (second image) using same camera, frames are 12 seconds apart in time for similar lighting conditions
Honestly I just don't see much difference in the video quality. HDR OFF has the white painted areas brighter.

 

[Hack_man]

Below is another comparison under different lighting conditions
Facing the sun which is behind the clouds
HDR OFF (first image), HDR ON (second image)
HDR ON allows me to see the clouds more clearly, they are not "washed out"

 

[Hack_man]

Very interesting. I repeated the colored sign test on a different sign and Vantrue had trouble again.
The Viofo image is rather dark. Both cameras have CPL filters installed.

 

[Chuck McCoy]

1. Can you please confirm are all three frames in your post #106 are with HDR ON?

Yes.

2. Please confirm if the video in that post was also HDR ON?

Yes.

3. Posted below: HDR OFF (first image), HDR ON (second image) using same camera, frames are 12 seconds apart in time for similar lighting conditions
Honestly I just don't see much difference in the video quality. HDR OFF has the white painted areas brighter.

Your test footage is of a STATIONARY object.
The object must be in MOTION to observe HDR artifact effect.
You need two identical cameras filming SIMULTANEOUSLY.
Find a truck like this.

 

[Hack_man]

I was suspicious the "blur/echo" you noted above was the HDR artifact you were referring to, but without an HDR OFF comparison I wasn't certain. Thank you for the clarification.

Unfortunately I don't have two identical cameras, the best I could do is compare E1 Pro/A229 Pro.
At least now I better understand the HDR anomaly during daytime.