@speedingcheetah - Upgrade (2) A119 Mini 2 Units To A329S 3CH

Had a short bright sunny day drive. The stuck pixel issue i noticed briefly yesterday, seems to have healed it self, for now.

Unfortunately, the Mini 2 did not record anything.
I must have knocked loose the usb power cable from the mount when i was fiddling with my rear view mirror angle.

Seems i stuck the A329S just a tiny bit too close or not quite high enough against the mount of the mirror, it is just enough blocking the cams USB C port so that i can not have a cable plugged in, and have my mirror in its proper position (oops).
I wanted to try using a ssd i had spare for recording, as a test.
Was able to while parked with my mirror flopped down alot.
It worked. Its a Mushkin 1TB nvme M.2 Tempest drive model(i think) in a Vantec heatsink enclosure.
The 6ft cable i tested with even has a 90 degree usb c end, but that still is too fat and hits the stem of the mirror. But the cable worked fine for a brief test.
(not indicative of long term use, or added load of running in full 3 channel)
Don't feel like re-mounting the cam, since i not planning on using SSD storage, for now. (or maybe if i can find a super low profile USB C 90 degree adapter or something.)

Despite the Mini 2 not recording for this trip, to compare footage to. I can already tell, based on my past recordings of the same route, with very bright sunny conditions, the A329S has MUCH more details and crispness to its footage.
It is brighter a bit too (using HDR ON in daytime this trip, as that is the cams default).
Very happy with how it looks, so far.
Will re-do a bright sunny day trip and compare cams, next am able, though, forecast is cloudy and rain the next several days it seems.
But, pretty sure its a win for the upgrade.

I am still interested, at some point, in adding in the Telephoto cam.
For now, the "Zoom Crop" ability of playing back 21:9 footage, kinda gives me a, maybe 2x like, "zoom". Being 4K resolution, and much higher bitrate, it is significantly better than the 2K output zoom cropped of the Mini 2.
But, as i have posted before, i would want the telephoto to be 16:9, as not to crop out top and bottom of frame, like is good for the wide cam, to cut out the useless sky and dash.

Finally, i did test and confirm, the circular CPL for the A329S, was not fully effective being aligned to the white line mark on the cam casing and lens ring, as instructed to align.
I had to adjust it a little bit.
09-16-2025_10_21_59.webp
 
Interesting adjustment to polarizer alignment. I haven't fiddled with mine yet, just stuck it on and went about other tasks.
 
^Same, in re CPL position. It *seems* to be doing OK but I really ought to tinker with it to
see what happens. I used to have a lot of fun with a CPL on my DSLR and I owe it to myself
to make sure the one on my dash cam is set to the ideal position.

EDIT: I can't recall who posted it but I do remember that someone adjusted their CPL to a
position off-the-mark to get the best results, and IIRC it ended up in much the same place
speedingcheetah found.
 
One other thing about the A329S compared to the A119 Mini 2.

The micro sd card in the A329S is much more difficult to eject. It feels like it is recessed in the casing more than the Mini2 is.
The A329S also does not have the beveled edge thing in the casing at the card slot, as the Mini 2 does.
 
speedingcheetah said:
One other thing about the A329S compared to the A119 Mini 2.

The micro sd card in the A329S is much more difficult to eject. It feels like it is recessed in the casing more than the Mini2 is.
The A329S also does not have the beveled edge thing in the casing at the card slot, as the Mini 2 does.
Click to expand...

SO true!
While I do not have another cam to compare I did recognize my own difficulty getting the SD card
to "latch". Ultimately I used the plastic trim tool. Even after 45 years spent working with my hands
on very small things, that SD to A239S was an unexpected challenge. 😎
 
Question.
The rear camera for the A329S. That uses the identical 2K sensor as the A119 Mini 2 correct?

The lens looks a little bit different though.
And I believe that it’s just a camera and doesn’t have its own processor on board. All the image processing is done by the main front camera unit.

Just wondering if that camera would be pretty much near identical image performance wise, as the standalone a 119 mini two.
 
Had a thought.

I now wonder if it is "better" practically speaking, to run a dedicated main "front" dash cam as a rear cam.

The obvious pros, beefier hardware, top image quality, rear audio, should still function and record if the front dash cam is disabled or malfunctions in some way.

The obvious cons, having to manage/adjust settings for 2 sperate units, pull 2 sd cards to review footage.

But a possible con i thought of.

Having a wagon/hatch style vehicle, where the back window is the rear of the car, no "regular trunk" as with sedans.
If i was rear-ended, ( which is kinda the main thing you want a rear camera for)…would be direct impact to area the camera is mounted near or to, since there is no "normal trunk" to absorb and crush the impact before it reaches the rear window.

The independent camera unit may get caught up in all the carnage, and be severally damaged or possibly un-recoverable in someway, should it be come detached and go missing in the debris/crushed into the vehicle etc.
Since that camera unit contains its own SD card with the footage, it would need to recovered and have survived long enough to save the last video file, and not be corrupted from the sudden impact.
Where as, if it was just a secondary camera unit, powered by the main front camera unit, the footage would be safely stored in the front cams sd card, and all the main front cam unit would detect is that the rear cam disconnected suddenly.

Just been thinking, if i should perhaps, go all in, and just convert to full, 3 channel setup with the A329S, Front, Tele, Rear.

Was kinda hoping to sometime later this year, "upgrade" my rear A119 Mini 2 to the Mini Pro(when ever that comes out) that would be 4K, and also would be super easy if the old mount can still be used.
Seeing as there has yet to be A329S 3ch model that is all 4K cams each with the same highest end sensor (IMX678 is the best one at this time right?)
 
So here is your solution: Two independent 2-ch cameras. One installed up front with an auxiliary camera in the back and one installed in the back with the auxiliary camera up front. That gives you full, high resolution coverage front and back, with a "backup" option that in (nearly) any event, protects at least one camera that is making videos.
 
speedingcheetah said:
Question.
The rear camera for the A329S. That uses the identical 2K sensor as the A119 Mini 2 correct?

The lens looks a little bit different though.
Click to expand...
In this instance, I think they are the very same camera and support electronic hardware, my guess is that only the lens is different. Some camera brands have only firmware for the main front unit, whereas others brands have firmware that is specifically installed for/in the rear camera. I have one camera that has three different, independently updatable sets of firmware: front, cabin camera, and rear camera.
 
EricSan said:
So here is your solution: Two independent 2-ch cameras. One installed up front with an auxiliary camera in the back and one installed in the back with the auxiliary camera up front. That gives you full, high resolution coverage front and back, with a "backup" option that in (nearly) any event, protects at least one camera that is making videos.
Click to expand...
Well that sure would be a bit overkill, and costly. But the logic in that seems sound.
That is more than want to do though.

I’m not super paranoid about such a scenario happening. However, if I had a second two channel system, I probably would end up using that with the camera cameras set up on the sides of the vehicle to cover that angle. I see some have used the fish eye interior camera in a method that you can see out all the windows. That’s pretty much as close as you can get to 360 coverage without install installing exterior cams.
 
speedingcheetah said:
I see some have used the fish eye interior camera in a method that you can see out all the windows. That’s pretty much as close as you can get to 360 coverage without install installing exterior cams.
Click to expand...
I have one of those, too. Pretty awesome for rideshare/taxi use and great as a parking camera as well. Very little will escape a 360 degree field of view...
 
EricSan said:
I have one of those, too. Pretty awesome for rideshare/taxi use and great as a parking camera as well. Very little will escape a 360 degree field of view...
Click to expand...
Those use cases absolutely an interior camera makes 100% sense.
But for me, I’m not a rideshare and I don’t have the need for parking recording. I run my cams off the 12 V cigarette plug and a splitter that shuts off when the ignition is off.

The battery packs and hardwire kits are pretty neat things and are useful if you need those features. However, my vehicle already suffers from parasitic drain, thanks to the aftermarket remote starter and possibly Stereo head unit. I do not wish to add an additional device that drains power even if it has a low-voltage cut off. I live where the winters get very cold and that’s even harder on the car’s main battery.
 
Just in response to two different topics mentioned above:
  • A329S SD card removal difficulty--I've had two occasions where fighting to remove it (with my short-cut fingernail stabbing away) caused the card to literally shoot out and fly over my shoulder. 😛 That never happened with my previous A329 (2024 original)
  • Separate Front and Rear Cams--I'm currently using the A329TC config in front and the VS1 for my rear cam. Each has its own Blackvue battery and the batteries are wired separately to different 12v accessory socket circuits. I did this mainly because I wanted both the telephoto and fisheye interior cams but of course still wanted a rear cam. Originally targeted use of my previous A329 main unit as the rear, but I could not find a way to mount it that would work with the angle of my back window. I could go into more details but this probably is not the best thread to do so.
 
LeeShadow said:
Just in response to two different topics mentioned above:
  • A329S SD card removal difficulty--I've had two occasions where fighting to remove it (with my short-cut fingernail stabbing away) caused the card to literally shoot out and fly over my shoulder. 😛 That never happened with my previous A329 (2024 original)
Click to expand...
I had that happen once or twice both with my a119 mini 2 and my previous a119 v1. Those both had very strong and springy eject mechanisms.
I can’t recall which cam it is or when it was, but I most certainly lost a microSD card somewhere in the endless abyss of the cracks and crevices of my interior.

The A329S though seems to hold onto the card more and I have not had it try to shoot out on me just yet.

But the little slot is missing the beveled edge, which makes it easier to use your finger and press in on the card and keep hold of it. I actually feel more like I’m going to push the card too far into the unit and damage the card reader. It certainly one aspect of design that they did poorly.

It’s pretty much why I am now just want to leave the SD card in the thing forever and only transfer files off via other USB port. But that end of itself takes a bit of time to navigate the menus and start the process and wait versus just popping the card out, putting it in a little protector tray and then in my wallet and looking at the footage later. I may end up just running the unit off of a standalone SSD or flash drive at this point.
My initial testing and comparing it to my previous cam. I’m pretty much checking the footage every trip. Once I get everything dialed in and I’m satisfied I pretty much only ever pull footage when there’s something worthwhile to look at though.
 
@Chuck McCoy and others.

Since you all have vast experience testing multiple dash cams at one time in the same vehicle, can you give any insight into most ideal mounting positions?
Meaning, what is best for image quality and how the camera dynamically adjusts its shutter/exposure all those bits.
Is highest up on the windshield always best? Center as possible?
I see you have cams often mounted all over, have you noticed any noticeable change in image quality if the cam is moved one direction or another, higher or lower on the windshield?

I ask, cause, i am just trying to figure out optimal position. I have always tucked the thing as far up as i can, and directly behind my rear view mirror, directly to the right of the mounting stem, as the right side of VIOFO cams is where the cam dismounts and the sd card slot is.
Now, with this A329S, Both sides of the cam have important ports.
(i also am now noticing how pitted and rock chipped my windshield is, this new 4K camera has exposed those tiny defects that i never saw with the Mini 2)
I have it just a tad into that black smooth stuff that is on the glass above the mirror, Not sure if that is ok or good to stick it to vs glass, wonder if it may not adhere as well.

I realize windshield shape and design play a role, my vehicle is a 2007 Dodge Caliber SE, if that helps, maybe a quick google search can give u a useable image of its windshield shape.
 
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Here is some sample zoomed in compare images of plate capture between the A119 Mini 2 (left) and the A329S 1CH Front camera (right).
(also, keep in mind, the A119 Mini 2 is mounted about 4 or 5 inches to the left of the A329S, to the left of my rear view mirror(drivers side) and the A329S is mounted to the right of rear view mirror (passenger side)
Both cams have CPL installed and calibrated. HDR ON

Overall, yes, the A329S is better at night for plate capture, but do not expect it to work miracles.

I am still interested in adding on the telephoto camera, but again, i really do not want to have it cropped to 21:9 and cut off things, or have the front main cam then show static dash and sky in 16:9.



Compare 1.webp


Compare 2.webp


Compare 3.webp
 
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@Chuck McCoy @CaptureYourAction or anyone else.

I am having some difficulty narrowing down sourcing the rear camera for the A329S.

The pictures posted on the various threads here, show it is model, RC420.

However, i seem to be running into conflicting info, with a RC400 model mentioned as the rear camera for A329/A329S.

See here: LINK

THIS listing does not even state the model number (this the place i ordered the telephoto cam from yesterday)
 
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speedingcheetah said:
@Chuck McCoy @CaptureYourAction or anyone else.

I am having some difficulty narrowing down sourcing the rear camera for the A329S.

The pictures posted on the various threads here, show it is model, RC420.

However, i seem to be running into conflicting info, with a RC400 model mentioned as the rear camera for A329/A329S.

See here: LINK

THIS listing does not even state the model number (this the place i ordered the telephoto cam from yesterday)
Click to expand...

I ordered mine as the 3CH kit so I don't know which Rear cam you should order.
If I were you I would reach out to @VIOFO-Support directly as well as seeing what
the others you linked have to say.

When I ordered mine there was only one I could use, but Viofo has released more
cams recently and now there may be more options than what I had in July.
 
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