SUMMARY:
This is not a review. This is a collection of the best information I have about this product. Some of it is from my own testing and use. Some is from researching on the Web -- including right here in "DashCamTalk.com". I will try to add some useful links later.
Known:
The Black version:
[Following rewritten 2017-04-30]
[NOTE: I do NOT read Chinese, and the only printed material I have to read is the Chinese manual. Beyond that, everything I have found out is on the Web.]
1. According to the Google Translation of Xiaoyi's Website specification page the model name can be translated as "Power" version. But really, it is up to Xiaoyi to decided what it should be called in other languages.
2. Costs Less than the older versions.
3. There is NO SUPPORT for ANY languages other then then native Chinese (Mandarin?) for this device, either built in, or in the aftermarket. No English and nothing else. There is NO hack. There is no software you can load that will give you any other languages.
4. Xiaoyi has identified the chipset as a single core version designate as NTK96658. So far, there is no indication that it is better than NTK96655.
5. Xiaoyi does not name the sensor chip, saying it is a "2MP" device. Early reports say that the performance seems close to the AR0230 sensor in the grey/gold Smart Dashcam.
6. Does not accept the firmware for the older versions.
7. There is no known "Engineering Mode".
8. Does not record the 1296 resolution videos, and does not record 1080p at 60 fps. It ONLY records 1080p/30 fps or 720p/30 fps. NOTHING ELSE. It does NOT have still image capability at all, and lacks image stabilizing and some other controls. It DOES support WiFi (which I have not used).
9. It has "3D noise reduction", but there is no indication of "2nd Generation" or any improvement over the grey/gold dashcam.
10. It claims WDR, which is not switchable
11. Lens is 130 degrees FOV, f=1:1.8 (instead of 165 degrees f=1:1.8).
12. Markings:
The model number seems to be "YCS.1216".
Also on the bottom of the camera is "CMIIT ID:2016DP3709". I think this is something like the US FCC and Canadian DOC registration numbers for radio interference testing.
Unknown:
1. There is no information about future plans that might affect availability of other languages.
2. The specification page seems to imply that the bit-rate might change.
Clarification: Like all image processors, the "sharpening" is triggered by local contrast rather than directly by distance. So it is possible to see something sharp 100M away while something 20M away is not sharp, and detail might even be removed by "noise reduction" in an object that is relatively close. So while I say that I have seen sharp objects at around 300M, there is no guarantee that anything in particular at that distance, or even much closer will be sharp. I have no better way to describe image processing performance at this time.
[2017-04-10]
NOTE: I would like to test this in a car despite the fact that I will not be using it as a Car DVR, but the main reason I will not be doing so in the near future is that I cannot remove my A118C from my car's windshield. I tried and after about a half hour or more, I gave up. The mount is stuck there for now. I think I need to wait for the summer, and I might even need a hair drier to warm the windshield.
Update: As I have been mentioning above, I did run a few in-car tests. I will not be posting videos, but I will try to post frame captures. The test conditions were not ideal because the Yi device is mounted too low and too far to the right to show typical usage. But I have no reason now to do a better job, so we'll have to wait for someone else to do it.
I have a few reasons not to use the YCS.1216 in my car. It does not have good exposure compensation controls, or control over WDR. It does not have optical motion detection, which I need because the accessory power does not switch off when I shut down my car. I prefer not having the date-time stamp, and do not like the "Yi" logo permanently on screen. And yes, even more reasons than these. But I did learn a lot about this sensor's capabilties, and for that much I am satisfied.
[2017-04-10]
But that is all I have to say for now.
From The Beginning:
I am replacing my Viofo B40C this year, and while I was doing so, I ran across the Xiaomi CarDVR black version at "LightInTheBox". I knew I was not going to use this as my new Car DVR, because there were a lot of things I disagree with in the original "Smart Car Cam". One thing in particular is the size. I disagree with having a "Car Cam" as big as this. It is going to be unnecesarily visible from the outside of your car, and becomes an invitation for thieves.
However, the original (grey, or gold) versions had a very good reputation for low light based on the combination of the AR0230 sensor and the advanced chipset (most likely a variant of the NT966660 from what I have read here). I have been thinking about buying a Git1 for low light video, and this was cheaper, and the original "Xiaomi Smart Car Cam" seemed to have pretty good low light recording, though accepting that they were not intended for anything like regular video work.
Anyway, I bought the new black Chinese version. "Light In The Box" is calling it a "Power" version. The price runs about $20 US less than the older Chinese versions and maybe $30 US less than the older International (English) version.
I made some test this device in a car, but I have not changed my mind about not using it as my Dashcam. In my first tests, I have used it handheld outdoors in the night. I have no reasons to make significant changes to what I wrote before:
Night recording is washed out (very little saturation compared to my other cameras). It DOES however seems to perform fairly well in terms of sensitivity, but the lens and sharpening combined to not reach to infinity. The depth of field, however does reach out quite far. I am estimating that the depth of field + sharpening looks good out to around 300M and maybe a bit further. I think that is very good. You are not going to hit something that is 2km away in the next couple of seconds, so as far as "Dash Cams" are concerned it is adequate.
This is not a review. This is a collection of the best information I have about this product. Some of it is from my own testing and use. Some is from researching on the Web -- including right here in "DashCamTalk.com". I will try to add some useful links later.
Known:
The Black version:
[Following rewritten 2017-04-30]
[NOTE: I do NOT read Chinese, and the only printed material I have to read is the Chinese manual. Beyond that, everything I have found out is on the Web.]
1. According to the Google Translation of Xiaoyi's Website specification page the model name can be translated as "Power" version. But really, it is up to Xiaoyi to decided what it should be called in other languages.
2. Costs Less than the older versions.
3. There is NO SUPPORT for ANY languages other then then native Chinese (Mandarin?) for this device, either built in, or in the aftermarket. No English and nothing else. There is NO hack. There is no software you can load that will give you any other languages.
4. Xiaoyi has identified the chipset as a single core version designate as NTK96658. So far, there is no indication that it is better than NTK96655.
5. Xiaoyi does not name the sensor chip, saying it is a "2MP" device. Early reports say that the performance seems close to the AR0230 sensor in the grey/gold Smart Dashcam.
6. Does not accept the firmware for the older versions.
7. There is no known "Engineering Mode".
8. Does not record the 1296 resolution videos, and does not record 1080p at 60 fps. It ONLY records 1080p/30 fps or 720p/30 fps. NOTHING ELSE. It does NOT have still image capability at all, and lacks image stabilizing and some other controls. It DOES support WiFi (which I have not used).
9. It has "3D noise reduction", but there is no indication of "2nd Generation" or any improvement over the grey/gold dashcam.
10. It claims WDR, which is not switchable
11. Lens is 130 degrees FOV, f=1:1.8 (instead of 165 degrees f=1:1.8).
12. Markings:
The model number seems to be "YCS.1216".
Also on the bottom of the camera is "CMIIT ID:2016DP3709". I think this is something like the US FCC and Canadian DOC registration numbers for radio interference testing.
Unknown:
1. There is no information about future plans that might affect availability of other languages.
2. The specification page seems to imply that the bit-rate might change.
Clarification: Like all image processors, the "sharpening" is triggered by local contrast rather than directly by distance. So it is possible to see something sharp 100M away while something 20M away is not sharp, and detail might even be removed by "noise reduction" in an object that is relatively close. So while I say that I have seen sharp objects at around 300M, there is no guarantee that anything in particular at that distance, or even much closer will be sharp. I have no better way to describe image processing performance at this time.
[2017-04-10]
NOTE: I would like to test this in a car despite the fact that I will not be using it as a Car DVR, but the main reason I will not be doing so in the near future is that I cannot remove my A118C from my car's windshield. I tried and after about a half hour or more, I gave up. The mount is stuck there for now. I think I need to wait for the summer, and I might even need a hair drier to warm the windshield.
Update: As I have been mentioning above, I did run a few in-car tests. I will not be posting videos, but I will try to post frame captures. The test conditions were not ideal because the Yi device is mounted too low and too far to the right to show typical usage. But I have no reason now to do a better job, so we'll have to wait for someone else to do it.
I have a few reasons not to use the YCS.1216 in my car. It does not have good exposure compensation controls, or control over WDR. It does not have optical motion detection, which I need because the accessory power does not switch off when I shut down my car. I prefer not having the date-time stamp, and do not like the "Yi" logo permanently on screen. And yes, even more reasons than these. But I did learn a lot about this sensor's capabilties, and for that much I am satisfied.
[2017-04-10]
But that is all I have to say for now.
From The Beginning:
I am replacing my Viofo B40C this year, and while I was doing so, I ran across the Xiaomi CarDVR black version at "LightInTheBox". I knew I was not going to use this as my new Car DVR, because there were a lot of things I disagree with in the original "Smart Car Cam". One thing in particular is the size. I disagree with having a "Car Cam" as big as this. It is going to be unnecesarily visible from the outside of your car, and becomes an invitation for thieves.
However, the original (grey, or gold) versions had a very good reputation for low light based on the combination of the AR0230 sensor and the advanced chipset (most likely a variant of the NT966660 from what I have read here). I have been thinking about buying a Git1 for low light video, and this was cheaper, and the original "Xiaomi Smart Car Cam" seemed to have pretty good low light recording, though accepting that they were not intended for anything like regular video work.
Anyway, I bought the new black Chinese version. "Light In The Box" is calling it a "Power" version. The price runs about $20 US less than the older Chinese versions and maybe $30 US less than the older International (English) version.
I made some test this device in a car, but I have not changed my mind about not using it as my Dashcam. In my first tests, I have used it handheld outdoors in the night. I have no reasons to make significant changes to what I wrote before:
Night recording is washed out (very little saturation compared to my other cameras). It DOES however seems to perform fairly well in terms of sensitivity, but the lens and sharpening combined to not reach to infinity. The depth of field, however does reach out quite far. I am estimating that the depth of field + sharpening looks good out to around 300M and maybe a bit further. I think that is very good. You are not going to hit something that is 2km away in the next couple of seconds, so as far as "Dash Cams" are concerned it is adequate.
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