2 A119 mini 2’s ???

I plan to have my 3 cam A139 do front, left, and back, and get a A119 v2 for the rear. Then I get that awesome sensor seeing people behind me, who are often obscured by headlights and might be visible with the new sensor.
 
Panzer Platform said:
Here's what that might look like.

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Since I’m not sure what type of automobile you’re using for testing, do the lens’s on the mini 2 have enough adjustment for mounting on a rear window that is completely “vertical”? (Like a trucks rear window). I’m guessing they swivel enough to cover a wide array of windshield angles so probably a nonissue.
 
Mvgratz said:
Since I’m not sure what type of automobile you’re using for testing, do the lens’s on the mini 2 have enough adjustment for mounting on a rear window that is completely “vertical”?
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I have two “identical” cars, (both in video) 2004 Ford Crown Victoria & 2010 Mercury Grand Marquis, (Lincoln Town Car is also the same car). All three are built on Ford’s Panther Platform that ran from 1979 - 2012 almost unchanged. That’s why my YouTube Channel name & DCT name are Panzer Platform, (Panther Platform was already taken).

Anyways, the original Mini & Mini 2 have almost the same lens adjustment. The Mini 2 has a few more degrees of adjustment, but I’m not sure if that’s on purpose or a manufacturing error. Either way, vertical window mount might be a small issue to overcome with a wedge, or mounting the camera to the headliner. That’s how @Dashmellow mounts his A119 V3 in his pick up truck, but I’ve never seen photos of how it’s mounted, only the actual camera POV.

1 .webp

2 .webp


 
Panzer Platform said:
I have two “identical” cars, (both in video) 2004 Ford Crown Victoria & 2010 Mercury Grand Marquis, (Lincoln Town Car is also the same car). All three are built on Ford’s Panther Platform that ran from 1979 - 2012 almost unchanged. That’s why my YouTube Channel name & DCT name are Panzer Platform, (Panther Platform was already taken).

Anyways, the original Mini & Mini 2 have almost the same lens adjustment. The Mini 2 has a few more degrees of adjustment, but I’m not sure if that’s on purpose or a manufacturing error. Either way, vertical window mount might be a small issue to overcome with a wedge, or mounting the camera to the headliner. That’s how @Dashmellow mounts his A119 V3 in his pick up truck, but I’ve never seen photos of how it’s mounted, only the actual camera POV.

View attachment 65384
View attachment 65385

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I guess I’ll have to wait to see what the first mini 2 looks like when it arrives. And if mounting is going to be an issue before I order a second one.

Thanks again for your informative responses.
 
Panzer Platform said:
That’s how @Dashmellow mounts his A119 V3 in his pick up truck, but I’ve never seen photos of how it’s mounted, only the actual camera POV.
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I don't have a photo of my custom mount handy at the moment and my truck is in the shop for a repair, but I can describe it.

I modified my headliner quite some time ago so I could mount rear dash cams in such a way so they would allow the center sliding glass panel in my truck's rear window to open. Mounting directly on the glass would prevent that. I used some specialized epoxy putty behind the headliner that is sandable and drillable and screwed a 1/4 inch aluminum plate to it (painted black). You would never know I used the putty behind the headliner just looking at it and it gave me a solid backing to screw into. Using a different epoxy glue (PC7) I mounted some nylon wedges to the aluminum plate until I got the required angle. (which was fairly steep for the V3) Then I epoxied a 2 x2 inch piece of 1/4 inch thick tempered plate glass to the wedges that I had custom cut at a local glass shop from a piece of old scrap glass I had on hand. Ended up with ten pieces of 2x2 inch plate glass from my scrap piece, just about the same size as the GPS mount from the V3. Then I used standard 3M VHB tape to attach the camera's mount to my 2x2 inch piece of mounted plate glass, exactly like you would secure it to a windshield. Works great and is very secure.

I do not know if the adjustment angles of the A119 mini 2 are the same as the A119 V3. I would have preferred that the V3 had more of a vertically mounted adjustment available to it than it did but I was able to work around that.

Anyway, it was quite an elaborate DIY project but it accomplished what I needed.
 
Mvgratz said:
I guess I’ll have to wait to see what the first mini 2 looks like when it arrives. And if mounting is going to be an issue before I order a second one.

Thanks again for your informative responses.
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It will depend on your DIY skills and the nature of your vehicle. Some trucks have more of a mounting surface between the headliner and the rear window. In some cases a good DIY solution can be created with strong neodymium magnets. Of course, perhaps you don't have a rear window that opens and that would make the whole business a lot easier.
 
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Mvgratz said:
When I ordered my A119 mini 2 a few days ago I had zero thoughts about ever having a rear facing setup. After watching numerous dash cam videos of “2 channel” systems now I’m having second thoughts.

Would there be any major down side to purchasing a second A119 mini 2 and installing it on the rear window? (If I ultimately decided to go with an additional rear facing camera at a later date). From the reviews I’ve seen posted here, wind noise would be the only negative I can foresee. Of course I rarely drive with my windows down….
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I do not see any significant drawbacks, except perhaps for the size.

Problem with most 2 channel systems is that the quality of the rear cam (or the whole system) is always sacrificed one way or another:
Most rear cams are 1080P, do not support HDR, 60FPS, CPL, etc.
For me, 1440P and HDR are a must for the rear cam (at night, cars in the back with headlights on).
A229 Duo, is the only 2 channel VIOFO system which offers 1440P rear cam, but both, front and rear cams, have no HDR or 60FPS, also the front cam is relatively large and the rear cam has no CPL option.
For me, two A119 Minis deliver better quality and options, than A229 Duo for about the same price (at the time, A119 Mini price was $100 and A229 Duo was $200 on Amazon).
While I was playing with my first Mini, VIOFO launched the Mini2, so I ordered it, and my final setup is Mini2 upfront and regular Mini (with paired Bluetooth button) in the back.
 
Dashmellow said:
It will depend on your DIY skills and the nature of your vehicle. Some trucks have more of a mounting surface between the headliner and the rear window. In some cases a good DIY solution can be created with strong neodymium magnets. Of course, perhaps you don't have a rear window that opens and that would make the whole business a lot easier.
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Truck is a 2021 Chevy Trail Boss with a non opening rear window. I’m just going to hold off until I receive my first mini 2. Tracking shows it’s already in the states so should get it after Memorial Day. It’ll be easier to figure out what I’ll need to do to get one mounted up with it in hand to actually see the mounting angle and range of motion for the lens.
 
Mvgratz said:
Truck is a 2021 Chevy Trail Boss with a non opening rear window. I’m just going to hold off until I receive my first mini 2. Tracking shows it’s already in the states so should get it after Memorial Day. It’ll be easier to figure out what I’ll need to do to get one mounted up with it in hand to actually see the mounting angle and range of motion for the lens.
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Sounds like a good plan. That way you can plan around what you have in hand instead of just speculating. The non-opening window should make things easier.
 
I'm leaning towards this too. The reviews on the Mini 2 vs A139Pro can go either way. Just doesn't seem worth paying 2x for 4k res when you can get 2 x Mini 2s for less than a single A139Pro with current Amazon sale on Mini 2 ($30 off, 5% coupon from the great members on here doing solid reviews, and free polarized filter).
 
Sorry I don't see an Edit post option... Just want to add that Amazon prime Day sales are in two weeks and maybe these will go lower?
 
Hello-
I plan on buying two Mini 2 cams for front and rear usage. I am assuming that when using a smartphone for control, the phone will detect the cams as separate entities so I can control their individual settings and video download. Is this correct?

Also- has someone posted what might be considered optimized settings sticky for the Mini 2? Maybe preferred settings they are in some of the reviews?

Thanks!
 
Gib said:
Hello-
I plan on buying two Mini 2 cams for front and rear usage. I am assuming that when using a smartphone for control, the phone will detect the cams as separate entities so I can control their individual settings and video download. Is this correct?

Also- has someone posted what might be considered optimized settings sticky for the Mini 2? Maybe preferred settings they are in some of the reviews?

Thanks!
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While one app can control two cameras, it can only do so one at a time. Meaning you must disconnect from one, then connect to the next.
 
Gib said:
Also- has someone posted what might be considered optimized settings sticky for the Mini 2? Maybe preferred settings they are in some of the reviews?
Click to expand...
The best settings are different for every user.
Film your own test footage, and compare with your own eyeballs.
-Chuck
 
Panzer Platform said:
The best settings are different for every user.
Film your own test footage, and compare with your own eyeballs.
-Chuck
Click to expand...
Agree. That why the various settings are options - there is no 'optimal'.
 
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