A329 Test & Review PP

[ogzogz]

Bill told me at SEMA they're are working on an A329 3-CH;
1.) Front
2.) Rear IMX675
3.) Telephoto IMX675
The Telephoto will plug into the HDMI input.

@Panzer Platform
Apparently I have previously suggested that the multi-purpose use of the 3.5mm jack input would both increase its combination and reduce the use of extra connectors. For example, optional use of AV output and microphone input from the same input.

If we look at the result, the a229 duo microphone input was evaluated as the internal camera for the a229 pro/plus.
The rear camera output for a229 pro/plus is also used to power the camera without GPS.
When the a329 was first announced, I stated that the HDMI output would be available for a third camera (telephoto or interior camera).

It makes me happy to add something to the cameras. Yes, it's hard to find the perfect camera, but it's good to make the most of the time. @viofo

 

[TonyM]

Bill told me at SEMA they're are working on an A329 3-CH;
1.) Front
2.) Rear IMX675
3.) Telephoto IMX675
The Telephoto will plug into the HDMI input.

I like the idea of keeping a coax cable to the rear, and a short HDMI to a telephoto/interior.
I'm also pleased to see that the HDMI has potential multi-function like this

 

[Julian23]

Bill told me at SEMA they're are working on an A329 3-CH;
1.) Front
2.) Rear IMX675
3.) Telephoto IMX675
The Telephoto will plug into the HDMI input.

That sounds like a good combination.
This would also allow people to upgrade if they feel like they miss the telephoto camera with the 2CH configuration.

 

[Chuck McCoy]

coax cable to the rear, and a short HDMI

This would also allow people to upgrade

3.5mm jack

SEMA Conversation (1 of 101)
Chuck:
In the future please make all cameras use the same cable & connector, (Rear, Telephoto, IR Interior).
Please use Coax from A329 (2024).

Bill:
Yes but, Coax is very expensive.
Coax also has a power limitation.
Some cameras need more power, that’s why we sometimes use USB.

 

[Chuck McCoy]

SETTINGS:
ALL CAMERAS HAVE CPL FILTERS
LENS ADJUSTMENT:
A229 Pro (50% road / 50% sky)
A329 (60% road / 40% sky) I must have moved the lens accidentally, (sorry Mtz).

A329
V1.0 20241009
HDR On
Max Bitrate (65 Mbps)
All other setting default

A229 Pro
V1.3.1 20241024
HDR On
Max Bitrate (60 Mbps)
All other setting default

Stay tuned for more Las Vegas Night test footage.

 

[lufa6977]

Bill told me at SEMA they're are working on an A329 3-CH;
1.) Front
2.) Rear IMX675
3.) Telephoto IMX675
The Telephoto will plug into the HDMI input.

If that rear channel can be used as an IR interior, then I will consider the dash cam.

 

[kamkar]

I like the soundtrack, languages, not least unusual ones paired with a song i know, hilarious.
When i was a kid in my first job ( few hour every evening on local gas station ) well back then we had a news broadcast in Greenlandish every evening, that made working a bit funnier.
Quite a few of the Asian languages do me in just fine in a situation like that.

A little while i heard Thai rap for the first time,,,,,, this old guy was instantly incapacitated.

 

[Chuck McCoy]

I like the soundtrack

I always play “good” 80’s music for audio testing when I get a new camera for test & review.
This time I picked out 4 songs, and had them ready to go.
One of the songs was “blocked” by YouTube.
One song I haven’t used yet.

Original vs. George Lam Version;

Original vs. Sandy Lam Version;

Original vs. Sally Yeh Version;

 

[Chuck McCoy]

SETTINGS:
ALL CAMERAS HAVE CPL FILTERS
LENS ADJUSTMENT:
A229 Pro (50% road / 50% sky)
A329 (60% road / 40% sky) I must have moved the lens accidentally, (sorry Mtz).

A329
V1.0 20241009
HDR On
Max Bitrate (65 Mbps)
All other setting default

A229 Pro
V1.3.1 20241024
HDR On
Max Bitrate (60 Mbps)
All other setting default

 

[bunnyspecs]

I always play “good” 80’s music for audio testing when I get a new camera for test & review.
This time I picked out 4 songs, and had them ready to go.
One of the songs was “blocked” by YouTube.
One song I haven’t used yet.

Original vs. George Lam Version;

Original vs. Sandy Lam Version;

Original vs. Sally Yeh Version;

Reminds me of sitting my dad's car as a kid. Cantopop is probably a major reason why my Cantonese is as good as it is.

 

[Chuck McCoy]

Reminds me of sitting my dad's car as a kid. Cantopop is probably a major reason why my Cantonese is as good as it is.

80’s Hong Kong was fantastic!

 

[Chuck McCoy]

13 minute "super edit"

 

[Chuck McCoy]

A329 Parking Near Miss

This is why I was taught to always, always, always park backwards.
Location: Underground Las Vegas parking garage, (that’s why there’s no GPS / SPEED info in the text stamp on recorded footage).

 

[Chuck McCoy]

Heat Test Comparison #1
A329 2-CH REAR vs. A229 PRO 2-CH REAR

For this comparison I removed the cameras from my car, and put ‘em back on my test rig with one small difference.
This time they’re connected to my trusty @BlackboxMyCar PowerCell 8 Dash Cam Battery Pack with separate, but identical HK4 Hardwire Kits.
This allows me to easily switch between Normal Recording Mode, and Parking Mode.
This is important because “most” customers experiencing overheating issues will most likely happen in parking mode, (windows up, no air flow, under direct sunlight).
On the other hand normal recording / driving mode has the benefit of air flow, (windows down, or A/C blowing on the camera.
I have identical 64GB Viofo Brand SD Cards in the cameras freshly formatted in camera.
Both my test units are retail production models with serial numbers, (not pre-production).
I’ll be using my TOPDON TC004 Thermal Imaging Camera to accurately document heat signatures of each camera, (same model used by @rcg530 & @Vortex Radar )
We’re heading into winter, so I relocated the test rig from my chilly garage to my “room temperature” office 70℉ (21℃).
I let the cameras operate in normal recording mode for 3 hours to get them fully warmed up.

SETTINGS & CONFIGURATION:

For this first test I want to simulate DAYTIME driving with normal recording mode.
A329: 4K60fps (front)
A229 Pro: 4K30fps (front)
Both Rear Cameras: 2K30fps
HDR: All Cameras Off
Bitrate Setting: Maximum
Keep in mind the A329 runs both channels at a higher Bitrate than the A229 Pro.
A329 1 Minute File Size: 472MB + 196MB = 668MB (total approx 90 Mbps)
A229 Pro 1 Minute File Size: 430MB + 172MB = 602MB (total approx 81 Mbps)

In Normal Recording Mode it looks like the the A329 runs 11℉ (6℃) hotter than the A229 Pro.
For my next test I will switch the cameras to Low Bitrate Parking Mode, and let the cameras stabilize for 1 hour.
This should provide interesting results because the A329 drops to 30fps in parking mode, and both cameras, all channels will have identical Bitrates of 4 Mbps.
This should bring the temperatures down, and there should be less of a difference between the A329, and A229 Pro.
Stay tuned for more.

 

[Chuck McCoy]

Heat Test Comparison #2
A329 2-CH REAR vs. A229 PRO 2-CH REAR

In the previous heat test it looks like the A329 runs 11℉ (6℃) hotter than the A229 Pro in Normal Recording Mode.
Now let’s see what happens when the cameras are switched to Low Bitrate Parking Mode.
Keep in mind the A329 will drop to 30fps in parking mode, and both cameras all channels will drop Bitrate to 4 Mbps.
I let the cameras stabilize for 1 hour before taking their temperature.
In Low Bitrate Parking Mode it now looks like the the A329 only runs 4℉ (2℃) hotter than the A229 Pro.

Attached 1

 

[Augustus]

Heat Test Comparison #1
A329 2-CH REAR vs. A229 PRO 2-CH REAR

For this comparison I removed the cameras from my car, and put ‘em back on my test rig with one small difference.
This time they’re connected to my trusty @BlackboxMyCar PowerCell 8 Dash Cam Battery Pack with separate, but identical HK4 Hardwire Kits.
This allows me to easily switch between Normal Recording Mode, and Parking Mode.
This is important because “most” customers experiencing overheating issues will most likely happen in parking mode, (windows up, no air flow, under direct sunlight).
On the other hand normal recording / driving mode has the benefit of air flow, (windows down, or A/C blowing on the camera.
I have identical 64GB Viofo Brand SD Cards in the cameras freshly formatted in camera.
Both my test units are retail production models with serial numbers, (not pre-production).
I’ll be using my TOPDON TC004 Thermal Imaging Camera to accurately document heat signatures of each camera, (same model used by @rcg530 & @Vortex Radar )
We’re heading into winter, so I relocated the test rig from my chilly garage to my “room temperature” office 70℉ (21℃).
I let the cameras operate in normal recording mode for 3 hours to get them fully warmed up.

SETTINGS & CONFIGURATION:

For this first test I want to simulate DAYTIME driving with normal recording mode.
A329: 4K60fps (front)
A229 Pro: 4K30fps (front)
Both Rear Cameras: 2K30fps
HDR: All Cameras Off
Bitrate Setting: Maximum
Keep in mind the A329 runs both channels at a higher Bitrate than the A229 Pro.
A329 1 Minute File Size: 472MB + 196MB = 668MB (total approx 90 Mbps)
A229 Pro 1 Minute File Size: 430MB + 172MB = 602MB (total approx 81 Mbps)

In Normal Recording Mode it looks like the the A329 runs 11℉ (6℃) hotter than the A229 Pro.
For my next test I will switch the cameras to Low Bitrate Parking Mode, and let the cameras stabilize for 1 hour.
This should provide interesting results because the A329 drops to 30fps in parking mode, and both cameras, all channels will have identical Bitrates of 4 Mbps.
This should bring the temperatures down, and there should be less of a difference between the A329, and A229 Pro.
Stay tuned for more.

View attachment 75022
View attachment 75023
View attachment 75024View attachment 75025

Oooh interesting it runs 6 degrees hotter than the A229 Pro, thought it would have run a bit cooler. Not looking forward to testing here with summer just about to start eep haha

 

[Chuck McCoy]

Heat Test Comparison #3
A329 2-CH REAR (60fps vs. 30fps)

Q: Does the A329 2-CH Rear run cooler in 4K30fps compared to 4K60fps even though Bitrate is unchanged in Normal Recording Mode?
A: Yes.
4K30fps runs 13℉ (7℃) cooler than 4K60fps

 

[Chuck McCoy]

interesting it runs 6 degrees hotter than the A229 Pro, thought it would have run a bit cooler.

Q: Does the A329 2-CH Rear run cooler in 4K30fps compared to 4K60fps even though Bitrate is unchanged in Normal Recording Mode?
A: See above post

 

[Augustus]

Q: Does the A329 2-CH Rear run cooler in 4K30fps compared to 4K60fps even though Bitrate is unchanged in Normal Recording Mode?
A: See above post

So 4k30 between both the A229 Pro and A329 are roughly the same temps then?

 

[Chuck McCoy]

@Karagandinez
Boot Up Speed Test
A329 2-CH REAR vs. A229 PRO 2-CH REAR

Both cameras have 64GB Viofo SD Cards.
I plugged both cameras into a power bank.
At the top of the minute I turned on the power bank.
A329: 10.6 seconds
A229 Pro: 20.6 seconds
Wow, 10 seconds faster.
Why is it so fast, new processor?