A329S Test & Review PP

Chuck McCoy said:
You were right @Nigel “car in the middle” multiplex looks more appealing.
@indigo

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In your previous setup, the front and side cameras were on the same side when recording and viewing multiplex. Now they're upside down, but it's more enjoyable to watch this way.

Frankly, when I first wanted a waterproof camera, I was considering smaller cameras like the current MT1 cameras.

Now, I'm looking forward to seeing waterproof cameras with a fisheye effect. @viofo

By the way, I haven't had a chance to try the A329S series yet.
 
ogzogz said:
Frankly, when I first wanted a waterproof camera, I was considering smaller cameras like the current MT1 cameras.
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I tried the MT1 cameras mounted on the mirrors, worked well, but the field of view was too narrow to be really good.
ogzogz said:
Now, I'm looking forward to seeing waterproof cameras with a fisheye effect. @viofo
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That would be excellent.
 
Nigel said:
Some people would like the whole bottom of the multiplex mirrored
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If the footage is mirrored won't that make it harder to read signage, and license plates because the letters / numbers will be backwards?
Nigel said:
Only issue is installing them, which probably isn't a job for the average user...
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If people are willing to install those external backup license plate frame cameras, this is not much more difficult.
 
Chuck McCoy said:
If the footage is mirrored won't that make it harder to read signage, and license plates because the letters / numbers will be backwards?
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Yes, but everyone knows what an ATOYOT is, 🤔 actually they don't have that on the front these days, just a symmetrical badge.
... would have put ECNALUBMA, but that doesn't work without a mirrored typeface!

Some people will insist on it being mirrored, but I think most people are either happy, or would prefer it as you have it.

Chuck McCoy said:
If people are willing to install those external backup license plate frame cameras, this is not much more difficult.
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True, and the cables are shorter, less routing to do.
 
This setup is awesome! Clever move turning those extra cams into side views—love the creativity. Appreciate the shoutout!
 
BlackboxMyCar said:
This setup is awesome! Clever move turning those extra cams into side views—love the creativity. Appreciate the shoutout!
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Well, well, well.
Look what the cat drug in. lol

This is only half of the intended 6CH system, (front, front telephoto, rear, rear IR interior, exterior waterproof left, exterior waterproof right) = A329ST 3CH + A329SW 3CH.
In 8 days I should receive the correct length Coax Cable to finish the install.
Then I'll be able to hobble together another low quality "edited" demo video.
-Chuck
 
A329WW Random Footage

These RWC400 external waterproof “side cameras” are good at capturing plates of passing cars.
I was going 25-30MPH, and the passing cars exiting the highway are going 60+MPH.
Something about the mounting location of the camera, and the angle of POV make it easy to capture plates.
Here are the full size screenshots, and their “zoomed in” screenshot.
1.) CA Plate# 7LUC835 2015 Toyota Corolla
2.) CA Plate# 09523Z3 2024 Ford F-150 XLT
3.) CA Plate# 43746C4 2025 GMC Sierra 2500HD Denali

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Here’s the video the screenshots were taken from;


Right Side External Camera;


Front Camera;

 
A329S 6CH (A329SW + A329TW) - HIGHWAY TEST FOOTAGE (telephoto, fisheye, waterproof left & right)

1.) Front 4K - Front Windshield
2.) Telephoto - Front Windshield
3.) Waterproof Rear - Left Side
4.) Waterproof Rear - Right Side
5.) IR Interior Fisheye - Rear Window
6.) Front 4K - Rear Window

All HDR is OFF, (except for IR Interior Fisheye).
All cameras have CPL Filters, (except waterproof rear & interior).
A329S Firmware: V1.2_250708
A329T Firmware: V1.2_250708
See attached photos of camera install location.
The Waterproof Rear (left & right side) cameras are here; Side Camera Photos

Here is a link to the original / raw video files, (please download in 24 hours so I can delete, and add more).
Each video is 3 Minutes long;

A329S 6CH - Highway Daytime - Google Drive

drive.google.com drive.google.com

Here are the original / raw videos uploaded to YouTube for easy viewing;


Right now the “City Test Footage” is being uploaded, and processing.
Tomorrow I plan to film “Night Time” test footage with this 6 channel configuration.
Sunset is 8:17PM, so I have to wait until 9:17PM to gather test footage.
I’m waiting for tomorrow so there will hopefully be more cars on the road, (friday night) to capture their license plates.
-Chuck
 

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A329S 6CH (A329SW + A329TW) - CITY TEST LOOP (telephoto, fisheye, waterproof left & right)

1.) Front 4K - Front Windshield
2.) Telephoto - Front Windshield
3.) Waterproof Rear - Left Side
4.) Waterproof Rear - Right Side
5.) IR Interior Fisheye - Rear Window
6.) Front 4K - Rear Window

All HDR is OFF, (except for IR Interior Fisheye).
All camera have CPL Filters, (except waterproof rear & interior).
A329S Firmware: V1.2_250708
A329T Firmware: V1.2_250708
See attached photos of camera install location.
The Waterproof Rear (left & right side) cameras are here; Side Camera Photos

Here is a link to the original / raw video files, (please download in 24 hours so I can delete, and add more).
Each video is 3 Minutes long;
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/14wBjy7twlUjuSjN618tJMkSBZK2x4_bF?usp=sharing

Here are the original / raw videos uploaded to YouTube for easy viewing;


Tomorrow I plan to film “Night Time” test footage with this 6 channel configuration.
Sunset is 8:17PM, so I have to wait until 9:17PM to gather test footage.
I’m waiting for tomorrow so there will hopefully be more cars on the road, (friday night) to capture their license plates.
-Chuck
 

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Do those side cameras have CPL filters in them?

I can't see any windshield reflections in any of the other vehicles, although most of them have so much tint that you can't see much inside anyway!

You appear to say that they don't...
 
Chuck McCoy said:
That does not compute.
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There are some reflections on the window of your liquid fuel station, so maybe they don't, but looking at the cars, I'm puzzled by the lack of reflections?

How about you do a test? Either put some polarised sunglasses in front of them and rotate 90°, or point them at an LCD TV screen and rotate 90° to see if the image turns black...

Edit: One of Viofo's rectangular CPLs could also be used in place of the sunglasses.
 
Nigel said:
There are some reflections on the window of your liquid fuel station, so maybe they don't, but looking at the cars, I'm puzzled by the lack of reflections?

How about you do a test? Either put some polarised sunglasses in front of them and rotate 90°, or point them at an LCD TV screen and rotate 90° to see if the image turns black...

Edit: One of Viofo's rectangular CPLs could also be used in place of the sunglasses.
Click to expand...
OK, I can test that.
But it will be a minute.
 
Highway Test Footage “super edit”
All 6 channels crammed into one video.
I made this on my iPhone 13 using iMovie.

 
ALL ABOARD!
A329S 6CH (A329SW + A329TW) - CITY NIGHT TEST FOOTAGE (telephoto, fisheye, waterproof left & right)

1.) Front 4K - Front Windshield
2.) Telephoto - Front Windshield
3.) Waterproof Rear - Left Side
4.) Waterproof Rear - Right Side
5.) IR Interior Fisheye - Rear Window
6.) Front 4K - Rear Window

This was filmed 1 Hour 10 Minutes after sunset, (sunset was 8:17PM).
Dash cam manufacturers like it when we film night time test footage in well illuminated areas like Las Vegas, or the Macau Riviera, unfortunately I live in a small rural town, and these are the brightest lights we got. lol
Also, at this hour few cars are on the road so it limits my license plate capture opportunities.

All HDR is ON, (except for IR Interior Fisheye).
All cameras have CPL Filters, (except waterproof rear & interior).
A329S Firmware: V1.2_250708
A329T Firmware: V1.2_250708
See attached photos of camera install locations.
The Waterproof Rear (left & right side) cameras are here; Side Camera Photos

First, and foremost the IR Interior Fisheye test footage is not valid, (I’ll have to re-film it).
When I’m testing multiple installed dash cams I must make sure the IR LED’s are not illuminated from a different camera so it does not influence the camera I’m filming test footage for, (make scene brighter than it actually is).
I went into the firmware settings of the other installed camera, and “turned off” the IR Interior Camera.
Even though the camera was not recording to the SD Card, the IR LED emitters were still fully functional.
I knew I should have disconnected the cable but it’s a pain in the rear to disconnect, and reconnect because I installed it so close to the top of the headliner so it doesn't block my view of the road as much.
You can see on the right edge of the video the IR LED’s of the other camera are illuminated, but when I momentarily stop at the Chevron Gas Station they automatically switch off, and then back on again when I leave.

One of the best features of the A229 Pro IR Interior camera was the addition of a light sensor to make transitions from IR Black & White to full color quicker, and more accurate.
This was an issue with the IR Interior camera from the A139 Pro.
The light sensor is "absent" from the A329S IR Interior Fisheye camera so it fails to transition like the A229 Pro IR Interior camera.
The reason for my momentary stop under the lights of the Chevron Gas Station, and turn on my dome light is to test the “accuracy” of the IR Interior’s ability to transition from IR Black & White to full color, and back to B&W.
Here’s an example what the transition looks like with the A229 Pro at the same Chevron Gas Station 16 months prior;


And here’s screenshots of the A329S IR Black & White, and A229 Pro full color;

A229 Pro - Full Color .webp

A329S - IR Black & White .webp


Good news for A229 Ultra users though, the IR Interior light sensor is back.

A229 Ultra - IR Interior Light Sensor .webp


Dear @viofo
If possible, and you have the room to stuff it in, please install a light sensor on all future IR Interior cameras.
The difference between IR Black & White, and full color when ambient lighting conditions permit is HUGE!

Here’s a link to the original / raw video files, (please download in 24 hours so I can delete, and add more).
Each video is 3 Minutes long;
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/153iUeFe16Kw-DtfH8ptwPfiG-P9zEf8h?usp=sharing

Here’s the original / raw videos uploaded to YouTube for easy viewing;

 

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