Linus tech tips on dashcams.

[Dashmellow]

The Starvis 2 seems promising but the fact of the matter is that until we see dash cams built with larger sensors and perhaps something other than off-the-shelf M12 lenses we won't be seeing and dramatic, paradigm shifting improvements in overall image quality. We likely need more powerful processors as well.

 

[Vortex Radar]

Ah interesting. That's super helpful, thank you!

Cool to see that it can optimize its processing for certain parts of the frame where there's more movement and they explicitly state that it can help improve license plate recording.

Looks like they're saying it offers 2.5x better dynamic range which would be a huge benefit too.

I'm still working on my video going over this. It's gonna be a pretty big one, lol. Thanks for mentioning the Starvis 2 stuff. I hadn't fully researched it before, but this'll be a great time to mention it.

 

[Nigel]

Sony did a paper launch of IMX675 last month with expected sample ship date August 2022.

"Sample ship date" means the dashcam manufacturers can start work on developing new dashcams to use the new sensors, they won't be on sale until well into next year. The IMX662 could be available sooner, but I'm not sure there is much demand for expensive 1080 resolution dashcams, so nobody is going to rush to get that on sale.

I don't even see any 4K Starvis 2 sensor that is 1/2.8 listed...Sure, there is 1/1.8 and 1/1.2 but those will be much more expensive.

1/1.2" is physically a little too big for a wide angle dashcam sensor, and a 4K dashcam should be wide angle, so nobody is going to use that for dashcams.

1/1.8" is suitable for a top of the range dashcam, but we don't see those get released very often, the U1000 and A129 Pro are both getting a bit old now, the Thinkware released in Sep 2019 and the Viofo the month after. Presumably sales are not high enough to justify frequent updates, and Thinkware isn't really known for high image quality anyway, so why bother with an expensive 1/1.8" sensor and associated expensive lens when you can match the rest with cheaper hardware and then win on relatively cheap extras like radar sensors?

 

[kamkar]

I would probably take a dashcam that was super dialed in for daytime recording only, as long as it was not utter garbage for low light recording.
In general my personal focus are on daytime driving, at night i am happy if my one lane holding / speed and color of lights i pass thru can be documented, and it dont take much to do that.

The hinge point for me are still price.

 

[triodak]

Viofo are you working on new Dash Cam with IMX675 sensor? I hope so.

IMX675 have 6 times better sensitivity than IMX335. I wish that new camera will have processor that will be able to work in real HDR mode and process two frames with different gain. IMX675 sensor offer new Clear HDR mode with those two frames captured simultaneously (not in quick succession like DOL HDR). It is opportunity to finally produce some excellent DVR. Quality of night video finally may get some serious improvement. Such Dash DVR will be the Holy Grail.

If you are working on it when new camera may be expected?

 

[Lothar]

"Sample ship date" means the dashcam manufacturers can start work on developing new dashcams to use the new sensors, they won't be on sale until well into next year. The IMX662 could be available sooner, but I'm not sure there is much demand for expensive 1080 resolution dashcams, so nobody is going to rush to get that on sale.


1/1.2" is physically a little too big for a wide angle dashcam sensor, and a 4K dashcam should be wide angle, so nobody is going to use that for dashcams.

1/1.8" is suitable for a top of the range dashcam, but we don't see those get released very often, the U1000 and A129 Pro are both getting a bit old now, the Thinkware released in Sep 2019 and the Viofo the month after. Presumably sales are not high enough to justify frequent updates, and Thinkware isn't really known for high image quality anyway, so why bother with an expensive 1/1.8" sensor and associated expensive lens when you can match the rest with cheaper hardware and then win on relatively cheap extras like radar sensors?

Nope, I am absolutely not interested in IMX662 (a 1080P Starvis 2 sensor) whatsoever like you mentioned.

 

[Nigel]

Nope, I am absolutely not interested in IMX662 (a 1080P Starvis 2 sensor) whatsoever like you mentioned.

The Linus Tech Tips video did recommend the Thinkware F70 FHD 1080 dashcam for the "budget shoppers out there", so an updated version to keep them leading the FHD dashcam category would make sense. Maybe not for the USA, but in UK and Europe where plates are much easier to read, it will work OK. However, the F70 is listed as using an ON Semiconductor sensor, so they might not be looking to Sony for an upgrade, since they already seem to have an advantage.

Viofo are you working on new Dash Cam with IMX675 sensor? I hope so.

IMX675 have 6 times better sensitivity than IMX335. I wish that new camera will have processor that will be able to work in real HDR mode and process two frames with different gain. IMX675 sensor offer new Clear HDR mode with those two frames captured simultaneously (not in quick succession like DOL HDR). It is opportunity to finally produce some excellent DVR. Quality of night video finally may get some serious improvement. Such Dash DVR will be the Holy Grail.

If you are working on it when new camera may be expected?

It has only recently been announced, and even the samples are only just about to be available, so I don't expect they have done much work on it yet. If it really did have 6 times better sensitivity then I'm sure they would be looking at it seriously, Sony's sensitivity figures are not easy to understand though, note that the figures say that it has the same sensitivity as the much larger 1/1.8" sensor, which won't actually be the case in the way you understand sensitivity! We don't use our dashcam sensors at maximum sensitivity anyway, unless you park on an unlit street and expect to record by moonlight. It will be an improvement, but think 2x rather than 6x. As for timing, I doubt that Sony will start production of the sensor this year, they are currently starting to ship samples.

 

[Lothar]

The Linus Tech Tips video did recommend the Thinkware F70 FHD 1080 dashcam for the "budget shoppers out there", so an updated version to keep them leading the FHD dashcam category would make sense. Maybe not for the USA, but in UK and Europe where plates are much easier to read, it will work OK. However, the F70 is listed as using an ON Semiconductor sensor, so they might not be looking to Sony for an upgrade, since they already seem to have an advantage.

An updated version of the Thinkware F70 with IMX662 Starvis 2 sensor will cost more than that. It's not going to suddenly replace the current Thinkware F70 model at the same price.
If Thinkware does decide to release an updated F70 model with IMX662, I can easily see a $20 price increase minimum.

Even I have a problem with his current Thinkware F70 recommendation as you can get an A119 V3 for almost the same price. The $10 price difference between the Thinkware F70 and A119 V3 is nothing to write home about. Just skip lunch for 1 day or don't buy coffee for 2 days and you've saved the $10 that you need to get an A119 V3.

 

[Dash cams Serbia]

Half of this topic pages are discussions about ad blockers and such...
Can someone instead give examples of dash cams which do offer superior image quality, please?
Like, something better then a 5-6 year old 50 dollar dash cam (Yi Smart Dash Cam with CPL filter, filming in 1080p at 60 fps):

 

[Nigel]

Can someone instead give examples of dash cams which do offer superior image quality, please?

You could watch the review in post #1, and look at:

Best Dash Cams of 2022

When looking for a new dash cam, check out our main page for the best bang for your buck dash cams. Beyond that, for 2022 these are the best dash cams to

dashcamtalk.com

 

[Dash cams Serbia]

I am not impressed with that selection. VIOFO A129 only records at 30 fps. 60 Mbps for 4K, seems low to me.
I've watched the sample video and it is worse then on my camera. Every time I stop the video, image is blurry (because it only films at 30 fps).
Costs 3 times the price...

 

[Nigel]

image is blurry (because it only films at 30 fps).

That does not follow, 30fps video has less frames than 60fps video, so higher bitrate per frame, so can have a sharper image for the same total bitrate.

I've watched the sample video and it is worse then on my camera.

Yi Smart Dash Cam

Are you saying that a Yi Smart FHD 1080 dashcam provides higher video quality than a Viofo A129 Pro 4K dashcam?

The A129 Pro has 4x the detail in good lighting!
5x if you include the rear camera, and only costs:

Costs 3 times the price...

 

[Kremmen]

IMO you can't tell actual dashcam quality from uploaded YT clips.

You need the original files, played on a large PC monitor to really appreciate what's what for comparison.

 

[Dash cams Serbia]

That does not follow, 30fps video has less frames than 60fps video, so higher bitrate per frame, so can have a sharper image for the same total bitrate.

Are you saying that a Yi Smart FHD 1080 dashcam provides higher video quality than a Viofo A129 Pro 4K dashcam?

The A129 Pro has 4x the detail in good lighting!
5x if you include the rear camera, and only costs:

Says who? You, based on paper specs. That means nothing.

Yi Dash Cam (1080p60fps) paused video screenshot:

https://i.postimg.cc/JnWnBg3J/Yi-Dash-Cam-paused-video.png

Viofo A129 A129 (1080p30fs) paused video screenshot:

https://i.postimg.cc/Dz1fF6Vz/Viofo-A129-Propaused-video.png

Yi:

Viofo:

 

[Kremmen]

My Viofo freeze frame shots are considerably better and sharper than that.

I use 1440p @ 30fps

 

[Nigel]

Yi Dash Cam (1080p60fps) paused video screenshot:

With an A129 Pro you could have read the plate on the van as well:

Viofo A129 A129 (1080p30fs) paused video screenshot:

British weather - mid-winter sunshine and low light at the same time 😉

 

[Kremmen]

The secret here could be like for like.

I wouldn't expect any motion blur at 4mph, which is the case above, nice and clear.

My Viofo motion blur testing was all performed at exactly 50mph on a motorway. What we don't know in the Yi v Viofo was the speeds.

 

[Nigel]

What we don't know in the Yi v Viofo was the speeds.

Or more importantly for the Yi frame, the relative speed, which could have been zero, since both vehicles are heading in the same direction...

 

[Kremmen]

... or even the same country given white v yellow number plates.

 

[Nigel]

Says who? You, based on paper specs. That means nothing.

Yi Dash Cam (1080p60fps) paused video screenshot:

Now that I've seen the video that goes with that screenshot, I can see that there is a relative difference in speed, but not a very high one, maybe equivalent to this A229 framegrab of someone overtaking me, and since this was British summer weather, the lighting is going to be a fair bit closer to your image too than your 2nd image above:

That is fairly typical image quality from any of the 2K Viofo cameras, the A229 is the newest, and maybe the best, but there is not much difference between any of the IMX335 cameras, and others manufacturers using the IMX335 2K sensor will also be fairly close, although they tend to use less bitrate. That gives you quite a lot of choice. Being only 2K, in good lighting it only has half the detail of an A129 Pro, but it will do a little better in low light conditions, and it will definitely do better than your Yi in most lighting conditions, but maybe not every situation.