Review: Viofo A119s

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Aug 16, 2015
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Location
Minsk
Country
Belarus
Dash Cam
dp220, p2, pS
Well known that the original firmware shipped with the A119s was murky at night. So I've decided to do not film any review on a some beta version and waited for a proper one.

Finally v1.2 was released so here we are.

DSC01356.jpg


So - new model "S"! It is a completely different one with the original A119 and the main difference is the sensor.


DSC01353.jpg


DSC01355.jpg



The A119S is based on Sony EXMOR IMX291. Brief TTX could be found on my local blog IMX291 compared to the prev one - IMX122.


The most important details are below:


imx291-imx122.jpg



Dynamic range: IMX122/IMX322 = 100db; IMX291 = 130db
Snr: IMX122/IMX322 = 54db; IMX291 = 46db
Sensitivity: IMX122/IMX322 = 425mV; IMX291 = 1300mV



As you can see it is not a just new 1080p*60fps mode, but a huge step forward in any param. The most incredible improvement is the sensitivity which is 3 times better!!! Unbelevable

imx291-2.jpg



So as per datasheet new IMX291 must be much more better and untouchable for the prev sony sensors and also unreachable for cheep china toys on ov4689 (like the trendvision tv718).
 
Unboxing and accessories:


DSC01357.jpg

IMG_2860.jpg



I like such mountings in car very much. It is definitely the best formfactor ever. Looks like a standard vehicle equipment.

DSC01351.jpg


It could not be rotated horizontally. But as for me it is not a critical feature and might be ignored as useless.


DSC01352.jpg


But need to say that the base A119 had an ability to turn lenses not only up-to-bottom but also turn it right-to-left. Which was really very very convenient for view angle fine tuning.
In a new A119S the sensor size is much bigger so it is no any chance to locale it inside the same body. Thus the right-to-left rotation ability was not implemented. But it is still possible to turn it up-to-bottom.



The GPS designed as a hot-plug holder mounted on a windscreen with a proper 3M adhesive strip:

DSC01358.jpg
 
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Day:





Snapstots (click for a fullsize)

A119s
a119s_1.jpg

DP220
dp220_1.jpg

Panorama2
p2_1.jpg

A119
a119_1.jpg



A119s
a119s_2.jpg

DP220
dp220_2.jpg

Panorama2
p2_2.jpg

A119
a119_2.jpg






Old fashion DP220 and Panorama2 are blured in compare with both Viofos. And as the IMX291 as the OV4689 are pretty good for details. Sony making number plates readable thanks to 60fps mode but the OV4689 taking pixels in 1440p resolution. Both are damn good. As for me OV4689 is just a bit more accurate, but Sony's 291 rival it close and very sharp.

A119s
a119s_4.jpg

DP220
dp220_4.jpg

Panorama2
p2_4.jpg

A119
a119_4.jpg


High contrast scenes making things more obvious and easy to review. The dynamic rage of a new EXMOR is just from another planet. Pls look at the wall to the left. Just nothing to comment here.

Technical details are absolutely proved.
 
Night:


Snapstots (click for a fullsize)
(sorry for a inaccurate view direction of the a119)


A119s
a119s_1.jpg

DP220
dp220_1.jpg

Panorama2
p2_1.jpg

A119
a119_1.jpg




A119s
a119s_2.jpg

DP220
dp220_2.jpg

Panorama2
p2_2.jpg

A119
a119_2.jpg




A119s
a119s_3.jpg

DP220
dp220_3.jpg

Panorama2
p2_3.jpg

A119
a119_3.jpg




A119s
a119s_4.jpg

DP220
dp220_4.jpg

Panorama2
p2_4.jpg

A119
a119_4.jpg






And even if we try to get all the details in photoshop:

A119s
a119s_1_gs.jpg

DP220
dp220_1_gs.jpg

Panorama2
p2_1_gs.jpg

A119
a119_1_gs.jpg


No any chance for event IMX122. The new 291 filming like a human eyes
 
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Bit rate:

General
Format : MPEG-4
Format profile : Base Media / Version 2
Codec ID : mp42 (isom/avc1/mp42)
File size : 736 MiB
Duration : 5mn 0s
Overall bit rate mode : Variable
Overall bit rate : 20.6 Mbps
Origin : NOVATEK

Video
ID : 1
Format : AVC
Format/Info : Advanced Video Codec
Format profile : High@L5.1
Format settings, CABAC : Yes
Format settings, ReFrames : 1 frame
Format settings, GOP : M=1, N=15
Codec ID : avc1
Codec ID/Info : Advanced Video Coding
Duration : 5mn 0s
Bit rate : 20.1 Mbps
Width : 1 920 pixels
Height : 1 080 pixels
Display aspect ratio : 16:9
Frame rate mode : Constant
Frame rate : 60.000 fps
Color space : YUV
Chroma subsampling : 4:2:0
Bit depth : 8 bits
Scan type : Progressive
Bits/(Pixel*Frame) : 0.161
Stream size : 718 MiB (98%)
Language : English

Audio
ID : 2
Format : AAC
Format/Info : Advanced Audio Codec
Format profile : LC
Codec ID : 40
Duration : 5mn 0s
Bit rate mode : Variable
Bit rate : 96.0 Kbps
Channel(s) : 1 channel
Channel positions : Front: C
Sampling rate : 32.0 KHz
Frame rate : 31.250 fps (1024 spf)
Compression mode : Lossy
Stream size : 3.43 MiB (0%)
Language : English

In theory 20Mbps might be not so good for the 60fps, But as per snapshots details and compression quality looks not so bad in real world.





GPS:
Still having issues with the RegistatorViewer, it was promised to be fixed in v1.2. But still nothing:

a119s_gps.jpg





Found issues:
Some mic noice in my Hyundai. Not sure but hope it is my alternator's noise interference.




Сonclusions:
The best dashcam I've ever tested. Some minor issues with GPS log, but the overall performance it a superb and unbelievable at night.


PS Sorry for my english. Had no any practice translating reviews form russian.
Btw, The original text is here: http://andrei.krutsko.com/blog/index.php?entry=entry170315-115900
 
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the very first A119 worked fine with Registrator Viewer. but in latest firmwares it was broken. the same issue is here
 
the very first A119 worked fine with Registrator Viewer. but in latest firmwares it was broken. the same issue is here

it worked on some older version of Registrator Viewer but that was just luck not planning, the GPS data format has changed in the newer SDK so it won't work like it did before unfortunately
 
Just a good challenge to Viofo programmers to prove that Viofo is a customer oriented brand
 
so what? not enought skills to override some inclass method with your own implementation? Ist just a small task to Inherit from base SDK class and write your own implementation of text GPS stream.
 
Just a good challenge to Viofo programmers to prove that Viofo is a customer oriented brand
great review mate, and thanks for the technical stats of the sensors that was very eyeopening :). I can safely say that Sony sensors are fairly good at night, having used Chupad with IMX322 and that is far better at night at bringing in light than the A119.
 
great review mate, and thanks for the technical stats of the sensors that was very eyeopening :)
welcome ^)
I can safely say that Sony sensors are fairly good at night, having used Chupad with IMX322 and that is far better at night at bringing in light than the A119.
absolutely!
 
Nice review, thank you.
 
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