Reviewing and Testing the new Vantrue N4S Dashcam

[haiou_f]

And here is a comparison of static images from each camera's Low Bit Rate parking mode, both cameras a fitted with a polarizing lens. In an interesting contrast with drive mode recordings, the N4S features a higher bitrate and slightly larger file size for lower resolution than the A139Pro has. Again, the N4S has higher contrast and more saturated colors. Both offer similar field of view, with the A139Pro being just a pinch wider. Despite the few second difference in time stamps, I froze the video at the same point in time, note the bird flying in front of the hood.

N4S LBR Parking mode resolution 1920x1080, 4,915Kb/s 15fps, 112,640KB for 3mins:

View attachment 81579

A139Pro LBR Parking Mode Resolution 2560x1440, 4,096Kb/s 30fps, 96,627KB for 3mins:

View attachment 81580

In parking mode, the sharpness of n4s is relatively high, but upon closer inspection, the details in the photo seem to be inferior to a139。

 

[haiou_f]

Nice, one could argue that the bitrate is a little low but with the 2.5k resolution it's plenty enough.

Viofo A329S also uses imx675 for its interior cabin camera - I think a lot more dashcam models will transition to this sensor this year and into next. Same as 4k for rear sensors being the imx678 etc etc

I don't really like the 329 fisheye lens, it's too distorted😂

 

[EricSan]

Nice, one could argue that the bitrate is a little low but with the 2.5k resolution it's plenty enough.

For an interior camera, I don't see the need for more resolution than the IMX675 delivers. I can't think of any details that wouldn't be rendered with enough detail for a useful cabin image/video.

For the forward facing camera, it is impressive processing that squeaks greater clarity and readability out of lower resolution and lower bitrate video!

 

[Augustus]

For an interior camera, I don't see the need for more resolution than the IMX675 delivers. I can't think of any details that wouldn't be rendered with enough detail for a useful cabin image/video.

For the forward facing camera, it is impressive processing that squeaks greater clarity and readability out of lower resolution and lower bitrate video!

Bitrate is still pretty important for video at lower values but higher up it doesn't matter so much.

I think interior cabin cameras will get 4k sensors at some point, as the prices of the sensors drop and marketing dictates better and better every year, it's inevitable. But plenty enough for now.

 

[EricSan]

In parking mode, the sharpness of n4s is relatively high, but upon closer inspection, the details in the photo seem to be inferior to a139。

I just edited my previous post and added two cropped images from parking mode to make the differences between the cameras a bit easier to see. It's not a perfect pixel-for-pixel comparison due to differences in resolution and the way my video software handles those differences.

 

[EricSan]

This comparison is between the N4S and the A139Pro rear cameras with both cameras looking back directly into the sunlight. These images are made at exactly the same point in time as the front camera screen shots that I posted earlier, you can see the backside of the road sign on the left side of the image. Both cameras would benefit from a rear polarizer (that is not available for either camera), though the reflections of the rear dash when combined with the sunlight seems to impact the N4S camera more than the A139Pro. This time, it's the A139Pro that loses shadow details right behind the road sign. Looking at the guardrail on the right side of the road, it looks like the N4S again exhibits better linearity (less distortion) than the A139Pro.

Due to the relative optical magnification inherent in each lens, the trailing car appears closer in with the Vantrue camera than it does with the Viofo camera.

N4S Rear Camera, 2560x1440, 30fps, 14.3Mb/s, 319,488Kb for 3mins, HDR off, PlatePix on (but I'm not sure if the PlatePix setting impacts the rear camera or not):

A139 Pro Rear Camera, 1920x1080 resolution 30fps, 16.4 Mb/s, HDR off, 368,388 KB for 3mins:

 

[EricSan]

This comparison is between the N4S and the A139Pro rear cameras but this time both cameras in the shade, the sun is shining on the front window. These images are made at the same point in time, you can see the same exit sign on the other side of the highway. Both cameras would still benefit from a rear polarizer (that is not available for either camera), but the reflections are less severe than when the sun is shining on both lenses. This time, I prefer the slightly brighter exposure from the A139Pro. Like with previous rear images, you can see the N4S camera in the left side of the image from the A139Pro.

N4S Rear Camera, 2560x1440, 30fps, 14.3Mb/s, 319,488Kb for 3mins, HDR off, PlatePix on (but I'm not sure if the PlatePix setting impacts the rear camera or not):

A139 Pro Rear Camera, 1920x1080 resolution 30fps, 16.4 Mb/s, HDR off, 368,388 KB for 3mins:

Here are crops from the road sign in the right side of the images above. The advantage here clearly goes to the N4S for less distortion and greater readability.

N4S Crop:

A139Pro Crop:

 

[Hack_man]

The sky looks washed out with the Viofo. I've seen that in some of my video's.

 

[Augustus]

The sky looks washed out with the Viofo. I've seen that in some of my video's.

That's a Viofo thing across their models when HDR is off, Vantrue is the more pleasing colour processing while 70mai goes too heavy at times and blows colours out.

Viofo has the most detail out of all the brands , it's not the most pleasing image but it does well

 

[TonyM]

The A139P rear camera has a wider field of view than the N4S. Combined with a lower 1080p resolution it's not going to render fine details like the N4S, but the wider view can be useful at times.

 

[EricSan]

The sky looks washed out with the Viofo. I've seen that in some of my video's.

It does seem that the default exposure is a bit brighter with Viofo than with Vantrue. Plus, the grey back dash and trunk lid also take up nearly half of the frame for the rear camera, so that will tend to push the auto exposure level up just a bit, helping to wash out the sky.

Viofo has the most detail out of all the brands

It's curious, after playing with a few cameras you get to see the patterns that reveal the specific design philosophies and choices that define the brands. I suspect my comparisons might reveal different kinds of things related to overall detail and sharpness if I had a monitor that could display the full resolution of each video file.

 

[EricSan]

I made a few images last night in an effort to compare various modes of the N4S camera and to compare it to the A139Pro. This first set of images is a screen cap from while I was moving at about 35 mph on a road this is fairly dark. There are a few street lights but not many.

From the A139Pro, HDR on, polarizer in place:

Vantrue N4S, HDR on, PlatePix On, Polarizer in place:

Vantrue N4S, HDR off, PlatePix On, Polarizer in place:

Vantrue N4S, HDR off, PlatePix off, Polarizer in place:

Again, the Viofo produces the brightest image as well as the image with the greatest amount of detail in the two illuminated signs that are on the left hand side of the road attached to the buildings. The image with the next greatest level of detail looks like the N4S with HDR off and PlatePix On, You can also see the varying levels to which the small house on the right side of the road is visible or not with various settings.

 

[Hack_man]

Hold the show. I questioned Vantrue regarding why the PlatePix timer defaults to the HDR timer's setting and I got this response:

"PlatePix only works when HDR is enabled, so its timer follows the HDR timer setting"

But your third image with Vantrue N4S, HDR off, PlatePix On contradicts that statement.
Are you sure HDR was really OFF or is Vantrue's statement incorrect?

 

[jsmith]

In parking mode, the sharpness of n4s is relatively high, but upon closer inspection, the details in the photo seem to be inferior to a139。

The Viofo 139 Pro (and all Viofo Models) do 30 FPS in parking mode. Vantrue does 15FPS. So you have less frames.

 

[TonyM]

Hold the show. I questioned Vantrue regarding why the PlatePix timer defaults to the HDR timer's setting and I got this response:

"PlatePix only works when HDR is enabled, so its timer follows the HDR timer setting"

If PlatePix only works when HDR is enabled it should be mentioned in the app, or the on-screen display, or the manual.

I wonder if this is true for the N4S, or all Vantrue dashcams with PlatePix? @Jeff_Vantrue ?

I recall @Nigel did some testing of the E1 Pro with HDR on/off and PlatePix on/off and came to a similar conclusion.

 

[EricSan]

But your third image with Vantrue N4S, HDR off, PlatePix On contradicts that statement.
Are you sure HDR was really OFF or is Vantrue's statement incorrect?

Hmmm... This is a curious situation. All that I can really promise is that these were the settings in the app when this video was made. There do seems to be visual differences in the images. Granted, this set of videos the images came from are from multiple passes of the same location, but things should be relatively comparable from pass to pass.

 

[EricSan]

If PlatePix only works when HDR is enabled it should be mentioned in the app, or the on-screen display, or the manual.

It would be good so that we can understand the specific functioning of the camera if these details were added to the Stamp across the bottom of the frame. It already shows PlatePix, so adding HDR sounds like an easy thing to do with a software update. Though, I do agree this level of detail is probably most important to a group of gear head pixel-peepers like us 😉.

 

[jsmith]

If PlatePix only works when HDR is enabled it should be mentioned in the app, or the on-screen display, or the manual.

I wonder if this is true for the N4S, or all Vantrue dashcams with PlatePix? @Jeff_Vantrue ?

I recall @Nigel did some testing of the E1 Pro with HDR on/off and PlatePix on/off and came to a similar conclusion.

I've got the N2X, E1 Pro, and N4S. I'll check PlatePix + HDR combo on both of them ASAP and report back.

 

[EricSan]

Here is a comparison of rear cameras. The first two are while moving at about 35mph.

N4S rear camera, HDR on:

A139Pro Rear camera, HDR on (though I'm not sure if this impacts the rear camera or not):

And here is the same comparison at a different location. For these, two, I was largely stationary, the light just turned green.

N4S Rear Camera HDR on:

A139Pro Rear camera, HDR on:

 

[Hack_man]

The text is easier to read on the Beverage sign with the N4S but the contrast looks better on the A139 Pro.