Reviewing and Testing the Vantrue Nexus 5S

[EricSan]

I recently received a very kind invitation from Wendy at Vantrue to review their new Nexus 5S Dashcam. A very sincere "Thank you!" to Wendy, @Jeff_Vantrue , and the Vantrue team for entrusting me with another of their cameras for review.

My other Vantrue dashcam reviews can be found here: E360, E1 Pro, N4S, S1 Pro Max, N4 Pro S, N5S
Vantrue Power (non-dashcam) Product Reviews: T800 Compressed Air Duster, TS2 Thermal Camera for iOS/Android

Features:

• 4-Channel Full Coverage - This is the primary point of departure from the N4 Pro S (3ch) cameras
• Four STARVIS 2 Sensors
• LTE Connectivity
• 10s Buffered Pre-Recording Motion Detection
• 5GHz Wi-Fi & Free App
• Smart Voice Control
• Built-in GPS
• 24/7 Parking Monitoring
• Supports up to 1TB microSD Card

Voice Commands:
- Take Photo
- Video Start
- Turn On Audio
- Turn Off Audio
- Turn On Screen
- Turn Off Screen
- Turn On WiFi
- Turn Off WiFi
- Lock The Video
- Show Front Camera
- Show Rear Camera
- Inside Video On
- Back to Homepage
I have verified that all of the voice commands work as expected.

Maximum Resolutions Are as Follows:
- Front Facing Camera: Sony Starvis 2 IMX675 WDR, 2592x1944P 30fps (bitrate and file size data are here)
- Front Cabin Camera: Sony Starvis 2 IMX662 WDR, 1920x1080P 30fps (with Automatic IR LEDs)
- Rear Cabin Camera: Sony Starvis 2 IMS662 HDR, 1920x1080P 30fps (with Automatic IR LEDs)
- Rear Facing Camera: Sony Starvis 2 IMX675 HDR, 2592x1440PP 30fps

The N5S dashcam appears to be a sibling to the N4 Pro S - both cameras are very nearly the same size, but the N5S adds a 4th camera in the rear, whereas the N4 Pro S is a 3-channel model. The increased overall data rate likely accounts for why the N5S does not have Vantrue's cool PlatePix technology. There likely isn't additional processing bandwidth for that much processing.

The 4th camera is a forward-facing rear cabin camera, that when combined with the footage from the rear-facing front cabin camera has good potential to capture more area both inside and outside of the car. This looks like an interesting camera for sure! Needless to say, I'm very eager to explore the 4-channel view that it provides. As luck would have it, I embarked on a 400-mile round trip shortly after receiving this camera, so I was able to install it prior to my trip. Details and analysis to follow...

Camera angles:
- 158 degree front facing camera
- 160 degree front cabin camera
- 160 degree rear cabin camera
- 165 degree rear facing camera

User Manual and Firmware Download Page

Vantrue N5S | Product Manuals, Firmware Upgrades, and FAQs

Explore comprehensive product manuals, firmware upgrades, and frequently asked questions (FAQs) for Vantrue N5S dash cam. Access detailed instructions, troubleshooting tips, and the latest firmware updates to enhance your experience. Find answers to common queries and optimize your use of...

www.vantrue.com

There is support for 32GB-1TB micro SD cards as well as for the LTE module (each available separately)

Like other Vantrue dashcams, the Nexus N5 uses super capacitors that provide 3-4 seconds of runtime after power is removed from the camera. Using capacitors is superior to using a small rechargeable battery that will eventually be unable to receive a charge due to repeated charges and heat stress.

As with Vantrue's other cameras that I have reviewed, the packaging materials are excellent and protect the camera while in transit.

The usual foam inserts hold everything snugly inside the box:

And here is everything that is included in the box. There is now a small alcohol pad included for cleaning the inside of your window before applying the static cling sheets for mounting the camera to your window. The usual 3.3ft/1m long data cable with a USB-A connector on one end and a USB-C connector on the other end is included for transferring files to your computer. The USB-C cable for the rear camera is 20ft long, has a straight USB-C male connector on one end, and a 90 degree USB-C male connector on the opposite end.

EDIT: If you happen to have more than one Vantrue multi-channel dashcam, be sure to mark the rear video cable in some manner. Because the rear camera for the N5S has TWO video channels, there are TWO pairs of wires in the longer USB-C cable, one pair for each video channel. If you get the rear cables mixed up, you'll be missing the feed from the rear cabin-facing camera. Don't mix them up!

 

[EricSan]

This is the main camera module for the Nexus 5S. The recess in the center of the front is the magnetic mounting location for the GPS/windshield mount. You can also see the trademark Vantrue bulls-eye lens. This lens is exactly the same size as the lens on the E1 Pro, S1 Pro Max, N4S, and N4 Pro S cameras, so the same 40mm circular polarizer will fit just fine.

The front facing camera on the N5S is a Sony Starvis 2 IMX675 with Wide Dynamic Range (WDR), and 2592x1944P resolution at 30fps (bitrate and file size data can be found in post #12 below).

WDR is similar to HDR, but the key difference (as I understand it) is that HDR is implemented in software whereas WDR is implemented at the hardware level. Both techniques of balancing overly bright and dark areas in the image rely on combining multiple exposures into a single image. The result is an image with more easily distinguishable elements under challenging lighting situations. It accomplishes this effect by combining images made from both faster (to capture brighter details) and slower (to capture darker details) shutter speeds into a single frame. The descriptions that I've found online claim HDR results in slightly higher image quality than WDR. Since I have both the N4 Pro S and the newer N5S, I'll put both cameras side by side and make some comparsons within the next few days.

And here is the rear view of the camera with the lens protecting applique still in place:

The screen appears to be identical to the screen on the N4 Pro S, measuring ~68mm wide by 26mm tall. To the left of the screen, right next to the edge, is a tiny green power on LED that is very unobtrusive, but visible enough to let you know that it is powered on. The light will blink while recording. It is VERY unobtrusive and not distracting at all while driving at night. 👍

The top view reveals the USB-C connector to the rear camera and lots of ventilation holes. I like that the rear camera connector comes out the top of the main camera, which allows the cable to head straight up to the headliner to keep the wires neater after installation 👍

The bottom view of the camera shows the usual combination of menu buttons (the screen is not a touch screen), that are easy to find and use. Given the absence of a serial number stamped on the bottom of the chassis, I'm assuming I have received a pre-production unit.

The first button (on the left) toggles record stop/start with a quick press and turns the screen on/off with a long press.
The second button switches which cameras are displayed on the screen with a quick press.
The third button toggles the microphone on/off with a quick press and among the toggles drive/parking mode with a long press.
The fourth button (on the right) activates the menu with a short press and toggles WiFi mode with a long press.

These buttons also serve as menu navigation. You can also see lots of ventilation holes, the microphone, and the ambient light sensor which is labelled "IR." This is the sensor for turning the infrared cabin-facing LEDs on and off when the IR LED setting in the menu is set to "Auto." I like settings and features like this that make good sense! I'm also guessing that I have another "pre-release" model as there is no serial number on the bottom of the unit.

The left side view shows the power button (long press) which doubles with with Lock Video button (short press).

Behind this tethered/removable end cap is a "secret" hidden panel that covers the SD card slot, the Power/Lock Video button and the Reset button. Pretty clever! Since this part of the camera body is identical to the N4PS, it is also a bit of a challenge to both insert and remove the SD card. It seems that it needs to be pushed further into the housing to lock and release the card. If you’ve just clipped your nails, you’ll struggle a bit with the SD card slot.

The right side of the camera features the N5S logo:

 

[EricSan]

The inwardly facing cabin camera is a Sony Starvis 2 IMX662 WDR, with 1920x1080P resolution at 30fps and - as you can see below - has a set of four Automatic IR LEDs.
The only visible point of departure from the overall appearance of the N4 Pro S camera is that the cabin camera's housing is grey, not black. You can see the usual set of 4 infrared LEDs. In the image below, camera is in record mode with the IR LEDs set to "Auto." The LEDs are NOT visible with the naked eye while they are illuminated, but it seems my camera can still see them.

Like the N4 Pro S camera, the cabin-facing lens of the N5S protrudes a bit from the flat surface of the camera. This physical feature doesn't bestow important capability - I'm just noting the camera's physical characteristics.

The N5S cabin camera rotates up and down exactly the same amount as the the cabin camera on the N4S and N4 Pro S. The N5S cabin camera can rotate up by 45 degrees and down by 45 degrees, for a total adjustment range of about 90 degrees. This helps you aim the cabin camera so that you can capture a useful interior view of your car's interior while dodging things like the rear-view mirror or the sun visor, depending on exactly where you install it.

As you can see, the overall chassis for the N5S (top of image, with the grey cabin camera on the right) is very nearly identical to that of the N4 Pro S (bottom of image) camera:

Here is the bottom view of the N4 Pro S (top) and the N5S (bottom):

Here is the left side view of each camera. From this vantage point, it is impossible to tell the two cameras apart. The N5S is on the left and the N4 Pro S (with a polarizer installed) is on the right side of the image (along with a little bit of fuzz).

The comparison of the right side of each camera is pretty self-explanatory.

In the image below, the N4 Pro S is on the top and the N5S is on the bottom.

And here is a comparison of the screen side of both cameras that face the interior of the car when installed with the intended orientation.

And here is the N5S with the other Vantrue cameras that I have.

 

[EricSan]

The divider box contains a variety of mounting and installation hardware: TWO windshield adhesive mounts (AWESOME!) for making it easy to move the N5S camera between cars, a GPS swivel mount that attaches to the camera, a utility outlet power supply, six adhesive windshield cable retainer clips, and an extra 3M VHB adhesive pad for the rear camera.

The windshield mount houses the GPS unit and also has the USB-C power input adapter and features a swivel ball-joint for multi-axis movement once mounted on your windshield. It features a magnetic mounting plate that holds the camera VERY firmly. To remove it, just pull it straight out from the camera...

I'm REALLY liking this mounting mechanism, it is identical the mount that accompanies other Nexus series cameras (N2, N4S, N4 Pro S), which is also highly similar to the windshield mount for the E360 camera.

You can see the main power entry USB-C port below:

Also note the mounting groove on each side of the GPS unit (on the right side of the image) - this slots into the raised portion on the camera to help everything hold together firmly and squarely.

Here are some images of the N5S with the windshield/GPS mount moved as far up as it can go:

and as far down as it can go:

And below is the left to right tilt of the swivel mount. Overall, this should be enough movement to mount the N5S to your windshield and still adjust the camera for a level view of the road ahead. The amount of adjustment that is afforded here is sufficient to allow it to be positioned well in four different cars: Volvo sedan, Volvo SUV, Ford Mustang, and a Toyota Camry. Even if you mount the camera off to the side a bit (such as behind a sun visor) this amount of movement should enable a level and straight view of the road.

Like the N4 Pro S, the N5S comes with two newer, larger static cling sheets for mounting the cameras to the windshield. They measure 8cm by 10cm.

 

[EricSan]

Below is the newly designed rear camera for the N5S. This one is pretty special because it contains not one, but TWO aimable cameras!

The first (and more traditional) camera faces the rear windshield as you would expect. The second rear camera is the fun new one! It is an internally facing rear cabin camera complete with another set of 4 infrared LEDs! Thus, the N5S camera is a four-channel camera that makes it hard to miss anything that might happen to your car, especially while parked in a parking lot. More on the external view afforded by the two cabin cameras in a little while.

The round lens in the grey side of the housing provides the view out your rear window. It is a Sony Starvis 2 IMX675 HDR camera, featuring 2592x1440PP resolution at 30fps. The color choice for the plastic confused me to a bit - I would have expected both the front and rear cabin cameras to be the same color (grey) while both the front and rear external cameras to both be black...

The other side of the rear camera features a Sony Starvis 2 IMX662 HDR sensor with 1920x1080P resolution at 30fps. The rear cabin camera also features Automatic IR LEDs for a clear view in total darkness. You'll also notice a little round LED on the left side of the rear camera (below). This LED glows green to let you know that the camera is receiving power from the front camera unit. The green LED is bright enough to be visible in your rear view mirror during the daytime, but is also subdued enough to not call attention to itself during night time driving. I recently completed a long trip at night and didn't find this LED to be distracting at all! Nicely done!

The rear camera comes wrapped in a small placard that indicates the proper mounting orientation to prevent you from getting upside down images in your recordings. The top of my photo below is a bit blurry in my image (the printing on the card is fine) - this is because it was curled around the rear camera and it was hard to keep it flat to photograph it.

There are also a set of rotation markings on the rear camera body that indicate the maximum amount of allowable rotation (circled in red) - these are backed up by physical stops to prevent you from inadvertently rotating either rear camera too far. Below, you can see the rear cabin camera (black color housing on the right side of the image) rotated up as far as possible. This lens is flanked by four IR LEDs, one in each corner.

And below is the rear cabin camera (black color housing on the right side of the image) rotated down as far as possible.

At the opposite end of the rear camera, the camera that peers out the rear window (grey housing on the left side of the image below) also rotates and has a set of markings and physical stops to prevent over-rotation. The image below shows the rear facing external camera rotated down as far as possible.

And this image shows the rear facing external camera (gery housing, on the left side of the image) rotated up as far as possible. The total range of adjustment here is about 90 degrees for each camera.

And here are some images of the sides of the rear camera. The right end of the camera is shown below and is contoured to match the shape and design featured on the N5S front camera.

The left side of the rear camera shows the USB-C port that delivers power and provides the video feed to the main camera in the front of the car.

 

[EricSan]

The second sub-divider box inside the N5S camera box contains the USB cables that connect the front camera to the rear cable, and allow you to connect the front camera unit to your computer to transfer files.

The data transfer cable is 3.3ft (1 meter) long and has a USB-A plug on one end and a USB-C plug on the opposite end.

The rear cable is 20 feet long and has a USB-C connector on each end. As I indicated above, be sure to mark the N5S rear video cable in some manner if you happen to have more than one Vantrue multi-channel dashcam. The rear camera for the N5S has TWO video channels, there are TWO pairs of wires in the longer USB-C cable, one pair for each video channel. If you get the rear cables mixed up, you'll be missing the feed from the rear cabin-facing camera (you'll just have a black square on the screen). Don't mix them up! The difference in the cable is subtle, but noticeably different from the rear cable that came with the N4S/N4 Pro S (both use the exact same 2.5K rear camera) and the S1 Pro Max (which uses a 4k rear camera). I pulled out my digital caliper and sure enough, there is a small but clear difference in the cable diameter. The rear cable from the N5S camera is clearly thicker, as you would expect with a cable designed to carry TWO video signals up to the main camera unit in the front of the car.

The rear cable for the N4S/N4 Pro S cameras measures about 4.1 to 4.2mm in diameter, depending on exactly where you measure it:

The rear cable for the S1 Pro Max camera measures about 4.3 to 4.4mm in diameter (more shielding is necessary due to the 4k video signal that it carries):

And the rear cable for the N5S measures closer to 4.7mm in diameter because there are two distinct pairs of wires for both rear camera feeds:

This leads me to an interesting request for @Jeff_Vantrue: given these differences in cable construction, it is perhaps useful to stamp/emboss the model number of the intended camera into the hard plastic ends that sheath the USB-C connectors at each end of these wires. Granted, the average user may not have each of the N4S/N4 Pro S, S1 Pro Max, and the N5S cameras in hand all at the same time, it is getting easier and easier to mix up the cables that come with each camera and the differences are clearly important.

 

[EricSan]

The utility plug adapter that comes with N5S is the same updated "tapered" version that came with the N4S, N4 Pro S, and the S1 Pro Max cameras. It has a higher current rating (the newer cameras are more powerful and sophisticated, so they need a more robust power supply), but the barrel is somewhat tapered toward the point which makes it fit less securely into the utility outlet in my car than I would like. When I plug it in, the spring-loaded center tip pushes the plug back out of the outlet a little bit. This happens on three different brands of car (Volvo, Toyota, Ford). The older version features a non-tapered barrel and fits VERY securely into the utility port, but it has a lower rated power output. I have more clearly described the differences between the old and new design here.

These physical differences are not significant to my personal use case (most of my cameras are hardwired to the car's fusebox), though I imagine that many people will use the utility outlet as a power source for their dashcam. As cameras grow more sophisticated and the ability of the power supply to deliver sufficient voltage and current to the dashcam, it is becoming increasingly critical that you use the specific power supply that comes from the manufacturer. There have been many reports of strange dashcam behaviors (across all brands) here on DashCamTalk that when investigated further have been the result of using an off-brand power supply that does not meet the power supply demands for the newer cameras.

It is ALWAYS best to stick with the provided power cables and not to modify them in any way (don't extend or shorten the cables on your own).

 

[kamkar]

The Gen 1 N5 was sweet, no doubt the V2 is better, even if it is my understanding the weird HDR in the back are retained.
I say weird CUZ my focus are still on the front camera as for over a decade it is by far the camera i pull the most footage from.

Still one of the very best ride share cameras out there i am sure.

 

[EricSan]

Still one of the very best ride share cameras out there i am sure.

In my view, this is the clear target market for the N5S. If you carpool (especially with kids), or are a professional driver (taxi, ride share, etc), having TWO illuminated cabin cameras on the scene is definitely the way to go!

I'm curious to compare HDR with WRD and see what differences (if any) show up. I'll need to remount the N4S (HDR) next to the N5S (WDR) and see how things play out in daylight and at a night time.

 

[EricSan]

Since I haven't had the opportunity to explore this particular accessory yet (and my windshield is getting crowded) I asked Wendy at Vantrue if she could also send one of their suction cup GPS mounts (available separately) along with the N5S. This is a great little device that appears to be much more flexible than the standard GPS mount that comes with the Nexus Series of cameras.

Here is a somewhat blurry image of the box (I focused on the mount itself).

And the UPC codes on the back of the box:

The GPS receiver is connected to the suction cup mount and this is connected to the camera mount by an additional swivel point.

The image below shows the GPS mount in the "unlocked position" as it comes from the box:

By twisting the GPS unit 90 clockwise, it locks the suction cup to the windshield:

The sides of the suction cup are marked with icons so you know which position is locked and which is unlocked. Rotating the GPS unit 90 degree clockwise exposes the "unlocked" icon:

And, similarly, rotating the GPS unit 90 degrees exposes the "locked" icon. You can also see the USB-C power entry port on the GPS module:

 

[EricSan]

What I appreciate most (so far) about the Suction Cup Mount is that it has MUCH greater ability to position the camera in a variety of vehicles due to its far greater flexibility. Here is the GPS unit attached to the N5S with the mount adjusted as far down as it will allow:

And here it is adjusted fully in the opposite direction. As you can see, that's a pretty wide range of movement, so you should be able to mount the suction cup mount on just about any windshield and be able to point it at the road.

There is even some left-to-right adjustment available, though it is much smaller:

Given the overall configuration of the suction cup mount, I was expecting that it would allow me to attach the camera to the windshield and position the front lens much closer to the glass, thereby reducing some overall glare that tends to creep in as the distance between the windshield and the front lens increases.

After placing the camera on my front windshield, there is a difference, but only 1cm. The "fixed" GPS mount that ships with the camera leaves a gap of 13cm between my windshield and the bottom of the front lens. With the Suction Cup mount (available separately) this gap between the front windshield and the bottom of the camera's front lens measured 12cm. So, it DOES sit closer to the windshield, but only by 1cm. The primary benefit with the suction cup mount is the ability to more easily move your Nexus series dashcam from car to car, which is especially handy if you are on vacation and dealing with rental cars.

Funny, the suction cup mount does allow me to mount the camera on the window and then aim it almost fully vertically, pointing the lens straight up into the sky - maybe I can capture footage of a UFO while driving👽

 

[EricSan]

Here is a table of the data rates and file sizes that come from the N5S camera on a recent drive with each of the cameras set to their highest resolution (except for the front camera, which has a maximum resolution of 2560x1940 - and produces a somewhat squished 4:3 aspect ratio). The file sizes are in KB for 3 minute loop recordings. Thus, each set of 3mins of video consumes a total of just about 1GB from four cameras combined. That's pretty efficient use of the SD card. Thus, a 128GB card will be able to hold just about six hours of drive-time recordings.

 

[TonyM]

Here is a table of the data rates and file sizes that come from the N5S camera on a recent drive... The file sizes are in KB for 3 minute loop recordings.

Those files sizes and bitrates don't add up. I think cameras B and C should be 9.8Mb/s, and the parking files are 4.9Mb/s.

 

[EricSan]

Ah, good catch. The MediaInfo app switches its units when you drop below 10 and I misplaced the decimal point. Oops - I've updated accordingly.

 

[EricSan]

Here is a quick set of images from the N5S interior cabin cameras while I was picking up some pizza for the family tonight. As you can see, you get very nice coverage of the interior of the car. Perhaps equally important is that these two cameras provide a view that a 3-channel system typically doesn't cover: the sides of the car. This is an important coverage area for parking mode.

The front cabin camera provides pretty good coverage out the front set of side windows. This is sufficient to identify a vehicle and/or a person, especially when combined with footage from the front and rear facing exterior cameras. For these first three images, I'm driving directly into the sunset.

The rear camera, provides an excellent view out the rear side windows. This coverage, when combined with the front cabin camera and the exterior cameras, provides a pretty clear 360 degree view of the car, either while traveling down the highway, or when sitting in the parking lot.

Of course, there is clear and 100% coverage of the cabin area - this could be critical for taxi/ride share drivers, or at the time of an accident to show what happened inside the car during an accident.

I suppose this is an artifact of the extreme contrast inside the car (very dark in the back seat, very bright in the front) because I am driving directly into the sunset, but a quick zoom in on my right arm which is in the full sun reveals some interesting color artifacts.

A few minutes later, I was headed in the opposite direction, so here are some screen grabs with the sun setting behind the car.

In the shadows while I'm driving away from the sunset, the colors on my right forearm are much more natural:

Either way, the combined side views of the space around the car and combined cabin views are terrific!! This is an excellent proof of concept for a 4-channel dashcam. I suspect this was exactly Vantrue's design goal, and they have succeed.

Next up, I'm hoping to have some time over the weekend to rearrange the cameras in my car (presently have 4 cameras wired in) and put the N5S directly adjacent to the N4S. Both have 2.5k front cameras, but the N4S uses a software based HDR algorithm whereas the N5S uses hardware based WDR processing. I'm very curious to compare these features as well as to compare the rear camera footage as both are also 2.5k.

 

[EricSan]

I finally had some time over the weekend to sit in a parking lot at the local set of shops and make a few images and videos to see how the N5S performs. I was especially interested in comparing the N5S to the N4S as both are 2.5k front and rear cameras. Whereas the N4S uses a (I presume software based) HDR algorithm, the N5S uses (again, presumably hardware based) WDR image processing.

Here is an image from the N5S with WDR (Wide Dynamic Range) turned off, original resolution is 2560x1440, 264kb filesize:

And this one has WDR enabled for the front camera, resolution is 2560x1440 and filesize is 289kb:

Here are two zoom/crops from the image above. I've zoomed in 200% on the original JPG file. In the first image, WDR is turned off:

and in the image below, WDR is enabled. This is a more difficult comparison as the clouds are moving overhead, thus the lighting is changing - in the image below, there is more direct sunlight whereas there is more diffuse sunlight in the image directly above. I guess I really need a day without clouds so there is more consistency from exposure to exposure. Overall, I am not seeing any obvious differences in resolving power with WDR enabled or not. Both images are clean and clear, and look great.

Overall, I'm seeing very similar amounts of digital artifacts around the signage above the storefronts. There is more contrast in the image directly above, but you can tell by the shadows from the cars that the sun is more direct with this image.

Here is a similar comparison from the N5S rear camera, HDR off, resolution is 2560x1440, filesize is 231kb, no polarizer is installed on the rear camera.

And with HDR turned on, resolution is 2560x1440, filesize is 556kb, no polarizer is installed

So, now we have something different to explore, @Jeff_Vantrue: The two images immediately above are from the rear camera of the N5S. The only difference is that HDR is off in the first image, while HDR is turned on in the second image. The interesting part is that the images are vertically shifted relative to one another.

In the first rear image (two images above, HDR turned off) there is much more sky above the parking lot light in the center of the frame and "Vantrue N5S" logo overlaps the speaker grille.
With the second rear image (image directly above, HDR turned on) there is much LESS sky above the same parking lot light and the "Vantrue N5S" logo is well below the speaker grille.

It appears that something in the HDR processing is shifting the vertical alignment of the image. Both images are exactly the same resolution and I didn't touch the rear camera between successive images- I was sitting in the front seat playing with the camera settings. I suppose it is possible that the camera "slipped" and rotated downward a bit between exposures, but the car was stationary (engine running), so there were no bumps or jolts on the road to make the camera move. I'll have to try to replicate this result to see what happens. It will take me a few days to check this again...

 

[EricSan]

Follow up for @Jeff_Vantrue - the vertical shift is clearly a difference caused by HDR processing being turned on vs being turned off.

For clarity, I copied the two images from my above post and show the three image sequence that illustrates the image shift that results from HDR processing - see the time stamps in the bottom left corner of each image.

1) In this first image in the sequence (timestamp 1:15:29), HDR is on and the image is shifted down. Note the smaller space above the parking lot lamp, and the larger amount of rear dash that is visible.

2) In the second image in the sequence (timestamp 1:16:35) HDR is off and the image is shifted up. Note the larger space above the parking lot lamp, and the smaller amount of rear dash that is visible.

3) In the third image in the sequence (timestamp 1:17:26) HDR is on again, and the image is shifted back down again. Note the smaller space above the parking lot lamp again, and the larger amount of rear dash that is visible.

 

[Jeff_Vantrue]

Follow up for @Jeff_Vantrue - the vertical shift is clearly a difference caused by HDR processing being turned on vs being turned off.

For clarity, I copied the two images from my above post and show the three image sequence that illustrates the image shift that results from HDR processing - see the time stamps in the bottom left corner of each image.

1) In this first image in the sequence (timestamp 1:15:29), HDR is on and the image is shifted down. Note the smaller space above the parking lot lamp, and the larger amount of rear dash that is visible.
View attachment 85075

2) In the second image in the sequence (timestamp 1:16:35) HDR is off and the image is shifted up. Note the larger space above the parking lot lamp, and the smaller amount of rear dash that is visible.
View attachment 85076

3) In the third image in the sequence (timestamp 1:17:26) HDR is on again, and the image is shifted back down again. Note the smaller space above the parking lot lamp again, and the larger amount of rear dash that is visible.
View attachment 85077

Could you please let us know the firmware version of your N5S? We’ve done some testing on our side and haven’t been able to reproduce the vertical shift issue you mentioned with HDR on/off.

 

[jsmith]

@EricSan I presume you mean WDR not HDR as HDR is not a feature of the N5S.

 

[EricSan]

Unless I've read something wrong, the N5S uses WDR up front and HDR in the rear cameras.

I need to wait until I get home read the firmware version that is installed on my camera.

I'm going to start using the technique I learned from @TonyM : create a custom stamp for the video feed that indicates FW revision number. This will remove ambiguities.