Reviewing and Testing the Vantrue S1 Pro Max

I just published the results of a fun little experiment: I mounted the 4k rear camera from the S1PM on the front grill of my car and mounted the rear camera from the N4PS on the bottom of my trunk.

The result is a front and rear camera systems that is mounted 100% externally, so there is no window glare and no footage of my dash/hood. See what you think:

EricSan

Thread 'Look Ma - No Window Glare!!'

Ok, cultural parody of the kid's phrase: "Look, Ma - No hands!"

Some time I ago, I installed the rear camera of my S1 Pro Max camera externally on the trunk of my car and posted a video. After making a few videos, I was REALLY impressed with the image quality (lack of defrost lines, no glare, no rear dash). Following this, I suggested to @Jeff_Vantrue that Vantrue make a camera that has externally mounted front AND rear cameras. Because I like to play around and I'm fairly impatient, I made "my own version" of my idea: I mounted the 4k rear camera from the S1 Pro Max camera...
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I finally had the opportunity to put the S1 Pro Max in the same car that has the E1 Pro installed. Both front cameras are 4k. The E1P uses the H.264 codec while the S1PM uses H.265 (greater compression). Here are two sets of comparison images from each camera, mounted side by side on the front window. Both cameras have PlatePix enabled, both have a polarizer installed, and both have HDR off. As you can tell from the date stamps in each image, this comparison predates the freshly released firmware for both cameras.

First up, full frames from each camera:
S1PM Bastian FF.webp


E1P Bastian FF.webp


To make this set of 300% zoom comparison, I advanced each video to the very same frame - until the little green sprig of grass along the curb was just visible between the hood and plastic eyelashes attached to the headlights on my daughter's car.

The first comparison is of the sign for the tire shop.

Here is a 300% from the S1 Pro Max:
S1PM Bastian 300percent.webp


And here is the 300% zoom from the E1 Pro:
E1P Bastian 300percent.webp


From the very same frame, I also captured a 300% zoom of the license plate from the Toyota in the left lane.

Here is the Toyota plate from the S1 Pro Max:
S1PM Toyota Plate.webp


And from the E1 Pro:
E1P Toyota Plate.webp


For the business sign, the lettering is clearly more visible and sharper with the E1 Pro. For the license plate, both are clearly readable, with a slight edge to the S1 Pro Max for greater contrast in the plate lettering.
 
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A few miles down the road, we passed another set of cars that were merging onto the highway, so I made another set of comparison images. First up are the full frames of the scene.
S1PM Lincoln FF.webp


E1P Lincoln FF.webp


I advanced each video to 10 frames before the Lincoln in the right lane touches the right side edge of the frame then made another set of 300% zooms.


This is zoomed in 300% on the plate from the S1 Pro Max:
S1PM Lincoln 10frames from edge 300p.webp


And the same frame from the E1 Pro:
E1P Lincoln 10frames from edge 300p.webp


Two things stand out here. First, the E1 Pro produces a much more clear image of the plate (and of the "Lincoln" badge on the rear hatch). Second, the E1 Pro introduces more MPEG artifacts in the shadows on the side of the car. The S1PM renders the side of the car more smoothly, which likely accounts for the plate not being readable with the S1PM.

I then used this same frame to make a comparison of the yellow diamond "Merge" sign just ahead of the car.

Here is the 300% crop from the S1 Pro Max:
S1PM Merge 300 percent.webp


And the same sign from the E1 Pro:
E1P Merge 300percent.webp


Again, the E1P features more MPEG blocking artifacts (a result of the H.264 codec?), but renders the lettering in the sign much more clearly. The S1PM renders textures more smoothly, which is likely a combined artifact of the H.265 codec and an overall greater data compression rate.
 
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I have a motorhome with a flat windshield. Will S1 Pro Max 4K (front facing camera only) work for me?

I can't determine if when mounted on a flat windshield, that the camera will adjust to a forward-facing position.
 
No, you cannot mount the S1 Pro Max on a vertical windshield and adjust the camera so that it aims at the road ahead. When held so the mounting plate is vertical, the camera still points down at a 45 degree angle.

If you are looking for a 4k camera that will allow mounting on a vertical front windshield, I would suggest looking into the N4 Pro S camera and getting suction cup mount. Check the images in this link that show the range of adjustment available with the suction cup mount:

EricSan

Post in thread 'Reviewing and Testing the Vantrue Nexus 5S'

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:
IMG_17035.webp


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.
IMG_17034.webp


There is even some left-to-right adjustment available, though...
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Thank you for that. I will research that today. I have been running Mobius 4K dash cam for years, and it just died.

I'm looking for forward facing camera only (don't want recording inside the RV) and my dash cam will be powered 24/7 with loop recording. I also prefer a (relatively) small compact dash cam.
 
I would suggest looking into the Vantrue E1 Pro (small, compact, excellent image quality) and asking Vantrue if there is a more flexible mount for it that will accommodate a vertical mounting surface. @Jeff_Vantrue - any commentary or insights?
 
EricSan said:
I would suggest looking into the Vantrue E1 Pro (small, compact, excellent image quality) and asking Vantrue if there is a more flexible mount for it that will accommodate a vertical mounting surface. @Jeff_Vantrue - any commentary or insights?
Click to expand...
Thank you for the help. I'll research it.
 
EricSan said:
No, you cannot mount the S1 Pro Max on a vertical windshield and adjust the camera so that it aims at the road ahead. When held so the mounting plate is vertical, the camera still points down at a 45 degree angle.

If you are looking for a 4k camera that will allow mounting on a vertical front windshield, I would suggest looking into the N4 Pro S camera and getting suction cup mount. Check the images in this link that show the range of adjustment available with the suction cup mount:

EricSan

Post in thread 'Reviewing and Testing the Vantrue Nexus 5S'

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:
IMG_17035.webp


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.
IMG_17034.webp


There is even some left-to-right adjustment available, though...
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Click to expand...

I really wish the suck cup mount allowed for a vertical position. I had my windows retinted (can't place anything on them for a week) and basically it's of little use due to restricted movement.

The E1 Pro allows for vertical mounts and various positions.
 
AC7880 said:
Thank you for that. I will research that today. I have been running Mobius 4K dash cam for years, and it just died.

I'm looking for forward facing camera only (don't want recording inside the RV) and my dash cam will be powered 24/7 with loop recording. I also prefer a (relatively) small compact dash cam.
Click to expand...
The E1 Pro is the small 4K camera that I wish Mobius had delivered, but it was evident they were never going to join all the dots and make a proper dashcam.

The suction cup mount is versatile yet also sturdy, and allows for use on a vertical window.
 
after researching most of the day, reading reviews, and watching videos I am leaning heavily towards the

BlackVue DR970X-1CH Plus II Dash Cam – 4K . (EDIT: also now looking at the BlackVue Elite8-1CH ((2K)) ​

Expensive but works on a flat windshield (verified 3 different places) and has a lot of features, ​

 
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AC7880 said:
after researching most of the day, reading reviews, and watching videos I am leaning heavily towards the

BlackVue DR970X-1CH Plus II Dash Cam – 4K . (EDIT: also now looking at the BlackVue Elite8-1CH ((2K)) ​

Expensive but works on a flat windshield (verified 3 different places) and has a lot of features, ​

Click to expand...

Viofo A329 would be one to look at, too. Heck of a lot better parking mode than Blackvue's 1 Frame Per Second Time Lapse. Viofo records at 30 frames per second.
 
I will look at that.

On my motorhome windshield, I leave my dash cam running 24/7 as a security camera. No parking mode desired.

It just constantly records and loops. It's powered constantly. We are full time rvers, with lots of solar panels when we are not hooked to shore power. Battery power never an issue. (Three 8D batteries).

Edit: replacing motorhome dash cam now, Jeep Grand Cherokee dash cam in a month or two. I will look at every camera that has been recommended.
 
AC7880 said:
I will look at that.

On my motorhome windshield, I leave my dash cam running 24/7 as a security camera. No parking mode desired.

It just constantly records and loops. It's powered constantly. We are full time rvers, with lots of solar panels when we are not hooked to shore power. Battery power never an issue. (Three 8D batteries).

Edit: replacing motorhome dash cam now, Jeep Grand Cherokee dash cam in a month or two. I will look at every camera that has been recommended.
Click to expand...

If needing an external waterproof camera the Vantrue S1 Pro Max or the Viofo A329w series for motorhome.
 
Dash cam is mounted inside the motorhome on dash level at windshield.
 
I have an A329 camera in hand and unless there is an alternate mounting mechanism, it won't provide a view of the road when mounted on a vertical windshield. See here.
 
@jsmith - Details here:

EricSan

Thread 'Reviewing and Testing the 3-ch Viofo A329T'

I was delighted to receive a Viofo A329T camera for review! My sincere "Thank You!" and appreciation to Bill, Jessica, and the rest of the team @viofo @VIOFO-Support. To say that I'm excited to learn the ins and outs of this dashcam is an understatement for sure. I'm a huge fan of flexible and modular design for products like this and Viofo has pulled out all of the stops in that respect.

The main camera unit can be equipped with a number of different auxiliary cameras that are each intended for different purposes and use cases. All variants feature the same 4K main...
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Alternatively, you might be able to mount the A329 on the dash (gps side down), and aim the camera out the front window. There is a menu setting to correct the image orientation.
 
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