Vantrue S1 Pro Test & Review PP

[Panzer Platform]

@Jeff_Vantrue @viofo @VIOFO-Support
Here’s another “defective design flaw” of the S1 Pro’s lens.
You can really see the lens flare in the center of the image from the street lamp dance around as I move the test rig.
The same 1-Minute clip from the A119 Mini 2, and the lens flare is 100% absent.
Wow, Viofo must really be using good quality lenses.
Oh yeah, the illuminated road sign is more legible on the A119 Mini 2, and the $5.35 on the Safeway Gas Price is flickering on the S1 Pro.
Let’s go Jeff, and get to writing some firmware to fix the HDR as good as Viofo’s.

 

[DT MI]

Did you have a CPL on the S1-Pro? I ask because I noticed a halo around the street light to the right of the sign. I've seen the same in my videos but thought it may have just been a matter of my windshield being less than perfectly clean, but I believe you're testing outside the car so not an issue for you.

 

[Panzer Platform]

Did you have a CPL on

All of these night time test clips were filmed with these settings.
I forgot to copy & paste the settings for every post.

Vantrue S1 Pro Front STARVIS 2 (IMX675)
Resolution: (2560x1440) 30fps
FOV Specification: 160° (actual 140°)
F1.8 Aperture
Firmware: ECH-281
HDR: ON
CPL Filter: OFF
1 Minute File Size: 106 MB
Recording Bitrate Fixed: 14.1 Mbps

Viofo A119 Mini 2 STARVIS 2 (IMX675)
Resolution: (2560x1440) 30fps
FOV Specification: 140° (true 140°)
F1.6 Aperture
Firmware: V1.0 0605
HDR: ON
CPL Filter: OFF
1 Minute File Size: 213.9 MB
Recording Bitrate Variable: 28.5 Mbps

The CPL Filter Halo you speak of is a while 'nother can of worms.
Let me see if I can go find rcg530's post about it.
Here it is;

Halo on night videos

I have the CPL filter on the E1 but at night usually when I'm close to a car with their tail lights on I get these halos around the video. I rotated the CPL filter to different spots but it doesn't seem to do much. Anyone else get this?

dashcamtalk.com

 

[DT MI]

I guess instead of using the word 'halo' a better choice might have been 'glare' - as shown below.



I see the same in my S1-Pro clips and at first thought it was due to a dirty windshield. I know you were doing a lot of testing outside the car so your windshield cleanliness wouldn't be an issue. I asked about the CPL because I've done all my evaluation with it on. Since you're getting the same effect without it I'd have to say it's a characteristic of the lens.


As to the halo effect of using a CPL on the E1 as reported by @DigitalPixel and @rcg530 I haven't seen the same with the S1-Pro. My assumption is it might be due to the CPL being closer to the lens/body(?). Sample video below (sorry about the dirty windshield.)

 

[Panzer Platform]

I just noticed some changes after uploading the firmware a few days ago.
1.)
There is now a 2K60fps resolution option.
I don’t remember this being there with the last firmware.
2.)
A 1-Minute file size is now 208MB.
Previously it was only 106MB.
Does that mean they almost doubled the Bitrate?
208MB 1 Minute File = 27.7 Mbps
106MB 1 Minute File = 14.1 Mbps
Wow, if they really increased the Bitrate that should put them very close to the A119 Mini 2.
I’m impressed.
3.)
I filmed two 1-Minute test clips, (HDR On / HDR Off)
It looks like they are both 60fps.
What the heck is going on here?
Did Vantrue figure out how to do 60fps with HDR?
Even Viofo can’t do that.
This is getting interesting, I’m excited to see the next time I get test footage to see how the HDR performs, and overall image quality.
I wish @Jeff_Vantrue would email me the change log for the firmware updates.

 

[Panzer Platform]

I connected the rear camera to check that gray square, and the Bitrate of the Front & Rear camera.
The front camera was still able to maintain the 208MB file size for a 1 minute video.
The rear camera is unchanged at 74MB for 1 minute file.
I’m in shock, where did Vantrue find all this extra Bitrate for the front camera?
Why were they sandbagging? Lol
The gray square remains even after connecting the rear camera.
I guess we really need an explanation from @Jeff_Vantrue

 

[Agie]

I just noticed some changes after uploading the firmware a few days ago.
1.)
There is now a 2K60fps resolution option.
I don’t remember this being there with the last firmware.
2.)
A 1-Minute file size is now 208MB.
Previously it was only 106MB.
Does that mean they almost doubled the Bitrate?
208MB 1 Minute File = 27.7 Mbps
106MB 1 Minute File = 14.1 Mbps
Wow, if they really increased the Bitrate that should put them very close to the A119 Mini 2.
I’m impressed.
3.)
I filmed two 1-Minute test clips, (HDR On / HDR Off)
It looks like they are both 60fps.
What the heck is going on here?
Did Vantrue figure out how to do 60fps with HDR?
Even Viofo can’t do that.
This is getting interesting, I’m excited to see the next time I get test footage to see how the HDR performs, and overall image quality.
I wish @Jeff_Vantrue would email me the change log for the firmware updates.

Things are getting quite interesting and they are stepping up the competition

 

[Panzer Platform]

Updated front camera’s firmware VT-ECI141.
No change log provided.
However, it looks like they reduced Bitrate back down to 106MB for 1 minute file = 14.1Mbps =(
What’s going on @Jeff_Vantrue ?

 

[Panzer Platform]

Dash cams with voice commands are starting to rub off on me.
It sure makes gathering test footage a lot easier.

 

[Panzer Platform]

I tested the new firmware to see if it fixed the non functioning HDR.
Unfortunately it did not, and it’s still no match for the A119 Mini 2.
Back to the drawing board fellas, I want my MTV. lol
@Jeff_Vantrue

 

[Agie]

Dash cams with voice commands are starting to rub off on me.
It sure makes gathering test footage a lot easier.

I could imagine it would make life a lot easier in a quiet environment, it does my head in when driving though - never gets it right haha

 

[Agie]

I tested the new firmware to see if it fixed the non functioning HDR.
Unfortunately it did not, and it’s still no match for the A119 Mini 2.
Back to the drawing board fellas, I want my MTV. lol
@Jeff_Vantrue

View attachment 67610
View attachment 67611
View attachment 67612

May as well have Jeff over, he can sleep in the spare room and you can spend that month testing and optimising everything haha

 

[Panzer Platform]

never gets it right

It helps to get the intonation, and pronunciation correct.
This should help. lol

 

[Agie]

Dash cams with voice commands are starting to rub off on me.
It sure makes gathering test footage a lot easier.

When you said take out trash and one of them said it started recording HAHA

 

[Agie]

It helps to get the intonation, and pronunciation correct.
This should help. lol

Hahah nice if it's geared for their voices but for western market who knows haha. I honestly speak so clearly it just doesn't know how to handle my sexy drawl!

 

[Panzer Platform]

month testing and optimising everything

I've often though about taking a factory tour at Viofo to see how they test things, and offer feedback.
Especially how they measure FOV, AOV (viewing angle).
Most of their listed specifications for FOV are false & misleading.
That's one of my biggest bones to pick with them because it misleads the consumer.
But they keep misrepresenting their FOV specifications to "keep up with marketing" I guess.
Eventually it's going to bite them in the rear, just tell the truth.
Anything done in the dark will eventually come to light.

 

[Panzer Platform]

nice if it's geared for their voices but for western market who knows

This gentleman should have no problem with their voice commands;

 

[Agie]

I've often though about taking a factory tour at Viofo to see how they test things, and offer feedback.
Especially how they measure FOV, AOV (viewing angle).
Most of their listed specifications for FOV are false & misleading.
That's one of my biggest bones to pick with them because it misleads the consumer.
But they keep misrepresenting their FOV specifications to "keep up with marketing" I guess.
Eventually it's going to bite them in the rear, just tell the truth.
Anything done in the dark will eventually come to light.

Why not see how they do things and just nice to see how they operate. Would be useful for you, for me it would just be a tech nerd's dream haha. I got to visit Nokia HQ in Helsinki and that made me all giddy and drop my lunch tray in excitement that day

Seems like a cut throat market so guess there will be operational reasons if they fudge the figures..

 

[Agie]

This gentleman should have no problem with their voice commands;

That guy's a bloody legend haha I remember that

This one I found even better. The logic defies me

For context, "deadly" is an Aboriginal term that means the same as awesome, wicked etc

 

[Panzer Platform]

Chevron Price Sign
I tested the new firmware to see if it fixed the non functioning HDR.
Unfortunately it did not, and it’s still no match for the A119 Mini 2.