Viofo A329T (unboxing & first impressions) (Sony Starvis 2 IMX678, Wi-Fi 6/GPS, HDR, Novatek NT98530, 4K front + 2.5K telephoto + 2.5K rear, HDR all)

[Nigel]

Additionally, I asked @viofo years ago to add battery voltage information just like in the video. In response, they said that this is possible in Korean brands, but it is not possible because Viofo cameras work with 5v.

Viofo cameras do work with 5V, and fortunately it is possible to do on a 5V dashcam these days, so your wish may soon be fulfilled...

 

[lufa6977]

Since a couple of experts seem to be active here: has Viofo ever considered using a Bluetooth-connected OBD adapter? I think it could be a great feature to overlay and record the activity of the turn signals or brake lights in the video, instead of just hearing that a turn signal is on through the microphone (assuming it's not drowned out by other noise).

I believe you would need to interface the car's computer for turn signal information, which is often saved. The OBD II is mostly engine train and performance oriented, though if the car has a BCM, the manufacturer could sense that turn signal data, but they usually use that signal to indicate a bulb is burned out.

 

[kamkar]

it is over a decade old camera, so about as good image quality as you would get back then.
Also i am not sure if Lukas still try to do this with their newer cameras, it is not a brand we hear very much about these days.
Lukas used to have a lusting over various car brands and models with that kind of compatibility you could expect.

I still think it is very useful with OBD info in the footage, i would for sure personally like something like that in a dashcam.
But it dont seem to be easy to do no matter how simple i think it must be.

Alternative you can put a remote camera on the steering column and have it film the dash, that way you would get blinkers in the footage visually, but it do seem to be a silly way for so little gain.

I am wondering, there are OBD adapters that allow you to diagnose a lot of cars in one devise, so why a dashcam OBD adapter could not be programmed to be able to do that too, even factoring in it is just a few of the things we are interested in.
Well i will never know.

 

[kamkar]

Another Lukas camera, here there seem to be a issue with the indicator reading so it look to have hazard light on, which it dont have i think ,just OBD devise read car model wrong.

 

[Nigel]

Alternative you can put a remote camera on the steering column and have it film the dash, that way you would get blinkers in the footage visually, but it do seem to be a silly way for so little gain.

Easier to put one of those OBD HUD displays in the view of the main front camera?
They don't appear to support brakes or turn signals though...

 

[kamkar]

That is also a option, even if most of its extra info are not of very much interest in case of a dispute.

 

[Mtz]

Since a couple of experts seem to be active here: has Viofo ever considered using a Bluetooth-connected OBD adapter? I think it could be a great feature to overlay and record the activity of the turn signals or brake lights in the video, instead of just hearing that a turn signal is on through the microphone (assuming it's not drowned out by other noise).

First, I don't like some adapter to block my OBD socket. Any OBD device which is connected to a dashcam should be made in some way to let the pins available for another OBD device to be inserted. Something like a plug socket adapter which is inserted at our houses into the wall socked.
Secondly, the dashcam already has a lot of things to do, adding more data, which is not important, to be processed, can cause other problems.

I heard about this camera for the first time. Frankly, I don't like the black areas in videos to be completely black. This is very successful..

Additionally, I asked @viofo years ago to add battery voltage information just like in the video. In response, they said that this is possible in Korean brands, but it is not possible because Viofo cameras work with 5v.

They said this few years ago. This year the situation can be changed.

 

[Dan-UK1415]

Is the embargo lifted today or tomorrow?

 

[kamkar]

not important

I can see cases where someone would claim " not use indicators " and so on, even if Yes you can often hear indicator relay, at least if you are not playing the radio.
Also there are still people that do not like to record sound, so in their case nothing to hear.

Erratic braking / speeding up i suppose tould be covered by the embedded GPS speed, but it might benefit from GPS that update faster than today.

I dont think this would load a dashcam very much.

 

[Nigel]

Erratic braking / speeding up i suppose tould be covered by the embedded GPS speed, but it might benefit from GPS that update faster than today.

I dont think this would load a dashcam very much.

If they used some of the AI learning that you suggested for the OBD, they could combine the GPS and g-sensor information, and generate a 30fps speed signal that is reasonably accurate, at zero extra hardware cost...

 

[kamkar]

Yes but the learning is just the first boot, after that is is just listening / looking for a trigger to put what ever icon / value in the footage.

I think, i am know for simplifying things, often wayyyyy too much.

My 4K omni and E1 PRO are also always listening for any voice command i might give.
Not sure if that is why Garmin made the " OK Garmin " trigger word, so it know there is a command coming, or it is just a means for making people think they have privacy.

 

[Mtz]

Here is a multiplexed video from A329T using a beta firmware

At the video description you have the download link for the original video so you can check it frame by frame or zooming into it.

My speed was legal, a little under 50km/h but the others I expect to have a little more than 50km/h. So the total speed was something like 80-95 km/h.

Because I am interested about the car registration plates legibility, here are some zoomed screenshots (not snapshots) from my MPC-BE player:
First is front, second is rear and the others are telephoto

 

[Augustus]

Here is a multiplexed video from A329T using a beta firmware

At the video description you have the download link for the original video so you can check it frame by frame or zooming into it.

My speed was legal, a little under 50km/h but the others I expect to have a little more than 50km/h. So the total speed was something like 80-95 km/h.

Because I am interested about the car registration plates legibility, here are some zoomed screenshots (not snapshots) from my MPC-BE player:
First is front, second is rear and the others are telephoto

Looking good! I wonder if they have been able to extract any further image quality refinements out of the IMX678 sensor and the Novatek NT98530 chipset, or is this S-series release more about consolidating all the features together in a better package...

 

[jsmith]

Here is a multiplexed video from A329T using a beta firmware

At the video description you have the download link for the original video so you can check it frame by frame or zooming into it.

My speed was legal, a little under 50km/h but the others I expect to have a little more than 50km/h. So the total speed was something like 80-95 km/h.

Because I am interested about the car registration plates legibility, here are some zoomed screenshots (not snapshots) from my MPC-BE player:
First is front, second is rear and the others are telephoto

Phenomenal. The Telescopic lens with HDR is able to make out plates of vehicles passing by at rapid speeds!

I forget, what will the S model be?

 

[Augustus]

Phenomenal. The Telescopic lens with HDR is able to make out plates of vehicles passing by at rapid speeds!

I forget, what will the S model be?

Have been using the A229 Pro with the RTC300 and it's still in my car to this day - the Telephoto I find quite necessary. Not sure what the new RTC400 brings - it's still the same sensor though

S-model is just front, rear, interior camera. T is front, rear, telephoto.

 

[Mtz]

Some zoomed screenshot from the telephoto area of the multiplexed video.

Estimated total speed:

180 km/h


150 km/h


130 km/h



And a full frame snapshot at about total speed of 90 km/h:

 

[Julian23]

Some zoomed screenshot from the telephoto area of the multiplexed video.

Estimated total speed:

180 km/h
View attachment 80023

150 km/h
View attachment 80024

130 km/h
View attachment 80025


And a full frame snapshot at about total speed of 90 km/h:
View attachment 80022

That is looking very promising!

 

[TonyM]

@Mtz I see you updated your dashcam info already 👍

Some zoomed screenshot from the telephoto area of the multiplexed video.

Estimated total speed:

180 km/h
View attachment 80023

Do you have stock headlights on your car, or have they been modified? I believe the headlight pattern and intensity affects the performance of the dashcam for capturing number plates. I say this because I remember that I bought an A139 Pro after seeing your pre-release screenshots of impressive plate captures at night, then I realised that my car's headlights were nowhere near as good as yours for illuminating oncoming cars. Eventually I upgraded my headlights which improved the dashcam performance, although it was still not as good as yours.

I have since changed my car and it has stock LED lights, but the upper edge cutoff seems lower than yours so I may not see the same results as you with the A329 Telephoto.

 

[DashcamDriversGermany]

If somebody wonders how much of a 360°-coverage there is with the fisheye-interieur. Short sample shot (sorry for the dirty windscreen)

I think it's not full 360° but always depending on where you mount the interieur.
But it's in fact a massive difference to the normal interieur cam.

I'll do a full comparision between A329S, Vantrue E360 and 70Mai 4K Omni soon.
Don't know if I can link that then somewhere here.

But since I already did a short test of the E360 month ago wich I quickly abandoned due to the results I think using a normal front camera design is a massive advantage in capturing license plates.

 

[Nigel]

I think it's not full 360° but always depending on where you mount the interieur.
But it's in fact a massive difference to the normal interieur cam.

I think you need a wider front lens on if you want full 360°, which would make some sense for the Telephoto version where the Telephoto does the high resolution work, but is probably undesirable for the standard version, and since the Telephoto is an alternative to the Cabin camera, I guess Viofo won't have full 360° until they get a 4 channel 4K dashcam! It is currently quite close to 360° though, I don't think that missing out a bit of A-Pillar is a big problem.

That is a nice mounting location you have for the cabin camera.

But since I already did a short test of the E360 month ago wich I quickly abandoned due to the results I think using a normal front camera design is a massive advantage in capturing license plates.

Yes, the E360 doesn't have enough resolution, and even if they upgrade it to 4K image sensors, it still won't have enough resolution. A proper 4K front lens is highly desirable.