S1000

The S1000 DVR is a dash cam released in the summer of 2012.  This camera can record at 1080p @ 30fps and 720p @ 60fps.  Video quality during the day is good but unfortunately video quality at night is below average.  The S1000 does not have GPS but does come with a G-sensor.

This camera is one of the few models that use an Ambarella A5 processor.  The S1000 uses the Ambarella A5S30 processor.  In comparison the Papago! P3 uses the A5S90 processor.

The Ambarella A2 processors have become very popular in Chinese dash cams even though the technology dates back to 2007.  The A5 processors were introduced in 2009.  Many had hoped for much improved video quality over the A2 cameras, but at least in this iteration, it is not the case.

Unlike the A2S60 cameras which has a wider angle at 720p and a narrower angle at 1080p, this A5s30 camera has the same viewing angle at both settings.

Feedback indicates that this camera boots up very quickly (less than 3 seconds) and there are no gaps between files.  It includes 32mb of internal memory to record 10 seconds before an impact and 10 seconds after the impact, triggered by the G-sensor.  The G-sensor has 3 sensitivity levels and cannot be turned off.

Note that the real version of this camera records in .MOV format.  There appear to be fake versions available that record in .AVI version as well.

S1000 Models

This camera, like many Chinese cameras, has a number of different names:

• S1000
• SD-S1000
• ZEA-MD770 (records in AVI, fake)

Known problems

Since this is a relatively new camera and is not that popular, there have not been many reliability problems noted yet.

Mounting the camera

Standard mount

Disassembling the dash cam

Sample Videos

Day

Night

Should I Purchase?

The 2 main drawbacks of this camera are night time video quality and size.  The price is reasonable at $100.  However the F500LHD has better video quality and is cheaper making this camera not the greatest buy.

Firmware

Currently there is no publicly known way to extract or upgrade the firmware in these dash cams.  There are 2 known firmware versions that have been sold:

• V20120528
• V20120706

Specifications