Viofo A119S Dashcam Review

[Prabhagar]

Viofo A119S Dashcam Review

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I have been using Spy Tec A118C dashcam on my Tiago which still works fine with it's own set of flaws:
- Pathetic night time recording
- No GPS
I even tried an external GPS module (bought from Aliexpress) which appeared to work and displayed speed on-screen but nothing recorded to video files. Thus the need for an upgrade started and ordered this Viofo A119S from Amazon.com thru a US friend who visited home for vacation. This post is a quick review of the unit and some sample videos.

Make: Viofo
Model: A119S
Product Page: https://www.viofo.com/home/34-49-a119s-1080p-60fps-car-dash-cam.html#/25-gps_module-included
Bought From: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B...iveASIN=B01MFAK888&linkCode=w61&tag=dacata-20
Cost: $110 (~ Rs 7000)

Online Listings with International Shipping:
- https://www.ebay.com/itm/282415883034?rmvSB=true
- https://www.banggood.com/https/www....ce=ShareASale&utm_medium=aff&cur_warehouse=CN
- https://www.aliexpress.com/item/Fre...&terminal_id=63f79d2d565b4e48bb1cc927329666c0

Likes:
- Great night time clarity, thanks to Sony Exmor IMX291 sensor
- 1080p 60 FPS recording which has a better edge over 30 FPS in identifying number plates
- Supports up to 128GB memory support
- Neatly integrated GPS module which also doubles up as mount
- Beeps if no memory card but does not beep if card is faulty
- Beeps when file is moved into RO folder (both manual & automatic)
- Buttons are laid out better (compared to A118C)

Dislikes:
- Over saturated colors
- A bit of higher exposure
- Start up time is more than A118C. Atleast few seconds before it starts recording
- No WiFi support, need to remove memory card or entire unit every time one needs to copy videos
- On-device playback is pathetic, better to have a phone with SD card support to deal with road rage situations and emergencies

In the box

- Dashcam
- GPS Mount
- Non-GPS Mounts (2 nos)
- Mount removing thread
- 12V Power Adapter
- Long Cable for use in car
- Short Cable for computer
- Extra 3M double sided tape
- EVA Foam pads (4 nos)
- Cable management clips

The supplied 12V power adapter deserves a special mention as it charges my Mi A1 very fast (3.1A current rating). It is also back-lit in subtle green on the ring:


Mini USB and AV out pins on right; Reset button and micro SD slot on other side:


GPS mount is an optional accessory and the dashcam slides on to it with ease. It's stuck to windshield via 3M double sided tape and acts as a mount for main unit. GPS mount has a separate mini USB power input but thankfully doesn't need a separate connection. Only one power input is needed which can either be dashcam or GPS and is shared by the other.


Package had 4 EVA pads which I missed to apply initially, resulting in lot of vibrations in audio & video. This pad secures the two modules together in a snug fit:


My dashcam came with firmware version 2.2 and I flashed it with v2.4, downloaded from Viofo website:


Slimmer and looks sleeker than A118C:


I didn't have to make any changes to hard wiring circuit, as new unit has the same mini USB port. Just removed old cam and mount, installed the new A119S. There's a red backlight on the REC button which indicates recording status of the unit:
Solid Red = Recording
Flashing Red = Not Recording


View from driver's position. Neither driver nor passengers will get to notice this guy easily. Helps watch bloopers and behind the scenes of service center visits .


Day Time Sample Video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SGTgGxYLcis

Night Time Sample Video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O6WEHhYo3hA&feature=youtu.be

Night Sample Video in City Conditions:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XkXRckqdGic

720p 60fps:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7p3zh2lyLv8

Saturation & Exposure (That is a Red Baleno):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3rt9xyaIm1g

Can't read number plate when they fall in the headlight beams:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gWmX2SgHDkM

That's all for now, let me know if there are any follow up questions or missed items. Happy Motoring

 

[350Z]

Note: Thread now live. Great review. Thanks!

Drive Safe,
350Z

 

[SilverEyez]

Amazing and detailed review Prabhagar
The product is very good, only flaw i find is the dashboard glare.

 

[Prabhagar]

Amazing and detailed review Prabhagar
The product is very good, only flaw i find is the dashboard glare.

Thanks SilverEyez. The dashboard glare can be reduced by adding a CPL filter (similar to polarized sunglasses) which costs around $15 from Aliexpress. I am apprehensive of it reducing night time visibility and hence did not buy it earlier.

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/VIO...119S-Dash-Dashcam-Camera-DVR/32776348824.html

 

[Nanofreak]

A 5* review thanks for sharing and the attention to detail is spot on.

Regards
Vinod

 

[Prabhagar]

Bonus Clips:
An awesome thunder bolt caught on my dashcam near coimbatore:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ca0oupqZMag&feature=youtu.be

On our way back from Kolli Hills where it started pouring amidst evening sun:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=itHsf7cTdWk&feature=youtu.be

 

[nish]

Did you check A119 PRO?

 

[Prabhagar]

Did you check A119 PRO?

I did check it out but picked A119S as it had Sony IMX291 sensor.

 

[A.G.]

Helps watch bloopers and behind the scenes of service center visits .

Indeed, helped me even catch someone speaking the wrong way during service.

Thanks SilverEyez. The dashboard glare can be reduced by adding a CPL filter (similar to polarized sunglasses) which costs around $15 from Aliexpress. I am apprehensive of it reducing night time visibility and hence did not buy it earlier.

I got the complete kit with CPL filter and hardwire kit. Had posted some videos in the Road Safety section. At night, it improves the visibility by eliminating the glare of oncoming vehicle to quite an extent.

 

[Prabhagar]

Indeed, helped me even catch someone speaking the wrong way during service.

It's a vicious cycle. Service Advisors talk foul on owners and technicians talk foul about service advisors once they steps away .

I got the complete kit with CPL filter and hardwire kit. Had posted some videos in the Road Safety section. At night, it improves the visibility by eliminating the glare of oncoming vehicle to quite an extent.

My car was already hard wired for old dash-cam so I skipped the full kit. Glad to know the CPL filter works at night as well, I assumed it will hurt brightness during night time. Anyways, I went ahead and ordered it owing to high dashboard glare of my car. Shipped last week and hoping to receive it in next week or so from banggood.
https://www.banggood.com/VIOFO-Car-...-p-1200374.html?rmmds=search&cur_warehouse=CN

 

[sethumurugan]

Amazing and detailed review Prabhagar
The product is very good, only flaw i find is the dashboard glare.

Was about to say that. Cant we avoid it. Apart from that it is very good.


BTW, how the dashcam identifyies you car as Tiago

 

[Prabhagar]

Was about to say that. Cant we avoid it. Apart from that it is very good.

CPL filter has arrived this week and should take care of dashboard glare to some extent. I am yet to align it right and then try it on my car. Will post updates later this week.

BTW, how the dashcam identifyies you car as Tiago

We can type our own text (typically number plate info) to stamp on the video but I only entered Tiago in there. Privacy

 

[Prabhagar]

CPL filter helps reduce dashboard glare to a good extent. Only grouse is the high cost of the filter which is nothing more than polarised glass on a plastic frame. I bought it for 1000 bucks back in June but now it shows Rs.1400 which I feel is too much for its worth.

Link: [US$14.13] VIOFO Car Dash Camera CPL Filter Lens Cover for VIOFO A118C2 / A119 / A119S Car DVRs from Automobiles & Motorcycles on banggood.com
Cost: Rs1050/- (June 2018)

Recent sample video (with CPL filter) where we spotted elephants in Anamalai Tiger Reserve area, en route to Munnar:

 

[ticken]

Congratulations on the Viofo A119S.
Video quality looks good

 

[Prabhagar]

Last week I updated the cam's firmware from V2.4 to V4.0. This update included below new options in settings:

Bitrate: Normal / High
Sharpness: Strong / Normal / Soft
Video Format: TS / MP4

I changed sharpness setting to 'Soft' as I always thought this unit was over sharpening the footage. Here's a sample clip from this week.

What I didn't like is the night time clarity. There's lot of blurriness under low light (or on far away objects) as you can see from this video. Closer objects like the taxi seems focused normally while long ones like trees are way off. I have to change the setting back to 'Normal' to check if that's the issue.