Are you a great driver? Ask anybody that query, and the reply is normally sure. I used to be requested this query earlier this 12 months, and my reply was unequivocally affirmative; I’m an important driver, and no, I don’t want a splash cam. Having tried the Viofo A229 Professional, I noticed that that is incorrect; there are a number of hazards on the market, and having a splash cam can present a number of reduction.
In the end, the Viofo A229 Professional sprint cam made me a convert. It’s the world’s first sprint cam with 4K recording on the entrance and 2K on the rear, and the wide-angle view means most issues are recorded. It’s wonderful, and after fixing a few step snafus (which proved essential), it satisfied me that each automotive wants a splash cam.
Employees choose
Viofo A229 Professional
The Viofo A229 Professional sprint cam gives the world’s first 4K/2K mixture recording. Its excessive price ticket is justified contemplating its wonderful options. And an optionally available cockpit view digicam, polarizing lens, Bluetooth shutter button, and microSD card are supreme equipment that improve its total enchantment. The digicam is adjustable, making certain you could find the proper angle on your automotive’s windshield.
- The whole lot you want from a splash cam
- Options two Sony Starvis 2 sensors
- Glorious total video high quality
- Nice voice management and superior options
- Arrange is kind of intensive
- A number of wiring for an built-in expertise
- Expensive with all of the add-ons
Value, availability, and specs
The Viofo A229 Professional is obtainable for $360, which incorporates the entrance digicam, rear digicam, inside digicam, and the Anti-Glass round polarizing lens. The field additionally gives spare 3M mount sticky pads to connect the cameras to your windshield or rear window, stickers to take away static, and a automotive charger.
Another bundle is obtainable for $30 extra with a further inside digicam. If you wish to hardwire the sprint cam, you may want the optionally available wiring package that prices a further $18. Essentially the most economical bundle — and the one which displays every little thing that Viofo despatched to us — prices $410 and consists of all of the cameras, the distant shutter, the hardwire package, and a 512GB microSD card.
What’s good in regards to the Viofo A229 Professional?
A really good sprint cam with all of the devices and gizmos
You’ll love the Viofo A229 Professional when you love expertise and need the entire bundle. If you happen to purchase it with the complete bundle, you’ll get two outward-facing cameras and a further one to document your automotive’s inside, an ND filter for the entrance digicam to stop lens flare, a Bluetooth shutter distant, and a useful microSD card. There’s a number of wiring included, and whilst you can select to not hard-wire it (like I did), the extra everlasting resolution includes passing wiring by way of the body of your automotive.
The primary 4K sprint cam options an 8MP Sony Starvis 2, 1/1.8-inch IMX678 sensor that may seize 4K movies at 30fps with a 140-degree visual view. Positioned subsequent to your rearview mirror, it’s supreme for capturing every little thing occurring forward of you. The rear digicam is a 5MP 1/2.8-inch IMX675 that makes use of the identical sensor expertise however drops the video recording decision to 2K with a 160-degree area of view. The latter’s specs additionally apply to the inside digicam; each are nice as they seize precisely the quantity of element you want.
I used to be pleasantly shocked by the cameras’ high quality. All of them function a better dynamic vary than different sprint cams I’ve tried, though my total expertise with them has been pretty restricted. Regardless, the picture high quality was distinctive, even at night time, because of DOL-HDR expertise, which boosts the standard of captures at night time.
The Viofo A229 Professional sprint cam makes use of G-sensor performance to detect motion in your car and seize something pertinent. Suppose you might have an incident that it detects. In that case, it would document a 45-second video prior and a 30-second video afterward after which retailer them in a particular folder in order that they’re not overwritten throughout the usual loop recording. The GPS logger additionally captures necessary data, corresponding to location, velocity, and time, and shops it with this, so that you all the time have the required data.
You’ll be able to manually ask the sprint cam to document or seize a second utilizing a Bluetooth shutter or voice management. The latter is especially helpful when you intention for a totally hands-free expertise however nonetheless wish to save a selected scene. I can think about that this is able to be tremendous helpful if somebody is interacting with you, and it will be supreme to document all the interplay when paired with the interior digicam. This is able to even be helpful throughout extra official interactions like site visitors stops and gives reassurance that you just’ll all the time have your individual copy of the occasions in query.
The Viofo A229 Professional has two connection choices: a easy resolution powered by the cigarette lighter or a hardwired resolution if you need one thing extra everlasting. I prevented the latter as a result of I wasn’t positive I’d like this sprint cam and even need one in my automotive, however now I’m a convert. I’ll be hardwiring this quickly.
The extra good thing about doing so is the Clever Parking mode, which works like Tesla’s Sentry Mode and helps monitor your automotive whenever you’re not in it. This mode kicks in as quickly because the ignition is turned off and can mechanically seize video if somebody damages your automotive whereas it’s empty. It’s the perfect manner to make sure you all the time preserve tabs in your car. I reside in an space with significantly excessive auto theft charges, and this function will present further reassurance as soon as it is hardwired.
What’s dangerous in regards to the Viofo A229 Professional?
It’s easy to put in however not that straightforward
My greatest grievance with the Viofo A229 Professional is that whereas the set up is straightforward sufficient, it has some hiccups. I think about myself useful, however the prospect of hardwiring my automotive proved pretty daunting. This meant that I hadn’t taken benefit of all of the options, though I plan to now that I do know I’ll use it.
As a part of the setup course of, you have to discover the best place in your windshield, particularly when you don’t wish to hardwire the entrance digicam. The facility cable is on the prime of the sprint cam (though the opposite USB-C ports work simply as successfully), so discovering a place the place it captures every little thing and the cables don’t have an effect on your sight line can take some trial and error.
Though the guide straight says to regulate the digicam, my mind skipped that step, so I drove round for just a few days with out capturing something of worth. It took lower than 15 seconds to handle this, but it surely’s value preserving this in thoughts.
And it nonetheless stays to be seen the way it compares to alternate options just like the Rove R2-4K Professional or 70 mai A510.
Learn our assessment
Overview: The Rove R2-4K Professional sprint cam hits the candy spot between specs and worth
Nice specs with cheap compromises
Do you have to purchase it?
One of the best sprint cam you should purchase, but it surely’ll price you
My greatest concern shouldn’t be with the Viofo A229 Professional however somewhat with sprint cams as a complete. They supply a number of reassurance that they’ll present proof when one thing goes improper, however equally, they can be utilized to show negligence.
That mentioned, simply having the Viofo A229 Professional in my automotive made me aware of the numerous highway hazards. Figuring out that footage of my less-than-perfect driving habits could possibly be used to my detriment additionally inspired me to be a safer, extra thoughtful driver. Had you requested me earlier than, I’d have mentioned I’ve no worries about having a splash cam within the automotive, however now the reply is extra muddled as a result of the footage may affect the end result of incidents, constructive or unfavorable. That mentioned, having video footage gives peace of thoughts; the highway might be an unpredictable and unsafe place.
Viofo A229 Professional
The Viofo A229 Professional has all of the options I would like from a splash cam and, whereas I nonetheless have existential issues about having a splash cam in my automotive, there is not any denying simply how helpful this one is. I used to be a skeptic, however because it seems, I am now a convert.
Associated
Nirave is a creator, evangelist, and founding father of Home of Tech. A coronary heart assault at 33 impressed him to publish the Influence of Tech e-newsletter, which covers the affect of expertise on psychological, bodily, and emotional well being. For extra, comply with him on Instagram, Twitter, and LinkedIn.