Viofo A119 Review - The Best Value Dash Camera in 2017
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 4 ต.ค. 2024
- We review Viofo's A119 which is the first dash cam that has great video quality, reliability, stealthiness and user-friendliness for less than $100. The new gold standard.
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UPDATE: Sept 10, 2019
We tested the new A119V3 and it's a nice upgrade to the older A119. See our new review here: • Viofo A119V3 - The Bes...
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GET THE RIGHT MICROSD CARD:
Getting the right card will significantly improve reliability. Our best choices below are designed for dash cam use and have a warranty and improved error correction. See our youtube review for more information: • The Best MicroSD Cards...
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WHERE TO GET THE VIOFO A119
Back in 2016, we got this camera for free from Viofo. Since 2017 we've paid for all dash cams and accessories. We've stuck with the A119V2 and V3 today (Oct 2019) because they still represent a great value in dash cams.
When you buy using links below, I may earn an affiliate commission. Car Cam Central is viewer supported.
The A119V2 is now our value budget pick. The A119V3 is our new best budget pick as it has better video quality and parking mode versus the older V2.
UNITED STATES:
OCD Tronic is our recommended retailer. They have the best relationship with Viofo and over the years have proven themselves to give great customer service.
A119V2 Amazon: amzn.to/31A2TeG
A119V3 Amazon: amzn.to/2koSAL8
CANADA
OCD Tronic Canada is your best bet. Based out of Alberta they give great service.
A119V2: amzn.to/2J4mihq
A119V3: amzn.to/2J71nud
UNITED KINGDOM:
Sold on Amazon by estore009 under the name "WonVon". China based seller. Use coupon code "7INJC8U4" for the non GPS version and "FMPKA4ZW" with GPS for a £5 discount)
Amazon UK A119S: amzn.to/2qJstyV
INTERNATIONAL
Sold through the China-based eStore009 who we've been recommending for years and is a great seller. Caution, custom fees possible.
ebay.to/2yNeRI5
Amazon USA: bit.ly/A119_CPL...
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FIRMWARE UPDATES:
Viofo has released beta updates to their firmware which adds in features like MPH, turning off GPS info stamps, removing A119 etc.
See our video here: • Video
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To see what we are up to and what's coming please check our Facebook page as it's the only place we post behind the scene stuff like photos and thoughts about other cameras.
/ carcamcentral
Thank you for your support!
-Andrew
#viofoa119 #a119review #bestbudgetdashcam
UPDATE: Sept 10, 2019
We tested the new A119V3 and it's a nice upgrade to the older A119. See our new review here: th-cam.com/video/H4f2HWs_gpc/w-d-xo.html
Nevermind the camera. How about a round of applause for how often and quickly the OP responds to the comments. Well done! (No need to respond to this comment, unless you want reinforce what I've already said.)
Thanks! I try my best, although there are sometimes where it's going to be a few days until I catch up and answer everyone.
Car Cam Central hey, does this camera have g sensor?? Thanks
Can we preset the camera for taking image everyday.
Sorry about the lack of replies recently. Trying to get the next top dash cam video out and it's sucking up all my time. I'll be sure to respond to all comments.
curious to see how your list compares to mine! i just posted a video this week of my top 6. thinkware F770 is my personal cam now, but the A119 really does seem like the go to budget cam.
Hey Jon, some things are similar. The A119 are on both our lists. The A119S I think is a worse camera that costs more money from the samples I've seen. I've just ordered mine so I'm waiting to get it in.
The remote street guardian unit looks a bit bulky for me. Do a lot of people ask about such a system from you?
Thanks for this review. Decided to get one. What would you recommend for a rear dash camera? Are there any that can also double as a back up camera?
None can double as a backup camera right now. Rear camera I'd check out the A119 honestly or the T3 for something slimmer but the video quality is much reduced.
Car Cam Central Ok, I'll look into it. Thank you for responding. Is a wedge shape a problem for a flat rear window (Rav4) or does the adjustable camera fix that?
*UPDATE: Jan 6, 2017*
Did a quick comparison between the A119 and A119S. The video quality looks worse to me in the majority of situations. Go with the A119. Longer post on reddit: bit.ly/A119S_Compare
Thanks for your great review. Would you recommend the ones simply record while driving w/ motion detector activated while parked? BTW, GPS is not required as we have GPS on all smart phones now.
Wendy Wong GPS is not for directions! It's to record your speed and locations travelled so you can show police if something happens: such as someone saying you were speeding when you weren't or said you cut them off from a certain street which you weren't on. :)
Hey, thanks for the review!! would this SD CARD be ok?www.amazon.com/gp/product/B06XWN9Q99/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER&th=1
You lose the warranty with Samsung, if you wanted to go cheap I'd suggest the Transcend 400X. There's no warranty but it's a proven card and suggested by one of my favorite retailers - Street Guardian.
-Andrew
what do you mean lose warranty?
The non-recording notification seals it for me. Every other dash cam I've used has failed on me without me realizing. Thanks for the thorough video.
Hello Daniele, thanks for kind words.
Rolands - Community Support
Arrived from Honk Kong today and Installed just fine. Put a 128GB Samsung card in and it works fine - formatted OK.
The adhesive pad on the GPS is now black for my unit.
There's now a Speed Unit menu option for mph and kph.
Software was dated 29th of August 2016.V1.1
Did you get it from ebay ?
Yep. Ebay Australia. Just double checked my history and it came from China.
Just ordered mine through AliExpress, a smidgeon over $116 (that's Australian dollars - about USD$86.50) including GPS mount & ePacket delivery. Can you confirm that it handles the 128Gb card well (i.e., uses all 128Gb)? All of the references to this camera (including on Viofo's own web site) state "up to 64Gb." Don't want to waste money on a 128Gb card if I can't use it.
Is there any way to hid the speed / GPS info on the video?
One of the most comprehensive and credible reviewers I've seen. This dash cam market seems very unrefined and requires that one do homework to get a sound product! Keep up the good work.
Thank you, Stephen. Appreciate it.
-Rolands
Update: April 20, 2018
We have tested the Viofo A119 Pro and are not satisfied with the results - night quality is blurry. The A119V2 is still our top pick as it doesn't have the poor daytime video of the A119S and at night while not as good, isn't significantly worse than the A119S.
See the A119 Pro's unboxing here: th-cam.com/video/GqZpCizOvzE/w-d-xo.html
-Andrew
Car Cam Central thank you so much. I will go with the v2. Awesome reviews. Luv it ❤
Hi, Just picked up the viofo pro and after installing the micro SD card it just takes a picture and freezes with a red x in the center of the screen. If i have to update the firmware which model # should i update under. Your help will be greatly appreciated. Thanks
Thanks for the review! What about a cam that can be turned to the side (maybe with suction mount) or with better audio quality to capture road rage incidents etc.? (The audio samples from this cam I've seen seem a bit lackluster) Do you have a recommendation of a camera based on those two features? Thanks again!
I'm waiting for your next video! I'm looking for a high performance or a premium cam with rear parking mode. I got a hit and run when I parked at a public parking. I really need a camera that can protect my car when my car is off, or when i'm not in the car. Thank you a lot
Considering this one or the new Yi Mini dash cam-any preference??
I installed this on my Jeep back in October, and it has performed wonderfully even in the coldest weather (and that was -5F). I hard-wired it to the fuse box so it's always on. I highly recommend this one! I'm going to buy another one for the back window.
Thanks for making these videos, dude. Keep it up!
Thanks! I will.
I purchase mine due to your video. It's my 3rd dashcam. #1 is dead, #2 quality is really cheap. This one is awesome.
Glad I can help Stephane
Hey, I just wanted to say thanks for all your videos!
A few months back, I wanted to purchase a dash cam for my car, but had NO idea where to start.
I was doing some research on my own, and came across your channel!
I watched several videos, and after some research on the A119 that you recommended, I decided to buy it.
It's a great camera, no regrets. Quality is nice, easy to use, and isn't bulky like some other cameras.
Keep up the good work, and thank you for making these videos!
Thanks Tu! In the same way when I got started I had the same problems so I want to share the knowledge I have with everyone else.
Incredible reviews. I have also watched a few of your other videos also. I wish I would have found you sooner. I am on my third dash camera (not happy with them). Planning on making the A119 my 4th one and hopefully my last one for a while, lol Anyways, liked your videos and subscribed :-)
Thanks Kaspian! Better late than never. Hopefully the A119 will be a winner for you. I'm happy with what Viofo has done so far and the vendors they support.
Your reviews, as a whole, are by far the best I've seen on YT. And I'm not just referring to dash cams.
I really like the quality of this camera but I miss the stealth look of A118-C. Wish they included some sort of wire hiding bracket like A118
Great review, Andrew. I ended buying the Viofo A129 Duo and love the video quality and features. It is worth noting, however, that the rear camera in dual camera systems is useless in pickup trucks. I installed the front camera and verified that it was working as expected. Then when I started to install the rear camera, I found that no matter where on the rear window I positioned it, it saw only truck bed, tailgate and sky. So if pickup truck drivers are looking for a dash cam, they would be well-advised to avoid wasting their money on dual-camera systems.
Hey Bob. Thanks for the input. Yes, pickup trucks would need a different system.
-Rolands
If budget weren't an issue, what would be the best option for a dual dash camera?
i got this one
Transcend 32GB Drive Pro 520 yet to try it though it has one facing front other facing the driver i will be using it for my casual uber driving
lorderik237 f770 🙂
2 separate cameras maybe? If you want to see out the back window and not inside the car, it's better to have one on the back window, but then you can't reach the emergency button on that one so you rely on g sensor or just getting your footage off before it's overwritten. Also when it comes to replacing, you can replace only one at a time as you see fit. When mine gets too old, it's going in the back window.
My FalconZero F170 died within 8 months. This A119 looks like my new dash cam. Thanks for the video.
What adhesive pad would it need if I wanted to purchase a black one?
I want to know that too
me too
the adhesive that came with my Viofo is named VHB 3M
is that adhesive pad black?
I thought the guy was asking about what type of adhesive it is and it says 3M VHB. I don't know if it comes in black. I would say google 3M VHB and look for stores that sell them.
Just bought this dashcam. Ill mount it in my car tomorrow and fully test this. This review made my doubts go away and i'll get back to you once ive tested it. Thanks!
Great stuff, hope it went well!
Hi, everything works fine! The cable was long enough to hide it. I also got the gps. Did not have to update the firmware to get it into KM/h. That was already included. I have it on loop recording for my own comfort. Great display and lens angle. Satisfied with this dashcam. Thanks!
After some time, some issues do come up.
- First, the screen started flickering and the dashcam constantly turned on/off on its own. - had to unplug the powercable from the gps mount and directly into the camera to solve this issue.
- Second, each time i take the sd card out to save files and insert it back, it asks to format it. Great that the device does this, but it would be helpfull to actually format the card when you do it. Sometimes it takes 20x to format the card before i can record again. formatting the card on the computer, sometimes helps but the viofo still asks to format the card. Same result, i have to keep trying to format the card. Sometimes i just turn the camera off out of frustration. After some time, it still does not work and asks to format the card.
Is there any playback software that will show gps maps when recorded in 1440p?
I would also like to know, Dashcam viewer only shows GPS maps with 1080p and not 1440p.
Hi Susanne, you’ll need to use dash cam viewer which is the only software right now that has that capability. dashcamviewer.com/
Quote from when I contacted the maker of Dash Cam Veiwer -" Dashcam Viewer Yes, I've found that Windows PCs do not play 1440p movies in Dashcam Viewer. There is no fix yet other than to set your A119 to 1080p. Sorry for the trouble." So, the actual maker states that is will not work with the A119 in 1440p, only 1080p.
To clarify, the 1440p videos play fine in Mac Dashcam Viewer. Some PCs running Windows Dashcam Viewer are not playing the 1440p videos. But some PCs play them fine (my ASUS i7 Win10 laptop plays them in DV).
But, are the GPS maps supposed to work with Windows? I can not get GPS maps to work with 1440p on any of my 3 computers.
Definitely buying the A119. Just got a brand new Mercedes and I need a quality camera. After seeing the image from the camera itself, it actually looks like one of the best dash cams I've seen (video quality)
Hey. It is definitely our value pick at $100. It delivers key features of a great dash cam and we haven’t experienced any reliability issues that would make us rethink our pick. The Viofo A119 v2 fixes restarting issues as they have changed the GPS mount. I would also think about getting a CPL filter which will help to reduce glare and reflections in your videos.
Does it have Night Vision? Or can you only use it during the day??
So night vision is a term some manufacturers made up around infrared lights or something. It records at night just fine as you can observe from the videos. You can also download the raw files if you want to see what it would look like under different lighting conditions.
What are you trying to accomplish? I'm not sure if you want to use a dash cam as a backup camera, etc.
To have a dash cam day AND night!! Some pplz do drive at night too you know!!
So Jannet, it works at night as well too. Better than most dash cameras on the market.
Hi, would you recommended buying two dash cams, one in front and one for back window? Cause many accident happens when you're stop at traffic lights and someone rear ends you. What are your thoughts?
Wow very in depth review with side by side comparison, with pro lv. commentary that was not monotone along with the price vs quality. you saved me 500 dollars for somthing that was just as good with almost all of the same functions. Thank you.
Very glad it worked out like that for you!
Rolands - Community Help
Ugh...sticky mount.
Thank you for the review. I just put in an order after seeing your review. I was having trouble online trying to find out how easily removable the camera is when you are parking, and your video very clearly and accurately explained it for me. Thanks again.
Hey Cam, glad I could help you out! Thank you!
Just got the Viofo A119 and put it to test. It's really awesome compared to some dash cams that I've used before. Thanks for your review mate
👍👍 Awesome stuff Maurice.
I decided to purchase the A119 based on your helpful review. Thank you.
I noticed that Viofo now offers the new WR1 model. Nice set of features. Hopefully you will have a review of that model, too.
Hey John, I'm reviewing the WR1 right now. I made a post about it on Facebook here: facebook.com/CarCamCentral/photos/a.640592639376708.1073741825.200025820100061/1015983985170903
It's shaping up to be a good alternative to the A119 if you're looking for 360 rotation, WiFi, smaller camera profile and are willing to give up video quality and an LCD screen to do so. Review soon.
-Andrew
I've been upselling the crap out of this thing to my coworkers. We're planning on making a batch order all at once! It's already come in handy and beats my aging Mobius in low light conditions and reliability hands-down. You're right this thing is the go-to dashcam for most people. The heat alone melted everything else we've tried!
Hey Mic, yup, that's what I thought when I saw the A119 as well. I'm glad a company finally produced a camera this good.
Thanks for the great review. I just bought one last weekend based on your review and installed it today (took less than 10 minutes).
THANK you for the BEST review on any Dash Cam with lots of video footage!!! THANK YOU!!
Hey, winkipinky! Thanks for the kind words.
-Rolands
You're the GURU of dash cams. Best reviews and response time on TH-cam
Glad to help!
-Andrew
OUTSTANDING REVIEW-FACTUAL AND JUST ENOUGH JARGON-GREAT JOBSKI!!!
Thank you Gregory!
Rolands - Community Support
Thanks for the fantastic reviews, I live in Colorado and the sun is really intense here in the summer, and my old camera did not like the heat. I appreciate the comparisons in the video between models to give a better idea of real world use, as well.
I know this review is a little dated... but just wanted to add this. I have had two VIOFO A119 dashcams on my car.... one front and one rear. I have had a couple glitches and just want to add that I am SUPER SUPER impressed with VIOFO's customer service. I have had to contact them twice, once because of a problem with the GPS and another problem with the "user" and both times they IMMEDIATELY answered my emails and IMMEDIATELY helped me resolve the problems. In this day and age I know it's unusual to find good customer service but in this case I did, and wanted to share it. I bought the cams as a result of Car Cam Centrals review and would HIGHLY recommend them based on my satisfaction with the cams AND their 5 star customer service.
Hey Richard, thanks for the update! Where and who did you speak to at Viofo? I've been seeing mixed comments about Viofo's customer service recently. The forums get the most amount of complaints, did you email Viofo?
-Andrew
I looked high and low for the best cam to get (my first). Based on your review I bought a Viofo A119 with a 64 GB Lexar SD card. I easily upgraded the firmware to v2. The PC cable out of the box was defective. I thought the device was bad but I figured out the problem was the cable. I have it set to the max resolution, 10 min uses almost 2 GB. I can only get the cam to go into mass storage mode by plugging directly into the device. If I plug into the GPS then the device just turns on and records. This may have changed with v2. Now out to my car for some live testing. Oh, I have an Outback so the A119 may not be so clunky on the rear window. I'll let you know how my live footage goes. Thank you for your cam Channel :) Happy dash Camming to all.
You're welcome! This camera does use a ton of space very quickly. The GPS won't have the connections to allow mass storage as the pins are differently wired. Hope it lasts a while for you.
Too bad about the cable.
Thanks for the no-nonsense review. I bought one based on this video's information.
I do what I can to cut out the fluff - glad to help Jon.
Great review! And thanks for all the info in the description, specially the one leading to the right micro USB cards to purchase and even updating when the Transcend price increased.
Ps. That stretch on Dixie when they were doing construction was absolutely insane. Always wondered how there weren't more accidents than that.
Thanks Matchu! Dixie was pretty ridiculous. Accidents are cleared quite quickly especially with the fender bender type accidents where they'll drive off somewhere safe.
On the A119: I've received a dozen complaints about GPS data not showing up in Dashcam Viewer. It turns out that the A119 v2.01 firmware is not recording GPS info to the movie file. Reverting to firmware v2.0 fixes the problem.
Another excellent review, btw. I love the A-to-B comparisons. The video quality of the A119 is excellent for the price. Too bad it's slow to respond to rapid ambient light changes.
Just bought one. Might have to make a "Bad drivers of Louisiana" channel now, haha. I've never seen one, and there are PLENTY of people who'd be perfect candidates here in SOWELA. That said, it looks like a great first buy and I can't wait to try it Tuesday. Thanks so much for the insightful reviews!
I purchased a Viofo A119 based on your review. Your review is accurate and the camera is as good as you say it is. One very important thing the people should be aware of, is the warranty. Yes, it has a 1 year warranty. The problem is that you must send it to CHINA for warranty service. In my opinion, that makes the warranty worthless. My A119 is now in the trash and I'm looking for a dash camera with a US warranty.
Thank you - after filtering through Amazon's chaos I was lost - this made it waaaay easier - I just got the A119V2! You should include a fitting video, doing mine this weekend. Thanks again.
Hey. Thanks for the suggestion. Hope it serves you well.
-Rolands
I love mine, it works great after I updated the software, the picture, and video quality is great. I would recommend the A119
Hello Brian. Glad you're happy with your product. Are you using the A119V2?
-Rolands
Great infos well presnted in excellent order . This vid should be an example for all presenters : clear voice/no dumb music. Just ordered my A119 GPS today , my Lukas 7300 starting to error 1 too often...after 3 years of good service.
Thank you.
Thanks Eloi, I like to think of what I want in a review then try to create that to the best of my ability.
Mine 5 years on still working great. In fact was looking for a cheap 2nd for rear.
i have an a118c... i will always support this cam because of its capacitor design
Great camera for sure.
Hello Andrew! I only bought this Dashcam because of your test and am very impressed of the quality of it. The camera makes excellent shots. The extra charge for the Opia 2 is not worth it in my opinion, I had both directly in the test and sent the Opia 2 back. Please continue making these great reviews, I look at each one of them. Your videos are of high quality!
Unfortunately it is not so easy in Germany with these cameras. The permissibility of the permanent recording as well as the usability as evidence in civil or criminal proceedings is controversial in Germany. There is currently no established case-law on both issues. The judge decides in each individual case whether or not a recording is permissible. In many cases, the traffic recording practice is considered permissible for the purpose of safeguarding. Many fear that dashcams create an atmosphere of surveillance, and some believe cameras can distract drivers from traffic. A small part even finds Dashcams represent an interference with the privacy of other traffic and should be banned. So is that sick?
Greetings from Germany, Alex.
Hey Alex, glad I helped you out! Yes i heard German privacy laws make it very difficult to use. At the very least you can use it to refresh your memory from notes if not directly present the evidence.
The OPIA2 and all premium cameras have dimishing returns. I think it's a personal choice. For me it's the reliability (75C heat resistance) the 360 degree coverage, slightly better video quality and parking mode that makes the difference. 100% understand if that doesn't apply to you.
I've been watching your highly detailed videos for the past few weeks deciding which camera to get as my first camera and I think this is the one thanks for all of the insight!
Great, glad I could help out. Thanks Antonio!
Based on your recommendations I ordered the A119 from Walmart for 79.99 great price free shipping to my home. Thanks
Andrew its obvious you have an incredible knowledge level with dash cams. Your passion for these cams and clear delivery is what makes a HUGE difference!! Thank you so much for offering these reviews. one question: do you anticipate the Viofo A119 ever offering parking mode recording capability in future models?
Hello pisces. Thank you for the kind words. I think it’s the next logical step for them. They already have made some great products. I would keep an eye on the Dash Cam Talk forums as they like to make announcements there.
A fantastic unbiased reviewer.
YES YES YES !!! I've been waiting for you to review this dash cam. They've done a great job on the upgrade. hoping to buy one soon!! Thanks again for the upload!! You da man!!!
Hahah, congrats on being the first commenter! Looks like you really wanted the review, glad I could deliver Vinny.
Had this unit for a couple of months now thanks to this review.
Viofo have released an upgraded version already - A119S with a Sony sensor plus upgraded glass it seems. Would love it if you could get your hands on one of these to compare and perhaps update this review. There seems to be a few video comparisons and unboxings on TH-cam but nothing like with the production quality of this channel.
The CFL filter seem to be finally available too.
Yup, I unboxed the A119S and the accompanying CPL yesterday. I'll be running tests over the next couple days.
A big thanks for this video, been needing to upgrade my 2 GW-1's and I think I just found my next cams! Thanks!
👍👍 Glad I could help.
Gotta love the pivoting from left to right. Also they did improve footage for night recording. Well done video my man. Keeo em coming!!😃
I will! Lots to review and more guides to produce.
+Car Cam Central are you planning on reviewing the DDPai M6+?
This review is what made me just order it on Amazon right now! :) Thank you for your hard work in making reviews! :)
Thank you for the kind words Sunfire! Appreciate it!
Rolands - Community Support
I received my A119 today ! Quality is really more enjoyable. I will film in 2K. I have a 2K monitor. For peoples want 4K player, use the Media Classic HC 4K edition tweaked by a user, made difference.
Hey, I was looking for a dash cam for a while and because of your video I ended up getting the A119. Thanks for all the info! I havn't installed it yet as the hardwire kit is STILL being shipped and I ordered it on Nov 14th. I did a quick test with it by taping it to the windshield and wouldn't you know it some guy almost walked into my lane during the test. Thankfully nothing happned, but it's things like that that make me glad I'm getting one.
Anyway, awesome review and just wanted you to know I got this one because of it. Thanks!
Also, has the polarized lens been released yet?
I was talking with a supplier about the polarizing lens. They told me that Viofo just shipped some out and they should be receiving them in about 2-3 weeks, so according to that, you should be able to find them for sale soon.
The available Polarising filter makes the image much better as it kills reflections as well as improving light sky to ground definition.
Yup very helpful for many people!
Blackvue DR650GW-2CH has been on my wishlist for a long time. But I think I'm going to forgo the dual channel cam and get the A119. Thanks for the the review!
Great camera if you don't need parked recording!
Been waiting for this dash cam to come out for months! Ended up purchasing the Yi DVR as I couldn't wait any longer. Regret it now, as it has some close-focus issues, even when not in heat
Yeah, too bad for the Yi, it could have been a much better product. I hear they are producing the Yi 2 so I'll keep my eye out for it.
done, bought the A119, thanks for educating me.. yeah i thumbs up you bro.
You're welcome!
Anytime someone asks me what's a good dash cam to buy, i just send one of your videos to them.
Thank you for the support Shane!
Rolands - Community Support
Thank you so much, you giving us a lot of information and kept our attention. Thanks again
You're welcome Elias!
andrew:
thank you for this review. i'll probably get one, as it looks great, esp. for the price.
A) big user interface (UI) issue, tho, with the A119:
i think all small electronic devices that have screens (including tablets, phones, dash-cams, TV remotes, etc.) should have the same, simple layout which we all understand immediately. if we could count on the same simple and intuitive layout from device-to-device, it would make it easy for all of us (and our grandparents!) to navigate our electronic world.
such a layout would include:
1) buttons for navigating menus and answering simple questions: UP, DOWN, LEFT, RIGHT, ENTER/GO (in the center), ESC/BACK, YES, and NO.
2) these should be large black buttons with white (and backlit) labels in large font (for easy viewing/reading)
also, any additional buttons should be only for:
3) special but obvious uses (power, volume, channel up/down, etc.) or
4) quick access relevant to the device which are there to avoid looking at the screen in fast situations (record, lock current video clip, take detour, etc.) or
5) data entry if the screen is too small and speed is an issue (i.e., numbers, letters, etc.)
why manufacturers don't do this after decades of making devices, boggles my mind. because it's NOT ROCKET SCIENCE. and there certainly HAVE been devices with this simple interface, and they WORK.
to wit: it's a real turn-off. the A119's buttons look confusing. dash cam manufacturers really need to get on the UI stick. and i like how andrew brings that issue up again and again. most reviewers do not focus enough on user interface.
B) another small issue:
i think any dash cam should have GPS built in, period. and it's great that they make this option only $10. great. but also, any device with GPS should also be able to set its own time (by definition, since it has both the clock from the satellites, and its own location available to it). is self-setting time a feature of this device, when it has the GPS pack on it?
C) it seems to me that all dash cams except the Papago 260 and the Goluk T2 (there may be others) are very visible through a windshield, and i worry about theft.
why don't dash cam manufacturers make a device which requires ONLY THE LENS be on the windshield, and have a thin wire running down to the device itself which you can stash on your console or in your glove compartment? why does the WHOLE DEVICE (including screen!) need to be up there in the window?
and i like the T2 idea: use people's own smart phones to provide an interface: if the device does not have to provide its own screen, this will cut down on weight, price, bulkiness, and environmental waste -- a win-win-win-win! oh, wait! one more win: if it's an app on your iphone or android, they can update the software/interface easily to make it better, without our needing to do anything!
this would also make it easier to attach more than one camera lens to the device: up to 4: front back, and 2 side, all with small wires back to the 'unit', which just sits in the glove compartment. accessed via your own phone's wife, like the T2.
D) i noticed a company called "SpyTec" sells a unit that looks exactly the same. what's up? rebranding?
E) andrew, your attention to details (such as still being able to bring out details in high-contrast situations, license plate examples, how wires plug in from top, not side, with GPS, and your video and close-up comparisons with other devices) really shows your experience, and we benefit. also, i like how you educate us about the history/track-record of the corporation and its production quality, and also whether it takes feedback from users (in this case, via the website): these are all important issues missed by 99% of YT reviewers.
finally, the video, editing, AND sound are very well done: great job!
What an indepth post, thanks for taking the time to comment. Some thoughts:
LAYOUT:
Would be ideal but I don't think it's going to happen as it would require cooperation on a massive scale. You would think manufacturers would use best practices but that's not always the case.
GPS
Some people don't want it at all. I think the $10 option is great as it lets people decide. When it gets $30+ some people would rather take the cheaper price.
VISIBILITY
There are some manufacturers that do this but the installation is harder as you need a place to hide the box. Most people are too lazy and I have a feeling that they don't sell very well.
When you get multiple cameras you need a very advanced chpset to handle everything including adjusting exposure, etc. It's not cheaply done atm.
SPYTEC
It's not rebranded, they just labelled it that way. For some of their other units like the G1W it is rebranded with their logo to assure people it's not a ripoff and prevent other Amazon sellers from getting in on their listing. You can see the same with "BlueSeaSky" who is the well known seller estore009 on eBay.
DETAILS
Thanks I try my best to thoroughly test, bring up everything that's important on video. I also agree many other YT reviewers don't bother. I think it's because it's hard and it takes a long time to produce a review.
Thanks for taking the time to explain all that. I appreciate it.
You're welcome DienamicP!
-Rolands
Had two A119C units, but died in the sun. Spent up for a Street Guardian and it has lasted far longer, better day, and night video, and so far no complaints. Buy cheap, get cheap.
Hey. You meant the A118C? Street Guardian is a good brand. They are known for making great and reliable products. While we like the Viofo A119V2 a lot, it's still a budget camera and doesn't have the same reliability of a premium one.
-Rolands
I am a new user, looking to purchase a dash cam and yes you were very helpful. thank you.
Hey Draco. Glad to help.
-Rolands
Just picked up this cam thanks to your recommendation! This is my first dash cam and unfortunately my car has bad dash glare. I hope they come out with a CPL soon!
Thanks Andrew, you helped me pick my next camera.
Glad to help!
Thanks to your excellent informational videos. I bought the A119 v2 dash cam. Actually, I purchased two of them; one for the front and one for the rear. However, I just went on the viofo.com website and noticed they just came out with the Viofo A129 and A129 duo! I'm hoping you will review these two in the future. As for now, I am very pleased with the current purchase of both A119 v2 dash cams. I just installed them yesterday and am working on quality adjustments. The rear one's quality at night in not that good. I do have my windows tinted but I have a very light tint. I am working on adjusting the exposure to compensate for the darkness in the video at night. But maybe I need to remove the CPL filter also. Well who know? I'll just have to play with it a little more. lol
Thank you for your continued reviews and look forward on the new A129 and A129 duo reviews.
Great review. Although I'm not looking for a dashcam at the moment, I like your attention to detail. I see that you have the OPIA2 as well. I don't recall seeing a review for that so I'm assuming that might be one that will come up soon. OPIA2 has one of the nicest sensors that I've messed around with, I just don't care for how it hangs on the dash. Anyway, gave a few likes and subscribed. looking forward to more reviews. Thanks!
I can't believe you only have 18k subs you deserve way more! keep it up! you make great content
Thank you for the kind words Jonathan!
Rolands - Community Support
Thank you for the detail of the review on A119 dash cam, super helpful and now where to start and what to get.
2019 and i still ordered one.. thanks for the great review
It's still a great camera. I'm about the release a review that has the V2 as the best value with the V3 being a great upgrade if you want much better video quality.
Thanks for the reviews. My old wedge camera stopped working and I was looking for a similar design. I just ordered the Viofo A119 with GPS. The seller says it has a black adhesive pad.
Hi cbooher, thank you! This is a late reply but if you haven't bought it yet there's a v2 version that's released with better physical connections to the GPS device. All cameras come with a black adhesive pad now.
Thanks for the posts Andrew great job! I have watched numerous videos of yours and they have helped a lot to understand the features. I have been in the market for a while and ordered one today.
Glad I could clarify the market for you!
Great review. Really appreciate the video ToC and external links!
Hey Michael. Thanks. Glad you liked it!
-Rolands
I love your channel. Thank you, everything is logical and easy to understand.
your reviews are simple to fallow, Thank you for your efforts.
Thanks Jamie!
A119 it's a very, very good Dashcam for 100$! I have had bad experiences with the Mini 801 and 806 (which I don't not recommend anyone), Dod Dashcam I find them very good, still working well after three years, but the last model LS460W it is quite expensive, and for several months I bought A119, which is a very good camcorder to date.
Thanks Dan. The mini company has had quality control problems with each of their cameras. Glad to hear the A119 has worked out for you so far.
Love your reviews, very specific and detailed! Will purchase one of these for my car.
Thanks dukke!
Excellent review, you're very thorough and well-spoken. Is that a stick Civic you're driving?
Thanks Mark! It's a s stick Fit.
Great review Andrew, just purchased this dash cam
Great to hear Salvatore. Hope it serves well. Let us know!
-Rolands
Very useful review, thank you. I have just ordered one.
Just ordered one last night. I'm sure I'll be asking you questions once it arrives.
Sure, go for it.
Cool, thanks, I'll get back to you when I get home tonight as I am having issues with it. TTYL
Okay CCC, I'm back. Here are the issues I'm having with it... 1. It falls off the GPS mount. 2. When attached to my windshield, the screen faces my hand brake in between the front seats. Not only is it hard to see, but if I'm wearing sunglasses, forget seeing the screen. 3. Instructions say put it behind the rearview mirror.. if I do that, how can I see the cam? 4. The caps do not seem to be charging at all. Without the power cord, plugged in, it simply doesn't work at all which limits the ability to use Motion Detection in parking lots. 5. The power cord's lighter plug or USB connection is intermittant. Overall, I don't see $100. worth of better anything over my $20. DVR. It has all the typical poor Asian engineering issues EXCEPT FOR the owner's manual which is better than most. If you can help with any of this stuff, maybe I won't return it, but as of now, it will be on its way back to Amazon soon.
1) I'm surprised it's falling off the mount. You should be pulling down to seat the device. Perhaps you can add some material between the camera and mount to increase friction.
2/3) I would pull it down further on your windshield so you can see the device. All you can do due to the design. Alternatively you can place it on the drivers side.
4) That's how capacitors work, they carry a much smaller charge. You're going to have to hardwire it to supply a constant source of power.
5) Sorry you're having these problems, you may have a defective unit. I wouldn't say it's engineering issues, although there are issues. Most people seem to come out with a good experience.
I appreciate your advice, but after I wrote to you, it totally stopped functioning properly. The buttons became intermittently unresponsive even after a hitting reset, then reformatting and going back to factory settings.
I already notified Amazon for a refund. I guess this DVR just wasn't in the cards for me. Got any other choices for around the same money?
outstanding review, I'm getting my A119 from amazon right now!
+Vincent Rogers thanks Vincent!
I like this dash cam, going to order this one right away!
I'd love to see you go over solutions where the rearview is recorded as well, for somewhat cheap.
Yup, that's a review I want to do soon. I'm going to finish off some Viofo stuff that's been on the backburners then head right into the budget dash cam world.
Hi, I've watched your video again and again. From the content of your video, I guess you live in Toronto. I'm live in Ottawa! Yay, we are neighbors! Thank you for good videos!!
Thanks Masaki! I'm around Toronto, good eye. Thanks for watching!
-Andrew
Thanks.... Installed last week and great choice
Thanks.
Now i know the right dashboard camera to buy. Thank you, CCC!.. :)
No problems Hamdan!
-Andrew
The video quality is effing cool! OMG i'm falling in love with it already, Andrew. Hahaha...
Fabulous review, Andrew.
Thank you!
What are those speakers?!? Wow! Great review! Very helpful!
Those are the Ferguson Hill FH007 speakers: www.fergusonhill.co.uk/fhoo7/
+CarCamCentrall After watching several of your videos, last year I went with two A119 camera's. One for front, the second mounted on the rear window. With their updated parking mode, this camera is excellent for the price. The only complaints I have is that you can't attach the GPS with the suction mount (will attach to the rear camera instead). I went with the suction mount to be able to rotate the camera when needed, as I need to watch the side of my car while parked at home. The 2nd complaint I have, while you can indeed have parking mode turned on automatically now, the parking mode does not buffer and does not seem to record sound either. Not a perfect camera, but can't beat it for the price. All in all I am very satisfied with the A119. Thank you for the recommendation. Also, I'm not sure if this was an update or something, but the sound quality on both that I purchased seem way better than how it sounded in your review here. I would give the sound a very good rating.
Hello Kraden. Yes, parking mode is something that you won't find in budget cameras. Just basic functionality without real usability. If you want a parking mode you have to look $200 and up, like the Vicovation Opia 2 or The Opia 1 WiFi.
-Rolands
The improved parking mode on the A119 isn't too bad. Only that it doesn't buffer and doesn't seem to record sound. You don't have to manually set it anymore with the current software update. But yes, there are much better cameras for parking mode.
Right, I remember reading that update. It's not bad but at the same time, it's still not my first choice at the moment. Having the impact captured can make a difference.
-Andrew
I like viofo’s wedge design. I don’t care much for the screen though. I’m glad to trade off the screen for a small design.
Maybe go with one of Blackvue's or Thinkware's budget models? There's not a great recommendation with a small screen unfortunately.
-Andrew
thanks for sharing your time. ..I just ordered one.
Happy to help Alex.
Rolands - Community Help
Best review I've seen, nice detail.
Thank you Edward!
Rolands - Community Support
I got two of these on your recommendation. Mounted one in the rear of my SUV. love the form factor as it is slim, not very noticeable and the lens is highly adjustable. However you didn't mention the lane watch and collision warning features. They're nowhere near as sophisticated as dedicated systems but definitely fantastic features especially given the price.
I avoided mentioning them because they generally spit out too many false warnings and end up annoying more than they help. Glad to see someone finds value in them. The other problem is that you have to lower the video resolution to 1080P which dramatically reduces details and overall quality.
Yes I see that the latest update requires 1080p at 30fps to utilize LDWS and CWS ... I did update the firmware and will see how those features work out. Thank you!
Aukey DR-02 has Sony IMX323 sensor, operating temperature of -30 to 75C / -22 to 167F, and a 24 month warranty for $80. You Tube videos look good.
The IMX323 is a worse sensor. The 323 is found in $50-60 cameras now. The DR-01 had problems with detecting failed SD cards. I don't have the DR-02 but I would be concerns if the team didn't think it was important with the first camera released. Their warranty is great.
-Andrew
Why not cover front/rear with two A119 cameras? Thank you for a very thorough series of reviews. Subscribed!
You can do it. Some people have done it. You might lose out on reliability and convenience, but it's a good dual channel system.
-Rolands