Viofo A119 V3 Dash Camera || Install, Footage, Firmware, Hard Wiring, Power Draw & More

Viofo A119 V3 is the best value for money dash camera I could find. I will go over the Viofo A119 V3 install, test footage, aspect ratios, menu items, firmware updating, power draw and explain why I chose the Viofo A119 V3 over the Nextbase 622GW and the Blackvue DR900X.
All of these dash cameras can be found through purchase links below.
|| Viofo A119 V3 ||
geni.us/tbt-viofo-a119-v3
|| Nextbase 622GW ||
geni.us/tbt-nextbase-622gw
|| Blackvue DR900X 1CH ||
geni.us/tbt-blackvue-dr900x
|| Viofo A119 CPL ||
geni.us/tbt-viofo-cpl
|| 12V to 5V step down transformer ||
geni.us/tbt-12v-5v-step-down
⋄⋄⋄ TOOLS & EQUIPMENT ⋄⋄⋄
▻ Socket & spanner kit: geni.us/bahco-S106-socket-set
▻ Wire strippers: geni.us/tbt-wire-stripper-tool
▻ Crimpers: geni.us/tbt-insltd-lug-crimper
=== GEAR I USE TO FILM AND EDIT ===
-- CAMERAS & LENSES --
▻ Camera 1: geni.us/tbt-sony-alpha-a1
▻ Camera 2: geni.us/tbt-sony-a7iv
▻ Wide Angle Prime: geni.us/tbt-sony-24-gm-prime
▻ Nifty Fifty: geni.us/tbt-sony-fe-55mm-f18
▻ Wide Angle Zoom: geni.us/tbt-sony-16to35mm-f4
▻ Drone: geni.us/tbt-dji-mavic-3-flym
▻ Action Camera: geni.us/tbt-gopro-hero-10
▻ 360° Camera: geni.us/tbt-insta360-one-x
▻ Telephoto Lens: geni.us/tbt-sony-70to300
-- AUDIO --
▻ Wireless Recorder: geni.us/tbt-rode-wireless-go-2
▻ Sound Recorder: geni.us/tbt-zoom-h1n
▻ Shotgun Mic (studio): geni.us/tbt-rode-videomic-ntg
▻ Shotgun Mic (travel): geni.us/tbt-sony-ecm-b1m
▻ Headphones: geni.us/tbt-sony-wh1000xm3
▻ Lavalier Microphone: geni.us/tbt-rode-lavalier-go
▻ GoPro Mic: geni.us/tbt-hero10-media-mod
-- EDITING --
▻ Laptop: geni.us/tbt-macbookpro-m1max
▻ Monitor 1: geni.us/tbt-dell-u2720q
▻ Monitor 2: geni.us/tbt-benq-ew3270u
▻ Mouse: geni.us/tbt-logitech-mxmaster3
▻ Keyboard: geni.us/tbt-logitech-mx-keys
▻ Trackpad: geni.us/tbt-magic-trackpad
▻ Portable SSD: geni.us/tbt-sandisk-2tb-ssd
▻ USB-C Hub: geni.us/tbt-satechi-usbc-hub
▻ SD Card Reader: geni.us/tbt-satechi-cardreader
-- LIGHTING --
▻ Key Light: geni.us/tbt-aputure-p60c
▻ Fill Light: geni.us/tbt-neewer-660led
▻ Travel Light: geni.us/tbt-aputure-mc
▻ C-Stand: geni.us/tbt-neewer-c-stand
▻ GoPro Light: geni.us/tbt-gopro-light-mod
-- ACCESSORIES & MOUNTS --
▻ Camera Bag 1: geni.us/tbt-shimoda-action-x50
▻ Camera Bag 2: geni.us/tbt-shimoda-explore-35
▻ Gimbal: geni.us/tbt-zhiyun-weebill-s
▻ Drone Controller: geni.us/tbt-dji-rc-pro
▻ Tripod (Travel): geni.us/tbt-3lt-brian-tripod
▻ Tripod (Studio): geni.us/tbt-tripod-kfconcept
▻ Tech Pouch: geni.us/tbt-tech-pouch
▻ Colour Checker: geni.us/tbt-xritepassportvideo
▻ SD Card Case: geni.us/tbt-memorycard-case
▻ Camera Sling: geni.us/tbt-sling-peakdesign
▻ Accessory Pouch: geni.us/tbt-shimoda-accessory
▻ ND Filters: geni.us/tbt-freewell-nd-magnet
▻ GoPro Dive Case: geni.us/tbt-gopro-dive-housing
▻ GoPro Suction: geni.us/gopro-suction-mount
▻ GoPro Magnetic Clip: geni.us/tbt-gopro-swivelmagnet
▻ GoPro Dive Filter: geni.us/tbt-gopro-dive-filters
▻ GoPro Mouth Mount: geni.us/tbt-gopole-chomps
=== TABLE OF CONTENTS ===
00:00 - What this video covers.
00:50 - What I wanted from a dash camera.
02:03 - Nextbase 622GW (my original first choice).
03:43 - Other dash cameras I ruled out.
05:00 - You don't need 4K.
05:43 - Why I bought the Viofo A119 V3.
08:20 - Viofo A119 V3 box contents.
09:55 - Hard wiring dash camera with step down transformer.
10:43 - Viofo A119 V3 install.
13:00 - Viofo A119 V3 power draw (0.40 - 0.45 amps)
13:12 - Viofo CPL clips on lens - look at final install.
13:40 - Viofo A119 V3 firmware update procedure.
14:40 - Viofo A119 V3 menu items.
17:10 - Viofo A119 V3 test footage - "4k", 1080, 1440p.
19:10 - Licence plate reading test.
19:38 - Aspect ratio changes and FOV options.
20:37 - My choice of resolution and FPS.
21:44 - Viofo A119 V3 weights added.
22:15 - Closing thoughts.
23:09 - Mazda BT-50 build costs and weights.
|| ALSO ACTIVE ON ||
◦ Website: thebrownetown.com
◦ Instagram: / thebrownetown
|| FOR THOSE WHO CHOOSE TO DONATE ||
▻ paypal.me/TheBrowneTown
**Disclosure
Links are affiliate links. Through partnerships with Amazon, eBay and others I earn a small commission from purchases made through these links. There are no extra costs for you but it does help support the channel in a small way.

[@tuffytoys9707]

In my experience all the dashcams that mount directly to the windscreen will overheat. You may park your vehicle and go into a store or similar on a sunny day and when you return to your vehicle and turn on the ignition you get the audible warning that the dashcam is overheating and will shut down. But it only does that for that few seconds until you start the vehicle and turn on the Air Conditioning. Some persons also use a piece of film similar to the one you used to install the dashcam but it may have more of the "Black Dots" like you see on the "OEM" Windscreen by the rear view mirror to "Dissipate" some of that UV Light and hence less heat build up. Also many SD cards nowadays even though it may be a brand name that was once good, may not be good again or maybe a "Genuine Fake", as it is so difficult to tell them apart now even if you buy them at a known Tech store. One example is Sandisk (SCAM DISK), they now use a cheaper memory controller in the sd cards and they will never reach anywhere the advertised speeds and thus Dashcams and other equipment that rely on fast read and write speeds will never work with the SD cards. And some of the SD card manufacturers like SCAM DISK now state that if you use the SD card in a dashcam your warranty is Void. Not to mention the amount of fake Samsung, PNY, HP and other cards and even Hp has used the same cheaper controllers which cause issues in equipment that requires the higher speeds. Now if you have older SD cards from the same Brands that are 5 or more years or Older they will work just fine.

[@TheBrowneTown]

Cheers for the info. I have tested some SD cards before with varying results, always disappointing when they aren't up to scratch.

[@garysheppard4028]

I’ve had a Viofo for a few years and the quality is pretty good.
But I noticed that a while ago when I went to check the footage, it hadn't recorded anything for ages.
It seemed to have stuck and stopped recording even though the red recording light was blinking.
But a reformat of the SD card seems to have fixed that.
I’ve also noticed that in the last few months, half the footage that it records is corrupted.
The files are there, but they just wouldn’t play.
I thought I’d have to ditch it and get a new one but I found that a video repair app can resurrect the footage.
So it’s gone to my wife’s car (she didn’t want one but I put it in anyway).
If anything happens where she needs footage, it will probably be ok.
In the meantime, I got one of those 12 inch screen dash cams that replace your rearview mirror.
It seems to work great although the “4K” footage is actually just rez-ed up 1080P.
But the main reason I got it is because I have a canopy very similar to yours and I put a rear view camera on the back of that.
It feeds through to the dash cam screen and that acts like a rear view mirror.
I like seeing what’s directly behind the car rather than just relying on the side mirrors.

[@TheBrowneTown]

Yep I got one of those reverse rear view mirror cameras as well. Did you buy in a package that also does the front of the car?
What brand did you buy for the rear view replacement?
Also out of interest, what SD card brand did you have in the Viofo? Be a shame to have an incident only to them discover it's not recording so might need to check after 6 months.

[@garysheppard4028]

@@TheBrowneTown Yeah it came with a big screen to replace (or rather attach to) the front of the rear view mirror + a metal waterproof rear cam that I stuck on the back of the canopy.
The brand was Red Tiger. I got it off Amazon and I have to admit that I was bit disappointed in the video quality. Like I mentioned, it isn't real 4K. I'm in the biz so I know 4K when I see it. I voiced my disappointment in my Amazon review and Red Tiger refunded the purchase price. So their service is ok. I did some more research and I suspect that most (or all) car cams use a specific type of Sony sensor that really doesn't go above ~1080P and companies are just up-rezzing thru software and outputting "4k".
Overall though, I'm pretty happy with the RedTiger build quality. It probably won't last 10 years but by then tech will have moved on.
I use SanDisk Ultra or Extreme micro SD's.
I use them exclusively in all my camera gear and they've never let me down. So I'm thinking it was some glitch in the viola that caused the non-recording issue.
I'll review the files from my wife's car in a few months and see if there are still issues and if so I'll ditch it.
She doesn't see the need for a car cam as she's not very tech-focused but I feel naked driving without one now!

[@scottf136]

Check your memory card. They will wear out quickly since the camera is constantly recording and overwriting the data. If you are using the same card for 3 years, that is pretty good. Over time the memory cards need to be replaced. Consider using a Samsung Pro Endurance card if you haven't already.

[@DjStorm-zy7ow]

What's the language you speak?

[@TheBrowneTown]

English, I'm from Australia.

[@bigblue3568]

Need a tennis ball to park... turn in your man card.