Knowledgeable’s Score
Execs
- Small and innocuous (minimal thief bait!)
- Built-in GPS and Wi-Fi
- Good high quality day and evening captures
- Voice management and cellphone app
Cons
- GPS didn’t set time zone appropriately
- Non-adjustable mount
Our Verdict
The smallish A119 Mini 2 is a worthy competitor to Garmin’s small-fry sprint cams, with good captures, plus built-in GPS and Wi-Fi.
Small sprint cams block much less of your view, and are simply typically simpler to cope with. Viofo’s A119 Mini 2, as you would possibly guess from the identify, is a small sprint cam. It’s additionally top-of-the-line.
Additional studying: See our roundup of the very best sprint cams to study competing merchandise.
A119 Mini 2 design and options
The A119 Mini 2 measures roughly 1.82in large, 2.8in excessive, and 1.9in at its thickest. Add a hair to that thickness you probably have the optionally available $13.50/£15.99 polarizing filter put in. Both means, it’s smaller than most.
The digicam is a single-channel (front-only) unit sporting an Sony STARVIS IMX335 sensor, which renders the digicam able to as much as 2560×1600 decision at 30fps. The sector of view is 140 levels, and there’s each GPS and a couple of.4GHz/5GHz Wi-Fi on board.
In contrast to phone-reliant cameras, the A119’s sharp 1.5in color show lets you entry settings with no need one other machine. Located beneath the show are the facility, document, mic, and Wi-Fi standing lights, in addition to the menu, document, microphone on/off, and Wi-Fi allow buttons.
The buttons pull double-duty as navigation controls, although the A119 Mini 2 helps numerous voice instructions similar to “Take photograph,” “Video begin/cease,” “Flip off Wi-Fi,” and so on.
The left aspect of the unit is occupied solely by air flow grills, whereas the precise aspect is house to a Sort-C energy connector and the SD card slot. The A119 Mini 2 can deal with as much as 512GB playing cards. Good.
With Wi-Fi on board, there’s after all an app, which gives a stay view, entry to your movies and pictures, and all of the settings in an easier-to-browse format.
Observe that the Sort-C port on the digicam is a little bit of a blind alley used primarily for laptop connectivity. You could use the second Sort-C port situated on the highest of the GPS mount to energy each the digicam and the GPS.
The mount comes hooked up out of the field, and appears to be a part of the digicam. It additionally makes use of semi-permanent adhesive and gives no adjustment put up facto. Learn up on methods to set up a splash cam earlier than you decide to its placement.
As soon as in place on the windshield, if you happen to slide the digicam to the precise, the principle physique will separate from the mount so you may put it in your bag or backpack. A superb factor if you happen to park on the streets, except after all you wish to use the surveillance (parking) mode.
Viofo states on the product net web page that the HK4 hardwiring equipment is required for the parking mode; nonetheless, my inquiry revealed you could make the most of an OBDII energy supply—the digicam solely must sense that voltage is current.
With Wi-Fi on board, there’s after all an app (proven above). It gives a stay view, entry to your movies and pictures, and all of the settings in a better to browse format.
Typically talking, the one factor the A119 Mini 2 can’t do is save movies on-line. And that’s not a characteristic everybody desires or can afford, although if I’m going to depart a splash cam in a automobile in a single day, I’d want it had the flexibility.
A119 Mini 2 captures
The A119 Mini 2’s captures have been typically top-notch. Nonetheless, optimising them required putting in the optionally available polarizing filter for day use, and eradicating it for evening use. This can be a ache, and never one thing the typical person will wish to do. I’d go for leaving it on, as the advantages through the day outweigh the slight discount in brightness at evening.
Observe that the time proven in these captures is off. The digicam managed to seize the right date, however didn’t choose the right time zone. Why it might probably’t set the time based on GPS information is unknown. Viofo ought to repair that.
Whereas the day captures proven above and under are superb, they barely favour clean over sharp. Tastes range, however there there’s loads of element for authorized functions.
The low-light, early night seize under is with the polarizing filter on. It impacts the brightness of the picture, however solely barely.
Subsequent up is the evening seize; however this was with the polarizing filter eliminated. I additionally misplaced it within the inside of my automobile. Darn.
General, the A119 Mini 2’s captures are wonderful when it comes to colour, dealing with headlight flare, and general view-ability. I’d go for a bit sharper element, however that’s being choosy.
Do you have to purchase the Viofo A119 Mini 2?
You should purchase the Viofo A119 Mini 2 sprint cam from Viofo instantly, or from Amazon US/Amazon UK. It prices $149.99/£119.99 (be certain that you choose ‘Apple £20 voucher’ if you happen to’re shopping for from Amazon UK).
I loved my time with the A119 Mini 2. It’s received all the newest options, and takes good captures. The one factor I’d say Garmin’s small cameras have over it’s their absolutely adjustable mount. Fastidiously align the A119 Mini 2 throughout set up, and that’s a non-issue. Good things from Viofo.
This evaluation has been syndicated from PCWorld. You may read the original article here.