Comparison VIOFO A229 Pro 2CH vs SilverStone F1 Hybrid S-Bot Pro

— DVR. Classic DVRs are recording devices designed to capture traffic conditions, and sometimes also the interior of a car. The main function of the materials from the registrar is to provide an evidence base in the event of an accident or emergency. Note that most of these devices are designed for installation in a car, but there are also models for motorcyclists — with a mount on a helmet or steering wheel(see "Installation") and increased resistance to dust and moisture.

— Regular video recorder. DVRs (see above), originally designed for a specific car model or models. Note that the possibilities for installing such a device can be quite extensive — see "Regular registrar for". Anyway, the installation of such a device in a “native” car is extremely simple, in a “non-native” one it is extremely difficult, and often impossible at all.

— Combo device. Combined instruments that combine the functions of a dashcam and a radar detector capable of detecting police speed gauges. For more information about the radar detector, see "Functions", here we note that one combined device is usually smaller, easier to install, and often cheaper than two separate specialized devices.

Glass mount provided in the model with the corresponding type of installation (see above).

Note that in many models, not the recorder itself is attached to the glass, but the bracket, on which, in turn, the device is installed. To learn how to fix the recorder on the bracket, see "Mounting the recorder". And the options for attaching to glass can be as follows:

— Sucker. The traditional suction cup, which works due to the reduced pressure between the mount and the glass — as a result, the force of the pressure of the outside air and holds the structure in place. One of the main advantages of this option is “reusability”: the suction cup can be repeatedly stuck and detached at the request of the user, and after removal it leaves practically no traces. However this type of fastening is considered somewhat less reliable than stickers; however, the suction cups used in video recorders are usually of a special design that provides sufficient reliability for practical use. Therefore, this type of mount is extremely popular in modern registrars.

— Sticker. A plate with a layer of special glue, due to which the entire structure is held on the glass. Such mounts are considered more reliable than suction cups, they are less prone to wear and do not lose effectiveness even with minor damage such as cracks and chips. On the other hand, the sticker is usually installed "once and f...or all" and does not provide the ability to quickly remove the bracket. And although dismantling by itself is possible, however, it will not work to reuse the sticker, and the glass will most likely have to be cleaned from traces of glue. So installing a recorder with such a mount requires special care and attention.

Note that some models of DVRs are supplied immediately with both types of mounts described above in the kit. This allows the user to choose the option of their choice — including changing the suction cup to a sticker, if the need arises.

The type of connector used in the recorder to power it. First of all, you should pay attention to this item if you plan to change the registrar with ready-made wiring for one or another type of connector ( miniUSB, microUSB, USB-C, DC 12V). Thus, the replacement of the registrar rests simply on installing a new one without re-changing the cable.

The sensor is a key element of any digital camera; it is from it and from signal processing technologies that the quality of the resulting image primarily depends. In this case, the type refers rather to the brand or brand of the matrix; it is usually indicated if the recorder is equipped with a high-quality sensor that is noticeably superior to most solutions on the market.

One of the most popular such options is Sony. The specific characteristics of the matrices ( IMX179, IMX222, IMX291, IMX307, IMX317, IMX322, IMX323, IMX326, IMX335, IMX415) may vary, but anyway, such a sensor is a sign of a high-end DVR.

In addition, there are models equipped with matrices from other manufacturers — Aptina, OmniVision, Samsung(GalaxyCore), Sandvik. Such solutions are generally considered to be simpler and more democratic than Sony — both in terms of price and functionality. Nevertheless, Samsung has a lot of developments...in the field of electronics, and even such relatively “simple” sensors are usually more advanced and of higher quality than “know-names”.

Another manufacturer that produces fairly high-quality matrices is Panasonic. Such sensors are not as widespread as those described above, but they are still found in video recorders, including pretty advanced.

Model of the processor used in the dashcam

The term "video chip" is used mainly for devices with classic capabilities, "processor" — for advanced models with an abundance of non-standard functions. However, anyway, we are talking about the same component — the main computing unit, the characteristics of which directly affect the capabilities of the recorder as a whole. Knowing the model of the processor, you can find detailed data on it and evaluate how satisfied you are with a device based on such electronics. Of the most advanced modern chips, one can name, in particular, Ambarella A7L, Ambarella A12, Novatek NTK96655, Novatek NTK96660 and HiSilicon Hi3516.

The maximum resolution and frame rate of video taken by the recorder in the Super HD standard.

Super HD is a rather specific standard that exceeds Full HD in resolution, but falls short of Quad HD. The traditional frame size for this format is 2304x1296, but there are models with a lower horizontal resolution — 1728x1296. Anyway, Super HD is quite popular among DVRs: it provides good detail and does not require particularly powerful hardware.

As for the frame rate, the higher it is, the smoother and less blurry the video will be, the better the details on moving objects will be visible, and also the more space the footage will take up. However, in Super HD models this figure usually ranges from 25 to 30 fps, and this difference is hardly fundamental.

The maximum resolution and frame rate of video recorded by the recorder in the Quad HD standard.

In terms of detail, the Quad HD standard sits between Super HD and Ultra HD. It does not have a specific standard resolution, but most often in video recorders there is shooting with a frame size of 2560x1440. However, even such models are relatively few; and more specific values like 2688x1440 are used even less often. There are also quite unusual options — for example, a square frame 1440x1440.

As for the frame rate, the higher it is, the smoother and less blurry the video will be, the better the details on moving objects will be visible, and also the more space the footage will take up. However, in the case of Quad HD, a frequency of 24 fps or 30 fps is usually used, and the difference between these speeds is generally unimportant.

The maximum resolution and frame rate of video recorded by the recorder in the Ultra HD 4K standard.

The UHD 4K standard mainly includes video formats with a frame size of about 4K pixels horizontally — in particular, 3840x2160. However, in DVRs, this category includes some other resolutions with a frame size of 2160 vertical pixels — in particular, 2888x2160 (4:3 aspect ratio). For DVRs, this is a very advanced standard that provides the highest detail, but requires large matrices and powerful computing. As a result, its support is typical only for some top-level models.

As for the frame rate, the higher it is, the smoother and less blurry the video will be, the better the details on moving objects will be visible, and also the more space the footage will take up. However, when shooting in UHD, this figure rarely exceeds 24 fps due to the mentioned demands on the hardware “hardware”.

The viewing angle provided by the main camera of the dashcam. It is usually indicated along the diagonal of the frame, less frequently along the horizontal, which is why models with the same numbers in the specifications may differ somewhat in actual field of view. So, if you have any doubts about this, it wouldn't hurt to find and watch video samples from different models when selecting one.

All else being equal, a wider viewing angle allows you to cover more area, but individual details in the frame appear smaller. Furthermore, wide-angle lenses cause geometric distortions in the image (however, a DEWARP function may be provided to correct this, see "Features"). As for specific numbers, viewing angles up to 120° inclusive are considered relatively small for modern recorders, values of 121 – 140° can be called medium, 141 – 160° are above average, and the most wide-angle models are capable of covering an area of more than 160°.