The Viofo A229 Duo Pro is the latest two-channel dash camera model. It is designed to be the ideal solution for drivers who need the safety and security that comes from installing a reliable dash camera with features and functions that make it easy to use. This Viofo A229 Duo review will examine the details of the camera package (>>> Find the current price on Viofo).
Viofo A229 Duo Review of Main Specs:
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|---|---|
| Viofo A229 Duo | |
| Resolution (front) | 2560 x 1440P 30fps |
| Resolution (rear) | 2560 x 1440P 30fps |
| View angle | 140° |
| Built-in Wi-Fi | Yes |
| Built-in GPS | Yes |
| Maximum capacity | 256GB |
| Price | Find on VIOFO.COM Find on Amazon |
Discrete Installation
One of our favorite things about this dash camera is the ability to install it so that the camera itself is not obvious. Nothing looks worse on your windshield than a bunch of black boxes and cables hanging everywhere. The A229 uses the identical design of the A129, so you’ll be able to tuck it up high on the windshield.
The redesigned rear camera is a little bulkier than other designs, but the overall diminutive size of the unit prevents it from being an obstruction when you are driving. The key to making this camera system discrete is the micro-connection cables used throughout.
Viofo A229 Duo Pro Review Camera Capabilities
Viofo opted to use a Sony STARVIS IMX335 sensor capable of 5-megapixel image capture. This sensor is the ideal choice for capturing high-quality images in extremely low light conditions with or without the benefit of infrared lighting.
The front camera offers 2K resolution at 30 frames-per-second which will produce decent images in most light conditions. In general, 2k resolution is adequate for most emergency situations. The camera offers a somewhat narrow 140-degree viewing angle that does a stellar job of capturing fine details at the edges of the image.
The rear camera also captures in 2K resolution at 30 FPS, a rather rare addition when most products on the market include 1080p cameras at best.
Pros
- Ideally designed for discrete installation
- Among the most reliable designs around
- A high-quality lens and sensor system captures better-than-average low-light conditions
Cons
- Numerous additional expenditures including hardwiring kit and CPL filters increase the cost
- A somewhat narrow viewing angle leaves the sides of the car unprotected during recording
Modes of Image Capture
The camera is intended to capture short segments of video in a number of situations. It uses loop recording to prevent a full storage card from causing you to miss the images you need.
In normal mode, the camera is constantly rolling, capturing one-minute segments with a 10-second buffer in between files. You can set the camera to capture in increments ranging up to 10 minutes at a time.
When an impact is detected by the built-in g-sensor, the camera automatically switches to a different mode. The video file is captured from 15 seconds before impact to one minute in length and saved to the MicroSD card in a locked folder.
The A229 Duo Pro also provides the ability to enable a parking mode function that will wake up the camera when it is parked to capture both motion and impact, even when the car isn’t on. This feature requires a hardwire installation or a remote battery pack.
Video Processing Capabilities
The lens system used in this package is truly unique. It uses a seven-glass lens that provides superior optical quality and ensures fine detail capture. An f1.6 aperture focal lens ensures that license plates are readable and you can even see whether a person is on the phone just before an accident.
The camera includes a GPS logger built into the base of the camera. GPS allows the camera to accurately track your journey, show speeds and includes other important metadata that can be useful when dealing with an accident.
Accessing Video Files
There are three basic ways to access video files. The first is by viewing files on the 2.4-inch LCD screen mounted to the front camera. Built-in dual-band Wi-Fi allows the video files to be downloaded onto a smartphone and viewed through the free Viofo app. Finally, you can remove the MicroSD card from the camera and view files directly on a laptop or PC.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
You can install the Viofo A229 Duo Pro with or without GPS. The GPS logger is built into the removable base that mounts to the windshield. A separate mount that doesn’t have GPS can be used instead.
The rear camera cable is six meters in length which is long enough for most cars and smaller SUVs.
Parking mode is available on the Viofo A229 Duo Pro and requires either a hardwire kit or a remote battery power pack. Neither option is included, so you’ll need to purchase these separately. Parking mode captures motion and impacts in parking mode.