VIOFO has been around since 2011 and since then, has released highly rated action and dash cameras to the market. Today, we are going to be reviewing the popular VIOFO A119 V3. It is a single-channel 2K dash cam that is reliable, high quality and great for the majority of drivers. The best part is, it won’t break the bank.
- Front Camera filming in 1600P
- Buffered Parking Mode – Saves 15 seconds before incident occurs
- Built-in GPS unit to track location, speed and time
- Motion Detection, Time Lapse, G-Sensor Included
The features that are included in this dash camera focus on the fundamentals. There is very little that is considered “extra”, so while you might think this doesn’t have every bell and whistle, the A119 V3 prides itself as a no nonsense device geared towards those who don’t need all the extras.
If you are in the market for a dash camera, keep reading and learn about the deep dive to this dash cam.
What’s in the box
Everything that comes with the A119 is pretty standard. As I mentioned before, the dash cam is geared towards people who just want to plug-n-play their device and have it work with no nonsense. That being said, VIOFO has optional accessories that you can easily add on if you want additional functionality.
For example, adding a GPS mount won’t add any bulk to your unit. The Polarizer filter is to reduce any glare that may come from your window at the cost of less light reaching the sensor. And finally, the hardwire kit doesn’t come standard, but is a feature you should seriously consider to fully maximize your dash cam.
- Car Power Adapter
- 13 foot USB Car Charger Cable
- USB Data Cable
- Non-GPS Mount
- Adhesive Clips and Foam
- GPS Mount (Optional)
- Circular Polarizer Filter (Optional)
- Hardwire Kit (Optional)
- Front Camera filming in 1600P
- Buffered Parking Mode – Saves 15 seconds before incident occurs
- Built-in GPS unit to track location, speed and time
- Motion Detection, Time Lapse, G-Sensor Included
4 Features
Buffered Parking Mode
What is buffered parking mode in relation to parking mode? Buffered parking mode means when an event happens, whether that be set off by a car hitting your car, or it detecting motion, the dash cam will record 30 for seconds after it detects an event, and it will save 15 seconds before the incident even occured.
In a way, it’s going back in time to save the footage. A typical dash cam with Parking Mode will only record once motion is detection, which is fine for most people. But, there is a good use-case to knowing what was happening before the camera turned on, and buffered parking mode is the answer.
There are 3 Parking Mode options.
- Auto Event Detection Recording – the camera initiates recording if it detects motion or an incident.
- Time Lapse Recording – the dash cam will take still-frame photos the entire time you are parked. The camera software will compile all the frames to create a short video of a long time period
- Low Bitrate Recording – Reduces the quality of the video in order to maximize the quantity of footage
Resolution/Frame Rate -Test Footage Link
The resolution on this dash cam paired with the image quality is surprising at this price point. First, you’ll be able to record in 2560 x 1600P at 30 FPS as the highest option. What I like is that if you bump down the resolution to 1920 x 1080P, you can record in 60 FPS if you want that. This is better for smoothness as it captures for frames per second.
Night Vision
Exploring the dash cam, you have to take a look at the night vision capabilities. A lot of accidents happen when people are tired at the wheel and not being able to decipher the footage renders a dash cam pointless.
Thankfully, the A119 has a few features that tackle low light. First is the lens. It is rated at a F/1.6 aperture, which is very respectable. The lower the number, the more it takes in light which is necessary for good low light visibility. We’ve only seen apertures go to F/1.4, so the A119 holds it own at F/1.6.
On the sensor side, VIOFO chooses to use a name brand Sony 5 megapixel sensor. Pair this with their WDR (wide dynamic range) technology, the night quality is pretty good.
High heat resistance
When driving in a hot climate, the last thing you want to have to deal with is your dash cam overheating. And I run across this problem more often than not. If you think about it, a dash cam is exposed to the direct sunlight at most times. On top of that, it is acting like a miniature computer by recording, processing and deciphering images in real time.
Both of these combine can make dash cams faulty in extreme heat. Thankfully, the A119 uses supercapacitors which allows the onboard batteries to not overheat. It also provides higher performance and longevity. The thing about supercapacitors is that they don’t hold a charge for long, so if you remove the power to the dash cam, it will shut off immediately.
Though high heat doesn’t affect the dash cam’s performance, you should be cognizant that heat can still affect the adhesive on your windshield. In some cases, we’ve heard it melting it. In order to combat this, ensure that the area is clean of all debris before mounting. When you first mount, put proper pressure for a good 30 seconds at least. Otherwise, you might have to replace the adhesive if it does melt.
- Front Camera filming in 1600P
- Buffered Parking Mode – Saves 15 seconds before incident occurs
- Built-in GPS unit to track location, speed and time
- Motion Detection, Time Lapse, G-Sensor Included
Additional Add-Ons
For this dash cam setup, there are a lot of additional accessories you can pick up at anytime to enhance your dash cam driving experience. For one, you can pick up a GPS unit which will replace the mount that comes standard with the package. This way it doesn’t add any bulk, but adds functionality like speed, location and time synchronization, all important if you need to prove your case in court.
Next is the Circular Polarizing Lens (CPL). This is cut down on the glare from your windshield or other cars. It’s a simple cover that goes over the camera lens. It does make the footage a tad darker, but it’s worth it if you want clear images.
And finally is the hardwiring kit. This might be the most difficult to install, but it has the most rewards. It allows you to fully utilize the dash cam features such as Buffered Parking Mode. Having a hardwiring kit frees up a power slot for another device while also tapping into the car’s power whether or not the key is in the ignition. Note here that the VIOFO hardwiring kit does not come with fuse taps, you’ll have to get those on your own.
Installation is straight forward if you know how to route your cables around your car and know where your cabin fuse box is located. A few YouTube videos and you should have it installed in no time.
Is it worth it?
The VIOFO A119 V3 is made for those who never had a dash cam before but wants a sophisticated unit at a reasonable price. They are willing to spend a little bit of money in order to get a top rated dash cam. For others, this is a no hassle dash cam where you can set it and forget it. If you need a Dual Dash Cam, you might want to take a look at it’s bigger brother, the A129 Pro Duo. If you need WiFi, cloud capabilities and GPS, then you might look towards more advanced setups.