Comparison Aspiring Reflex 3 ADAS vs Aspiring Reflex 1

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.

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 viewing angle provided by the main camera of the DVR. As a rule, it is indicated along the diagonal of the frame, less often - horizontally, because of this, models with the same numbers in the characteristics may differ somewhat in the actual field of view. So if you have doubts about this, when choosing, it does not hurt to find and watch video samples from different models.

Other things being equal, a wider viewing angle allows you to cover more space, but individual details in the frame are smaller. In addition, wide-angle lenses give geometric distortions of the image (however, DEWARP can be provided to eliminate them, see "Functions"). As for specific figures, viewing angles up to 120° inclusive are considered relatively small for modern registrars, values of 121 - 140 ° can be called average, 141 - 160 ° are above average, and the most wide-angle models are able to cover a space of more than 160 °.

Among the photo and video functions used in the dashcam, we can distinguish G-sensor, rotating lens, live, HDR< /a>, WDR, polarizing filter, DEWARP and Time Lapse. More about them:

— G-sensor (video saving). A sensor that monitors shocks and vibrations acting on the DVR. The main function of this sensor is to ensure the safety of video materials in the event of an accident: in the event of a strong impact, characteristic of a collision or fall, the recorder with a G-sensor automatically saves the previously recorded video to a non-volatile memory protected from overwriting. Thus, materials about an emergency are not only guaranteed to be saved, but with a high probability remain intact even if the recorder itself is damaged. In addition, the G-sensor is used in parking mode — see "Functions" for details.

— Swivel lens. The ability to rotate the lens of the registrar horizontally or vertically, and in some cases — on both planes. This feature allows you to adjust the camera's field of view.

— Sound recording. Ability to record sound with a video recorder. First of all, we are talking about recording conversations in the cabin, which can become an add...itional argument in disputable situations — for example, they will allow you to determine whether the driver was talking on a mobile phone at the time of an accident, whether he noticed the situation on the road, how he assessed it, etc.

— Live broadcast. Allows you to remotely connect to the DVR and monitor what is happening from the camera in real time. It is very important if there is an additional camera in the cabin, when you can track the situation, for example, in taxi services, courier delivery, etc. This function will also become important and useful when a car is stolen, when you can not only see the hijacker from the video from the camera, but also track the route of his movement.

— HDR (high dynamic range). A function that increases the dynamic range of the recorder. Dynamic range is the maximum difference between the brightest and darkest area achievable within a single frame. Initially, this range for digital matrices is small, so an image with large brightness differences (for example, a road against a sunset sky) turns out to be either strongly overexposed in bright areas or very dim in dark areas. HDR addresses this shortcoming and also improves the overall colour quality. This is implemented as follows: the camera takes several frames with different settings and from them forms the finished image. At the same time, this technology is simpler and cheaper to implement than WDR, which is similar in purpose (see below). The main disadvantage of HDR is that this type of shooting increases the blurring of fast moving objects in the frame somewhat.

— WDR (Wide Dynamic Range). A function similar in purpose to HDR described above: it is used to improve the quality of a “picture” that has strong differences in brightness. The key difference between these technologies is that WDR works at the hardware level — due to high-end matrices. This allows you to achieve the required dynamic range within a single frame and do without gluing several frames — as a result, WDR, unlike HDR, does not give a blurring effect and does not worsen the detail of moving objects in the frame. The downside of this quality is the high price.

— Polarizing filter. The presence of a polarizing filter in the main camera of the DVR. Such a filter reduces the brightness of glare arising from strong light on glass, water and other similar surfaces. This greatly improves image quality, especially when shooting in sunny weather.

— DEWARP. A technology used to correct the "picture" obtained using a wide-angle lens. Such lenses are often used in DVRs; one of their drawbacks is their propensity for the fish-eye effect, the characteristic distortion when straight lines in the frame turn into rounded ones. The DEWARP function eliminates this shortcoming — it "bends back" curved lines, correcting the geometry of objects in the frame. Note that such a correction does not always work 100% accurately, however, the picture processed by DEWARP is anyway more reliable than without this technology.

— Time Lapse. A special mode of operation in which video recording is carried out at a slow frequency, which in practice is mainly used for shooting slow processes. Thus, for example, a long journey or a long sunset can fit into a 3-minute video.

— LDWS (lane control). A system that monitors the car's position within the lane: it monitors the car's position on the road and, if it deviates from the current lane, gives a warning signal, attracting the driver's attention. This signal can literally save the lives of road users if the driver is distracted or falls asleep at the wheel. DVRs with LDWS will be especially useful for those who have to spend a lot of time driving without a break. However, if road markings are of poor quality or absent, this function becomes useless.

— FCWS(distance control). A system that monitors the distance to the car in front and gives a signal if this distance is critically reduced and a collision is possible. Typically, FCWS is activated at a certain speed (for example, 40 km/h and above), and its sensitivity can be adjusted to suit traffic density. A collision warning is usually displayed and accompanied by an audible signal.

— LLWS(headlights reminder). A sensor that monitors the level of ambient light; When the light level decreases, LLWS reminds the driver to turn on the headlights. Such a reminder may be useful not only in the dark, but also during the day - for example, in cloudy weather or when entering a tunnel.

— Sign recognition. Intelligent system for automatic recognition and analysis of road signs. Typically..., this function aims to recognize speed limit signs and provide advance warning to the driver to adhere to the prescribed speed limits. However, many recorders with a similar function perfectly “see” other road signs, duplicating them to the driver on the screen of the head unit as a kind of safety net.

- Antison. A feature that reduces the risk of falling asleep while driving. When the Antisleep mode is turned on, the recorder, as a rule, periodically plays a special sound signal; in some models this sound stops itself, in others the driver must manually turn off the signal, confirming that he is not sleeping. However, it is worth keeping in mind that even the most advanced Antison system does not provide a complete guarantee against falling asleep while driving. Therefore, the most correct behavior when you are very tired is to stop and rest; This function should be used only in extreme cases.

The diagonal of the display installed in the DVR.

A large display, on the one hand, provides additional convenience, on the other hand, it affects the dimensions and price of the entire device. Therefore, manufacturers choose a diagonal in such a way that the device can be used normally and at the same time it is not too expensive and bulky. So, for a classic registrar that does not have additional functions, a small display is enough — 2 – 2.5", 1.5 – 2", or even less : it completely allows you to manage the settings and control what exactly gets into the frame, and to fully view the footage, you still need a computer, TV or other large screen. A size of 2.5 – 3 " by the standards of such devices can already be called average, and screens of 3" or more are typical mainly for fairly advanced models, often with an abundance of additional functions.

Also note that there are models that do not have a display at all. To control the operation parameters and check the position of the frame, such a recorder is connected to an external device — for example, to a smartphone via Wi-Fi.

Resolution of the display installed in the recorder.

The higher the resolution (with the same diagonal) — the clearer the image is, but the more expensive the screen itself. At the same time, high resolutions are not needed to set the camera in the desired position and to work with the basic settings of the device. So you should pay attention to this parameter only if you plan to use additional functions that require a high-quality “picture” — for example, a GPS navigator (see “Functions”) or a remote camera that plays the role of a reversing camera.

Touch screen similar to those used in smartphones and tablets. Control by touching the icons on such a display often turns out to be more convenient and intuitive than through the classic buttons, and sometimes it is simply irreplaceable — for example, it is very convenient to mark points on the map with a touch when using a GPS navigator (see "Functions"). On the other hand, such screens are more expensive than usual ones, and it makes sense to use them mainly in advanced registrars with an abundance of additional features.

Note that there are other specific types of control in registrars — voice control and gesture control. They are not as functional as touch ones, but they are noticeably safer when used while driving; see "Functions" for details.

The largest size of the memory card allowed for the device. This limitation is primarily due to the fact that more powerful hardware is required to work with larger volumes. In addition, there are nuances associated with individual subspecies of cards. Anyway, this value cannot be exceeded: with a high probability, the registrar will either work incorrectly, or will not be able to work at all, or even completely fail.

Most modern registrars support cards up to 32 GB or 64 GB, but there are models that are compatible with more capacious cards — 128 GB or even 256 GB.