Learn the product pages of right now’s flagship sprint cams and also you’ll be satisfied the subsequent must-have characteristic is a 60fps video. Double what most sprint cams supplied till lately, 60fps guarantees to create smoother video that ought to, in idea at the very least, retain extra element when slowed down – excellent for recognizing a key piece of proof, like a street marking, road signal or automobile licence plate, do you have to be caught up in a collision.
Among the best dash cams allow you to decide between two totally different body charges, simply as different fashions additionally allow you to select from varied resolutions. Typically, a better body charge is barely potential with a decrease decision. For instance, the Viofo A229 can document 4K at 30fps (that is frames per second), or 1440p at 60fps. Some, just like the Garmin X310 , even go proper as much as 120fps, however the decision then falls to 1080p.
Solely very lately have sprint cams had the power to shoot 4K video at 60fps. However do you have to decide this selection? Or do you have to dive into the settings menu and document 4K at 30fps as a substitute? To search out out whether or not 60fps actually makes a distinction, I’m utilizing the Viofo A329 , a high-end sprint cam that provides the consumer a alternative of 4K at 30 or 60fps.
I put in the sprint cam in my automotive and accomplished a number of journeys utilizing each body charge choices. The digital camera decision was set to 4K and I left all of its different settings of their default configuration. Since it’s included with the A329, I fitted Viofo’s polarizing lens filter, which goals to chop down on windshield reflections.
The entrance digital camera of the Viofo A329 sprint cam, used for my testing (Picture credit score: Future / Alistair Charlton)
Low-speed driving: 30 fps vs 60 fps
Given I stay in London, surrounded by 20mph roads, my first take a look at concerned low-speed city and metropolis driving. To make the take a look at as truthful as potential, I drove the identical route twice. I first set the sprint cam to its default 4K at 60fps, then modified it to 4K at 30fps. I then transferred the footage to my pc for a more in-depth look (see under).
Seen at regular pace, each movies seem sharp and easy, with loads of element. They received’t win an Oscar, and regardless of its excessive specification the A329 produces pretty flat footage that lacks saturation. However the recordings are just about equivalent.
Particulars like licence plates and street indicators are clearly seen, particularly when the footage is paused. I sometimes needed to scrub forwards and backwards by way of a number of frames of the 30fps pattern to get a transparent view of automobiles passing in the other way, however in any other case the video is completely clear and usable.
Sluggish the footage right down to half-speed although, and the distinction between 30 fps and 60fps turns into clear. Since there are twice as many frames within the second recording, it stays easy when slowed down by 50 %, whereas the 30fps footage stutters. Each body continues to be there, and it’s nonetheless unlikely that key particulars could possibly be fully misplaced as a result of decrease body charge. However for those who want a slow-motion shot of a high-speed collision or different incident, like a sudden puncture or different mechanical failure, the 60fps possibility will produce noticeably smoother outcomes.
Excessive-speed driving: 30fps vs 60fps
Subsequent, I headed to the freeway to see if there was a extra apparent distinction between the 2 body charges at 70mph. Once more, when performed at full pace the 30fps and 60fps recordings appeared very related.
However, as anticipated, when slowed right down to half-speed it was the 60fps video that performed extra easily. I used to be truly fairly impressed by how easy, nearly cinematic, the 60fps footage appeared when slowed proper down. Naturally, driving at a better pace means extra distance is roofed in every body of the recording. A better body charge means key particulars keep in shot for extra frames, supplying you with extra alternatives to see them clearly.
Each samples retained loads of element, however had I pushed on a 60mph primary street with no central barrier, the 60fps setting would stand a significantly better likelihood of exhibiting the license plates of oncoming automobiles.
Lastly, there’s a distinction in file dimension. Utilizing the identical Viofo A329 sprint cam, a one-minute recording at 4K and 30fps weighed in at about 320MB, whereas upping the body charge to 60 took the file dimension to about 540MB.
To conclude, whereas the variations are small, I’d suggest switching to a better body charge in case your sprint cam affords it, for the reason that ensuing footage is barely improved, particularly when slowed down.
Nonetheless, I’d assume twice if upping the body charge lowered the decision, since some sprint cams fall down from 1440p to 1080p, or from 4K to 1440p or 1080p, when growing the body charge. It’s additionally price checking how your sprint cam performs at night time, since in idea a quicker body charge means much less gentle hitting the sensor, and probably much less detailed footage. Finally, I’d set the sprint cam to its highest decision, then look to extend the body charge, however provided that the decision stays at 1440p (2K) or above.
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