TECHNOLOGY

Vantrue OnDash N4 overview: Versatile 3-channel dart cam captures with 4K

Dave May 20, 2022

0 0 7 minutes read

At a look

Expert’s Ranking

Pros

4K entrance captures in two-channel mode
1080p inside of and rear captures
Versatile configuration
Straightforward to make exhaust of

Cons

Simplest 1440p when the exhaust of three channels
Infrared disabled by default

Our Verdict

Vantrue’s N4 is the most cheap three-channel dart cam we’re responsive to. It captures at 1440p in three-channel mode, and 4K whenever you happen to fall to 2.

Mark When Reviewed

$259.99

Most effective Costs On the present time: Vantrue OnDash N4 dart cam

As soon as you want the basis of entire (or halt to-entire anyway) protection inside of and birth air your automobile, you obtained’t win a more cost effective manner to scratch that itch than Vantrue’s OnDash N4. This three-channel entrance/rear/inside of unit has the relatively good designate of $260 though a GPS mount is one other $22.

Demonstrate that the dart cam I tested is the one realized whenever you happen to click on the Elope Cam tab, then N4 from Vantrue’s online page. Attempting spherical Vantrue’s online page, I got right here upon one other N4 product page with different specs. The excellence is that the mannequin I reviewed—presumably the more moderen mannequin—has 4K crimson meat up. Even aloof, that spec is a runt bit misleading when expressed as “3-channel 4K.” While the N4 can certainly eradicate 4K UHD entrance video, it’ll only attain so when shooting entrance/inside of, or entrance/rear—i.e, in two-channel mode, not three-channel.

Demonstrate also that the industry in overall refers to unprejudiced the entrance camera when advertising and marketing and marketing decision. Interior and rear cameras are invariably decrease decision when 4K is touted.

This overview is piece of our ongoing roundup of the only dart cams. Scoot there for more opinions and buying recommendation.

Vantrue OnDash N4: Win and sides

At true over 4 inches long and 1.5 inches deep and huge, the flattened-cylindrical N4 is a runt bit on the tall measurement. It has to be to suit each the entrance and inside of cameras, besides a crisp 2.45-high-tail IPS colour present. It’s not a monster by any manner, but it undoubtedly’s not svelte like Garmin’s Elope Cam Tandem.

On prime of the unit are 5 buttons (menu, k/file, left, correct, vitality) to navigate the onscreen menus. Said menus are logically organized and straight forward to browse. On the left facet of the most crucial body you’ll win: a USB Kind-C port for the rear camera or attaching the unit to a laptop to dump video; a micro-HDMI video port for outputting to a TV, and heaps others; an SD card slot; and a runt reset button.

There’s nothing on the right kind facet, but on prime is the connection for the incorporated suction mount, which is fully adjustable horizontally and vertically. The total deal is powered via 1 other USB Kind-C port on the mount. The nub for that port also serves as a handle to rotate the mechanism to aid get grasp of the suction cup to the windshield.

Vantrue

The entrance camera is 2160p/30 frames per second most (when recorded alone) with a discipline of stare of 155 degrees, but as talked about, drops to 1440p when each the inner and rear cameras are also in exhaust. This can preserve at 2160p when dilapidated with both the inner or rear cameras, but drops from 30fps to 25fps.

The inner camera is 1080p with a 165 diploma FOV, and the rear camera is 1080p with a 160 diploma FOV. Why the runt mismatches between the FOV of three cameras, I’m in a position to’t train, but collectively they duvet so a lot of true estate. All aim Sony STARVIS sensors for correct colour and evening efficiency.

There are four infrared lights surrounding the vertically swiveling inside of camera to enhance evening captures in the cabin. Alas, Vantrue doesn’t enable them by default so my first evening captures had been darker than they’ll also aloof’ve been. Vantrue can also aloof invent a increased effort to invent the N4 usable under all conditions correct out of the box.

The vitality cable is auxiliary (cigarette lighter) to Kind-C and a 20-foot cable is equipped to connect the rear camera. It’s that long on fable of you’ll seemingly be snaking it spherical/under seats, up and inside of inside of moulding, or each. As with most dart cams, a moulding spudger/crevice instrument is equipped.

The rear camera is prominently labeled, one thing I undoubtedly treasure. I’ve installed less clearly labeled models the opposite scheme up on accident. Tip: As soon as you’ve got a rear camera that doesn’t invent its orientation apparent, connect it to the most crucial camera, vitality it on, and train what’s proven on the present earlier than sticking it in enviornment. (Shut to all exhaust sticky pads.)

The contents of the N4 box. A further sticky pad is equipped whenever you need to re-exhaust the mount.

There’s no SD card incorporated with the N4. Speaking of which, you’ll be the exhaust of so a lot of storage with three channels continuously working, or merely shooting 2160p. Employ as tall because it’s most likely you’ll well presumably.

The N4 affords three parking modes: motion detection (the exhaust of the camera), impact detection (the exhaust of the G-sensor), and a low-decision (720p at 15fps) actual eradicate mode. There’s also a time-lapse image eradicate aim to set storage condominium.

Onboard is a trim capacitor as an different of a battery for more payment cycles and a broader working temperature vary (14 to 158 degrees Fahrenheit). Surprisingly, it keeps the present working for a second or so after vitality is pulled, meaning it’s of first payment ability. Many final only the milliseconds it takes to halt the contemporary video.

Vantrue OnDash N4: Performance

I first tested the N4 as a 3-channel camera, resulting in 1440p entrance captures. Overall, the 1440p/1080p quality is applicable if in no manner aggressive with the pricier, but very perfect Cobra SC 400D. I then switched the camera to entrance/rear only and grabbed some 2160p footage from the entrance.

The colour is enviornment on in each cases, but I realized the ingredient on your entire captures a runt bit blurry for the resolutions involved—notably the inner and rear cameras. Vantrue appears to be like to fade for smoothness over sharpness in processing the captures. Either that, or it’s in the optics or sensors. I undoubtedly earn seen nowadays that the cameras with Sony sensors attain lean in direction of striking off jaggies.

True-click on the photos and pick “Open in glossy tab,” then switch to the glossy tab to peek them rotund decision.

Though the colors are prosperous and fisheye is handled moderately well, indispensable parts in this 1440p entrance eradicate aren’t the only we’ve viewed at that call.

The large FOV for the inner camera (proven under) makes obvious you’re going to eradicate the total cabin no topic how tall the automobile. I left the vitality wire dangling to spare you from but one other leer at my mug.

Demonstrate that the vitality cable is being dilapidated so you don’t must conception at my gruesome mug. A eternal installation will of course not aim the cable. Here’s the N4’s inside of camera in rotund daylight.

There’s moderately a runt bit of fisheye out of your entire cameras. The large fields of stare (FOV) makes obvious you’ll eradicate more events, but it undoubtedly does end result in this form of artifact. The inner and rear camera indispensable parts are relatively muddy for 1080p captures. The rear camera shot under also is a runt bit lacking intimately total. That’s one in every of our building’s security guards checking to invent obvious Giants fans from the stadium true down the boulevard aren’t the exhaust of our parking.

One in all IDG’s security folk strolling gradual my automobile. He thoughtfully replaced the parking cone so I didn’t must salvage out of the automobile again. The relatively frail ingredient and tall quantity of fisheye distortion are more pertinent to the discussion of the N4’s rear camera.

Night captures are more of the the same. There’s correct if not good ingredient on the entrance captures, but inside of and rear captures are a runt bit of muddy. Also, headlight flare is more intense than with some cameras. Demonstrate that a pair of of the distortion is as a result of the evening conditions right here in foggy San Francisco.

This entrance evening eradicate shows correct ingredient though glare on the license plate makes it subtle to read.

As with the day captures, there’s a optimistic bluriness to the rear camera’s evening captures. You’ll want to be very halt to exhaust up indispensable parts equivalent to license plate numbers.

Here’s not one in every of the upper evening captures we’ve viewed with regards to ingredient. Vantrue appears to be like to fade for gentle over clarity in its processing.

As talked about, for some motive, Vantrue doesn’t position the infrared lighting to auto or on by default. Due to this truth the darkish eradicate proven under. Attempting ahead to the infrared to work robotically, I needed to hotfoot out on but anther evening to eradicate with the infrared on.

For some motive Vantrue didn’t position the infrared to on or auto by default so my first evening cabin footage looked like this.

Underneath is the end result from my second foray. I stepped birth air as I’m drained of taking a earn a look at myself in these photos. Demonstrate that it’s most likely you’ll well presumably truly now uncover that there are seats in my MX-5.

With the infrared enabled, inside of captures provide noteworthy more ingredient.

One cramped disaster with the N4 is that it doesn’t robotically open recording whenever you happen to exit the settings menus as most cameras will. You’ve got gotten to hit the k/file button. I overlooked so a lot of captures at first due to the this. Niceties.

Conclusion

As long as you heed that the N4 is 1440p when the exhaust of all three channels, it’s a correct deal, though it’d be a a lot bigger one with GPS already on board The captures usually are not incessantly the only we’ve viewed, but they’re shining and contemporary a serviceable quantity of ingredient. A competent if not spectacular camera blueprint for a correct designate.

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