In this review we will get to know Vantrue’s Element 2 dashcam and find out how it performed during our test
Safety while driving is never too much and every motorist knows this well. Sometimes it can happen to find ourselves entangled in unpleasant accidents or to receive fines even when we have not exceeded the speed limits. But how can we do to have that extra factor that makes us demonstrate that we are the victims, avoiding pecuniary troubles?
Install a dashcam in your own car can be the solution to our problems. All we have to do is have one of these little jewels inside the passenger compartment which will also allow us to drive with more serenity. In this review we’re going to get to know Vantrue’s Element 2 closelya dual dashcam with one front and one rear device which will allow us to check both in front of and behind us at the same time.
Data sheet
- Chip: Novatek
- Image sensor: sensore Sony CMOS
- Viewing angle: 160° wide viewing angle both front and rear
- Opening: F/1.8
- Video resolution:
- registrazione frontale e posteriore: 1944p + 1944p a 24 fps / 1440p + 1440p a 30 fps / 1440p + 1080p a 30 fps / 1080p + 1440p a 30 fps / 1080p + 1080p a 30 fps / 1080 + 720p a 30 fps / 720p + 1080p a 30 fps / 720p + 720p a 30 fps
- front-only recording: 2592×1944 at 30fps / 2560×1440 at 30fps / 1920×1080 at 30fps / 1280×720 at 30fps
- Video format: MP4
- Display: 2,45″ IPS
- Audio: built-in microphone and speaker
- Memory: microSD U3 Class 10 from 32GB to 512GB (not included)
- Connectivity: USB type-C for power and data transfer / built-in 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz Wi-Fi
- Operating range: yes -20°C to 70°C
Packaging and Design – Vantrue Element 2 Review
The dashcam comes in a really small package, but the excellent subdivision of the space inside allows you to insert all the objects necessary for its operation. Inside the box we will find, in fact, in addition to the two bedrooms (the rear and the front), the appropriate main body mount which will also act as a GPS, a cable of about 6 meters to connect the rear view camera, the power cord to be connected to the cigarette lighter with a pass-through USB port for charging devices, un cavo da type-C a type-A for transferring data to the PC, an electrostatic sticker to best glue the chambers, the user manual (however the Italian language is missing), some stickers, the telecomando wireless and a crowbar to help you install the dashcam.
Although there are many objects inside, as soon as it is opened we will find ourselves in front of the front chamber. This is characterized by dimensions equal to 75 x 45 x 40 mm which, although they make it look very compact, also give it a sturdy and solid look. The back is divided into two parts: in the first, which is twice the size of the other, we find the camera lenswhile in the second it finds accommodation the earnings. The front is mainly characterized by the display that occupies almost the entire surface; in addition to this there is also a small LED that indicates the operation of the dashcam.
Below we find the various keys to navigate in the menus, to change the image we see on the display, to activate or deactivate the microphone and so on. On the left side we find instead the power key, the microphone and the microSD slot. At the top there are instead the mount attachmentwhich will work as GPS and power once connected to the cigarette lighter, and the socket for connect and power the rear chamber. The latter, unlike the previous one, will have dimensions equal to 50 x 25 x 28 mm and the only characterizing elements will be the target, un LED on the opposite side to let us see the operation and the porta USB type-C power supply on the side.
How it works – Vantrue Element 2 review
Connecting the dashcam to our car is not complicated (theoretically) and there is too a very good explanation on the user manual. However, the manual part may not be a walk in the park, despite all the illustrations of the case. Here because it is advisable to consult an expert in this case, especially if we don’t want to have cables in plain sight. But if this doesn’t scare you and you prefer to do everything yourself, then you will have everything you need to install the two cameras.
Once you’ve made the connections and turned on the car, the dashcam will start working right away. Using it is not difficult, On the contrary. The only thing you will have to do will be install a microSD and format it during the first power up. You can finally drive with peace of mind knowing that videos, and photos when needed, will be saved directly to your storage. Although you see both cameras in two overlapping frames on the display, the videos will obviously be recorded individually.
However, while there is the option to use it like this, the dashcam has many functions that may be more or less important according to your personal tastes. Let’s start first by explaining what is recorded in the various videos. In addition to the actual video, important information such as date and time, GPS coordinates and relative speed to which we were traveling.
The videos will be recorded in a loop on our memory. Once 70% of total capacity is reached, the new files will be recorded over the previous ones, thus allowing us to record continuously without having to stop driving to format the memory card and lose what has been recorded up to that moment. We can choose between three precise video lengths: 1 minute, 3 minutes or 5 minutes. In this way it will be easier to search for the exact file without letting us watch hours and hours of video before reaching what we want.
The G-sensor – Vantrue Element 2 Review
However, remembering a certain event is not always easy. That’s why the recording will be done in various folders. Indeed, there will be two folders that will take care of saving videos and one dedicated to photos. But why do we have two folders for videos? The Element 2 is equipped with a special sensor called G-sensor (Gravity sensor). The latter manages to grasp the vibrations due to collisions that affect our motion.
In practice, if someone ends up on us, if we hit something or if we simply take a hole that will make this sensor pick up an unusual movement, will start recording a video that will end up in the folder “Event” and a photo will also be taken. This type of video will occupy only 30% of the total space on the memory card. Again, once that threshold is reached, new videos will be recorded overwriting the old ones, just like they normally do.
It will also be possible vary the parameters of the G-sensor to make it less sensitive to the various oscillations that can characterize our journey. In particular, we will be able to make it less sensitive along one of the three axes, for example the longitudinal one, to prevent events from being recorded at each hole taken, but remain active on side and frontal/rear impacts.
The G-sensor will not be the only way to record events during our car journeys. We will be able to detect events simply by clicking on the appropriate button on the supplied remote control. In this way we will be able to monitor something that has attracted our attention and take the related photo.
The remote also works with your smartphone – Vantrue Element 2 review
One of the things that we greatly appreciated during the test of the Vantrue Element 2 and which deserves a separate paragraph in this review concerns the remote control with smartphone. It will in fact be possible to connect our mobile directly to the dashcam via the specific Wi-Fi of the Element 2.
In this way we will be able to access the main features of the dashcam directly from our smartphone. We will be able to perform many functions ranging from recording management, to activating the microphone or, why not, viewing the folders with the various recordings already made. Also from here it will be possible to manage the settings of the Element 2.
Obviously we will also be able to see what is represented on the front camera display, having the opportunity to change the view. We will be able to vary between different camera views, setting the one that best suits us. It will be possible select the rear one to make parking easier for usespecially if there is an obstacle behind it that is difficult to see from the driver’s seat.
It will also be possible operate the dashcam via voice control. However, this feature only supports English, Japanese, Russian and Chinese. We don’t know if there will ever be an update that allows recognition of Italian as well. A real pity because it would have been really convenient to give commands to the Element 2 by voice, thus ensuring maximum concentration while we are driving.
But what is the quality of the recorded images? – Vantrue Element 2 review
Now let’s move on to what is probably the most important paragraph of this whole review concerning the Element 2 by Vantrue, the one relating to the quality of recorded videos and photos. In this case, however, we should distinguish between cases of intense lighti.e. during the day cases with weak light (sunset/evening) and total absencei.e. at night and in dimly lit streets.
So let’s start from recordings and photos taken during the day. In this case we have not noticed no problems regarding the quality of videos and photos. Every detail is faithfully captured and, as expected, the quality is really high. The only flaw can be some small reflectionsbut nothing really important. However, using a polarized filter (not included in the package) this problem is easily overcome.
In condition of weak light the quality is still very good, although we are starting to see a small decline. As the light decreases, the first problems arise due to videos and photos not exactly sharp. We then have the main problem in the presence of very intense lights. In this case we have the so-called flare effect which amplifies the light source even more and creates light beams around it. This obviously does not allow you to have well-defined videos and photos, but actually it is a common problem with all cameras and camcorders present on the market.
The audio captured by the microphone instead results low and unclearalthough it still remains acceptable given the usefulness of the product in question. Much of the noise is mainly due to the proximity to the engine and the continuous vibrations to which the machine is subjected. However we fully understand that these dashcams they were not born for this purposeso we will not take this into account at the end of this review,…