benjos
Member
- Joined
- Sep 28, 2014
- Messages
- 122
- Reaction score
- 24
- Location
- Los Angeles
- Country
- United States
- Dash Cam
- SJ8 Pro, Rexing V1P Max, Dome D201, Xiaomi Yi
V1P SE (4k front and 1080p rear) review
Overall quality for front camera: 4 out of 5
Overall quality for rear camera: 1.5 out of 5
Samples: https://mega.nz/folder/PvwRQLRT#ijJ8xso7JrWirz1PQCxduw
I received the Rexing V1P SE front and rear camera free thanks to @Sam_Rexing . Amazon currently (2024-05-09) lists it for $160 and there is a $28 coupon.
The V1P SE front and rear camera kit included two CPL filters and a Kingston 64GB U3 microSD card. I tested the front camera with the included CPL and my existing SanDisk Endurance U3 microSD. I tested the rear camera without the CPL since my rear window is tinted and would probably create distortion (moire patterns) with the CPL. I installed the extra CPL on my older model Rexing V1P Max front camera and it fit perfectly on it too. Currently (2024-05-09) there is no newer firmware on the RexingUSA web site (https://www.rexingusa.com/support/firmware/v1p-se-firmware/).
The cameras record using the H265 codec for front and rear.
Audio records using AAC codec in stereo and with a sample rate of 32KHz.
The V1P SE front camera supports 4K with HEVC (H265) at 30 fps but only when not recording with the rear camera; with the rear camera recording, the 4K is limited to 24 fps (and the rear will record at 24 fps). The front camera records decent quality during the day and night. License plates can get washed out by sunlight depending on the angle and time of day; other brand cameras have similar issue. License plates are often hard to read when 20 feet or more away; compared to 30 feet away from footage from my GoPro 12 Black mounted on a helmet. Street signs are usually readable with the front camera during the day time.
At night, the front camera video seems to be better than the older V1P Max. The camera does not have options for spot, center, or average light. The camera could be improved in auto light adjustment. Illuminated street signs and license plates are often unreadable with the front camera at night.
Only 3 resolutions are available for front and rear:
2160p 24fps + 1080p 24fps
1440p 30fps + 1080p 30fps
1080p 30fps + 1080p 30fps
You can also disable the rear recording while the rear camera is plugged in so that you can go back to recording with the front camera only at one of these resolutions:
2160p 30fps
1440p 30fps
1080p 60fps
I was hoping the camera would have 1440p 60fps. I prefer 1440p 30fps + 1080p 30fps over the 24fps mode since I think 24fps is not very smooth. Unfortunately, I don’t have a sample in the 24fps mode and my car is in the shop and I won’t get it back for a few weeks.
There are no settings to set the quality or bitrate of the video.
The front camera includes a 12V 2.0A car adapter to mini USB. I was able to use the camera with my own old micro USB cable with the USB Type A end plugged into my multi-port adapter (supports 2.4A) and did not have issues. The package includes two 3M double sided tape for the front mount and two front mounts apparently for two vehicles. The front mount allows for you to slide the camera into position to align it. The camera lens can be angled up/down/left/right a few degrees in each direction and can rotate a little bit. The front mount is secure to the window and does not cause vibration or shaking in the camera recording.
The loop recording only has three options: 1, 2, or 3 minutes. It would be nice if it had higher values.
The parking monitor feature requires hardwire kit and shows a warning about it. You can confirm it and then pick No or Yes. I didn’t have a hardwire kit to test.
Pressing MIC cycles through display modes for front, rear, picture in picture (front big and rear small or rear big and front small). Holding the MIC button will toggle mute/enable microphone. The audio recording quality is average; I think it is better than the V1P Max. I can hear my car engine/exhaust and voices within the cabin. Music from the car stereo is still audible.
Powering on the front camera will play loud chime music. It takes about 5 seconds to start recording after supplying power. Powering off has a different short chime that is not as loud.
GPS is built inside the front camera. The GPS coordinates and vehicle speed are in the recorded video. The GPS vehicle speed lags by two or three seconds which seems typical. There is no way to disable the GPS.
The rear camera records low quality video and/or out of focus which does not look like 1080p. Note that my car’s rear window has a dark tint (20%). The V1P SE rear camera is better than the V1P Max rear camera which was horrible. The daytime video quality is similar to the first GoPro Hero HD which came out over 12 years ago. License plates and street names are too difficult to read. I haven’t tested night time quality. The rear camera is just good enough in case you have an accident so you can see where vehicles or pedestrians came from.
The rear camera of the V1P SE has much better adjustability than the rear camera that came with the V1P Max. I was able to mount this on the rear window and adjust it level to the ground. The V1P SE rear camera has a different plug than the V1P Max so I had to rewire the rear camera when replacing it. The new wire has a plug similar to an audio cable whereas the older V1P Max rear camera had a mini USB cable to plug into the front camera.
I didn’t bother using the included cable clips with double sided tape since based on my experience with the V1P Max they could be weak; I used leftover third-party cable clips with double sided tape which I knew would hold up to hot weather.
When browsing the folder where the video files are stored, the date modified of the files do not match the time of the video watermark. The date modified of the files is the seven hours earlier than the video timestamp watermark. The timestamp watermark appears correct and will use the adjusted time zone's time. So in California at 10 PM Pacific Daylight Time and the time zone in the camera is set to Los Angeles, and Daylight Savings time is On in the options, the recording will show 10 PM and the file names will be named with the correct date and time but the date modified will show 3 PM. There is a bug in the firmware where sometimes the filename is not in the correct order of the video but the date modified is correct.
I didn’t test the Emergency button. I only briefly tested the G-Force Sensitivity at my desk before installing the camera. The camera does not beep when it records emergency file (due to G sensor shock). I set the G-Force Sensitivity off when I put the camera in my car because my experience with other cameras is that they usually record unnecessarily over a bump on the road.
If the microSD card is not inserted and the camera turns on, it will display a message about "insert SD card" for two seconds and then disappear. The camera never makes an audible noise about it and the camera will stay on. When I insert the microSD card (which I already formatted with camera), then the camera turns off and stays off even though power is still supplied. I have to unplug and plug the power cable to turn it on again.
The supercapacitor is good to have instead of a Lithium battery that could expand under hot weather. I have not tested the camera in hot weather too much other than while driving. I have not noticed any missing videos or cut off videos while using the camera with my 256 GB SanDisk Endurance micro SD.
The camera can format the microSD card and this format is compatible with Linux and Windows.
I did not test the V1P SE camera with the Rexing Connect app for Android.
In the options, screensaver mode has a few timer options to turn off the screen.
One new option is called "Speed date Screensaver" which is not explained in the instruction manual. I tried this option and after 1 minute or recording video, the screen will change to show only your current speed, time, and date in large font on the screen. I don't know how long it shows it; the screen might stay on indefinitely which might be bad if the LCD screen ever gets burned in with the date or leading zero from the speed.
Overall quality for front camera: 4 out of 5
Overall quality for rear camera: 1.5 out of 5
Samples: https://mega.nz/folder/PvwRQLRT#ijJ8xso7JrWirz1PQCxduw
I received the Rexing V1P SE front and rear camera free thanks to @Sam_Rexing . Amazon currently (2024-05-09) lists it for $160 and there is a $28 coupon.
The V1P SE front and rear camera kit included two CPL filters and a Kingston 64GB U3 microSD card. I tested the front camera with the included CPL and my existing SanDisk Endurance U3 microSD. I tested the rear camera without the CPL since my rear window is tinted and would probably create distortion (moire patterns) with the CPL. I installed the extra CPL on my older model Rexing V1P Max front camera and it fit perfectly on it too. Currently (2024-05-09) there is no newer firmware on the RexingUSA web site (https://www.rexingusa.com/support/firmware/v1p-se-firmware/).
The cameras record using the H265 codec for front and rear.
Audio records using AAC codec in stereo and with a sample rate of 32KHz.
The V1P SE front camera supports 4K with HEVC (H265) at 30 fps but only when not recording with the rear camera; with the rear camera recording, the 4K is limited to 24 fps (and the rear will record at 24 fps). The front camera records decent quality during the day and night. License plates can get washed out by sunlight depending on the angle and time of day; other brand cameras have similar issue. License plates are often hard to read when 20 feet or more away; compared to 30 feet away from footage from my GoPro 12 Black mounted on a helmet. Street signs are usually readable with the front camera during the day time.
At night, the front camera video seems to be better than the older V1P Max. The camera does not have options for spot, center, or average light. The camera could be improved in auto light adjustment. Illuminated street signs and license plates are often unreadable with the front camera at night.
Only 3 resolutions are available for front and rear:
2160p 24fps + 1080p 24fps
1440p 30fps + 1080p 30fps
1080p 30fps + 1080p 30fps
You can also disable the rear recording while the rear camera is plugged in so that you can go back to recording with the front camera only at one of these resolutions:
2160p 30fps
1440p 30fps
1080p 60fps
I was hoping the camera would have 1440p 60fps. I prefer 1440p 30fps + 1080p 30fps over the 24fps mode since I think 24fps is not very smooth. Unfortunately, I don’t have a sample in the 24fps mode and my car is in the shop and I won’t get it back for a few weeks.
There are no settings to set the quality or bitrate of the video.
The front camera includes a 12V 2.0A car adapter to mini USB. I was able to use the camera with my own old micro USB cable with the USB Type A end plugged into my multi-port adapter (supports 2.4A) and did not have issues. The package includes two 3M double sided tape for the front mount and two front mounts apparently for two vehicles. The front mount allows for you to slide the camera into position to align it. The camera lens can be angled up/down/left/right a few degrees in each direction and can rotate a little bit. The front mount is secure to the window and does not cause vibration or shaking in the camera recording.
The loop recording only has three options: 1, 2, or 3 minutes. It would be nice if it had higher values.
The parking monitor feature requires hardwire kit and shows a warning about it. You can confirm it and then pick No or Yes. I didn’t have a hardwire kit to test.
Pressing MIC cycles through display modes for front, rear, picture in picture (front big and rear small or rear big and front small). Holding the MIC button will toggle mute/enable microphone. The audio recording quality is average; I think it is better than the V1P Max. I can hear my car engine/exhaust and voices within the cabin. Music from the car stereo is still audible.
Powering on the front camera will play loud chime music. It takes about 5 seconds to start recording after supplying power. Powering off has a different short chime that is not as loud.
GPS is built inside the front camera. The GPS coordinates and vehicle speed are in the recorded video. The GPS vehicle speed lags by two or three seconds which seems typical. There is no way to disable the GPS.
The rear camera records low quality video and/or out of focus which does not look like 1080p. Note that my car’s rear window has a dark tint (20%). The V1P SE rear camera is better than the V1P Max rear camera which was horrible. The daytime video quality is similar to the first GoPro Hero HD which came out over 12 years ago. License plates and street names are too difficult to read. I haven’t tested night time quality. The rear camera is just good enough in case you have an accident so you can see where vehicles or pedestrians came from.
The rear camera of the V1P SE has much better adjustability than the rear camera that came with the V1P Max. I was able to mount this on the rear window and adjust it level to the ground. The V1P SE rear camera has a different plug than the V1P Max so I had to rewire the rear camera when replacing it. The new wire has a plug similar to an audio cable whereas the older V1P Max rear camera had a mini USB cable to plug into the front camera.
I didn’t bother using the included cable clips with double sided tape since based on my experience with the V1P Max they could be weak; I used leftover third-party cable clips with double sided tape which I knew would hold up to hot weather.
When browsing the folder where the video files are stored, the date modified of the files do not match the time of the video watermark. The date modified of the files is the seven hours earlier than the video timestamp watermark. The timestamp watermark appears correct and will use the adjusted time zone's time. So in California at 10 PM Pacific Daylight Time and the time zone in the camera is set to Los Angeles, and Daylight Savings time is On in the options, the recording will show 10 PM and the file names will be named with the correct date and time but the date modified will show 3 PM. There is a bug in the firmware where sometimes the filename is not in the correct order of the video but the date modified is correct.
I didn’t test the Emergency button. I only briefly tested the G-Force Sensitivity at my desk before installing the camera. The camera does not beep when it records emergency file (due to G sensor shock). I set the G-Force Sensitivity off when I put the camera in my car because my experience with other cameras is that they usually record unnecessarily over a bump on the road.
If the microSD card is not inserted and the camera turns on, it will display a message about "insert SD card" for two seconds and then disappear. The camera never makes an audible noise about it and the camera will stay on. When I insert the microSD card (which I already formatted with camera), then the camera turns off and stays off even though power is still supplied. I have to unplug and plug the power cable to turn it on again.
The supercapacitor is good to have instead of a Lithium battery that could expand under hot weather. I have not tested the camera in hot weather too much other than while driving. I have not noticed any missing videos or cut off videos while using the camera with my 256 GB SanDisk Endurance micro SD.
The camera can format the microSD card and this format is compatible with Linux and Windows.
I did not test the V1P SE camera with the Rexing Connect app for Android.
In the options, screensaver mode has a few timer options to turn off the screen.
One new option is called "Speed date Screensaver" which is not explained in the instruction manual. I tried this option and after 1 minute or recording video, the screen will change to show only your current speed, time, and date in large font on the screen. I don't know how long it shows it; the screen might stay on indefinitely which might be bad if the LCD screen ever gets burned in with the date or leading zero from the speed.
