[General Accessories] Alberto96:
Introduction

This is the AZDome A305

Hardware

This device is powered by a Novatek NT96658 Chipset with a Sony IMX323 Sensor. Just like most products from China, including smartphones, it is common to use interpolation to increase the resolution of photos, so 12MP Resolution is interpolated from 2.19MP. Video Resolution goes up to 1080p30.

Official Specs together with Box Ones.

Unboxing

As most of all Action Camera, its packaging comes with some accessories: 1x User Manual, 1x Car 12V to 5V Charger, 1x Mini (yes, not Micro) USB Cable, 1x Mounting Base, 2x 3M Adhesive Pads and the Dash Cam (of course).

Written in the previous specifications image, you can read the size of the camera, 83 x 69 x 38 mm, just a pretty standard size for this type of Dash Cams.

On the front side there is the Speaker Grill, the 2.45 inches IPS Display (high quality) and all Navigation Buttons required to use the camera.

On the the right side there is the Power Button, three holes for 2x LEDs (one for charging, one for power) and the Micro-SD (still called TF) Slot that supports up to 64GB Cards based on the specs.

On the left side there is 1x AV OUT port (cable not included, or missing in my box), 1x Mini-USB Port and an Hole for the Reset Button.

On the back side there is the base slot required to mount the camera, and two dissipation vents. Hidden under the base there is the battery.

On the lower side there are just two holes, required for the microphone (i guess 2x Microphones for Stereo Recording).

Device

Camera Sensor Quality

This is the first time i test this Camera Sensor from Sony, the IMX323. Based on the spec-sheet available online, it is a budget version of the IMX322, and the result is damn impressive. I would like to have the same quality on Action Cameras too.

Here you can see some sample videos i recorded during my trip, unfortunately i lost most of the footage because i am an idiot and i kept the camera turned on at home (while charging...auto power-on...epic fail...) so everything has been overwritten. Luckily while using the Dash Camera using WiFi, everything gets saved as Read-Only, so this is what i managed to save.

[YOUTUBE]A2HCk4ivSGM[/YOUTUBE]

This is a shorter sample video, with different light conditions and with some static parts.

[YOUTUBE]xwuNLWtnBH0[/YOUTUBE]

Here you can see all most important supported video resolutions. Maximum 1080p30 as already said before.

Photos Resolution goes up to 12MP, interpolated from 2.19MP.

WiFi Feature

The Wi-Fi feature enables this camera to be controlled using an Android or iOS smartphone, using the dedicated app, called Lerccerker.

The App isn't bad at all, but it isn't made specifically for this camera, so it looks a bit generic and too much unpolished. Something annoying is that you need to disable any Mobile Data connection in order to get the app connected to the camera. (running Android 7.1.1 on a LeEco Le 2 X527)

It is available on the Play Store (for Android users of course)

Battery Life

The 300mAh battery is just insufficient in my opinion, i was barely able to record 15 minutes of video with a full-charge at 1080p30, and sometimes it lasts even less. I don't know if this is an isolated issue.

Something sure is that there is enough room inside the chassis to fit an Action Camera battery, that would create an huge difference in battery life.

Software

The software is easy to use, and features some nice options such as Park Guard, Loop Recording and so on...

Most features are available on Action Cameras too, the most important feature here is the mentioned Park Guard mode, that is useful when the Dash Cam detects a movement, and as soon as a movement gets detected, it starts recording.

Again, this feature is seriously impacted by the low battery life mentioned before, so it might not work in a reliable way or it may just stop functioning after a while. I recommended to keep the camera connected to the charger if you plan to use this feature.

Conclusions

Just like what i say for any new type of product i review, this is the first time i review a Dash Cam, so if there is something that i missed or you want to ask me, fell free to write a post on the bottom and i will reply you.

This is a pretty interesting product, with some smart features and excellent video quality that makes it different from others. I am still confused about the battery life though.

So, do I recommend it? As long as you don't mind about the battery life, and you can keep the camera connected to the charger, then yes!

I don't regret it, and i plan to use it every time i drive (rarely because i don't have a personal car) to keep track of any possible accident (or just record the panorama).

Pros:

Great Screen Quality

Excellent Videos Quality

Optimal Field-of-View

Doesn't lack any feature

Cons:

Disappointing Battery Life

Messy Default Settings

The power-off procedure gets stuck sometimes

Mediocre Build Quality

Rating: 8.0

Packaging and Accessories: 7

Design and Materials: 7

Performance and Videos Resolution: 9.5

Screen: 9.5

Camera Sensor Quality: 9.5

Sound: 8

Battery Life: 5

Software: 8

OEM Support: 8

Price: 8

You can find full-res images (I know, Quality isn't excellent) here: http://imgur.com/a/o7bbc

Official Website: http://azdome.hk/product-detail-27-azdome-A305-1.html

You can buy it on many online shops. Official, and authorized, Retailers are listed in the AZDome website.​