Sony STARVIS 2 Dash Cam Guide And Sensor History

What STARVIS 2 changes for a dash cam

Sony STARVIS 2 is an image-sensor technology used in dash cams to capture detail in difficult lighting. It can help with dark scenes and bright headlights, but the lens, exposure settings and camera processing still determine the saved footage. A STARVIS 2 label alone does not guarantee readable plates.

Use this guide to compare the sensor generations, understand HDR and choose a camera for your front, rear or cabin view. BlackboxMyCar can help match those choices to the coverage and parking setup you need.

STARVIS 2 dash cams to compare

We recommend comparing the complete setup: the view you need, the detail each camera records and the power available while you park. These models illustrate different STARVIS 2 choices; current availability and kits can differ.

Thinkware U3000 2CH

The original U3000 uses a STARVIS 2 front camera. Compare the front-and-rear coverage and recording modes with the detail you need. Radar parking recording depends on its power supply and selected mode.

View Thinkware U3000 2CH

VIOFO A329 (original model)

A historical STARVIS 2 example from this guide. Match recording modes and accessories to the original A329; A329S is a different generation.

BlackVue DR970X Plus (original model)

A historical STARVIS 2 front-camera example. Check the rear-camera specification separately. Cloud functions require compatible equipment, connectivity and service availability. The pictured 2025 badge is historical artwork.

What is Sony STARVIS, and do all dash cams use it?

STARVIS is Sony’s back-illuminated pixel technology. Moving the light-sensitive part above the wiring layer helps more light reach it. STARVIS 2 adds changes to the photodiode structure and signal handling. Sony dates the original STARVIS launch to August 2014 and STARVIS 2 to June 2021 in its development history.

Sony announced the STARVIS 3 IMX908 sensor in March 2026. That announcement concerns the sensor; check each dash cam’s specifications to find its generation. The models above use STARVIS 2.

Dash cams use a range of sensors. Check the exact chip and camera channel rather than assuming that a brand name, 4K UHD label or night-vision feature means STARVIS 2.

Match the sensor to the camera channel

On a small screen, swipe the table sideways to read every column

Low-light performance and contrast

Read the sensor comparison correctly

On a small screen, swipe the table sideways to read every column

These are sensor specifications, not dash cam recording menus. Effective pixels and the recommended video area are different measurements. Sony IMX334 LLR/LQR flyer, hosted by Macnica, Sony IMX317CQC flyer, hosted by Macnica and Sony IMX678 color sensor flyer provide the underlying figures.

Sensor size, pixel pitch and output resolution each affect camera design. None is a complete image-quality score. Exposure time, lens quality, processing, windshield reflections and the speed of the subject affect the detail you can recover from a clip.

A low-light illustration is different from an oncoming plate at road speed. Exposure, movement and lighting still affect the useful detail.

Near-infrared sensitivity is another sensor characteristic. NIR illumination and suitable camera optics are needed to use light outside the visible range. A STARVIS 2 front camera does not gain the ability to see in total darkness simply from its sensor name.

Resolution, focus and readable detail

Compare HDR examples

These illustrations compare exposure handling. They show examples under particular conditions, not a guarantee for every dash cam or road scene.

What does phase-detection autofocus mean?

PDAF uses differences in the light reaching paired sensing areas to help a camera determine focus. Sony describes it in its phase-detection autofocus explanation. This is a separate technology from the STARVIS name.

An on-chip microlens helps collect light at a pixel. Autofocus also needs a suitable camera and lens system; the IMX678 flyer does not document that feature in these dash cams. Check focus in the camera’s saved footage.

Digital-overlap HDR

Digital-overlap HDR combines information from exposures taken at different times. A short exposure protects bright areas; a longer one collects darker detail. Movement between them can create doubled edges or color artifacts.

Sony’s STARVIS technology guide explains this process. The camera’s HDR setting and processing determine how the sensor output becomes a video file. Check the camera’s specifications for its available HDR modes.

Clear HDR

Clear HDR takes different-gain signals at the same time. Combining those signals avoids the time offset between separate exposures. This can reduce the motion artifacts caused by that offset; other sources of blur and processing artifacts still exist.

Sony notes that camera-side processing is needed for the final image, with some sensors able to combine data internally. Read the camera’s documented HDR modes and examine real footage before treating the sensor’s Clear HDR support as a user-selectable feature.

What STARVIS 2 means for parking power

A sensor is only one part of a dash cam’s power use. The processor, connected cameras, Wi-Fi and recording mode also draw power. The vehicle battery or dedicated pack, voltage cutoff and temperature determine when parking recording stops.

Sony reported about 30% lower sensor power for IMX675 compared with IMX335 in its IMX675 announcement. That is a specific sensor comparison. It does not mean every STARVIS 2 dash cam records 30% longer, or that a newer sensor prevents a flat vehicle battery.

Choose parking coverage by what is recorded: continuous low-bitrate footage, time lapse, buffered motion events or an impact-triggered wake-up each has different tradeoffs. Our parking mode guide and dash cam battery guide explain the setup choices.

Which other dash cams use STARVIS 2?

The VIOFO A139 Pro is an early 4K UHD STARVIS 2 dash cam example. The original A329 and BlackVue DR970X Plus are historical examples in this guide; successor models have different features.

Sony also lists IMX662 among its dash cam sensor options. Its dash cam imaging guide separates sensor resolution, sensitivity and HDR capabilities. For bitrate and recording modes, check the exact camera channel and firmware version.

For historical recording discussion, see the A139 Pro community thread. Its clips and bitrate observations apply to that setup, not every STARVIS 2 camera. Sony’s IMX662 flyer and IMX678 flyer describe sensors rather than complete camera features.

Compact and dual-channel STARVIS 2 examples

A compact front-only camera and a front-and-rear kit solve different coverage needs. Check the exact model and required accessories before buying.

VIOFO A119 Mini 2

A compact front-only camera with a screen and an IMX675 sensor for 2K QHD recording. It does not add rear coverage.

View VIOFO A119 Mini 2

VIOFO A229 Plus 2CH

A front-and-rear example using IMX675 STARVIS 2 sensors for 2K QHD recording. Match parking-power accessories to the exact kit.

View VIOFO A229 Plus 2CH

VIOFO VS1

A small front camera without a screen, using an IMX675 sensor for 2K QHD recording and a phone app for viewing and settings.

View VIOFO VS1

Will STARVIS 2 read every license plate at night?

No. Relative speed, exposure time, headlight glare, angle and distance still affect plate detail. Look at original-quality footage from the exact camera and mode. We can help assess a clip and explain the setup choices; no dash cam can promise every plate in every condition.

Get help choosing the complete setup

Tell BlackboxMyCar your vehicle, budget, whether you need front, rear or cabin coverage, and how long you usually park. If you already have a camera, include its exact model and a short original-quality clip that shows the problem. We can help compare suitable models or narrow down a recording or setup issue.