Dash Cameras

Submitted: Tuesday, Sep 02, 2014 at 17:25
ThreadID: 109373 Views:3286 Replies:9 FollowUps:10
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This topic has only 1 entry from 2011 in the archive... Car Dash Cameras, what is the good oil please for the technologically inept ! The forums like whirlpool get confusing with jargon and specifications and what looks good ends up getting cooked in the summer sun. Is there anyone out there with experience and a positive recommendation accounting for issues such as heat tolerance, withstanding corrugations, useful features and a friendly interface. Also perhaps the things to be wary of, and the important things to look for. ? Cheers to all.
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Reply By: Member - bbuzz (NSW) - Tuesday, Sep 02, 2014 at 17:54

Tuesday, Sep 02, 2014 at 17:54
OK. I'll start off. You will get a few opinions here on this topic!

I have two types; one in each vehicle.

1. A cheapy from China, fully self contained powered by a cord from the cig lighter. Or similar.
I supplied the mini SD card. It is attached with a suction cup behind the rear vision mirror and has a wide view of the road ahead.
A clear picture but the depth of the view is short for identifying detail. No doubt that can be enhanced if it is needed for insurance or police actions. The flip down screen shows what is happening.
I have had no problems and it has been working for 2 years.
The only irritation is that if the power goes off completely, you lose the date setting. My Focus has a power socket that is constantly on so that solves that. I do need to turn the camera off when I park up. SWMBO is the only only one who can't remember to turn it on and off.
Good value for around $24.

2. This one is in a Prado and is part of the DigOptions multimedia package.
I have had installation problems but when it does work (record), the quality is very good. There is an upgrade coming on the record unit (long overdue) and that should fix some of the working irritations.
I had to invent a mounting system, as I wanted it on the windscreen, rather than inside the front grille. It fits in very neatly and up behind the rearview mirror and you have to go looking for it to see it as the camera is only about 2cm square.
The picture is very clear and the width of the picture satisfactory. Again the depth is short. This is a tradeoff with the wide angle of the lense. Again, you can play with the video clip is needed.

To view all the files saved to the SD card, you need to put it in a laptop and watch them that way.

The China unit is a little big and could be obtrusive. But it is cheap.

I would go for the China unit and play around with a location that is not in your face.

Link - Dash camera

Luck

bill
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Reply By: Member - KBAD - Tuesday, Sep 02, 2014 at 17:55

Tuesday, Sep 02, 2014 at 17:55
I went with a VicoVation TF2 http://www.vicovation.com/product.asp?IDno=14&lang=en
had the best heat resistance from all the reviews i could find bit clunky looking but put it behind the rear view mirror no problems. Good picture both day and night, you can record events save them at the push of a button otherwise it loops takes a sd card when the card is full it starts to overwrite recordings. If the shock sensor triggers it auto saves 30 seconds before and after event. I like it. Made in Taiwan. You can adjust the sensitivity of the shock sensor or turn it off if it keeps triggering because the corrugations are really severe.
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Follow Up By: Member - KBAD - Tuesday, Sep 02, 2014 at 17:58

Tuesday, Sep 02, 2014 at 17:58
You tube is your friend at least that way you can check the quality of the recording not all lenses are equal.
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Reply By: Maggsie - Tuesday, Sep 02, 2014 at 18:01

Tuesday, Sep 02, 2014 at 18:01
Just bought a Lukas 7900ACE for our Cape trip commencing next week. Will post results.
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Reply By: Penchy - Wednesday, Sep 03, 2014 at 09:51

Wednesday, Sep 03, 2014 at 09:51
Uniden igo300. Quality isn't too bad for the price.
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Reply By: nordi - Sunday, Sep 07, 2014 at 00:39

Sunday, Sep 07, 2014 at 00:39
Hi
You can't go past the -Mini 0801 Ambarella A2S60 Chip Car DVR Blackbox HD 1080P OV2710 G-sensor GPS. That little cam got everything. The best cam for around $100.
Maybe the never model Mini 0803 is a little bit better.
The best info about dash cams you find here
www.youtube.com/results?search_query=techmoan+reviews

nordi
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Reply By: Freshstart - Sunday, Sep 07, 2014 at 19:48

Sunday, Sep 07, 2014 at 19:48
I hope that it is safe to ask this question so here goes.

We want a dash camera for the home car with GPS (speed, location etc), date time stamping and G-sensing. At least 1080 resolution and with accompanying PC/laptop software. No internet requirement also.

Plus continuous recording when ignition is switched on. It will be hard wired to the ignition on power. Not plugged in. And mounted on the windscreen behind the rear view mirror.

Cheap is not a requirement and it must come with an Australian warranty. ie purchased in or from an actual shop. Definitely not an on-line one only.

I have spent the better part of any "spare" time (fathers day) today, looking at cameras, forums etc and my mind is awash.

Help.
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Follow Up By: Bob Y. - Qld - Monday, Sep 08, 2014 at 09:27

Monday, Sep 08, 2014 at 09:27
Phil,

The site below advertises in one of the trucking papers, and their gear, and reputation seems first class......and Australian company as well.

Have seen some of their footage on youtube and quality/clarity looks right up there. Here's the link:

http://www.onsitecameras.com/blog/products-page/cameras/autocam-hd/

They've got a few different models too,

Bob

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Can't remember most of it.

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Follow Up By: Freshstart - Monday, Sep 08, 2014 at 10:35

Monday, Sep 08, 2014 at 10:35
Thanks Bob. We actually found the identical camera under the similar name like navig(8) etc. Thanks for the Aussie outlet. Spending that much demands a reliable warranty.
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Follow Up By: TomH - Tuesday, Sep 23, 2014 at 19:40

Tuesday, Sep 23, 2014 at 19:40
I have 3 dashcams All Blackvue models A 500GW a 400HD and a 350

The 500 has GPS and Wifi to a lappy or phone in realtime if you like.

It is HD and you can read plates in freeze frame.

The 400 is the original model and has been going for nearly 3 years. Have had to replace the internal backup battery ($3.70).

The 350 is a 720p and is used in the rear of my station wagon.

Despite the reviews which bash them for having heat related problems i have used the 500 and the 400 in 3 countries in temps from freezing to 44C and they gave no trouble and recently the 500 was so hot I could barely touch it on a day in Tucson when it was so hot the rubber cup on the GPS welded itself to the windscreen. THey are unobtrusive and can be used in parking mode for extended periods as you can buy a unit which cuts themoff at a set tiem or when the battery gets down to a set level..

All of mine were bought on line from overseas sellers and have had no trouble. I have bought and fitted 7 altogether in various vehicles.
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Follow Up By: TomH - Tuesday, Sep 23, 2014 at 19:42

Tuesday, Sep 23, 2014 at 19:42
I have 3 dashcams All Blackvue models A 500GW a 400HD and a 350

The 500 has GPS and Wifi to a lappy or phone in realtime if you like.

It is HD and you can read plates in freeze frame.

The 400 is the original model and has been going for nearly 3 years. Have had to replace the internal backup battery ($3.70).

The 350 is a 720p and is used in the rear of my station wagon.

Despite the reviews which bash them for having heat related problems i have used the 500 and the 400 in 3 countries in temps from freezing to 44C and they gave no trouble and recently the 500 was so hot I could barely touch it on a day in Tucson when it was so hot the rubber cup on the GPS welded itself to the windscreen. They are unobtrusive and can be used in parking mode for extended periods as you can buy a unit which cuts them off at a set time or when the battery gets down to a set level..

All of mine were bought on line from overseas sellers and have had no trouble. I have bought and fitted 7 altogether in various vehicles.
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Follow Up By: TomH - Tuesday, Sep 23, 2014 at 19:43

Tuesday, Sep 23, 2014 at 19:43
Sorry nervous fingers double post
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Reply By: Slow one - Sunday, Sep 07, 2014 at 20:19

Sunday, Sep 07, 2014 at 20:19
This will give you a good range and price for dash cams, it will also give great testing of the cameras + reports of problems.

Dash cams
AnswerID: 538751

Follow Up By: Freshstart - Monday, Sep 08, 2014 at 10:50

Monday, Sep 08, 2014 at 10:50
That's an excellent site. It'l give us plenty to read.

I like they way they have identified them as most discrete, best value etc. More simpler non technical terms. It really is true what they say; "use it or lose it". I have lost so much analytical skills since I finished work as a systems analyst. Ah well. At least my wife is an excellent carer. I just get so tied up these days with details. Luckily all the driving and mechanical knowledge is in long term memory!

Thanks
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Reply By: Member - Frank P (NSW) - Sunday, Sep 07, 2014 at 23:13

Sunday, Sep 07, 2014 at 23:13
This One is pretty good, though not cheap. Found it at half price on eBay. Built in GPS. You can download a Windows prog so when you play back your recordings on a PC with internet connection your route is displayed on Google maps. You can imprint recordings with your plate number (for authentication in case of a claim). Auto day-night. Night time is B&W but very good. A number of selectable resolutions and angle of view. Has shock sensor which will also record what it's looking at if there is a break-in. Only looks forward though so that is of limited use, IMO. Haven't seen adverse effects on corrugations. Easily worked menu driven interface controlled by a mini joystick. Pretty good, IMO.

Cheers
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Follow Up By: Freshstart - Monday, Sep 08, 2014 at 10:55

Monday, Sep 08, 2014 at 10:55
Thanks Frank. I was hoping to find one that doesn't use the internet for track display. But we will see. The one in the Toyota has a shock sensor and stopped many times on our recent CSR drive. But I don't know how it would go in a hot car as the Toyota is garaged at home and most trips are up to the cool high country in summer and only go north when it is winter and not very hot in the car. So we have to be sure of the heat requirement because the home car does go out in the hot "mid day sun".

Cheers and much appreciated.
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Follow Up By: Member - Frank P (NSW) - Monday, Sep 08, 2014 at 11:34

Monday, Sep 08, 2014 at 11:34
Freshstart,

It's a long time since I researched it and just looking through the Chinglish manual, I am not sure about the shock sensor now.

But it does have a clever monitor you can enable. In this "semi-sleep" mode it will not be recording. But the optical sensor is awake and can sense motion it sees and begin recording for a period you can set, eg a minute. You can also set the sensitivity of this function. With this mode enabled, if anyone approaches your parked vehicle within the camera's field of view they will be recorded. That may be of some use - if they don't steal the camera along with your other stuff :-)

Here's a link to the manufacturer's product page. From there you can download a manual for your own assessment if you wish.

Cheers
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Follow Up By: Freshstart - Monday, Sep 08, 2014 at 11:46

Monday, Sep 08, 2014 at 11:46
A bit like locking all your valuables in a box and the box is not secured.

Thanks. Haven't been able to get past Slow ones link yet.
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Reply By: Freshstart - Tuesday, Sep 09, 2014 at 23:29

Tuesday, Sep 09, 2014 at 23:29
Looks like we will go with one from Slow One's link.

Thanks
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