Dash Camera Information Please?

Here goes A Go Pro is not suitable as most models do not start automatically nor do they overwrite when the memory is full.

I have 3 Blackvue dash cams A DR400G a DR 500GW and a DR350

The first two have GPS. The 500 has a WIFI connection to a smartphone or a Tablet.

All of them start automatically and also have a parking mode that records for a set time.

To do that you need a thing called a Power Magic which can be set for time or battery level.

I have installed 6 of these in various vehicles and have had little trouble with them.
I have used the first two in AUS, NZ, USA, Canada and Alaska in temps from usual QLD summer and Texas heat to below zero in Alaska.

Can I just say that there is nothing more boring than the roads across Texas and New Mexico LOL.

The first two are HD cameras but no where near your Canon's quality.

They after all an "incident " camera and apart from when I was on holiday I never bother looking at the files. They are ok as a video camera and are quite good and if you pause the video you can read plates reasonably well.

Linkshttp://www.blackvue.com/en/main/main.asp

Powermagichttp://www.blackvue.com/en/contents/sub1.asp?idx=13

I dont know if I am allowed post links to some actual footage but I can if you want to see some

Hello Kevin
I have a Blackvue DR600GW-HD. It is great for its intended use a and it has saved my bacon once in the shot time i have had it.
I have a Canon legria HFM52 and It is a great little video camera.
I to take small videos of the road ahead and add stills to make a DVD for the same reasons you do, I had to look up 'dotage'
My video camera is attached to the windscreen and the image stabilizer does not like corrogations and the camera switches off.
The blackview is unaffected by this for the same scenes.
If you are thinking of video you might look at the Sony action cam.
The top model comes with a small wrist screen like a large watch to activate the camera remotely as it is wireless.
However the lens is fixed focus..

I will follow this post with interest, as although we have a Go-Pro mounted on our bulbar when off road, I wouldn't use it as a dash cam. The angle is quite wide and I think you'd get too much footage of your bonnet. Maybe I have it set wrong??!! Otherwise the quality of the video is great.

Linda.

I have a Blackvue DR 500GW and a DR 600GW and have been using the former for years.
These record the image through the windscreen, the GPS location, and your speed as well as audio.

When the files are played back on your PC you get the street directory map and where you are on it that corresponds with the image.

Some of the most exciting things that happen to you are when you least expect them. We had a large bull camel appear from nowhere and run straight across the road in front of us on the Tanami track and we only missed him by inches. I would have loved to have captured that on video but did not as I did not have the Blackvue at the time. The same happened with Brumbies in the Snowy Mountains, again I did not capture because I only had a hand held camera.

These cameras are very useful if you are involved in an accident as they can prove that the other person caused the accident. If you caused it, then unfortunately the camera was not switched on at the time.

Thank you very much to all contributors. You have supplied me with a great deal of information. Thanks TomH for the links. They gave a very clear idea of likely results. Now for the homework.

Thanks gain.

Kevin