Dash Cams: Who Owns One & What Should I Look For When Buying One?

"Burrito de EJ25" (alexcarrillo01)
10/01/2013 at 02:29 • Filed to: None

California is going Russia. Insurance fraud is on the rise, and I'm looking into buying a dash cam to protect myself.

I'm not looking to spend big. I can really do without stuff like GPS, and especially speed monitoring. I heard a speed log can really work against you should you become victimized.

I'd like a stripped down camera with great video and audio quality that I can mount to my actual dash. It's illegal to mount anything on the majority of your windshield here in California, and although cops rarely pull people over it, I'd hate to find myself under the crosshairs of a real dick.

Something that requires less fussing with would be great, too. I don't want to mess with menus every time I start my car. A small footprint would be nice as well.

Obviously, I don't expect to get everything I want. I'd just like to see what you've all got, and hopefully get pointed in the right direction.

DISCUSSION (17)

6cyl > Burrito de EJ25
10/01/2013 at 02:34

From what I have read and been recommended this (style) is the one to get on ebay. Apparently they very widely in build quality as they are made by several different manufacturers, so it is pretty hit or miss.

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StoneCold > Burrito de EJ25
10/01/2013 at 02:39

I had a GoPro Hero2, but it was stolen from off the dash, so keep that in mind if you're thinking of getting a nice one. :/

Buick Mackane > Burrito de EJ25
10/01/2013 at 02:45

I've been using cheap Chinese dash cams for about two years now. You can get them for $20.00 on Ebay. They are not totally reliable and also seem to interfere with your radio and GPS unit. If you are serious about recording your drives, pay the big bucks for a quality unit or get a Go Pro cam.

Burrito de EJ25 > StoneCold
10/01/2013 at 03:00

I don't even leave change in my car for fear that someone is going to bust my window open for 60 cents.

If I get something it'll need a mount that I can detach it from and take it with me or dump it in my trunk or locked in my glove box.

That's why I want a smaller device.

Burrito de EJ25 > Buick Mackane
10/01/2013 at 03:02

The last thing I want to do is upload HD video of my driving onto the internet for the masses to criticize my shitty shifts.

I just want to protect myself from scumbags.

StoneCold > Burrito de EJ25
10/01/2013 at 03:04

Double post :/

StoneCold > Burrito de EJ25
10/01/2013 at 03:05

Yup, it only takes a minute. I walked in the house, put my backpack down, talked with my dad, went back out. BAM. It was gone. Never left my windows down again at all if it wasn't within eyesight.

So I agree something small and cheaper is better

beardsbynelly - Rikerbeard > 6cyl
10/01/2013 at 03:32

relevant Torchinsky review on that Dash cam here:

http://jalopnik.com/this-is-the-mi…

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Dann > Burrito de EJ25
10/01/2013 at 03:37

Kinja'd!!!

I have a Blackvue DR400 HD-II cam, and I haven't had a problem with it in the seven months I have owned it (aside from it shutting down by itself once on a hot day, and it was a scorcher, mind.) . Its easy to use, and more or less hidden behind the mirror.

Kinja'd!!!

I run mine through a Power Magic Pro unit, which shuts the unit down once the car battery reaches a preset voltage (11.8V), so it records for a period of time after you have left the vehicle, which then runs off the stereo wiring for easy installation.

Kinja'd!!!

The UI when viewing on my smartphone and laptop is great, and also integrates the GPS position of the vehicle on Google Maps.

For AU$320 in total, I am really happy with it, and consider it cheap insurance.

Dann > Burrito de EJ25
10/01/2013 at 03:38

Kinja'd!!!

The UI when viewing on my smartphone and laptop is great, and also integrates the GPS position of the vehicle on Google Maps.

For AU$320 in total, I am really happy with it, and consider it cheap insurance.

XJDano > Burrito de EJ25
10/01/2013 at 05:46

wtf double post, sory, not my fault. Random image I'm researching for fixing my transmission

Kinja'd!!!

XJDano > Burrito de EJ25
10/01/2013 at 05:47

I have one seen in photo below , and talked about in the dash cam reviews (also in another reply). It is set up to record 10 minutes of video at a time, then eventually erase over the old ones. What I don't like is there is no lock selection so that it won't get deleted.

Its good enough in the day time, but crap at night. But with the 12v cig plug, once it receives power it turns on and of when power goes off. With my can the cig outlet only comes on when ignition is on. That works great for me as I don;t have to remember to turn it on.

Kinja'd!!!

You should also look into an android phone and the torque app, You will also need to get a bluetooth OBDII dongle, but they are $14-20 on ebay or amazon. It turns the phone into a scanner or any display your computer reads.

There is a plug in (tracker) for taking video while driving, I have not played with it too much but youtube shows you can have the gauges up and on for the video. Like I said I don't know how that works.

It is a few minutes of highway driving on both videos, but you can see how it looks. I am considering getting a second one for the rear.

Takuro Spirit > Burrito de EJ25
10/01/2013 at 07:06

I have this little POS here:

Kinja'd!!!

It works well enough for the $50 I paid on Amazon for it about a year ago. But it has many faults. It will power up/power off with the car's power, so long as the outlet isn't constant. It records in sections and there's no loss between them. It will re-write over files that are not locked.

However..... the manual "lock file" button works only when it wants to. The way the camera locks the files itself has to do with a G sensor. As in, if there's a load indicative of a crash, it'll write-protect the video file. Problem is, there's a 8G, 6G, 4G, 2G and OFF setting. Doesn't matter what I choose, it locks files when I hit small bumps. Annnnnnnd by default it's always set to 4G. Meaning it always write protects files, and very soon I have a full memory card.

So every time I set off, I have to manually turn it on, go to the menu, and turn off the G sensor.

That, and the power cord gave up a few weeks into use.

But the seller on Amazon refunded most of my purchase price, due to the unit being out of stock for replacement at the time. So I don't mind the issues as much.

Other problems? The LED lights are a joke, and are 100% useless unless you need a flashlight to find your keys that you dropped.

Night recording sucks balls.

The menus are a pain to navigate.

But the pros: Awesome HD 720p video (1080 is upscaled with no quality gain, just slightly larger file sizes), HDMI port, audio is great, and it hasn't died yet.

Here's the first video I made with it when I got it:

Burrito de EJ25 > XJDano
10/01/2013 at 10:49

I've double posted like 3 times. No worries.

NaturallyAspirated > Burrito de EJ25
10/01/2013 at 12:45

Good question. I've been thinking about picking one up myself after I got a $490 bogus ticket from a small-town police officer in May. I did a "trial by written declaration" and was found not guilty, so I got my money back, but the state of CA got to hold onto it interest-free for 4 months and I'd really rather not have to deal with that again.

This is the one that usually comes up as the best value unit, and the "estore009" seller is supposed to be pretty reliable. I understand it's the one that many of the infamous Russian videos come from.

Buick Mackane > Burrito de EJ25
10/01/2013 at 17:15

That is what a car dash cam does, records your drive and any incidents that may occur. The Chinese dash cams will work for a while, until they freeze up or just quit. Some or the Chinese dash cams will not even give you a decent shot of the license plate in front of you. It would seem a quality camera like a Go Pro would protect you much better.

WarchildSRT10 > Burrito de EJ25
10/03/2013 at 15:00

I really recommend you get a BlackVUE HD or a similar latest model they have. It has all the goodies minus the tacky LCD screen that you dont really need. You can find it on Amazon.

If they you dont like them, then whatever you choose, it must record in Full HD. My first dash cam didnt recorded un HD, so it didnt capture the licence plates of the cars in my surroundings, which is something you really need in case you use it as evidence.

I really recomend everybody to get one. After a few incidents got involved that really made it easy to me to spend the money on one, i couldnt be more satisfied. Why? Because now i drive in peace...

Someone fucks up and crashes me? No worries, got it all recorded.

Some roadraging psyco wants to slash me into little pieces? No worries, just lock the doors, i already have it all on tape.

Cop wants to meet his quota and decides to give me a speeding ticket while im driving whithing the legal speed limits? No worries, i already recorded that the pig did even have a laser with him*. And if he whants to start to abuse his power, i already started recording. No need to worry for a good samaritan to do it for me**.

And if i get a sudden case of the need for speed? Then, whoa! I just take it easy and behave, cause im already recording myself, so if i wind up unconsious and in the hospital, i would have given the lawyers all the proof they need to get my ass to jail.

(*): true story.
(**): for this you need to get a camera that has a mic and that you can easily rotate to record inside the the car.