A recommended dash cam brand/model?

overbrook wrote:

mlts22 wrote:
Any personal recommendations for a good brand of camera that I can just install and forgot about until there is a wreck? A SD card with a MPEG file does a lot better in court than any witness can.

When looking for a dashcam you want one that:

* records true 720 x 1280 (720p) video. This will give full wide screen when uploading to YouTube. Having 1080p is a nice option
* has at least a 120 degree wide angle lens
* records to either SD or micro SD card, and can accept 32gig cards
* includes a suction cup windshield mount
* has a lcd display so you can view what is recording (important for aiming camera)
* has automatic recycle recording (records over old video when card fills up)
* has usb port (so you can upload video to your computer)
* includes car charger

Most dashcams are from China or Hong Kong. Ordering from Hong Kong will give the fastest shipping to the US & UK.

The one I purchased cost $34, and you can see it's quality in the video I recorded at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g7h5K6bLCUI

You can find the same model I bought on eBay at http://www.ebay.com/itm/HD-1080P-Dash-Car-DVR-Cam-Vehicle-Camera-IR-LED-Night-Vision-Blackbox-GS1000-/370771045932?pt=US_Surveillance_Digital_Video_Recorders_Cards&hash=item5653ad2e2c

Bill

Thank you. I just went to the link and bought one for myself. My next rig, I'll go whole hog and buy the one with Google Maps support and all that, but this one will help with safety.

the_armadillo wrote:
Bill

Can you program that camera so that the speed in MPH? YouTube video quality is pretty impressive for such an inexpensive unit. Also how much recording time before overwrite with 32 GB cards. Lastly, can you hardwire the power?

Yes, you can change the display settings in these cameras. You can turn off or turn on the different features, video resolution, and record time.

With a 32gig memory card, you can get 15 to 20 hours of video at highest quality.

I set mine to record in 20 minute increments, after which it saves the video file and starts a new recording. As the card fills up, it will delete the oldest recording, to make room for the newer ones.

The file names are date and time stamped, so you can find any part of your trip you like.

The version I bought has a built in gforce detector, and if it experiences the kind of gforce that indicates an accident, it locks the most recent video file and prevents it from being over-written.

I also bought the more expensive version of the same unit that has built in GPS that can display Google Maps location when you play back the video in Windows. For me, having the GPS isn't worth the extra cost.

All these dashcams use standard 12 volt cig lighter power. So you could hard-wire it if you choose to do so.

Bill

Bill

Can you program that camera so that the speed in MPH? YouTube video quality is pretty impressive for such an inexpensive unit. Also how much recording time before overwrite with 32 GB cards. Lastly, can you hardwire the power?

mlts22 wrote:
Any personal recommendations for a good brand of camera that I can just install and forgot about until there is a wreck? A SD card with a MPEG file does a lot better in court than any witness can.

When looking for a dashcam you want one that:

* records true 720 x 1280 (720p) video. This will give full wide screen when uploading to YouTube. Having 1080p is a nice option
* has at least a 120 degree wide angle lens
* records to either SD or micro SD card, and can accept 32gig cards
* includes a suction cup windshield mount
* has a lcd display so you can view what is recording (important for aiming camera)
* has automatic recycle recording (records over old video when card fills up)
* has usb port (so you can upload video to your computer)
* includes car charger

Most dashcams are from China or Hong Kong. Ordering from Hong Kong will give the fastest shipping to the US & UK.

The one I purchased cost $34, and you can see it's quality in the video I recorded at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g7h5K6bLCUI

You can find the same model I bought on eBay at http://www.ebay.com/itm/HD-1080P-Dash-Car-DVR-Cam-Vehicle-Camera-IR-LED-Night-Vision-Blackbox-GS1000-/370771045932?pt=US_Surveillance_Digital_Video_Recorders_Cards&hash=item5653ad2e2c

Bill

There was a thread about cameras recently, let me see if I can find it. The monitor used had recording capability.

mlts22 wrote:
After being a witness to a three-car pileup (someone slid between two cars, rear-ended the car in front, and the car behind rear-ended him), it got me thinking about doing like people do in Russia, and having a dash cam. I would like one that can take a SD card and record video in a loop, where when the card's space fills up, the oldest footage is deleted to make room for the newest.

Any personal recommendations for a good brand of camera that I can just install and forgot about until there is a wreck? A SD card with a MPEG file does a lot better in court than any witness can.

I was thinking the same thing. I can't wait for some good responses.