=7 reasons to use a dashboard camera = Do you have one ? =
#1
12-05-2014, 08:07 AM
=7 reasons to use a dashboard camera = Do you have one ? =
7 reasons to use a dashboard camera >Member's, do you have one ? Post your thoughts/opinions/reviews 
Everybody is watching & taking your pictures (Keep your Monte Carlo Clean: )
By Penny Gusner 20 hours ago
. View photo
Dash camera
Car insurance companies are slow to embrace new technology.
Insurers want proof that an item -- whether it's air bags, a collision-avoidance system or a dashboard camera -- will help decrease crashes, or otherwise improve their bottom line, to extend a discount to motorists. Sometimes that takes a while.
Once the data show that a particular safety device will save car insurance companies money if used by its customers, they begin to roll out discounts.
That gives current and future dash cam owners in U.S. hope: A few car insurance providers in the United Kingdom have recently started to offer customers a 10 to 15 percent discount if a dash cam is installed in their vehicles.
Dash cams start well under $100. Most record hours of video in a continuous loop, with recent video replacing older footage, when the car is started. Fancier cameras can record even when the car is off - triggered by motion sensors - or come with GPS sensors that overlay the time, speed and location. Some offer two-way video of the road ahead and of the driver and passengers inside the car.
A dash camera is not yet offered in the U.S., so it can't directly affect your premium, but there are advantages to placing one, or more, dashboard cameras in your vehicle. And some of the benefits indirectly affect your premium, which in turn helps keep your car insurance rates down. (See "What you need to know about dash cams.")
While merely owning a dash cam may not lower your car insurance rates, the footage that the camera provides may turn out invaluable in certain situations.
1. Have a record of your accident
Drivers often have completely different memories and descriptions of an accident. With video proof that you weren't the driver responsible for a car crash you can save yourself from being found at fault by a car insurance company -- and receiving the higher auto insurance rates that go with that finding.
Your dash cam footage can also expedite your claim, as it may prevent you from having drawn-out discussions with insurance companies about who was at fault.
2. Get out of a ticket
If you're stopped for a traffic violation you didn't commit, offer up your dash cam footage to the law enforcement officer before the ticket is written. If the officer won't watch it, bring the footage to court to contest the ticket.
Moving traffic violations will normally give you points on your state driving record and raise your car insurance rates. Not receiving a ticket -- or beating a ticket in court due to video proof of no wrongdoing - will keep you from a nasty auto insurance surcharge.
Recently in New York a two-way dash cam saved a driver from receiving a ticket for using his cellphone while driving. The officer let the driver go without a ticket after viewing dash cam footage showing the motorist wasn't talking on his phone, but merely scratching and tugging on his ear.
3. Help fight insurance fraud
If you have a feeling the accident you were in, or just witnessed, may have been a “crash for cash,” turn over your dash cam footage to the insurance companies involved, or to the state insurance fraud unit, to investigate. Catching a fraudster in a staged accident, can indirectly lower your rates. (Watch a video compilation of Russian scammers caught at work.)
The FBI estimates that the cost of insurance fraud is more than $40 billion per year. When auto insurers unknowingly settle fraudulent claims, all motorists pay hundreds of dollars extra each year because companies divide the cost of claims among consumers.
Mercury Insurance's Special Investigations Unit (SIU) often uses video to fight insurance fraud. For example, a car collision captured on a dash camera showing a driver making a sudden and unnecessary stop helped the Mercury SIU team defend their insured in a personal injury claim. The dash cam evidence directly resulted in the claim and pending lawsuit against Mercury's customer being dropped.
Dan Bales, national director of SIU, said in a statement, “People try to cheat the system every day, and dash cams have become a huge asset for our team and drivers to fight these fraudsters.”
4. Make you a better driver
Dancers look in the mirror to correct their technique, athletes watch video of their previous games to improve their play, and you can review your daily driving footage to become a better driver. Reviewing how you drove in the last week can help you see ways to correct driving mistakes, such as braking too hard or switching lanes abruptly.
Being a better driver should lead to a good driving record, which should lead to you obtaining (or keeping) a good driver discount. A good driver discount is one of the best car insurance discounts to have since it can be up to 25 percent and typically extends to most of your auto coverages.
5. Review your teenager's driving skills
Drivers under the age of 25 have some of the highest car insurance rates due to their lack of experience behind the wheel and tendency to crash and cause claims. Anything you can do to keep your young driver from getting in an accident or from getting a ticket -- either of which is bound to raise your already high rates into the stratosphere -- is well worth the effort.
Set up a regular time to review the dash cam footage and see what your child can do better and take your teen out to practice those skills. “A teen's first month behind the wheel is many times more dangerous than his sixth,” says Insurance.com managing editor Des Toups. “Whatever you can do to make those first few miles safe is critical.”
A two-way dash cam or multiple dash cameras for a teen could be a good idea. That way you can see not only how your teen is driving but what is going on inside of the vehicle. Is your teenager paying attention to the road or instead is he texting, on his cellphone or distracted by passengers? You can curtail bad behavior inside the car before it leads to an accident or ticket.
Video is an integral part of American Family Insurance's TeenSafe Driver Program, which allows parents to see events that triggered erratic or abrupt moves on the road.
Keeping a driving record clean will lead to your child to receive a good driver discount quicker (typically you must have a license with a clean record for at least three years to be eligible).
6. Have an eye on your unattended vehicle
Most dash cameras have an option that allows you to turn it on standby that permits the camera only to turn on if it feels motion in or around the car. So, if someone breaks into your car or hits your parked car and takes off, you may be able to review the dash cam footage and find the individual responsible.
If you can't find the person on your own, then you can hand the footage over to your insurance company to prove how the damage was done (again might keep your rates low by keeping you from being found at fault for an incident) and also to the police to see if the culprit can be located and held accountable.
7. Capture unexpected events
You may not catch something as astonishing as meteors raining down like Russian dash cam owners captured a few years back; however, you may catch a deer darting out in the road causing your accident, a rockslide that damages your car, or neighbor's tree that falls on your car during a storm. With that footage in hand, you can show your car insurance company what brought about your claim and may save yourself from a surcharge.
The original article can be found at Insurance.com:
Related articles
Everybody is watching & taking your pictures (Keep your Monte Carlo Clean: )By Penny Gusner 20 hours ago
. View photo
Dash camera
Car insurance companies are slow to embrace new technology.
Insurers want proof that an item -- whether it's air bags, a collision-avoidance system or a dashboard camera -- will help decrease crashes, or otherwise improve their bottom line, to extend a discount to motorists. Sometimes that takes a while.
Once the data show that a particular safety device will save car insurance companies money if used by its customers, they begin to roll out discounts.
That gives current and future dash cam owners in U.S. hope: A few car insurance providers in the United Kingdom have recently started to offer customers a 10 to 15 percent discount if a dash cam is installed in their vehicles.
Dash cams start well under $100. Most record hours of video in a continuous loop, with recent video replacing older footage, when the car is started. Fancier cameras can record even when the car is off - triggered by motion sensors - or come with GPS sensors that overlay the time, speed and location. Some offer two-way video of the road ahead and of the driver and passengers inside the car.
A dash camera is not yet offered in the U.S., so it can't directly affect your premium, but there are advantages to placing one, or more, dashboard cameras in your vehicle. And some of the benefits indirectly affect your premium, which in turn helps keep your car insurance rates down. (See "What you need to know about dash cams.")
While merely owning a dash cam may not lower your car insurance rates, the footage that the camera provides may turn out invaluable in certain situations.
1. Have a record of your accident
Drivers often have completely different memories and descriptions of an accident. With video proof that you weren't the driver responsible for a car crash you can save yourself from being found at fault by a car insurance company -- and receiving the higher auto insurance rates that go with that finding.
Your dash cam footage can also expedite your claim, as it may prevent you from having drawn-out discussions with insurance companies about who was at fault.
2. Get out of a ticket
If you're stopped for a traffic violation you didn't commit, offer up your dash cam footage to the law enforcement officer before the ticket is written. If the officer won't watch it, bring the footage to court to contest the ticket.
Moving traffic violations will normally give you points on your state driving record and raise your car insurance rates. Not receiving a ticket -- or beating a ticket in court due to video proof of no wrongdoing - will keep you from a nasty auto insurance surcharge.
Recently in New York a two-way dash cam saved a driver from receiving a ticket for using his cellphone while driving. The officer let the driver go without a ticket after viewing dash cam footage showing the motorist wasn't talking on his phone, but merely scratching and tugging on his ear.
3. Help fight insurance fraud
If you have a feeling the accident you were in, or just witnessed, may have been a “crash for cash,” turn over your dash cam footage to the insurance companies involved, or to the state insurance fraud unit, to investigate. Catching a fraudster in a staged accident, can indirectly lower your rates. (Watch a video compilation of Russian scammers caught at work.)
The FBI estimates that the cost of insurance fraud is more than $40 billion per year. When auto insurers unknowingly settle fraudulent claims, all motorists pay hundreds of dollars extra each year because companies divide the cost of claims among consumers.
Mercury Insurance's Special Investigations Unit (SIU) often uses video to fight insurance fraud. For example, a car collision captured on a dash camera showing a driver making a sudden and unnecessary stop helped the Mercury SIU team defend their insured in a personal injury claim. The dash cam evidence directly resulted in the claim and pending lawsuit against Mercury's customer being dropped.
Dan Bales, national director of SIU, said in a statement, “People try to cheat the system every day, and dash cams have become a huge asset for our team and drivers to fight these fraudsters.”
4. Make you a better driver
Dancers look in the mirror to correct their technique, athletes watch video of their previous games to improve their play, and you can review your daily driving footage to become a better driver. Reviewing how you drove in the last week can help you see ways to correct driving mistakes, such as braking too hard or switching lanes abruptly.
Being a better driver should lead to a good driving record, which should lead to you obtaining (or keeping) a good driver discount. A good driver discount is one of the best car insurance discounts to have since it can be up to 25 percent and typically extends to most of your auto coverages.
5. Review your teenager's driving skills
Drivers under the age of 25 have some of the highest car insurance rates due to their lack of experience behind the wheel and tendency to crash and cause claims. Anything you can do to keep your young driver from getting in an accident or from getting a ticket -- either of which is bound to raise your already high rates into the stratosphere -- is well worth the effort.
Set up a regular time to review the dash cam footage and see what your child can do better and take your teen out to practice those skills. “A teen's first month behind the wheel is many times more dangerous than his sixth,” says Insurance.com managing editor Des Toups. “Whatever you can do to make those first few miles safe is critical.”
A two-way dash cam or multiple dash cameras for a teen could be a good idea. That way you can see not only how your teen is driving but what is going on inside of the vehicle. Is your teenager paying attention to the road or instead is he texting, on his cellphone or distracted by passengers? You can curtail bad behavior inside the car before it leads to an accident or ticket.
Video is an integral part of American Family Insurance's TeenSafe Driver Program, which allows parents to see events that triggered erratic or abrupt moves on the road.
Keeping a driving record clean will lead to your child to receive a good driver discount quicker (typically you must have a license with a clean record for at least three years to be eligible).
6. Have an eye on your unattended vehicle
Most dash cameras have an option that allows you to turn it on standby that permits the camera only to turn on if it feels motion in or around the car. So, if someone breaks into your car or hits your parked car and takes off, you may be able to review the dash cam footage and find the individual responsible.
If you can't find the person on your own, then you can hand the footage over to your insurance company to prove how the damage was done (again might keep your rates low by keeping you from being found at fault for an incident) and also to the police to see if the culprit can be located and held accountable.
7. Capture unexpected events
You may not catch something as astonishing as meteors raining down like Russian dash cam owners captured a few years back; however, you may catch a deer darting out in the road causing your accident, a rockslide that damages your car, or neighbor's tree that falls on your car during a storm. With that footage in hand, you can show your car insurance company what brought about your claim and may save yourself from a surcharge.
The original article can be found at Insurance.com:
Related articles
Last edited by Space; 12-05-2014 at 08:58 AM.
#2
12-05-2014, 08:52 AM
>Just 4 U<
The 5 Best Dashboard Cameras For 2014
Are you planning to join the growing number of people who install a dashboard camera in their car for that extra bit of evidence in case of an accident, road rage, or meteors falling from the sky? Then you will no doubt be wondering which one of the dozens of different models is the best choice for you.
It’s easy to be overwhelmed at first, therefore we have selected the five very best dashboard cameras that you can possibly get at the beginning of the year 2014. We will be looking at dash cams from every price range, starting as low as $50 for a simple-yet effective G1W and moving up the price scale to almost 10 times as much for a top-quality, feature-packed dual-channel camera, the BlackVue DR550GW.
Note that the cameras featured in this article are not necessarily the newest cameras around. We have evaluated technical specifications as well as customer satisfaction for each camera during the course of the past year. Rest assured that the five winners presented here have been field tested by thousands of customers and received excellent feedback all around.
So What Sets A Dash Cam Apart From Other Cameras?
In case you are wondering why you can’t just use a regular video camera, or even your phone’s cam, it’s because a dashboard camera should have all of the following features:
The Top 5 Dash Cams In 2014
G1W – Decent Video Footage For Tight Budgets
At around $50, this dash cam is an excellent choice if you can’t spend a lot of money and just need a security camera, without worrying about video quality too much. The G1W has decent video at day, but night video quality isn’t the best. Also, video footage from this camera is often rather shaky.
Nevertheless, at this price the G1W makes for a decent security camera that will reliably capture what goes on in front of your car.
The G1W comes with an integrated 2.7” screen, which is great for adjusting the field of view and playing back video on the spot. The viewing angle is 120˚.
Mini 0801 Ambarella – Top Value For Money
The Mini 0801 is a small and stylish dashboard camera released in early 2013 that quickly became a best seller. It is available for less than $100 if you go for the basic version without GPS and internal memory. Video quality is great during the daytime, and average at night.
The Mini 0801 has a nice inconspicuous design and features a 1.5” screen for ease of operation. The angle of view is 135˚. A GPS logger and 8MB of internal memory are available optionally for around $10 extra each.
A nice comfortable feature that this cam has is that the electrical contacts for the power supply are built directly into the camera mount, so if you want to remove the camera from your car you can do so without having to unplug the power cable.
DOD LS 300W – Excellent Video Quality
Another top seller, the DOD LS300W has excellent video quality day and night. Night vision is augmented by the WDR (Wide Dynamic Range) feature. This, combined with a large aperture of F/1.6 and a high bit rate of about 15 Mbps, makes for one of the highest quality dashboard cameras available to date.
The size of the camera is about the same as the G1W, but at 140˚ the angle of view is larger. Boot up time is fast and a relatively large 2.7” screen is included for easy video viewing right in your car. The LS300W doesn’t have GPS, but there is a newer version called LS330W which comes with an external GPS unit.
Lukas LK-7900 – Huge Recording Capacity And Great Heat Resistance
The Lukas LK-7900 is remarkable in two ways: One, it is the first camera to support 128GB SDXC memory cards, allowing for a whopping 28 hours of video footage. Two, this camera can withstand extremely high temperatures of up to 90˚C (194F), which is a great feature to have if you live in a region with a hot climate, where lesser cameras would be in danger of failing when leave your car parked in the sun for too long.
Due to the lower bit rate, the LK-7900’s video quality is not quite as good as the DOD LS300W’s, but still very good at day and above average at night. The LK-7900 is small and round, making it hardly visible when affixed behind your rear view mirror. A GPS logger is included.
Optionally, you can acquire a so-called circular polarizing lens (CPL) separately for this camera. A CPL filter reduces reflections on the windshield when driving around in sunny weather (this is a problem that all dash cams have). Remember to remove it at night though, otherwise your video will be too dark.
BlackVue DR550GW-2CH – Full Featured Dual Channel Dash Cam
The BlackVue DR550GW-2CH dual channel cam tops off our list of the best dashboard cameras for 2014. At $450, this is the costliest and also by far the most luxurious of the five cameras presented here.
First of all, dual channel means it records out your front and rear windows. While the main camera unit is mounted on your windshield as usual, a smaller camera looks out through your rear window and records whatever is going on behind you. The two are connected by a long coaxial cable.
While the front camera records great quality 1080p video, the rear camera records at reduced resolution of 720p, which is naturally not as detailed as 1080p but the rear footage is still of decent quality.
This camera doesn’t have a screen, but it is one of very few dash cams that support Wi-Fi, meaning you can connect it wirelessly to your smart phone or laptop. Moreover, this camera comes with an in-built GPS logger. It also has a voice menu feature, which allows you to easily operate it while driving.
Summary
Hopefully this has made your choice of dashboard camera a lot easier.
For an up-to-date list of the best dashboard cameras currently available, check out 2014 Favorites.
Are you planning to join the growing number of people who install a dashboard camera in their car for that extra bit of evidence in case of an accident, road rage, or meteors falling from the sky? Then you will no doubt be wondering which one of the dozens of different models is the best choice for you.
It’s easy to be overwhelmed at first, therefore we have selected the five very best dashboard cameras that you can possibly get at the beginning of the year 2014. We will be looking at dash cams from every price range, starting as low as $50 for a simple-yet effective G1W and moving up the price scale to almost 10 times as much for a top-quality, feature-packed dual-channel camera, the BlackVue DR550GW.
Note that the cameras featured in this article are not necessarily the newest cameras around. We have evaluated technical specifications as well as customer satisfaction for each camera during the course of the past year. Rest assured that the five winners presented here have been field tested by thousands of customers and received excellent feedback all around.
So What Sets A Dash Cam Apart From Other Cameras?
In case you are wondering why you can’t just use a regular video camera, or even your phone’s cam, it’s because a dashboard camera should have all of the following features:
- Connect to your car’s cigarette lighter with a long power cable (at least 12ft) that you can run around the windshield, tucking it away neatly so it is hidden from sight.
- Auto on/off: Dashboard cameras start recording when you start the car’s engine, and stop when you park. That way, you don’t have to worry about forgetting to turn your camera on or off.
- Loop recording: Enables the camera to overwrite the oldest bit of footage when the memory card is full, so you never run out of disk space.
- Impact detection / G-sensor: A G-sensor makes sure that if an impact is detected, the video footage immediately preceding and following the impact can’t be overwritten by the loop recording, so you don’t accidentally lose critical evidence.
- Time and date stamp on video (and speed if it has GPS): useful should you ever need your video footage as evidence in court.
- Resolution: 1080p (1920×1080 pixels) is pretty much standard in 2014. While there are still a couple of 720p (1280×720 pixels) dash cams available, most new cameras support 1080p resolution.
- Interfaces: Dash cams generally come with HDMI, USB, and A/V interfaces.
- Storage: Most dashboard cameras support SD cards up to 32GB in size, with the notable exception of the Lukas LK-7900, which supports an extraordinary 128GB of footage.So what does this mean in terms of recording time? This depends on the bit rate of the camera. Supposing a relatively high bit rate of 15 Mbps, a 32GB card will allow you to record at least 4 hours of video. Recording time goes up if the bit rate is lower, but less bit rate also means lower video quality.
The Top 5 Dash Cams In 2014
G1W – Decent Video Footage For Tight Budgets
At around $50, this dash cam is an excellent choice if you can’t spend a lot of money and just need a security camera, without worrying about video quality too much. The G1W has decent video at day, but night video quality isn’t the best. Also, video footage from this camera is often rather shaky.Nevertheless, at this price the G1W makes for a decent security camera that will reliably capture what goes on in front of your car.
The G1W comes with an integrated 2.7” screen, which is great for adjusting the field of view and playing back video on the spot. The viewing angle is 120˚.
Mini 0801 Ambarella – Top Value For Money
The Mini 0801 is a small and stylish dashboard camera released in early 2013 that quickly became a best seller. It is available for less than $100 if you go for the basic version without GPS and internal memory. Video quality is great during the daytime, and average at night.The Mini 0801 has a nice inconspicuous design and features a 1.5” screen for ease of operation. The angle of view is 135˚. A GPS logger and 8MB of internal memory are available optionally for around $10 extra each.
A nice comfortable feature that this cam has is that the electrical contacts for the power supply are built directly into the camera mount, so if you want to remove the camera from your car you can do so without having to unplug the power cable.
DOD LS 300W – Excellent Video Quality
Another top seller, the DOD LS300W has excellent video quality day and night. Night vision is augmented by the WDR (Wide Dynamic Range) feature. This, combined with a large aperture of F/1.6 and a high bit rate of about 15 Mbps, makes for one of the highest quality dashboard cameras available to date.The size of the camera is about the same as the G1W, but at 140˚ the angle of view is larger. Boot up time is fast and a relatively large 2.7” screen is included for easy video viewing right in your car. The LS300W doesn’t have GPS, but there is a newer version called LS330W which comes with an external GPS unit.
Lukas LK-7900 – Huge Recording Capacity And Great Heat Resistance
The Lukas LK-7900 is remarkable in two ways: One, it is the first camera to support 128GB SDXC memory cards, allowing for a whopping 28 hours of video footage. Two, this camera can withstand extremely high temperatures of up to 90˚C (194F), which is a great feature to have if you live in a region with a hot climate, where lesser cameras would be in danger of failing when leave your car parked in the sun for too long.Due to the lower bit rate, the LK-7900’s video quality is not quite as good as the DOD LS300W’s, but still very good at day and above average at night. The LK-7900 is small and round, making it hardly visible when affixed behind your rear view mirror. A GPS logger is included.
Optionally, you can acquire a so-called circular polarizing lens (CPL) separately for this camera. A CPL filter reduces reflections on the windshield when driving around in sunny weather (this is a problem that all dash cams have). Remember to remove it at night though, otherwise your video will be too dark.
BlackVue DR550GW-2CH – Full Featured Dual Channel Dash Cam
The BlackVue DR550GW-2CH dual channel cam tops off our list of the best dashboard cameras for 2014. At $450, this is the costliest and also by far the most luxurious of the five cameras presented here.First of all, dual channel means it records out your front and rear windows. While the main camera unit is mounted on your windshield as usual, a smaller camera looks out through your rear window and records whatever is going on behind you. The two are connected by a long coaxial cable.
While the front camera records great quality 1080p video, the rear camera records at reduced resolution of 720p, which is naturally not as detailed as 1080p but the rear footage is still of decent quality.
This camera doesn’t have a screen, but it is one of very few dash cams that support Wi-Fi, meaning you can connect it wirelessly to your smart phone or laptop. Moreover, this camera comes with an in-built GPS logger. It also has a voice menu feature, which allows you to easily operate it while driving.
Summary
Hopefully this has made your choice of dashboard camera a lot easier.
For an up-to-date list of the best dashboard cameras currently available, check out 2014 Favorites.
#3
12-05-2014, 08:56 AM
Find The Best Dashboard Camera For Your Car
So you are looking for a dashboard camera, but aren’t quite sure yet which model is best for you? This site will help you make your decision, no matter whether your budget is big or small. We’ve got reviews of the best rated dashboard cameras available in each price range.
Dashboard cameras are also known as dash cams, dashcams, car cameras, car DVRs, or even accident recorders (although they do record a lot more than just accidents — see below). They are becoming ever more popular, and there is a huge variety of devices on the market already, mostly from small or little-known manufacturers.
DashboardCameraReviews.com was launched in June 2013 and features reviews, technical details, and sample videos of the latest dashboard camera models (and also of some popular older ones). Reviews are being added continually, building a comprehensive overview that makes it easy to compare the various dashboard camera brands and models. Check out our huge dash cam comparison table — if you’re looking for the perfect camera for your car, you will find it there!
What Features To Look For In A Dashboard Camera
If you’re not quite familiar with all of the technical terms, deciding which dashboard camera to buy can seem more difficult than it actually is. The following list explains what to look out for when selecting your camera.
Discreetness
A super discreetrear view mirror dashcam
You probably don’t want your camera to stick out like a sore thumb on your car’s windshield. Dash cams come in various sizes, and smaller (and therefore more discreet) is almost always better. Of course, cramming lots of features in a small device normally comes with a higher price tag.
Also, the color black is definitely preferred for a dashboard camera, as any other color would draw too much attention to it. If you want your camera to be low profile, it doesn’t make sense to get it in any other color than black.
Video resolution
The most important factor in a dashboard camera’s video quality is the video resolution it is capable of. While there are some cheap camera models that record at VGA resolution (640×480), you won’t be able to make out a whole lot of detail on such footage. For decent results you should get a camera that supports at least 720p resolution (1280×720 pixels, also known as HD).
However, the standard in 2014 is definitely 1080p (meaning a resolution of 1920×1080 pixels, also known as Full HD). Want to be able to keep track of all the details, and to capture your scenic drives in all their glory? No need to settle for anything less, even if you’re on a budget. High quality 1080p cameras are already available for below $100.
Night video quality
Most dashboard cameras with a resolution of 1080p or above capture decent video during the daytime. The ability to grab good quality video footage at night is what separates the great camera models from the average.
While true night vision isn’t necessary for a dash cam as you will normally have your headlights on when you drive in the dark, make sure that your camera is able to capture quality footage independent of sunlight if you drive a lot at night.
Loop recording
An absolute must in a dashboard camera, to make sure your camera doesn’t just stop recording when it runs out of disc space. Loop recording means that once your storage is full, the camera automatically overwrites the oldest files on the memory card, thus enabling it to record indefinitely.
Of course you have the option to mark those parts of the footage that you would like to keep. If your camera has a G-sensor (see below), files are automatically marked for safekeeping whenever an impact is detected.
Auto on/off
Another must have. This means that your camera automatically starts recording when you turn the ignition key. You don’t want to get into a situation where something happens that you would like to keep the video of, just to find out that you forgot to turn your dash cam on that day.
G-sensor (aka motion detection)
A very useful feature. When the G-sensor notices an impact, it will automatically mark the current footage for safekeeping (so it doesn’t accidentally get deleted by the loop recording).
Parking mode
If someone damages your car in your absence, a dash cam with parking mode will come to life and start recording, so you can see who hit your car.
Date and time stamp
This comes in handy if you ever need to use your video footage as evidence. Make sure you set the date and time correctly when you install your camera.
Screen
Optional. While a screen is great to see what your camera recorded right away, it also makes the camera bigger and thus less discreet. The notable exception are rear-view mirror cameras like theHDVR-180, which integrate the screen right into the mirror’s surface.
GPS
Optional, but very useful. Allows you to record your exact position and speed, and to blend it into the video feed along with the date and time stamp. The obvious drawback is that the camera will be bigger and more expensive. Some dash cams like the BlackSys CF-100 give you the option to connect an external GPS module, keeping the camera small and discreet.
Dual-/Multi-channel
While regular dash cams only record the view through the windshield (looking forward), dual-channel cams also look back into the passenger room of the car and/or out through the rear window. While this is a great feature, quality dual channel dash cams like the BlackVue DR750LW-2CH are still quite a bit more expensive than single channel systems.
Power adapter
The dash cam’s power cable is installed around the windshield and plugged into the cigarette lighter
Dashboard cameras are usually mounted high on the wind-shield (behind the rear-view mirror), but get their power from the cigarette lighter. So you want a cable that you can neatly tuck away around the windshield rather than having it dangling down the middle.
Therefore, dash cams usually come with a power adapter cable at least 11ft (3.5m) long, in order to allow you to install it in the most discreet way possible.
Of course you can also connect the cable directly to your car’s fuse box or internal wiring if you prefer not to use your cigarette lighter. Check your car’s user manual to find the correct setup.
Dashboard Camera Prices
While you can get dash cams for below $20 already, we don’t recommend that you buy a camera that cheap as it would likely neither have very good video quality, nor would it last very long.
The cheapest decent quality dash cam as of 2014 is the G1W which costs around $40, or if you can spend a bit more we highly recommend the Mini 0801 which is available for around $80 depending on which features you choose.
Of course as quality increases, so does the price. Therefore, for your convenience we have divided the cameras on this site into three categories: affordable (up to $100), mid-price (between $100 and $200) and high-end (over $200).
Are Dashboard Cameras Legal?
Of course this depends on the country and community where you live, so we cannot give any binding legal advice here. If in doubt, consult with your local authorities.
That said, if it’s legal where you live to take photos and record videos in the street, then dash cams are probably okay too as that’s exactly what they do.
Advantages Of Having A Dash Cam In Your Car
Most people buy a dashboard camera for security reasons. Rightly so, because having a dash cam running when you get involved in an accident or suffer a hit-and-run will give you an invaluable advantage in case you ever need to prove your case in court.
But dashboard cameras also have another quality that is often overlooked: They’re fun!
Think of your next weekend or holiday trip, that scenic route along the island shore or over the mountain pass, rare wildlife along the road, or that celebrity crossing the street right in front of you… The possibilities are endless!
With a dash cam, you will be able to keep reminders of those magical moments, edit them to make a holiday video, and share them with your friends and family.
So the main reasons why you want to have a dashboard camera in your car are:
Now go ahead and check out the best dashboard cameras in 2014. We’re sure you’re going to find the one you like!
So you are looking for a dashboard camera, but aren’t quite sure yet which model is best for you? This site will help you make your decision, no matter whether your budget is big or small. We’ve got reviews of the best rated dashboard cameras available in each price range.
Dashboard cameras are also known as dash cams, dashcams, car cameras, car DVRs, or even accident recorders (although they do record a lot more than just accidents — see below). They are becoming ever more popular, and there is a huge variety of devices on the market already, mostly from small or little-known manufacturers.
DashboardCameraReviews.com was launched in June 2013 and features reviews, technical details, and sample videos of the latest dashboard camera models (and also of some popular older ones). Reviews are being added continually, building a comprehensive overview that makes it easy to compare the various dashboard camera brands and models. Check out our huge dash cam comparison table — if you’re looking for the perfect camera for your car, you will find it there!
What Features To Look For In A Dashboard Camera
If you’re not quite familiar with all of the technical terms, deciding which dashboard camera to buy can seem more difficult than it actually is. The following list explains what to look out for when selecting your camera.
Discreetness
A super discreetrear view mirror dashcamYou probably don’t want your camera to stick out like a sore thumb on your car’s windshield. Dash cams come in various sizes, and smaller (and therefore more discreet) is almost always better. Of course, cramming lots of features in a small device normally comes with a higher price tag.
Also, the color black is definitely preferred for a dashboard camera, as any other color would draw too much attention to it. If you want your camera to be low profile, it doesn’t make sense to get it in any other color than black.
Video resolution
The most important factor in a dashboard camera’s video quality is the video resolution it is capable of. While there are some cheap camera models that record at VGA resolution (640×480), you won’t be able to make out a whole lot of detail on such footage. For decent results you should get a camera that supports at least 720p resolution (1280×720 pixels, also known as HD).
However, the standard in 2014 is definitely 1080p (meaning a resolution of 1920×1080 pixels, also known as Full HD). Want to be able to keep track of all the details, and to capture your scenic drives in all their glory? No need to settle for anything less, even if you’re on a budget. High quality 1080p cameras are already available for below $100.
Sample 1080p video, as recorded by a LK-7900
The highest resolution dashboard camera currently available is the GS6000 A7, which is based on the brand new Ambarella A7 processor and supports up to a whopping 2304×1296 pixels, at a 30fps frame rate. If you want the best video resolution available on the market right now, go for this one.Night video quality
Most dashboard cameras with a resolution of 1080p or above capture decent video during the daytime. The ability to grab good quality video footage at night is what separates the great camera models from the average.
While true night vision isn’t necessary for a dash cam as you will normally have your headlights on when you drive in the dark, make sure that your camera is able to capture quality footage independent of sunlight if you drive a lot at night.
Loop recording
An absolute must in a dashboard camera, to make sure your camera doesn’t just stop recording when it runs out of disc space. Loop recording means that once your storage is full, the camera automatically overwrites the oldest files on the memory card, thus enabling it to record indefinitely.
Of course you have the option to mark those parts of the footage that you would like to keep. If your camera has a G-sensor (see below), files are automatically marked for safekeeping whenever an impact is detected.
Auto on/off
Another must have. This means that your camera automatically starts recording when you turn the ignition key. You don’t want to get into a situation where something happens that you would like to keep the video of, just to find out that you forgot to turn your dash cam on that day.
G-sensor (aka motion detection)
A very useful feature. When the G-sensor notices an impact, it will automatically mark the current footage for safekeeping (so it doesn’t accidentally get deleted by the loop recording).
Parking mode
If someone damages your car in your absence, a dash cam with parking mode will come to life and start recording, so you can see who hit your car.
Date and time stamp
This comes in handy if you ever need to use your video footage as evidence. Make sure you set the date and time correctly when you install your camera.
Screen
Optional. While a screen is great to see what your camera recorded right away, it also makes the camera bigger and thus less discreet. The notable exception are rear-view mirror cameras like theHDVR-180, which integrate the screen right into the mirror’s surface.
GPS
Optional, but very useful. Allows you to record your exact position and speed, and to blend it into the video feed along with the date and time stamp. The obvious drawback is that the camera will be bigger and more expensive. Some dash cams like the BlackSys CF-100 give you the option to connect an external GPS module, keeping the camera small and discreet.
Dual-/Multi-channel
While regular dash cams only record the view through the windshield (looking forward), dual-channel cams also look back into the passenger room of the car and/or out through the rear window. While this is a great feature, quality dual channel dash cams like the BlackVue DR750LW-2CH are still quite a bit more expensive than single channel systems.
Power adapter
The dash cam’s power cable is installed around the windshield and plugged into the cigarette lighterDashboard cameras are usually mounted high on the wind-shield (behind the rear-view mirror), but get their power from the cigarette lighter. So you want a cable that you can neatly tuck away around the windshield rather than having it dangling down the middle.
Therefore, dash cams usually come with a power adapter cable at least 11ft (3.5m) long, in order to allow you to install it in the most discreet way possible.
Of course you can also connect the cable directly to your car’s fuse box or internal wiring if you prefer not to use your cigarette lighter. Check your car’s user manual to find the correct setup.
Dashboard Camera Prices
While you can get dash cams for below $20 already, we don’t recommend that you buy a camera that cheap as it would likely neither have very good video quality, nor would it last very long.
The cheapest decent quality dash cam as of 2014 is the G1W which costs around $40, or if you can spend a bit more we highly recommend the Mini 0801 which is available for around $80 depending on which features you choose.
Of course as quality increases, so does the price. Therefore, for your convenience we have divided the cameras on this site into three categories: affordable (up to $100), mid-price (between $100 and $200) and high-end (over $200).
Are Dashboard Cameras Legal?
Of course this depends on the country and community where you live, so we cannot give any binding legal advice here. If in doubt, consult with your local authorities.
That said, if it’s legal where you live to take photos and record videos in the street, then dash cams are probably okay too as that’s exactly what they do.
Advantages Of Having A Dash Cam In Your Car
Most people buy a dashboard camera for security reasons. Rightly so, because having a dash cam running when you get involved in an accident or suffer a hit-and-run will give you an invaluable advantage in case you ever need to prove your case in court.
But dashboard cameras also have another quality that is often overlooked: They’re fun!
Think of your next weekend or holiday trip, that scenic route along the island shore or over the mountain pass, rare wildlife along the road, or that celebrity crossing the street right in front of you… The possibilities are endless!
With a dash cam, you will be able to keep reminders of those magical moments, edit them to make a holiday video, and share them with your friends and family.
So the main reasons why you want to have a dashboard camera in your car are:
- Prove your case in the unfortunate event of an accident
- Report bad drivers / road rage
- Protection for your parked vehicle
- Protection from insurance fraud
- Record your route and driving speed
- Monitor your employees and vehicle fleet
- Record holiday and weekend trips
- Capture scenic routes
- Share fun or unlikely events with your family, friends, or the world.
Now go ahead and check out the best dashboard cameras in 2014. We’re sure you’re going to find the one you like!
#4
12-05-2014, 09:09 AM
Join Date: May 2013
Location: Brockville Ontario
Posts: 3,052
I've thought about getting one for my car, but it honestly would only be to have on the off chance I was lucky enough to catch something on it that I could submit to Dumbest Stuff on Wheels or World's most outrageous lol
Seriously there are a lot of valid points to having one on your dash to capture events that are unfortunate but in today's day and age highly likely to occur
Seriously there are a lot of valid points to having one on your dash to capture events that are unfortunate but in today's day and age highly likely to occur
#5
12-05-2014, 09:37 AM
Hi `Ken,
Thanks for being the first to post on this thread subject.
I think it's sad
in 2days world that everyone has camera/recording devices everywhere you `go.
I know they are good devices to catch the BAD that are out there, but it's sad that there are so many BAD
I do believe that the BAD must be caught & kept until they are reformed/rehabilitated or kept for life.
To me it just seems there are 2 many not obeying the laws.
I know in my area `if you drive the speed limit you get run over or pushed off the road > 
Thanks for being the first to post on this thread subject.
I think it's sad
in 2days world that everyone has camera/recording devices everywhere you `go. I know they are good devices to catch the BAD that are out there, but it's sad that there are so many BAD
I do believe that the BAD must be caught & kept until they are reformed/rehabilitated or kept for life.
To me it just seems there are 2 many not obeying the laws.
I know in my area `if you drive the speed limit
you get run over or pushed off the road > Last edited by Space; 12-05-2014 at 09:42 AM.
#6
12-05-2014, 09:44 AM
Join Date: May 2013
Location: Brockville Ontario
Posts: 3,052
I agree with you 100% about too many bad people in the world. When I worked in corrections it was sad to meet some of the guys as they were honestly really nice people who just continually made bad choices, and some of them left and you just knew they weren't coming back, but unfortunately there was a few that when they left I told them we would keep a light on for them. It took them a minute or two to realize that I meant we would be seeing them again.
In my area the speeding isn't too bad, but when you get near Toronto it's like you said, if you don't speed you run a higher than average chance of getting run over. It's like the Alabama song "I'm in a hurry to get things done" (well that's not the name of the song but it's close lol) but it's true, everyone seems to always be in a rush to get somewhere
Hope your day is going well
In my area the speeding isn't too bad, but when you get near Toronto it's like you said, if you don't speed you run a higher than average chance of getting run over. It's like the Alabama song "I'm in a hurry to get things done" (well that's not the name of the song but it's close lol) but it's true, everyone seems to always be in a rush to get somewhere
Hope your day is going well
#7
12-05-2014, 10:49 AM
I've had one for quite a while now, as of right now its only in the monte. I bought a 2nd one but managed to lose it in the airport over the summer. Its never really caught too much interesting and lately when i go to grab footage its gotten corrupted or something. Might be time for a new one for me.
Since most of the videos i pull tend to have not so family friendly language, heres a brief time lapse from GM nationals this year off my dash cam
Since most of the videos i pull tend to have not so family friendly language, heres a brief time lapse from GM nationals this year off my dash cam
Last edited by Leprechaun93; 12-05-2014 at 10:51 AM.
#8
12-05-2014, 06:26 PM
Thanks `Keane for your post & sharing.
What Cam will you get next ?
Do you like anyone of the ones posted above ?
Did you lose one @ the airport or was it stolen ? I here so many stories of how many people lose things @ the airports
p.s. Thanks for your vid
#9
12-05-2014, 08:27 PM
Not sure if i'll get another one or not, kind of lost interest between losing mine at the airport (had to have lost it during the security check) and with mine not always working right. The G1W above looks similar to the one i lost.
Heres a site i use for dash cam info, comares many different models.
https://dashcamtalk.com/
Heres a site i use for dash cam info, comares many different models.
https://dashcamtalk.com/
#10
12-05-2014, 08:52 PM
I have had one for awhile, the Mini 801 in the review above. Mostly capture people being stupid, but the day the flying saucers land to check out the Monte I'll be ready..
