Post by DontDentMyCar on Jan 19, 2014 13:32:19 GMT -5
Dash Cam Comparison
Unsure which dashboard camera is right for you. We have evaluated the most popular dash cams and have summarized how they perform. Our ratings are based on 4 primary criteria: Video Quality, Reliability, Price and Size.
For the complete list of Dash Cams, price, quality, etc. check out this blog:
dashcamtalk.com/dash-cam-comparison/
It appears very thorough and even includes my BlackVue HD cam.
MINIMUM RECOMMENDED SPECS: My recommendation is to get one that's 1920x1080p (pixels) 30 fps (frames per second) or higher (if they make higher). Also I'd look into how easy or hard it is to transfer the data to your computer for editing. Without an ability to edit it's just raw clips which can be boring for viewers to watch.
OTHER FEATURES: look for reliability, whether it has a time/speed stamp recorded with the video, good day and night recording quality and a GPS tracker so you can exactly note your location in case of a collision. In the end you want something that can record license plates for court purposes. My camera also comes with a parking mode that records when the vehicle is turned off… it's both a good/bad feature. If in a public parking lot yes keep it running but if you park over-night or longer then you might want to turn it off to protect your vehicle's battery. For this reason I purchased a battery monitor which will turn the camera off if the vehicle battery gets too low.
SIZE, COLOR, SHAPE-ABILITY TO 'HIDE': Finally the size of the unit can be a factor, it's color, and it's mounting to the windshield and hiding of wires (if long enough)… all these items will make having a dash cam more enjoyable without having wires running all over the place or having the cam become dislodged or wobble.
MISSING FEATURES: One note, I think all dash cams should have the following features which it appears they don't at this time:
REFLECTIONS: Last note, if your dash area is a light color or gray, when the sun shines on it it's surface will reflect onto the inside of the windshield. This reflection will not help the quality of your videos as it will be seen. So I would recommend putting a very flat black surface on the dash so there is less reflection.
Unsure which dashboard camera is right for you. We have evaluated the most popular dash cams and have summarized how they perform. Our ratings are based on 4 primary criteria: Video Quality, Reliability, Price and Size.
For the complete list of Dash Cams, price, quality, etc. check out this blog:
dashcamtalk.com/dash-cam-comparison/
It appears very thorough and even includes my BlackVue HD cam.
MINIMUM RECOMMENDED SPECS: My recommendation is to get one that's 1920x1080p (pixels) 30 fps (frames per second) or higher (if they make higher). Also I'd look into how easy or hard it is to transfer the data to your computer for editing. Without an ability to edit it's just raw clips which can be boring for viewers to watch.
OTHER FEATURES: look for reliability, whether it has a time/speed stamp recorded with the video, good day and night recording quality and a GPS tracker so you can exactly note your location in case of a collision. In the end you want something that can record license plates for court purposes. My camera also comes with a parking mode that records when the vehicle is turned off… it's both a good/bad feature. If in a public parking lot yes keep it running but if you park over-night or longer then you might want to turn it off to protect your vehicle's battery. For this reason I purchased a battery monitor which will turn the camera off if the vehicle battery gets too low.
SIZE, COLOR, SHAPE-ABILITY TO 'HIDE': Finally the size of the unit can be a factor, it's color, and it's mounting to the windshield and hiding of wires (if long enough)… all these items will make having a dash cam more enjoyable without having wires running all over the place or having the cam become dislodged or wobble.
MISSING FEATURES: One note, I think all dash cams should have the following features which it appears they don't at this time:
- A visor sun shade to limit glare into the lens.
- Be black and non-visual to the outside, keeping it hidden would be best and part of the vehicle's mirror profile even better.
- Insulation on it's windshield side to help prevent overheating in the summer.
REFLECTIONS: Last note, if your dash area is a light color or gray, when the sun shines on it it's surface will reflect onto the inside of the windshield. This reflection will not help the quality of your videos as it will be seen. So I would recommend putting a very flat black surface on the dash so there is less reflection.