Anyone here use a dash cam?

[Frontier719]

I'm thinking about buying a dash cam after a small incident this past week.

I was approaching a red light when a van to my right started to pull into my lane and our mirrors smacked each other. It didn't damage anything, but left a nice scrape on my mirror.

Naturally, the idiot van driver insisted that it was my fault (despite him entering my lane with no signal after I was already overtaking him).

My question about dash cams though - I see that most use an external memory card but do I have to delete the vides on it manually when the card fills up or does it automatically delete them if I don't download the videos?

 

[Hepar]

I actually really want to do something similar. I know that many of the cameras that I've looked at will just continually loop through video as it records. Then, if you have an incident, you can just take the card out and it will have the last X amount of time recorded. Many of which can record well over 24hrs at a time. More than enough. The only thing holding me back is that I've been procrastinating on contacting my insurance company. I just want to make sure that if something were to happen, that they would look at the footage.

 

[Frontier719]

I actually really want to do something similar.

Now that I think about it, I just upgraded my iphone but I kept my old one. They make an app that is essentially a dash cam with continuous loop recording, etc. The full version is $3 and then theres a free version. I'll try the free version and see how it works

 

[NoDak]

just a few notes of caution.


1. just be careful running any device that has a battery on your dash in direct sunlight for extended periods. that battery can heat up to the point of failure/exploding (most cellphones I know of shutdown on a extreme temps)
2. most cams/apps run in a 5/10/15 min snippets and usually do first in/first out
3. periodically format the sd card (the camps go either way on this, some do/some dont)
4. look for dash cams with 3-4 meter leads (so you can run a power tap from anywhere)

also read thru the dashcam talk reviews/forums

http://www.dashcamtalk.com/

 

[techno]

I have used a dash cam for over a year now. I got some cool things to show including several bad drivers, near misses on deer, geese and turkeys. I used it to determine what a really loud unknown bang was once, turned out to be a golf ball as I was driving past a course.
You do not have to delete files on the memory cards, they automatically overwrite when full.

 

[yotaflame]

can someone recommend a dashcam to purchase?

 

[Jeff614]

Don't have one, though it's on the list recently saw this article on Wirecutter.com. Pretty good site that tests lots different electronics.

The Best Dash Cam | The Wirecutter

As mentioned above, anything with a battery in a hot car might not last long. The article touches on that and discusses a few models that use capacitors instead of batteries.

I had no idea the price of these had come down so much but really seem like something worthwhile.

Hope that article helps some.


- Jeff

 

[TOY2G]

I'm thinking about buying a dash cam after a small incident this past week.

I was approaching a red light when a van to my right started to pull into my lane and our mirrors smacked each other. It didn't damage anything, but left a nice scrape on my mirror.

Naturally, the idiot van driver insisted that it was my fault (despite him entering my lane with no signal after I was already overtaking him).

My question about dash cams though - I see that most use an external memory card but do I have to delete the vides on it manually when the card fills up or does it automatically delete them if I don't download the videos?

We have tried several, and all of the version we have owned have their own memory management. I currently use iRoad in 3 vehicles and am testing the new Garmin in another. iRoad (avail on eBay) is a great made in Korea device. Compact, high quality and operates in high temperatures. The only issue is the lack of customer service. For this reason alone I am now using a Garmin. they both cost the same (don't skimp on the camera, you WILL regret it) and the garmin saved us just two weeks ago when a drive came into our lane and hit my wife's Lexus.


IMHO, dash cams in the 150-250 price range are the best insurance you will ever buy in your life. Ours have saved us twice now when we had an issue like you mention above. It's hard to lie to insurance when there is video proof.

Attached is a screen shot of the garmin

 

[4eigner]

My dream dash cam will record high def front & rear, wirelessly upload to a remote server while capturing & simultaneously record on a removeable SD card, works with a removable battery & 12v dc, have great night vision & sound, works well in all temperatures, and doesn't stick out like a sore thumb on the windshield. If I can get that for less than an arm and a leg I'd be VERY content.

 

[blkcloud]

i have seen the day I would give a million bucks if I had one..