Dash Cam

limamike said:
I got the Lukas LK-1900ACE in the mail today from Amazon. It does exactly what you're asking about (assuming I'm reading it correctly). I chose this one based on the review at The Wirecutter (see section on "A Step Up") and for its purported high heat tolerance. Also, I wanted something I could hide behind the mirror so as not to be a distraction.

Here's what I see:
FxyUMGjl.jpg


Here's what it looks like from the front. It's a little larger than I expected, but still a small enough size overall.
zpKebPSl.jpg


I'll post a sample video soon.

Here's the overview: Lukas Blackbox
Click to expand...


Thanks for the update! So it's pretty much a "set-it and forget-it" install?
 
jangoforhire said:
Thanks for the update! So it's pretty much a "set-it and forget-it" install?
Click to expand...

Seems that way. I did some configuration via their software for recording quality, units of measure, time, etc. But, all of that is stored on the SD. So, all you have to do is pop the SD card into your computer (Windows only) and update the settings on the card via their software.
 
I did do some eyeball research via youtube. its a hard toss up between the lukas 7500 (I don't need the extra 10c high op temp on the 7900 since we are mostly a cold state) and the vico tf2+.

the gps and 128gb capacity on the lukas is nice, but from what I saw comparing the videos on youtube, it seems the vico has a better compensator for night time than the lukas.

either way its a big improvement and free's my Samsung GS3 from doing duty as dashcam, phone, music, texting, etc.
 
NoDak said:
I did do some eyeball research via youtube. its a hard toss up between the lukas 7500 (I don't need the extra 10c high op temp on the 7900 since we are mostly a cold state) and the vico tf2+.

the gps and 128gb capacity on the lukas is nice, but from what I saw comparing the videos on youtube, it seems the vico has a better compensator for night time than the lukas.

either way its a big improvement and free's my Samsung GS3 from doing duty as dashcam, phone, music, texting, etc.
Click to expand...

Both cameras are made by the same company (Lukas) even though one is branded as another. I did consider the 7500, but since I live in hotashell Arizona I opted for the surety with temperature. The other difference I like with the 7500/7900 is the ability to add filters - like a circular polarizer - to cut down on the glare.
 
I've been using a GoPro Hero2 for over a year as a dashcam. I have several memory cards, so I just rotate them and save off anything interesting before wiping the card. I got a GoPro Hero3 Black for Christmas, so that will be going in soon too. I like the flexibility of the GoPro, since I can just take it with and use for any number of other things too. It's second nature now to start the car and turn it on. It would be nice to be able to have an auto-on/off feature, but no big deal.
 
well decided after this morning complete white-out/blizzard drive to work that i need to get a dash cam going again in the 4runner. didnt want to go back to using my galaxy S3 to do multiple duty so i went with the following :

Newegg.com - Vico-TF2 Premium Dash Camera


i need a camera with better night time recording than needing gps and currently this has the best night time video's from what i can subjectively see.

once i get it and do some driving around for a week or so i will update with an review.
 
If you're looking for a dash cam so that you can have constant recording don't go with a gropro. Get a real dashcam that people above are recommending.
However, if you just wanna take some nice video of a drive or a timelapse of a long trip, a gopro is great. I use mine with the suction cup all over my runner, inside and out. They work great and all the settings are adaptable.
 
I was able to have a face to face sit down with the manufacture of the IROAD this year at the SEMA show.

The offer a few other gadgets that are popular in Korea and Japan.

To be honest, I have been so happy with mine, I now have 4 (one in the 5th gen, 4th gen, 3rd gen and one in the Lexus)


I will post this back up here so it is fresh. do yourself a favor and get an automatic dedicated dash cam. the one time you need it, it will be worth ten times whatever you pay.

 
well the vico nation TF2+ finally arrived. here is a picture of the package contents.

top left to right:

suction mount
quick mount (like garmin gps quick mount)
usb cable
4 meter (13ft power adapter)

middle left to right:

dash cam
permanent sticky mount
adapter for above

when I get time, I will mount it up and take some more pictures and hopefully some videos of night time and daytime.



.
 

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quick night time video from best buy (had to buy a 32gb Class 10 SDHC memory card) and the drive back home.

city lights, sub division lights and finally home sub division with no street lights.

.

 
1.) Looks like its power comes from the cigarrette lighter outlet ?

2.) if you dont use the suction cups, is it easy to just hook it up to the rear-viewing mirror ?? i'm concerned about the long-term durability of those suction cups -like, when the day comes when it doesnt hold, can i attach the cam to the mirror and so forth...

3.) can you also turn the cam ?? left side to record the driver's side lane or right-side to record the passenger side lane

4.) any issues you dont like so far about the cam ??
thanks

NoDak said:
quick night time video from best buy (had to buy a 32gb Class 10 SDHC memory card) and the drive back home.

city lights, sub division lights and finally home sub division with no street lights.

.

Click to expand...
 
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forgot to add, setup :

1080 @ 30 fps (720 @ 30 & 60 fps)
160 FoV (there is a 140 FoV settings also)
9mb quality recording (high quality=13mb)
Wide Dynamic Range (WDR=on)
Contrast=auto
EV=0
auto startup when on or in accessory mode

records in 5min chunks in mov format (h264), with seamless gap between files

lcd screen auto off after 1 min (1/3/6 min or on)

after making this video, I went out the the vico website to download the newest firmware update. zip file has instructions on how to update the dash cam. very simple to update, took longer to download, unzip, read instructions and process it than the update took to install.

red light shows power on, need to black tape that up so you cant see it on, also when it gets warmer, I will try and reroute the power cord into the headliner to hide the cord.
 
pacho said:
1.) Looks like its power comes from the cigarrette lighter outlet ?

2.) if you dont use the suction cups, is it easy to just hook it up to the rear-viewing mirror ?? i'm concerned about the long-term durability of those suction cups -like, when the day comes when it doesnt hold, can i attach the cam to the mirror and so forth...

3.) can you also turn the cam ?? left side to record the driver's side lane or right-side to record the passenger side lane

4.) any issues you dont like so far about the cam ??
thanks
Click to expand...

1. cig lighter power (but its 13ft long)
2. there is a permanent small foot print mount with 3M adhesive (look at box content pic in previous post)
3. suction mount has pretty much 360 mount possibilities
4. file size limit to 5 mins, I would prefer 10 or 15, but since they are seamless between files, I just have to join them.

video above is 2 files joined into one.

also forgot to add, when it starts up, it actually has a aim guide to you can decide where to aim the center. also you can inverse the screen and/or video.
 
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