Dash Cams

Nightfall

Does anyone here use a dash cam in their car? If so what do you use and do you like it? Have you tried one you hated?

gmcman

Sorry to get long-winded.

I use the Street Guardian SG9665GC v3 on pretty much a daily, and nightly basis at work. It's the 1080P 30 FPS version, I've used a couple others...the Papago, and Dexors X7.

The Street Guardian has very good quality in daylight, and much better than average quality in very low light. Good low light performance is ideal if you need to CYA. You're likely not going to get a license plate at night high up on the windshield, the newer 60 FPS cameras might.

Big drawback to most dashcams, including mine, is you cannot select a pre-determined recording time when motion is sensed or when you press the button to store the current footage without overwriting. So basically if you see something happen, you hit the button for a locked file, it only starts when you press the button, not 1 or 2 min prior even though that footage is already stored...but will be erased if you fill the card. Just something to look into. The footage leading up to the incident is just as valuable IMO. I use a 128 GB card so I won't fill it up even working 10 hrs.

Get a suction cup mount to remove on hot days when the car is parked.

Try to find one with an internal GPS, not a second antenna but if not removing from the vehicle often either would work.

Make sure you can use larger than a 64GB card.

I've had mine for almost 2 years, technology is almost exponential with these so I'm sure there's others that are very good as well.

I've found that most dash cams under the $100 price point tend to lose when it comes to low light...but that number is not set in stone. Just remember if you are going to use one for insurance purposes, as well as job preservation, then I would splurge a little for a good model.

pitdogg2

Personally I've never used one BUT I cannot say I haven't gave it a thought.
I sure am seeing more and more who are these days.

gmcman

After I sent two Papago models back, I tried the Dexors X-7. The Dexors was just slightly better at night.than the Papago. The Street Guardian was much better.

Here's a comparison, I used both cameras at the same time, don't mind the date stamp on the video, it was simultaneous.

Dexors X-7.

https://youtu.be/ThvAMoUfSgw


Street Guardian SG9666GC v3:

https://youtu.be/wWqv2x4bylA

Nightfall

I was thinking around $150. Are they all basically the same, just paying for camera quality?

It is for work. Had an incident today where someone in front of me kept slowing down to a near stop in the middle of the street. After the second time I put my hand up in the air as if to say "Why does this guy keep slowing down so much?" to myself. Not an exaggerated motion, not out the window, no yelling, literally to myself. Of course I was close to him when he kept slowing down so much, we were coming to a near stop. About 1/2 car length for the near stop. Dude must have been watching me. He stopped (now I'm about 2 feet away) got out, started screaming at my windshield. I lock my door and sit there, this guy is nuts I'm not going to make it worse. He finally gets back in and leaves. He calls my work and tells them I was speeding (behind him?), driving like a maniac. Almost hit him 3 times. I never came close to hitting him and I admittedly do speed but I never go more than 5 over on main streets and I do the limit on residential streets. My driving record is totally clean, no tickets in over a decade, never been in an accident. That was the only thing that saved me was my clean record (I have to give them a new copy every 6 months) and nobody else has ever called about me.

Lots of dumb drivers out there though. Besides this it just seems like the smart thing to do.

I'm going to go get one tomorrow from Best Buy. Looks like they have Garmin, Thinkware, Kenwood, Cobra, Insignia, Rexing, Escort, and Nextbase

gmcman

I believe the Cobra and the Escort are the same, don't quote me.

I would do some research on https://dashcamtalk.com/forum/

Some use the same sensors with more or less voltage, different framerates, etc.

The Street Guardian is within your budget, has a relatively wide angle without going too wide.

Most menu functions are a PITA, just a small learning curve.

gmcman

Again, do some research, my decision was almost 2 years ago, I'm sure things have changed.

Nesmith98

I've been using Lukas ACE 7900 for the about the last five years or so with no complaints. It comes with a window mount that goes in front of the rear view mirror. I really don't pay too much attention to it anymore unless something happens, then i'll look at the video. I also recommend getting one with at least a 64GB SD card, or upgrade the card later on.

They sell fancier models with screens and front/back cameras. Back when I bought mine they didn't have all of that.

It looks like they have an updated 7900 model that hooks up to the OBD II that gets information from your car i.e., braking, steering, RPM's etc. which is kind of cool.
https://finedashcam.com/products/lukas-lk-7900-fhd-ara-b-type-built-in-gps

GospelTruth

I got a whistler model from Costco on sale. Happy with it although the reviews are mixed. No issues for me. Got it to protect myself and my family from any incidents. I think we paid around $80 for it.

Nightfall

I bought a Nextbase 322GW today. 1080P 60 frames per second. GPS, Bluetooth, 2.5" touch screen, etc.

Will try it out tomorrow.

SCompRacer

Nightfall wrote: »

Does anyone here use a dash cam in their car? If so what do you use and do you like it? Have you tried one you hated?

I wouldn't leave home without one anymore. All it takes is one time, you wish you had it.

I have a BlackVue DR750S 2 channel, so front and rear cameras record to same memory card. It's much higher than your budget but has some options I like. I also have the parking mode module.




https://www.blackvue.com/dr750s-2ch/

JuanR

Garmin 45 dash cam on sale today at Best Buy deal of the day...considered getting it but I think I will wait until the Garmin 56 goes on sale for its higher quality HDR image and voice recognition...

Nightfall

Voice recognition? You mean Alexa? No thanks. Google already knows when I have to go to the bathroom and what I'm about to go buy from the store. Don't need anyone else riding that train.

mrgrtt123

I am currently using Rexing V1, I got it for less than a $100 from Amazon.