Dash Cams

[montanadave]

So anyone who looks on YouTube is aware that every car in Russia is equipped with a dash cam. Just curious how many members here are so equipped. Reasons for and against? Any preferred brands, models, features?

[ForTehNguyen]

I've been thinking about one too. Garmin came out with one with a build in screen so you can aim it easily. Still need to do research. I was thinking about recording dumbass drivers and making a Drivers of Houston compilation. Kind of like People of Walmart

[jmp45]

After an incident on the freeway last in 2013 we decided to get a car cam. There are a lot of options I chose a cheap cam that works fine. Make sure the memory card used is the right class for the cam. I had issues with a class 10, went to a class 4 to fix. You do have to be within about 25 ft to read plates.

K6000
http://tinyurl.com/mt73nkk

youtube examples..

http://tinyurl.com/kqonuyx

[mikelowrey]

I have been looking at the Lukas Dash cam, They have some examples in their site and their quality in terms of camera and video looks very good. Reading about them has showed that they are a small insurance investment that can save your butt when anyone tries to sue you for something you didn't do while driving... Also if I eventually decide to get it, Ill be getting 2 (front & back).

Click here

Also just noticed that have a duo set ( 2 cameras for front and back ) but haven't read about them yet.

[jmp45]

Lukas is definitely a step up from what we are using. A rear cam would be just as important imho. The K6000 we are using is portable enough to take down easy when not in use. I have it set so it starts when the car is started, viewer turns off after 3 minutes. That's handy for making any adjustments. The downside is the chrome lens surround, we have it in front of our rear view mirror and it's visible if you are close to the vehicle. Lukas cams looks inconspicuous enough, I might have to look into those.

Edit.. I just became aware that there are apps for dash cams. Not sure what is the best nor what memory use is at this point but it might be an inexpensive alternative. I'm going to investigate for my iphone 5.

Cheap mount..
http://tinyurl.com/mgfbppa


Edit.. I'm opting to try a portable dash mount to get away from the suction cup mounts.
http://tinyurl.com/mlyarnk

I tested Witness, a few free car cam apps and iSymDVR 2. iSymDVR 2 wins over all, $3.99. Tons of features and extensive settings.
http://tinyurl.com/p842ql6

Witness does not have resolution settings in current version iphone. It's 4:3, low resolution and highly compressed. Maybe future updates will provide these options again. Car Camera DVR is a good 2nd place imho, $3.99. I like the focus lock, resolution with compression settings. Simple to setup and use.
http://tinyurl.com/otaxm7w

[Eurodriver]

Been really looking for one of these since I started wearing a Go-Pro on my motorcycle. I quickly learned that not only are they cheap insurance for hit and runs, but also LEOs who make mistakes/outright lie.

That Lucas looks like a sure thing. $250 and great capabilities make it cheap insurance from overzealous LEOs and the occasional old lady who t-bones you and keeps going about her merry way.

[montanadave]

The Lukas looks great but it's probably more than I had in mind. Here's a pretty inexpensive model (around $60) that's garnered some decent reviews: http://dashcamtalk.com/g1w/

I'm not a tech guy (don't even have a smart-phone) so I was looking for something that I could just mount and forget but which would still provide some protection in the event something unfortunate takes place.

[J-Dub]

Be careful what you wish for!!!! lol

[markm]

Be careful what you wish for!!!! lol

Yep. Soon Hussein will require them.

[Vgex2]

I can see it now. Law requiring all new vehicles to have mandatory dash cams installed, along with driving characteristic recorders, and GPS. All conveniently transmitted to our malevolent betters and distributed to our insurance companies on request. That way they will be able to email us our driving violation tickets. Don't worry, you will be able to pay those tickets using your cellphone, but not while driving, or you will get additional tickets, and an increase in insurance premiums.

Don't worry. If you like your old car, you can keep it. Until it is determined they are suddenly unsafe, or don't meet enough of the new regulations. Sort of like now that the U.K. is banning all those Aston Martins.