Dashcam Recommendations

[Jenkosowls]

I'v got a g1w same as jj and wing nuts? I'v had mine over 6 months now not a problem I have mine in clear display. And check it while on the go for recording it just blends in like it's always there. I did look in to the mini bullet sort of cams as I wanted it to be discreet. Now the only issue with the non screen cameras are there's no actual way to see if there recording! For example the other day my memory card stopped recording. The data had become "corrupt" deleted the data via the camera but still wouldn't work. So formatted it on the computer. Hadn't I been able to see it I could have had it for months without knowing.

[Toms306]

That's a lot of footage, must be a fairly poor resolution you're recording in? Which is something I've noticed on that remote lense cam actually, it's not even 720p...

As for the blurriness, I think it's youtube squashing it. Though oddly, I could read the 'end' sign perfectly, but not your village sign or any of the number plates after that sign.

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That's a good point Jenks, I hadn't thought of that with a lack of screen, hmm.

Is your memory card genuine btw? I've seen a lot about non-gen cards being sold as say 32Gb, the PC thinks it's got 32Gb, but in reality only like 5Gb is useable! Seems to be more with supposed SanDisk cards than Kingston though.

[1616six]

That's a lot of footage, must be a fairly poor resolution you're recording in? Which is something I've noticed on that remote lense cam actually, it's not even 720p...

As for the blurriness, I think it's youtube squashing it. Though oddly, I could read the 'end' sign perfectly, but not your village sign or any of the number plates after that sign.

It's set to 1080p..

I have tightened the mount & it actually appears to be where the camera clips into the mount has play in it for some reason, think I might just expoxy it in place as it's actually easier to remove the suction cup than unclip it from the mount.

[Toms306]

Ok, that's really odd, I've been reading that at 1080p you'll only get a few hours (around 7) from even a 32Gb card.

Loose mounts seem to be an issue on a lot of dashcams, though not surprising given how much abuse the road gives them lol. The 0801/0803 seems to have a lot of people complaining of a loose mount.

[1616six]

Ok, that's really odd, I've been reading that at 1080p you'll only get a few hours (around 7) from even a 32Gb card.

Loose mounts seem to be an issue on a lot of dashcams, though not surprising given how much abuse the road gives them lol. The 0801/0803 seems to have a lot of people complaining of a loose mount.

I was very, very surprised when I saw the folder went back to 26th June too! I didn't think it could be right but I tried a couple of clips from each folder & they all worked fine!

It's really annoying regarding the quality as if I just play the clip on Quicktime on the laptop it plays perfectly, as if you were just looking out of the windscreen, but as soon as I upload it the quality just goes.

I'll glue the mount tomorrow night & get another clip without shaking!

I also had the sound switched on for the last month or two, and if you can ignore the rattle from the mount I think the quality is good for a cheap cam, it's not a 'tinny' sound, it seems to pick the bass up quite well.

Ps. that's not my propper voice at the end.

[Toms306]

I'm slightly worried about leaving sound on tbf...imagine crashing and having to show footage with me singing along to awkward songs and making up the lyrics...

[1616six]

I'm slightly worried about leaving sound on tbf...imagine crashing and having to show footage with me singing along to awkward songs and making up the lyrics...

Honestly, how awkward do you think it was hearing myself singing 'Something about the way you look tonight' by Elton John when I played a clip back yesterday?

[Toms306]

Haha, probably less so than posting about it on a public forum.

[RetroPug]

Have a look at the mini 0803 on ebay, it's the one I have purchased after watching a couple of videos and reading reviews

Looks like that's the updated one of the one Jordan linked. Are you using it yet?

Clamp a gopro to the front tow hook?
Depending on how many hours you drive a week you can have quite a long recording life out of them with a large SD card.

Don't think I've got a fixed front tow hook...

Not really sure that'd work anyway though, it'd be covered in mud and water all the time. That said, I would like a GoPro (or the other, cheaper one lol) to mess around with, just don't think it's right for this purpose.

I drive around 10 hours a week, but I wouldn't expect a card to hold that much footage tbf!

No but say you had several cards you could just swap them around and wipe them all each weekend. It'd be impractical though and I don't think the battery life lasts that long.

Also, if is a crash camera it shouldn't be on the front tow hook I suppose.

[Toms306]

Also, if is a crash camera it shouldn't be on the front tow hook I suppose.

Do you know, I didn't even think of that before you said!

[RetroPug]

Also, if is a crash camera it shouldn't be on the front tow hook I suppose.

Do you know, I didn't even think of that before you said!

I thought of it as I want to make videos with my new one on the tow hook, but didn't think of it being squished.

[Eeyore]

[Toms306]

WTF!? Is that Russia? What kind of driving test do they have!?

[WiNgNuTz]

that last one, the balloons pop out like "SURPRISE!"

[Toms306]

Hmm, it seems they're just mental tbh...bored so started looking at the related vids... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F1oONgw7Knk

How do so many of their wheels fall off? Its like they've asked Sam to fit them! I've seen tyres blow out, and spare trailer wheels come off, but never the actual wheel come off in use!

[Toms306]

So, I bought an EPrance GS608 for £25 on Amazon.

Can't speak for reliability/longevity obviously but first impressions are good!

Youtube has ruined the quality unfortunately but heres a few test vid's from today.

http://youtu.be/C-4RVn6mH8Y

http://youtu.be/1aboxmh7PqE

And a run in with the rozzers...

http://youtu.be/2m4oMMzRsPQ

[1616six]

Quality looks OK albeit dark, try pointing the camera down so you have less sky & more bonnet/road, should lighten it up.

[Piggy]

The sound is very buzzy...is that youtube naffing it up?!

[Toms306]

Quality looks OK albeit dark, try pointing the camera down so you have less sky & more bonnet/road, should lighten it up.

It was a dark day lol. But I'll remember that, it still hasn't found a permanent place yet.

The sound is very buzzy...is that youtube naffing it up?!

There is a constant rhythmic buzz on there, like a heart monitor lol, but I can't work out why, its not interference as it does it out of the car as well. The actual sound on top is very clear on the PC though, so I think youtube has squashed them together or something! Might see if I've got another sound clip to try.

[Toms306]

Found a clip with voice and radio. Shows my tolerance towards doddery old Corsa drivers... Also check out the inconspicuous Escort on the left early in the vid.

Again, youtube has ruined the video quality, but the sound is almost the same. You can hear the odd buzz over the top though, anyone know what it is? Set to the wrong frequency maybe? No idea lol...

http://youtu.be/NopgyRc9xJE

[1616six]

Jesus, the sound really is bad, I had my sound on full & can barely hear you!

[Toms306]

It's quiet, but I wouldn't say it's bad tbh? Sounds clear to me anyway lol.

[vincent1]

Im going to order the same one as tom looks ideal for what i need.

[1616six]

It's quiet, but I wouldn't say it's bad tbh? Sounds clear to me anyway lol.

Maybe it's just me, just sounds muffled, that weird buzzing noise (Eprance often do it, it's nothing interfering)

I'm going to stick with my G1W for now, managed to secure the mount & fixed the recording issue (I'd changed a setting without realising!) so it's all good again now.

[Toms306]

Im going to order the same one as tom looks ideal for what i need.
anyidea how to stop youtube videos auto starting? ive got loads on this thread trying to auto play making the page slow to load im using firefox and windows 7.

It might fail after a week lol, I'm not recommending it yet...will try to remember to update with how its going though! If I keep it in*...

It's quiet, but I wouldn't say it's bad tbh? Sounds clear to me anyway lol.

Maybe it's just me, just sounds muffled, that weird buzzing noise (Eprance often do it, it's nothing interfering)

I'm going to stick with my G1W for now, managed to secure the mount & fixed the recording issue (I'd changed a setting without realising!) so it's all good again now.

Oh right, that's odd, you'd think they'd be able to stop the buzz if its a common thing.

Ah that's good, cheap fix then lol!



*Must admit, the novelty's worn off already, its getting annoying in my view all the time lol... Will persevere for now though...

[Piggy]

With all due respect after seeing the clips...

I aint guna get one! That buzzing is awful and its SO dark!?

[1616six]

With all due respect after seeing the clips...

I aint guna get one! That buzzing is awful and its SO dark!?

I personally don't worry too much about sound quality as the main reason its there is to capture footage.. I've got my sound turned off on mine now.

But yes it's way too dark, I have a feeling if Tom angles it down so there's much less sky & more bonnet/road then it will improve, it won't work wonders but it should help.

[Toms306]

I'm not expecting anything like a £300 Bluevue Piggy, its there to record footage in event of a crash etc, its not meant for anything else and I think its clear enough to determine fault and see colours/read numberplates should there be a hit and run for example. If I wanted to record footage for making short films etc, I'd go for something like a GoPro/SJ instead. The buzzing is annoying, but again, I find the sound clear enough for its purpose.

The darkness is partly to do with youtubes squashing software, the rural clip is much brighter on the laptop, it just becomes a mess of grey and green on youtube which will obviously look dark.

I have tried to angle the camera down a bit now so we'll see if that changes anything.

[Toms306]

Tried it in the dark last night....it doesn't like the heated screen elements lol! Theres like a blue 'fog' covering everything and headlights/street lights get 'starred'. You can tell make and models of cars and make out people walking but can't read plates unless they're stationary and near a street light lol.

Plus it's very annoying having a screen at night lol.

[1616six]

Does your screen stay on Tom? Should be a standby setting. I've set mine so it stays on for 1min, I then know it's working.. Not that I can see it without looking round the back of the passenger side of the rear view mirror? Where on earth have you stuck yours? Mine must be 3 times the size & I cant see mine lol