Dash Cams, are they good , bad or just a waste of time....

[Charlie Farley]

After many years of relatively problem free driving on our great british roads, well maybe not so great roads now , the need for a dash cam maybe closer than I was hoping for.
I have resisted the purchase and use of one until now but a few close calls , not my doing I must point out , have made me reconsider the possible purchase and fitting of one.
Now are they actually any good , and are there any preferred units to go with and ones to steer well clear of , I don't want to be throwing shed loads of cash at one , but if I do need to spend a few quid more it make s sense to get one that is worth having.
So chaps and chapettes can anyone shed some light on the subject and enlighten me on the way forward on the subject.

thanks in advance
Rob.

 

[Gazwould]

Techmoan .

 

[Charlie Farley]

I don't follow Gaz.......

 

[scottiboy]

Will be interesting to see the replies on this Rob.

I too have resisted getting one, thinking 'I've been driving for years and never needed one', but every car I see on the road these days appears to have one mounted to the rear view mirror.

Maybe it's a sign of the times and adds that little extra security should anything happen.

I think in the future we are heading for cars coming from the factor with these fitted as standard and being linked to your insurance in some way.

Scott

 

[Charlie Farley]

I think it is most certainly a sign of the times frankly and with so many unisured drivers and other mad thoughtless road users on the roads one needs to take a proactive stance now....
Our front gate has a very bad exit with blind spots both left and right and we have to use a mirror opposite the drive so we can get out onto the road safely, had a few very close calls as it's a 50 mph road on a sharp bend aswell, anyway should the worse happen a cam maybe some sort of backup should there be any query in the event of a accident or similar.

I find there are so many pratts in car parks now just driving carelessly that a cam may just capture imaging of an event for future use.

 

[martin1984]

Ive got a cheap 1 as it does what the expensive one do record and play back would say its a must in this day and age like they say better to be dlsafe than sorry.

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[DAN@ADRIAN FLUX]

Hi,
Just to let you know that a number of our insurance schemes do offer premium discounts for the fitment of a HD dash cam.
Regards,
Dan.

 

[Charlie Farley]

that's handy know as i'm looking to move away from LV in march to get a better deal for the 2018/19 period.

 

[Charlie Farley]

Ive got a cheap 1 as it does what the expensive one do record and play back would say its a must in this day and age like they say better to be dlsafe than sorry.

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what sort of prices are we talking about martin....

 

[martin1984]

what sort of prices are we talking about martin....

Mine off amazon hd front and rear cam was around £35 plus the cost of the sd card.

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[TheTomCutler]

I went for a pricier model as I liked the look of the low light footage and it has a parking mode which either takes a time lapse or records when it senses motion. It also doesn't have a screen which keeps the profile much slimmer, it's pretty discreet so I don't have to take it out every time I leave the car. Thinkware f770 recommended.


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[Phil-1]

I went for a pricier model as I liked the look of the low light footage and it has a parking mode which either takes a time lapse or records when it senses motion. It also doesn't have a screen which keeps the profile much slimmer, it's pretty discreet so I don't have to take it out every time I leave the car. Thinkware f770 recommended.


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I have the earlier model. Thinkware F750.
Managed to capture someone driving down a one way street the wrong way towards me, a Mini not giving way at a roundabout and a horse running free on a main road. I got my dash cam for the parking mode as previously I have had cars damaged when parked.


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[Gazwould]

Come on guy's keep it under £100 .

 

[KrisKrk]

It all depends what are you actually expect the cam to do, apart from the obvious stuff.
It can also record while parked, have accurate gos positioning, good quality sound recording/playback (as well as hd video rec/play), time lapse, good g sensor, ext.

Techmoan that @Gazwould is implying about is an guy on YT with he's own chanel and testing few low-mid-higher cost dash cams. Great reviews and talk through he does.
Personally didn't went for any of he's tested dash cam but there is a loads if these threads about them here so you can search around and make your own choices.

I am torn apart between Qvia AR790 WD 2Ch or Blackvue DR650s 2 Ch. Both small, without screen but with loads features and discreet to fit behind rear view mirror, right in the centre.
For me also is a must to be front and rear as rear-ending can be proved the driver was on the phone, distracted or something else.

Whatever you choose, please be aware that battery operated cheap dash cams tend to (back in days) or can (could) explode due to heat factor. Capacitor based units are the safest options now. L
Also, hardwiring the unit to your car with battery pack will put your mind at ease. It deliver constant power for parking mode (yes, it can also be set from the standard cigarette lighter plug) but prevent from car battery drainage/discharge at certain voltage. It will leave it at just about for you to start the car as normal and to charge it back up again while driving.
All this will depend on health of your battery.

So, from fleeBay, groupon, Amazon or Halfords to better quality suppliers (Thinkwate, Blackvue, Qvia/Lukas) you've got loads to choose from and find the best for yourself.

Many here will definitely drop their opinion of what they running and their experience so it should ease off a bit.


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[niedzial1983]

I have nextbase 312gw . Fantastic little can with gps and wifi . Under 100£

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[Nathen]

Mines a nextbase 212, £49 from Halfords does what it ses on the box records 1080p, farther in law got a cheaper one of ebay and you can tell it's cheap by the quality of the recordings and the feel of buttons and camera in general. Definatly recommend getting a dashcam, nothing better than proving someone wrong thats blaming you for something that ain't your fault and having the evidence there to back you up.

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[AndyT306]

interesting to see this today as i'm about to purchase the newly released Blackvue DR750S 2CH

 

[Charlie Farley]

many thanks for the great response and as I suspected it is not quite a clear cut case of just rushing out and buying the first one that comes to hand, now I have a better idea of whats the format is I can start looking more indepth, cheers chaps.

 

[AndyT306]

for me a front/rear setup with parking mode is essential

 

[-Ju-]

interesting to see this today as i'm about to purchase the newly released Blackvue DR750S 2CH

Cheers for the heads up on the new model!
I have the Dr650Gw which is in need of replacement and was looking at the dr650S....till now lol
I do feel safer using a dashcam but having previous experience with my insurance company, they really don't like to fight claims even if the footage helps, so they aren't always usefull.
They do pick up some atrocious driving though and I would always use a 2 camera set up that is as discreet as possible and hardwired so it's an almost fit and forget solution

 

[b2]

Dash Cams are good way to show the Police or Insurance company an accident was not your fault, if you happen to be involved in any collision. I have bought those cheap £10-20 ones of ebay and they are absolutely pants in every sense. I have now got a Nextbase 312GW for £87.95 and its brilliant. I even recorded my Nurburgring lap using this dash cam, my two pence if you are going to get one buy a decent one there is so much difference between the imitations and the quality products.

 

[niedzial1983]

Dash Cams are good way to show the Police or Insurance company an accident was not your fault, if you happen to be involved in any collision. I have bought those cheap £10-20 ones of ebay and they are absolutely pants in every sense. I have now got a Nextbase 312GW for £87.95 and its brilliant. I even recorded my Nurburgring lap using this dash cam, my two pence if you are going to get one buy a decent one there is so much difference between the imitations and the quality products.

I agree having ebay 20£ before and now using 312gw , 312 is fantastic

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[Gazwould]

Why 312GW and not a 512GW ?

 

[niedzial1983]

Why 312GW and not a 512GW ?

I bought mine over a year ago so there was much bigger price difference.

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[b2]

I didn't know there was a 512gw, plus I wanted to buy one under £100 and this was the best reviewed and rated in my price range.

 

[KieranJ22]

Anyone had any experience with this brand

DDPai mini2 Wi-Fi Dash Cam HD 1440P(2K)? I want something discrete and don't want to spend stupid money on a dashcam

 

[L80EWY]

for me a front/rear setup with parking mode is essential

This is what I need too, any recommendations ?
£200 for the Thinkware is a little OTT

 

[AndyT306]

Dunno if you’d get a good dual cam for that money

 

[nothingness]

Ive been thinking of getting one also but I am worried that they can be used to incriminate you?
I'm not talking dangerous driving habits here but mistakes.

We all make silly mistakes.

 

[DieselJake]

Ive been thinking of getting one also but I am worried that they can be used to incriminate you?
I'm not talking dangerous driving habits here but mistakes.

We all make silly mistakes.

I'm with you on that, won't be telling insurance if I get one despite it supposedly making quotes cheaper, I'll just show them when some mug pulls a silly move.

 

[S32B]

I think in the future we are heading for cars coming from the factor with these fitted as standard and being linked to your insurance in some way.

Scott

I get an extra 10% off my insurance with AXA for having one.

The main reason i got them is when I bought the S3, I thought if anything were to happen they would blame the guy in the fast car! I also have one in the back, thought I was going to need the evidence a few days after getting the new car last week:

You don't see the swerve as much on the video, but if I hadn't the tractor would have hit me!


and one from last year...lol notice how I try to move forward the extra few inches at the end? everything in front of me was stopped

 

[jdp1962]

I've had a Thinkware F750 (the predecessor of the current F770 series) 2-channel system in the S4 for a couple of years. It's professionally hard-wired, works beautifully and is ultra discreet. So for me, the extra cost is worth it but I appreciate not everyone will think that.