Subtle dashcam recommendations

[wuta3]

Hi all,

I'm in the market for a dashcam for my RS3, but I really don't want a big old square block with a touch screen looking ugly in the interior.

Ideally looking for something with front/rear cams (or can any hook in to the reversing camera??) that is as subtle as possible but producing the best picture possible.

Any recommendations?

 

[-Ju-]

I've always gone with the blackvue range (currently using the 2ch 900 series)
They are as discrete as possible and have good hardwiring options. The 900S has a 4k front camera and decent night time footage.
After that I'd look at the thinkware range as they too are very similar in design and function

 

[wuta3]

I've always gone with the blackvue range (currently using the 2ch 900 series)
They are as discrete as possible and have good hardwiring options. The 900S has a 4k front camera and decent night time footage.
After that I'd look at the thinkware range as they too are very similar in design and function

Cheers, I was considering the DR750S-2CH but the cloud nonsense sounds annoying, I take it it's optional?

 

[-Ju-]

Cheers, I was considering the DR750S-2CH but the cloud nonsense sounds annoying, I take it it's optional?

Yes you dont have to use it and it only really works if you have connect on your car or are close enough to your home network while parked to get any real benefit.
The 750s is a decent dashcam but maybe lacks the decent images at night

Sent from my SM-N960F using Tapatalk

 

[seventeenapg]

Hi all,

I'm in the market for a dashcam for my RS3, but I really don't want a big old square block with a touch screen looking ugly in the interior.

Ideally looking for something with front/rear cams (or can any hook in to the reversing camera??) that is as subtle as possible but producing the best picture possible.

Any recommendations?

I too have the 900s 2ch and it's a really good set up. I like the cylindrical shape of these cameras and they are very discreet. Also, I bought a separate power cord which has the OBD 11 port plug. I use it and it uses the battery sensing voltage to automatically switch off when necessary. In this way you do not need a blackvue battery pack for parking mode recordings.

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[Gazwould]

I don't think the white writing on them is discrete .

 

[rdj]

I also wanted subtle without a distracting screen so went for this. Had it hardwired and very happy with it can't see it from the drivers side.
https://thinkwaredashcam.store/product/thinkware-dash-cam-f100/

 

[JWAM]

I've had a thinkware f800 Pro 2ch in mine for 2y. It's not at all intrusive and works well - there's a newer model about now which prob has a better sensor.
As mentioned before either thinkware or blackvue seem pretty good, neither has a screen to distract (link to phone if needed via wireless) and have good sensors. When I chose thinkware there were reports of blackvue rear cameras interfering with dab reception, which is what swayed me. I'm sure the newer ones are all fine, but worth a Google.
The parking mode is surprisingly useful too (work carpark full of idiots).

 

[Gazwould]

 

[Shawn8V]

Hi all,

I'm in the market for a dashcam for my RS3, but I really don't want a big old square block with a touch screen looking ugly in the interior.

Ideally looking for something with front/rear cams (or can any hook in to the reversing camera??) that is as subtle as possible but producing the best picture possible.

Any recommendations?

Either a blackvue drs900 if you want the best quality images that’s 4K front and 1080p hd rear and very good night time recording. But is rather expensive but worth it if you can afford to spend the money.
Or the 750s version which is the next best option which does full hd front and 720p rear. Cloud stuff is optional. You’ll need a hardwiring kit also so it can do parking mode and switch off and not drain the battery.

these ones are cylinder style and if mounted in the correct place are extremely discreet. I’ll take a pic and upload one soon.

ps, I upgraded to the 900 version and could be selling my 750 version + hardwiring kit. Pm me if you’d be interested before I put it in the classifieds.

 

[wuta3]

Either a blackvue drs900 if you want the best quality images that’s 4K front and 1080p hd rear and very good night time recording. But is rather expensive but worth it if you can afford to spend the money.
Or the 750s version which is the next best option which does full hd front and 720p rear. Cloud stuff is optional. You’ll need a hardwiring kit also so it can do parking mode and switch off and not drain the battery.

these ones are cylinder style and if mounted in the correct place are extremely discreet. I’ll take a pic and upload one soon.

ps, I upgraded to the 900 version and could be selling my 750 version + hardwiring kit. Pm me if you’d be interested before I put it in the classifieds.

Thanks for the info! A pic of the install would be great. I'll PM you regarding the 750

 

[Shawn8V]

Here’s some images of where I mounted my dashcam.

 

[Gazwould]

A few wires going on there .

 

[Shawn8V]

A few wires going on there .

2 wires to be precise, power cable and the one for the rear cam. Go in the headliner via the plastic cover for the rear view mirror.

 

[ARESSTREE]

I also went for the thinkware front and rear.
Fitted by Alex @vagcarcoding
Great product

 

[savo]

I also went for the thinkware front and rear.
Fitted by Alex @vagcarcoding
Great product

Which model did you go for.

 

[ARESSTREE]

F770 - Front & Rear Cameras, 32GB, Hardwire Lead

 

[savo]

F770 - Front & Rear Cameras, 32GB, Hardwire Lead

That the one I’ve ordered from ALEX as well. Just waiting for thing to die down before it gets fitted.

 

[Cj10]

I fitted a U1000 front and the packaged rear camera.

Have to say the cloud functionality has been really buggy for me. Camera fails to connect to my phone or home wifi hotspot 90% of the time. Taken that up with Thinkware support, but they stopped corresponding with me at the end of March. Am assuming they were potentially furloughed. Having looked at a dashcam forum my experience appears to replicate a know issue with a number of units. Not important in the scheme of things at present to be honest though.

 

[AndyC555]

I was all set to have a Blackvue front and rear fitted until the retailer talked me out of it. Two issues with the Blackvue
1) their memory cards are specific and you must purchase them from them. If you use a generic memory card it is possible the files will be corrupt. Not what you want to have happen if you have an incident or crash.
2) to have it hardwired you must purchase a separate power supply which is on top of the cost of the camera which is already expensive.

For me those two things were a deal breaker.

I decided on the Thinkware F200 front and rear. They accept generic SD cards with no problem and also have their own built in power supply.

 

[-Ju-]

I was all set to have a Blackvue front and rear fitted until the retailer talked me out of it. Two issues with the Blackvue
1) their memory cards are specific and you must purchase them from them. If you use a generic memory card it is possible the files will be corrupt. Not what you want to have happen if you have an incident or crash.
2) to have it hardwired you must purchase a separate power supply which is on top of the cost of the camera which is already expensive.

For me those two things were a deal breaker.

I decided on the Thinkware F200 front and rear. They accept generic SD cards with no problem and also have their own built in power supply.

The first point is not quite correct.
You do have to use a high endurance sd card because the camera is constantly writing and rewriting to the card and "normal" cards will end up being corrupted. You can however use any high endurance card, though these are more expensive.
On the second point yes you do have to either add a hardwire kit or a battery pack which does add to the cost.
The hardwired kit isn't expensive though

 

[royalsteve68]

Hi all,

I'm in the market for a dashcam for my RS3, but I really don't want a big old square block with a touch screen looking ugly in the interior.

Ideally looking for something with front/rear cams (or can any hook in to the reversing camera??) that is as subtle as possible but producing the best picture possible.

Any recommendations?

I have used loads

* The cheap ones from ebay and amazon with suction mounts - don't bother

* Ive had the mini 0806 but it lacked features other than high resolution. Footage during the day was excellent for the price. Night time footage was poor. Build quality was abysmal as after 6 months mine just fell apart whilst I was driving - terrible.

* I used to get Blackvue (400 version) but was found to the cause of DAB issues, despite extensive additional shielding. However, I like the cylinder and the build quality is excellent. These DAB issues were common then but Blackvue did nothing about it, their support was non-existent.

* I then tried Winycam, but they too cause DAB issues and build quality wasn't as good as Blackvue

* I now use Thinkware - have 3 - a Q800 pro, 770 and x350:

- x350 is the oldest and is in the old car - its good but lacks some features the other two have.

- 770 is good and I have this linked to the Thinkware passive battery

- Q800 is great and I have this linked to the Thinkware passive battery

- Build quality is great, except the dashcam mount which isn't as good as the Blackvue mounts. Though I had an f800 for 2 years that failed and was out of warranty - until last year they only offered a pathetic 1 year warranty (it's now 2 years). Though they gave me the Q800 at 50% off which I took

- The Thinkware passive battery is excellent and the best ive used by a mile. It is a must for any dashcam and provides my dashcams about 2 months in parking mode

For me the best are Thinkware Q800 pro with their ivolt battery or the blackvue 900 (though im reluctant to recommend blackvue as I don't know if they sorted their DAB issues)

 

[8YARWY]

Another one for the F800 pro Thinkware.
Front and back in both cars and front in the van.
Over 2 years with no issues.


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[Shawn8V]

Having owned two variants of blackvue cameras. The 650 and now the 900, Ive only experienced dab issues once which was when the DAB Radio is the default media type upon start up of the car.