DashCams. I assumed they were just GoPros.

[GoodEnough]

Anyone know the basics? DVR? SD Card?
How do these work, in general?
Does it WiFi to some storage PC in the trunk?

http://www.amazon.com/Cobra-Electronics-CDR-840-Drive/dp/B00K7ZN0UA
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00B4E9764

What's a popular good enough value basic one to get?

 

[Kelvrick]

https://dashcamtalk.com/

 

[Lat]

Most store onto a MicroSDHC card, with looping storage.

The most popular decent-quality one is the G1W and its variants (the G1W-CB is probably the best option). Make sure you get a version from a recommended vendor, because there are many fakes on ebay/Amazon.

https://dashcamtalk.com/g1w/

 

[JeffMD]

Oh hell no, Russians can't afford go pros. But same exact concept. A self contained camera with either SD or internal storage. By default, as soon as it is powered on it records on a loop, deleting the oldest footage when memory fills up, and minimally there is a button that saves the last 5-15 minutes of video (some may use a gforce sensor too) permanently.

If you have the memory cards around, there are many android apps that replicate it, you can turn an old phone with a half descent camera into a dash cam.

 

[RossMAN]

https://dashcamtalk.com/

This x100.

 

[luv2liv]

i have the Mobius. super small and works great for $85 from amazon. records to microSD card. you can leave it in the car without fear of someone breaking in and stealing it. https://dashcamtalk.com/mobius/
you know a product is good when you order 1 from ebay and a fake arrives. and the fake does not work anything like the genuine one. dammit.

 

[GoodEnough]

I like the idea of the storage loop.
In practice, 99% of footage will be junk.
The day something happens, you will be downloading off the SD and posting it.

 

[GoodEnough]

What's a common size SD card people use?
Video files are massive.
1GB per minute?

 

[RossMAN]

What's a common size SD card people use?
Video files are massive.
1GB per minute?

https://forum.dashcamtalk.com/

https://forum.dashcamtalk.com/threads/dvr-027-how-many-hrs-hd-video-on-a-32-gb-card.338/

 

[mmntech]

Dashcam talk is the best resource. It's what I used when shopping for mine. Had it for a couple years now. The 16GB SD card I put in it records a couple hours in 720p, then erases the oldest file and starts over.

 

[luv2liv]

with my dashcam recording 1080p with audio, i get 40mins on a 16gb card.
old footage is deleted automatically.

 

[pm]

I have a G1W-C and it's been great. The thing works perfectly, powers up when I start the car and the video that comes off of it looks surprisingly good.

 

[GoodEnough]

How do you guys mount the dashcam?
Is it more seamless than a giant suction cup for GoPro?
What about sharing between cars?

 

[yh125d]

I have this one. Came well reviewed and it's damn good. Way better than I would have thought, and way better than what you see in the russian dashcam videos. with a 32gb card it could loop multiple hours. Has GPS too, and can be detached and used as a camera if required (though not necessary really with smartphones everywhere). Has a small adhesive mount that it slides into, if you put it on the far side of your rearview you'll never see it.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=9SIA4KN1KV9067

 

[luv2liv]

How do you guys mount the dashcam?
Is it more seamless than a giant suction cup for GoPro?
What about sharing between cars?

there are bike mounts with 1/4 inch thread to hold cameras onto bike's handle bars. so i got 1 from ebay and it grabs onto the stem of the rear view mirror as seen here: https://youtu.be/SYI2mB_7l2I?t=5m10s
i have these installed in all the cars. and because the cams are so cheap, each car has 1 anyway. i suppose if you travel a lot and rent cars, there are suction cup mounts too.

 

[Brian Stirling]

I've owned two dashcams and have not been very impressed by the quality. I also have a GoPro and it is MUCH higher quality but cost a lot more to.

Most dashcams are made by Chinese companies and are mostly in house designs and that's the problem -- there designs are not very good.

But, if you want a dashcam for under $100 don't expect GoPro quality.


Brian

 

[GoodEnough]

I like the idea of how small the Mobius types are.
Doesn't get in the way.
More likely to switch them between cars.

 

[luv2liv]

I've owned two dashcams and have not been very impressed by the quality. I also have a GoPro and it is MUCH higher quality but cost a lot more to.

Most dashcams are made by Chinese companies and are mostly in house designs and that's the problem -- there designs are not very good.

But, if you want a dashcam for under $100 don't expect GoPro quality.


Brian

Gopro is bigger than the Chinese ones. I wouldn't leave it in the car. With my mobius, I can leave it in the car parked anywhere and not worry about Windows smashed.

 

[Midwayman]

I just wish I could find a cheap one where the camera module is on a long cord from the recorder/battery. That way I don't have anything large on my windshield and I can bury the rest where it won't attract thieves.