Guide to Dashcams

CONTENTS

• Guide to Dashcams
• Resolution
• View Angle
• Gazer F115 Power Adapter

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There are many models of dashcams with similar characteristics. Therefore, choose the device that will satisfy you completely – not so easy. It will be great if the dashcam can record everything that is happening around the vehicle (parameter “View Angle”) and with the best image quality. Quality means the legibility of small parts, such as car number (parameter “Resolution”). Users do not care about CMOS or CCD matrix and what size of it. The best parameters of the matrix can be “killed” by dashcam’s design or simply not quality mount it on the glass of the car. Dashcams with identical advertised characteristics have different real characteristics.

When choosing a dashcam , first of all, pay attention to the first three characteristics (see below). And then, compare other characteristics that will add additional features and usability of dashcam. But remember, if your dashcam is able to determine the coordinates of the vehicle (GPS function), can be controlled by phone via WiFi and anything else, but at the same time, you can not determine the number of a passing car on the video, even at a distance of 5 meters, it will not be the dashcam. It is a “Home Video Camera.”

• RIGID MOUNTING OF DASHCAM – determined by the quality of the bracket.
  Typically, dashcam attached to the windshield of the car by “suction cup” or double-sided tape. I prefer the “suction cup”. Mounting brackets looks similary. The best way to determine the quality of mounting brackets – practical. Attach dashcam to any glass and push it. If you see the slightest jitter – it must be changed. Do not expect “in the car will be good.”

• “RESOLUTION” – as clearly visible small details.

• “VIEWING ANGLE” – how murch you can see from the left to right in the vehicle

• FRAME RATE – the number of frames per second.
  For example, the vehicle is moving at a speed of 90 km per hour, that is, vehicle travels 25 meters per sec. If the frame rate is 25 frames per second, dashcam will make a picture every meter of the car moving. It is enough for fixing the events at low speeds, ie, you can determine the car number plate. It should also be borne in mind that increasing the speed of vehicle will increase the distance that is not fixed by the dashcam. Therefore, it is desirable to expose the maximum frame rate, which is supported by the dashcam. Up to date, all dashcam maintain the frame rate of 30 fps of 1080p resolution. Advanced dashcam – shoot at a 80 fps, 1080p.

• WDR (Wide Dynamic Range) –  image illumination levels (see below).

The rest of the features will add the usability of the dashcam, but does not affect the mission of the dashcam – record as much information with the maximum resolution. Perhaps, over time, the “Night Mode” and “Infrared Light” will be improved and will show good results.

• Night Mode – enhance visibility at night, but to determine the car number plate is very difficult.
• Infrared Light – effective at a distance of several meters. There are self-contained IR illuminator that can shine on the tens of meters.
• G-Sensor – “TURN ON” the dashcam in case of impact the car, for example, in the parking lot.
• Motion Detection – “TURN ON” the dashcam in case of motion detection within sight of the dashcam, for example, in the parking lot.
• GPS – “Global Positioning System” – determines the coordinates of the dashcam.
• WiFi – allows you to control the dashcam with a mobile phone
• Ability to rotate the dashcam on the bracket to the left, right, up, down – it will come in handy when dealing with the police or make a video in the car.
• Easy to dismantle – ie the ability to remove the dashcam by one hand. Useful when you need a quick shot outside of the car.
• Battery capacity – the more, the better.
• Built-in display – better to have.
• Temperature conditions – the greater the range, the better. For example, -50 degrees. to +50 deg

The article covers the following devices:

Dashcams:

• Globex GU DVF-011
• Gazer F115
• Falcon HD43-LCD

Action camera:

• GoPro HERO4 Black

Digital Camera:

• Canon IXUS 220HS

Mobile phone:

• Sony Xperia S

Since it is tempting to use the old digital camera or mobile as a dashcam “Canon IXUS 220HS” and “Sony Xperia S” have been added to compare with a dashcam. Action camera GoPro can be use as a dashcam too.

ADVICE

• As the cost of dashcams with a resolution of 2K (2304 × 1296) is commensurate with the Full HD dashcams (1920 × 1080) choose registrars with the highest resolution.
• Also, it is desirable to have the greatest View Angle is not less than 170 degrees.
• WDR function is well-proven.
• Take a fixed connection to 12B (ie not via the cigarette lighter but directly to the + 12V).
• It is better to have two 16G microSD card than one on 32G .
• Regularly review the video (at least once a week) in order to make sure that the dashcam is working.

Additional features will not be superfluous. They only increase the cost of the dashcam.

There is a video version of dashcams review. Because it is quite troublesome to adjust the video, some of the info is stored on the web site, some – on youtube.