I'd like to get a dash cam, but I have a list of requirements 

 

I thought it might be easier if I describe what I'm looking for and see if anyone has something that fits the description, or knows of something that does! 

 

I'd like something that's wired in, will start itself up when I turn on the ignition (otherwise I'd probably just not turn it on!) and turn itself off when I stop. I'd like it to record to an SD card/flash/hard drive and then just overwrite itself every month or whatever, so that it can't get full, but I have time to access the video if necessary. 

 

Would quite like front and rear, but price may prohibit!

 

To fit in a Fabia 1 VRS.

 

Thoughts?  :peek: 

Blackvue does all that I believe, tiny too so easy hidden behind mirror etc.

Two Möbius Action cams I reckon

Tricky one, I've spent a little while (probably too long) reading about them and trying to choose. I settled on a mi-witness setup but from my light reading there are lots of options out there, to suit all budgets and tastes.

I was keen on some parking recording which is available on a number of cameras, but I also decided I was after a fully linked system (back and front) my choice narrowed essentially to a blackvue or mi-witness, and there was a deal on the mi-witness package.

Happy to let you know what I think of it once I've fitted it!

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Plenty of them will do all that but I'd consider spending the money on a good one since the cheaper Chinese ones are a bit hit or miss with quality.

 

You'll  need to wire it in yourself or have someone do it for you.

 

Might be cheaper to get two cameras rather than a combined front and rear.

Also got Blackvue DR300s, DR550GW 2CH and Roadhawk RH2 wouldn't like to test number plate reading on any of them

E prance 0801 as recommended by FUBAR

 

Nice peice of kit

Also got Blackvue DR300s, DR550GW 2CH and Roadhawk RH2 wouldn't like to test number plate reading on any of them

 

So what would be considered a 'quality' camera that is capable of doing that?

So what would be considered a 'quality' camera that is capable of doing that?

I'll pull a bit of footage from each camera tomorrow and upload it so that under identical conditions differences can be seen. I'd recommend a Möbius Action Cam having seen the amazing quality of Fubars footage for a bargain price compared to

£300+ for the RH2 and DR550s

I've got hardwired Blackvue's front and rear.  Fitted and forgotten with the exception of them telling me when they've started recording (don't have to have this on, I just do by choice).

 

Although I agree with Toxic about the quality of Fubar's video's and would probably go that route if it were me now.

 

Gaz

The biggest thing I've realised having spent £600+ on dashcams is that these cheapies in comparison can be better. The RH2 I shelled out on really isn't much better than my DR300S will probably grab footage in the morning now

Has anyone tried any of the ones that Halfords sell?

http://www.halfords.com/technology/dash-cams-parking-sensors/dash-cams

I've got gift vouchers I can use there.

Has anyone tried any of the ones that Halfords sell?

http://www.halfords.com/technology/dash-cams-parking-sensors/dash-cams

I've got gift vouchers I can use there.

 

Nextbase 402g is good. Has the advantage of GPS & the screen displays (as a selectable option) a compass rose & a digital speedometer. Good build quality, true HD video, superb aftersales direct from Nextbase.

Thanks for the replies guy, I will have to do some googling on these cameras! I don't want to spend a fortune, but I want something that is good enough quality. Doesn't have to be super HD or anything, but as mentioned, seeing the reg plates etc could be pretty useful. 

 

Are they particularly hard to fit? Are any easier than others?

 

Edit: also, could I buy one cam for now, then buy a rear one to go with it in the future? 

 

and another question - just reading about the Nextbase one - and it mentioned night vision. Do not all of them have this? I guess it's worth having.

 

I'm finding it hard to tell if these ones are wired or not from googling them... can't see wires... I don't want to have to touch it at all really - don't want to be charging batteries or turning it on and off. It doesn't mention any of this stuff from what I've seen so far :\

Edited 28 April, 201511 yr by Loz

Thanks for the replies guy, I will have to do some googling on these cameras! I don't want to spend a fortune, but I want something that is good enough quality. Doesn't have to be super HD or anything, but as mentioned, seeing the reg plates etc could be pretty useful.

Are they particularly hard to fit? Are any easier than others?

Edit: also, could I buy one cam for now, then buy a rear one to go with it in the future?

and another question - just reading about the Nextbase one - and it mentioned night vision. Do not all of them have this? I guess it's worth having.

I'm finding it hard to tell if these ones are wired or not from googling them... can't see wires... I don't want to have to touch it at all really - don't want to be charging batteries or turning it on and off. It doesn't mention any of this stuff from what I've seen so far :\

Pretty much all wired, fitting is easy

Pretty much all of them are wired in - batteries would last only 20/30 mins for the most part. The wires are normally well hidden behind the trim, and headliner.

 

There a a few video's around covering fitting (mostly front) - like this one: 

 

 

You could definitely buy one for the front to begin with and add another later - some might plug in to the first, or just run completely separate.

 

I sourced mine from carcamerashop who had a reasonable bit of info and a reasonable range of cameras, but googling will bring up a lot of info. 

 

Is there not still a group buy on the mobius cameras?

Nextbase 402g is good. Has the advantage of GPS & the screen displays (as a selectable option) a compass rose & a digital speedometer. Good build quality, true HD video, superb aftersales direct from Nextbase.

Think I might try one of those then. I was a underwhelmed with the Mini 0805 I tried before.

Think I might try one of those then. I was a underwhelmed with the Mini 0805 I tried before.

 

I've had the Nextbase 402g for almost 12 months & it has been brilliant. However, a few weeks ago it started to play up slightly - nothing serious but it would have difficulty switching off, taking several attempts to do so. Nextbase Technical services were wonderful spending some time on the phone suggesting several remedies. None of these worked so they arranged an advance replacement delivered next day & the courier collected the faulty item at the same time. How's that for service?

I also have a Ambarella Mini 0806 - wonderful video, but very poor assembly quality & non-existent aftersales service. I had to return it to China & then wait almost 2 months for a replacement; and guess what - the replacement is also faulty, different fault though, So I've got to go through the same procedure again Grrr

As for wires... They plug in to the cigarette lighter. It's easy enough to wire them directly into the fuse box though & hide the wires out of sight. That's what I've done with mine & done a few others for Brisky members too.

 

It really is that easy.  The only dismantling I had to do was to pull the cover off the fusebox and to remove the end panel from the dashboard for access.  The wires to the dashcam are tucked behind the rubber door trim and headlining - easy.

 

Mine is a BlackVue DR380G HD, which performs well, includes GPS, and is so small that it fits entirely behind the rear-view mirror.  Day or night from the driver's seat, you would not know it was there.  But it wasn't cheap (£160 IIRC)

If you get one from Amazon that'll probably make returning it easier if there is a problem.

 

I had an E-Prance G1W which ?I bought on the basis of a few reviews. It took good pictures but the power supply put out so much interference that the radio was unusable. I think that's not uncommon since the Chinese stuff doesn't have to meet electrical interference standards.

 

E-PRANCE as a name means nothing btw. These cameras are made by all sorts of Chinese companies under various names.

 

I was thinking about getting a Transcend camera. They're a reliable memory manufacture and I suspect the whole thing will be a bit better made.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00GRYT5QI?colid=1Q324K003H5VO&coliid=I1I2RKHJXY1S0I&psc=1&ref_=wl_it_dp_o_pd_nS_ttl

 

The dearer one has built in wifi and a GPS and android apps to go with it so you can set it up from a tablet or phone.

I have a Mobius and it does what you want.

Mine was hard wired using the FUBAR'S Guide to 12v happiness but at the weekend I changed the 2x 12v 'cigarette lighter ' over to a 2x usb adapter and the connection to the camera is much firmer.

I have the Transcend Pro Drive200 and the Roadhawk DH2. Of the two, the Transcend is the better camera: images quality, wider angled lens.

uk.transcend-info.com/Products/No-498

I have the Transcend on the rear screen and the Roadhawk on the front. Ideally it should be the other way around: the Transcend is about the size of a packet of cigarettes and the Roadhawk is far narrower. The power addaptors are different so I can't swap then over.

I think I paid about £80 for the Transcend, and about £160 for the Roadhawk.

I'm not aware of any camera available at a reasonable price that offers decent night capability. With the rear camera I will 'touch' the brake (not brake test!) so it Will light up the VRN.

Remember, the higher quality the images, the bigger the storage card required. Born my cameras record at 100mb per minute.

E prance 0801 as recommended by FUBAR

 

Nice peice of kit

Wouldn't be a bad option for the price point if running 2 of them, they are a great value camera for what they offer and the model range goes up to the mini 0806 at present (0805 is best currently in that range due to some issues with 0806 currently fingers crossed FW update resolves).

 

If you get one from Amazon that'll probably make returning it easier if there is a problem.

 

I had an E-Prance G1W which ?I bought on the basis of a few reviews. It took good pictures but the power supply put out so much interference that the radio was unusable. I think that's not uncommon since the Chinese stuff doesn't have to meet electrical interference standards.

 

E-PRANCE as a name means nothing btw. These cameras are made by all sorts of Chinese companies under various names.

 

I was thinking about getting a Transcend camera. They're a reliable memory manufacture and I suspect the whole thing will be a bit better made.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00GRYT5QI?colid=1Q324K003H5VO&coliid=I1I2RKHJXY1S0I&psc=1&ref_=wl_it_dp_o_pd_nS_ttl

 

The dearer one has built in wifi and a GPS and android apps to go with it so you can set it up from a tablet or phone.

 

The whole thing with various companies under different names is that with the lower priced as often referred to as 'Chinese' cameras (when most of them are made there regardless of make and price) is that with the good lower priced ones like the G1W and the mini 08XX series there are LOTS of counterfeit ones out there which are inferior and cheese people off who end up with them and not up to scratch, then in turn soils the name of the actual ones they are fakes of. Hundreds of thousands of happy genuine E-Prance customers world wide. G1W is the bottom budget no frills model made down to the price at the end of the day. Like with anything though genuine ones can still fail too.

Transcend drive pro. Just a screen shot. Very good quality £80 from amazon (includes 16gb card).

I may move this into the back and get a newer on in front (have a cheapo one in the back at the mo)

Wifi connection between the camera and any device you can download the app on good for reviewing film.

J

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