Car dashboard cameras

Hoopie1

A couple of quick questions:
1) If I install a dashboard camera, do I have to tell my insurer (or, if not, risk invalidating my insurance)?
2) Has anybody got any recommendations for one? I don't want to pay the earth.

Retrogamer

Hoopie1 wrote: »

A couple of quick questions:
1) If I install a dashboard camera, do I have to tell my insurer (or, if not, risk invalidating my insurance)?
2) Has anybody got any recommendations for one? I don't want to pay the earth.

1) Only if you modify the vehicle to fit it by "hard wiring" it into the car so the cable can't be unplugged.


2) I use the G1W myself. Bought from Chinese seller on ebay and works great.
More info, reviews & advice on best bang for buck cameras here.

https://dashcamtalk.com/

captainawsome

Google techmoan, he does some very good reviews.

I personally use a transcend drivepro 200 and am very happy with it.

smudger1964

Lidls are selling this http://www.lidl.co.uk/en/our-offers-2491.htm?action=showDetail&id=25365&ar=12
from the 23rd july

Astronaughtwannabe

The thing about dash cams is that a) there are some that aren't reliable and after a couple of weeks the recording glitches, skips or just isn't there. Also, b) because of the distances involved, even the best end of cameras don't give enough by way of clarity.

That said, (and I review incidents caught on these quite often) they can be useful as one of the considerations to be taken into the overall account. That is even if the don't capture the actual incident itself.

I just have a £40 eBay job in both my cars, it's good enough.

They're all pretty good, price certainly doesn't mean it's better than others. Some of those £12 hobbies have proved far more reliable than the £200 top end stuff and they all do the same job.

The GPS ones can have additional benefits but as with all cameras, if you drive like a tit it might be used against you. I've seen camera footage that drivers claim 'proves I was innocent' and it has done the complete opposite. If you are not sure, don't make yourself a fool by giving it your insurer!

forgotmyname

I bought one after he reviewed it, The small 720p one with front and rear cams.
Front is the main box, with a small bullet cam for the rear.

Still working after several years, i forgot when i bought it now? Under £40 and delivery within the UK, but probably a chinese seller.

scotsbob

I would second captainawesome's advice in the 3rd post.


Techmoan on Youtube has tested just about every model available. After watching his reviews I bought the Mobius 3 years ago because it's small and it's discreet. Performs perfectly.

Iceweasel

The cheapy one was NOT good enough for me.

There are loads of them about with different names but they mostly all look like this:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2-5-HD-Car-Vehicle-Dash-Dashboard-Camera-IR-DVR-Cam-CCTV-Night-Vision-SmartCam-/391168241645?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item5b1371afed

The price has dropped a lot in the last few years - from around £40 down to £10 - makro were selling them at a clearance price of £20 recently.

The problem is that the resolution, despite them saying 'HD' is not good enough to read a number plate unless it's right up close.

I wouldn't recommend that anyone buy of those types.

I now have a Transcend DrivePro 200 and it does everything very well.

The Lidl, one on reading the spec, seems to tick all the boxes - but I would advise waiting until someone gives a report on the quality of it.

forgotmyname

Mine is not like that, And there are much better ones now if you check the reviews mentioned above.

£40 will get you a decent quality HD cam with very good low light performance, unlike a video someone posted recently where a clip in the dark just had to faint spots of light from the headlights, nothing else was visible.

Plenty of phone apps that will do the same also.

dannyrst

I use a GoPro as a dashcam, which doubles up for snowboarding and when we go on holiday (underwater capability etc).

Nessun_Dorma

captainawsome wrote: »

Google techmoan, he does some very good reviews.

I personally use a transcend drivepro 200 and am very happy with it.

Absolutely concur. I love Techmoan, the presenter is down to Earth and plain speaking. He gives clear concise and accurate reviews and rarely steers me wrong (no scrub that, has NEVER steered me wrong).

Personally I use the Mobius Actoin Cam. It is inexpensive, small and discreet, has a great filed of view and is simple to use.

ETA:

You might want to visit the RC Groups forum, they have a section there specifically for cameras. Mainly with radio controlled aircraft and the like, but it helps to get advice from them, because they involve the same equipment.