dashcam needed but which is best value

BOWFER

neilmcl said:

You need to reformat SD cards for this type of application regularly, ie, at least every month or so, and doing it via a PC isn't good enough, it needs to use the format facility in the camera. Not doing it is the most common cause of premature SD card failure in dashcams.

The SD cards have never been near a PC.
So both SD cards failing, and then failing to reformat, is down to the cameras.

neilmcl

BOWFER said:

neilmcl said:

You need to reformat SD cards for this type of application regularly, ie, at least every month or so, and doing it via a PC isn't good enough, it needs to use the format facility in the camera. Not doing it is the most common cause of premature SD card failure in dashcams.

The SD cards have never been near a PC.
So both SD cards failing, and then failing to reformat, is down to the cameras.

OK, try this. Although I said don't format them via the PC, do so to begin with, this will make sure that the cards still work one way or another. Once you've done that and you can read via your PC, install them into the cameras and reformat them again using the onboard format tool.

Also, one other thing. Are the cards suitable for a dashcam, are they the right size and type? Not any old micro sd cards are appropriate for dashcam or surveillance applications.

BOWFER

neilmcl said:

BOWFER said:

neilmcl said:

You need to reformat SD cards for this type of application regularly, ie, at least every month or so, and doing it via a PC isn't good enough, it needs to use the format facility in the camera. Not doing it is the most common cause of premature SD card failure in dashcams.

The SD cards have never been near a PC.
So both SD cards failing, and then failing to reformat, is down to the cameras.

OK, try this. Although I said don't format them via the PC, do so to begin with, this will make sure that the cards still work one way or another. Once you've done that and you can read via your PC, install them into the cameras and reformat them again using the onboard format tool.

Also, one other thing. Are the cards suitable for a dashcam, are they the right size and type? Not any old micro sd cards are appropriate for dashcam or surveillance applications.

Well the SD cards fitted in and worked fine for months.
TBH I've no inclination to fit the cameras again, but thanks for the tip if I change my mind.

JustAnotherSaver

Oh, a follow on from my previous post due to what has been mentioned since.

The card quality and the formatting was not the issue with mine. I looked at other 522gw sample footage and decided that it wasn't my unit either that was at fault. The camera itself is just poor. Some will think it's great but that's the thing about opinions.

The cards I use are various ones that hit top rankings in best/good dash cam cards reviews. Never bought on the cheap and formatted fine enough. 

Supersonos

JustAnotherSaver said:

Personally I think Nextbase is a load of carp. I bought the 522GW (which is supposed to be #1 based on some websites rankings, or was at the time) and found the image quality to be poor. Night time recording was also poor.

Wow.  I have a Nextbase 322 and think its picture quality is amazing.  The angle-of-view of the lens is perfect for picking up what's going on outside and the resolution is great for picking out number plates, signs etc.  

Can't believe you say the quality is "carp".  It's for recording incidents - you're not making a Hollywood movie.  Plus, card space is an important factor.  I like the fact that a 128GB card holds weeks worth of footage so if anything drops through my door, I'll still have the footage of what happened.  The higher the resolution, the quicker the card will fill up, so Mega Ultra 4K HD Super Res isn't necessarily a good thing.  Good ol' fashioned 1080 will be more than enough and will allow more to be stored on the SD card.

vinylmusic

I chose Nextbase because it not only records the moment but also the location using GPS. I have one that has 2 cameras, one front and one rear that fits to rear window. It was very reasonable priced

Don't go for the cheap ones often sold in garages, supermarkets or online, they usually lack GPS

Mine can be left switched on outside my house and I. can monitor it using mobile phone and WiFi catching and recording suspicious activity.

donemedosh

Thanks to all those who passed on thier thoughts. I will look at all the dashcams mentioned & see whats the best I can afford. I also never thought about the type or size of SD cards. Once again thanks

Grumpy_chap

As I understand it, any SD card is prone to corruption through the constant write-erase cycle of a dashcam or any other recording device.  This can be guarded against by regular re-formatting the card.  We do ours at the beginning of every month.

BOWFER

Grumpy_chap said:

As I understand it, any SD card is prone to corruption through the constant write-erase cycle of a dashcam or any other recording device.  This can be guarded against by regular re-formatting the card.  We do ours at the beginning of every month.

This sort of faff puts me clean off anything.
You may not mind doing this, but in 2021 terms this is so backward it's unbelievable and unacceptable to me.
Ask yourself if you'd put up with any other electrical item in your house needing monthly maintenance like this.

neilmcl

BOWFER said:

Grumpy_chap said:

As I understand it, any SD card is prone to corruption through the constant write-erase cycle of a dashcam or any other recording device.  This can be guarded against by regular re-formatting the card.  We do ours at the beginning of every month.

This sort of faff puts me clean off anything.
You may not mind doing this, but in 2021 terms this is so backward it's unbelievable and unacceptable to me.
Ask yourself if you'd put up with any other electrical item in your house needing monthly maintenance like this.

No different to emptying your vacuum when full or cleaning the filters, there are plenty of electrical items in your home and elsewhere, although an SD card isn't an electrical item so not really sure of your argument, that require regular maintenance, and if not may work but will likely fail prematurely. You never check your oil or inflate your tyres in your car then?