Choosing a Dash Cam. What's Good These Days, and What Features Do You Find Unnecessary ?

Widget on 10/09/2022 - 04:33

Hi all,

Sorry to highjack the thread, the post-master discovered similar existing topics, so figured I should post in one of them just in case.

I'm looking to get mum a dashcam for her car, was hoping to get some feedback on what's good, bad, overrated etc..

I'm interested in cams that;

Front and rear. Whether I get a duo cam or two single cams
Parking mode
Ability to read number plates night/day (some videos show over-exposed due to lights and can't read, others are low quality/grainy & also cannot be read)
GPS (for data/map overlay, though probably not a deal breaker. Do users find GPS data useful in any way?)
Lens with an angle large enough to see left<>right of windscreen (if that makes sense)
Capacitor
I can't think of any other useful features that she might need. Do you guys have any suggestions and what features in cameras (if any) do you find overrated or lacking thus rendering them almost useless ?

From searching, it appears OzBargain favorites are the Viofo brand cameras. Is this still the case? I had a look at those and some things I found include,

A119 V3 popular choice but comes in front-facing only. (no rear option)
A129 series, the A129 Plus Duo version doesn't allow for 'Buffering Parking Mode' and the A129 Pro Duo I heard had a heating issue ?
GPS ability doesn't come standard with the Viofo cameras and would need a GPS mount that's an option extra
I've also read the Blackvue and Thinkware were good, but also 2-3x the price. Have there been any decent deals on them, or still looking at $500+ ?

I don't have a budget at this stage, I'm just window shopping, seeing what the go is and what prices I should expect to pay for the required specs.

Another thing I came across was a LinusTechTips video where he basically points out that most cameras use the same sensors, and it really comes down to 'features' that drive the price. Any thoughts on his video? https://youtu.be/4AnyhHl3_tE

Thanks in advance,

Automotive Dash Camera

Comments

  • [Deactivated] on 10/09/2022 - 06:46
    +1

    I find blackvue, thinkware and the like very overrated, 600 bucks for something that doesn't record as clear an image as a $200 viofo? why?

    I think most people use the GPS to record speed, though it might not read the same speed as your speedo.

    Viofo 119 V3 or the A129 Plus are your best bets, as far as I'm aware, they come with GPS as standard, at least they do on amazon. Both use capacitors.

    Some might be over exposed because of the angle they have the dashcam on, you don't want to aim it too high, it looks pretty for videos but it isn't good for actually recording accidents.

    The linus video wasn't really helpful, in my opinion.

    • apsilon on 10/09/2022 - 08:32

      I find blackvue, thinkware and the like very overrated, 600 bucks for something that doesn't record as clear an image as a $200 viofo? why?

      I've had Blackvue (several), Thinkware and Viofo and IMO Blackvue and Thinkware both had superior image quality but it was very close, about 5% better for 500% more $$$. My current cam is a Blackvue however.

      • [Deactivated] on 10/09/2022 - 08:38
        +1

        Really? I went through many youtube videos when I was looking for a dashcam, and in each video, I found that the blackvue and thinkware dashcams always had slightly worse image quality than the viofo dashcams

        • apsilon on 10/09/2022 - 09:45

          You're not looking at the raw video on Youtube.

          • [Deactivated] on 10/09/2022 - 09:51
            +1

            @apsilon: that's true, but in comparison videos the blackvue should have still had a higher image quality than the viofos, should they not?

            • apsilon on 10/09/2022 - 12:09

              @[Deactivated]: I can only tell you what I've personally experienced over the past 13 years of using dashcams. Viofo is great value for money but they're not the absolute top in image quality. I haven't used their latest camera however so maybe it is now superior. Thinkware IMO is better than Blackvue and I'd be using a Thinkware right now except they didn't have a 4K camera when I bought the last one and the 2K model was restricted to dealers for some reason. The Thinkware safety cam feature is really useful driving areas you're not familiar.

              Oh and IMO the Viofo cams could technically be illegal as they have a screen within the drivers vision so it's important that you set the option to turn the screen off.

              • Widget on 12/09/2022 - 05:58

                @apsilon: Thanks Apsilon,

                I was originally looking at Thinkware, but the price was 3x more than the Viofo :/. I'll have to look into their 'safety cam' feature. As for Viofo being illegal due to screen, didn't really think of that. Does that mean gps devices (on amount or installed in a car) would be illegal too ? I drive with my phone gps mounted in a suction cup-phone holder :/.

                [edit] nope, all good, just read up on it for nsw. Seems to be all good from my understanding.

                https://www.nsw.gov.au/driving-boating-and-transport/roads-s…

                • apsilon on 12/09/2022 - 08:45

                  @Widget: The safety cam feature uses the GPS to alert you of fixed speed and red light cameras as well as areas known to often have mobile cameras along with the speed limit. It's not perfect, there was one area on my daily commute where the speed limit it said was 60 was actually 80 (better than the other way around I guess) and the mobile camera warnings are repeated too often. Useful reminder in an area you're not familiar with and you're trying to find a particular street or address while paying attention to other traffic etc.

      • pegaxs on 10/09/2022 - 10:08
        +2

        All my work vehicles and my parents vehicles all have Blackvue and I have Viofo, and the video quality on their BlackVue cameras are trash when compared to price. Their quality is lower than my Viofo cameras which cost 1/3rd the price.

        Important facts that may be required, such as number plate readability was much much lower on the BlackVue than it was on the Viofo. The only reason they all went with these cameras was because “more money must equal better quality” and it simply doesn’t.

        I’m not saying BlackVue are trash, but I am saying that they are way way over priced for their quality of footage. If I was paying 3 to 4 times the price, I am expecting 3 to 4 times the quality, not less quality.

    • Widget on 12/09/2022 - 05:51

      Thanks Sauron, :)

      What's not good for recording accidents? Having the dashcam so high ?

      • [Deactivated] on 12/09/2022 - 12:23

        yes, it will make it harder to read licence plates because of the auto exposure correction if you are aiming it high, the general recommendation to aim for is 40 % sky and 60 % road

        place the cam itself as high as possible, but just try not to aim the camera itself too high. i only have experience with viofo, but once they are glued to the windshield, the camera angle can be adjusted up / down.

  • djprima on 10/09/2022 - 06:59
    +1

    I've used both viofo and thinkware. They are both good but thinkware has more features. I like the geofencing feature and voice alerts in thinkware.

    I need to arrange airtasker to install the viofo as I'm not confident routing the cables through airbags. The thinkware comes with free installation from the shop so cost is not really that far apart in the end

    • Widget on 12/09/2022 - 05:52

      Free install is nice. What shop does the free install ? Authorised reseller ?

      • djprima on 12/09/2022 - 10:32

        Did mine at Bankstown sound, wait for promo. $749 installed for my u1000

  • Benoffie on 10/09/2022 - 08:10

    We got the viofo a129 pro duo 4k. Try waiting until Black Friday sales if possible. Very clear, easy to set up parking mode and change to a 10 min record cycle. Dropped a 256GB card in. So far, no issues. Had installed by a local stereo installer.

    • Widget on 12/09/2022 - 05:54

      Thanks Willow. I think if I went Viofo, the 129pro would have to do as the plus doesnt allow for buffering parking mode. How much did they charge for install ? Videos I've watched so far, the cables seem to just tuck inside all the trim, which is easier enough, but if I have to pull out an airbag trim, that has me a little worried.

      • Benoffie on 12/09/2022 - 09:15

        $300 for install. Too much hassle for me tbh and knowing my luck id have stuffed something up

  • SuperMick on 10/09/2022 - 10:30

    I have NextBase 522 front and NetBase rear, had them installed professionally, I bought these because NextBase has so many good revues.

  • Ryanek on 10/09/2022 - 10:33

    Viofo is the answer

  • bazingaa on 10/09/2022 - 15:39

    A119 V3 popular choice but comes in front-facing only. (no rear option)

    get two of these, use them for front and rear with GPS, problem solved. it was like $100 before

  • Widget on 12/09/2022 - 07:34

    Has anyone used the A139 3CH 3 CHANNEL DASH CAM FRONT 2K 1440P + INTERIOR 1080P + REAR 1080P ? https://www.viofo.com.au/product/a139/

    • John Kimble on 12/09/2022 - 20:05

      Why do you need an interior cam?

  • iceteacake on 12/09/2022 - 13:48
    Merged from Dash Cam Recommendations

    Does dashcam play any significance when there is an accident and would insurance company rely on it when there is an accident?
    What is a decent dashcam recommendation?

    • Hybroid on 12/09/2022 - 13:50
      +1

      Yes dashcams are very useful and can be the difference between proving it's someone else's fault when it comes to he-said-she-said-they-said claims.

      VIOFO are probably the go-to at the moment though most of them are generally quite poor offerings for today's available tech and their pricing.

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