Dash cameras

[Wanders from Glos]

I was thinking of getting a dash camera. Partly as evidence in the event of an insurance claim but mainly because we drive some scenic routes l, particularly in Europe, and we thought it might be nice to record them.

When I had a quick look there seems to be a plethora of them with a range of prices. Does anyone know much about them, or have experience of using them.

I know the law varies in different countries.

 

[Guigsy]

Excellent plan, that's what we used to do until I realised how often we swap between the two - one day when you think you're not going far so don't bother swapping it over will be the day you need it!

Yes! I have mine permanently wired and it doesn't move. If I had to shuffle it between vehicles or plug it back in every time I moved the van, the one time I needed it, I would have forgotten or rushed and not bothered.

 

[stuartholmes]

I believe Nextbase and Garmin also use the same sensors.

Megapixel for megapixel I'd be surprised if that's not the case, few companies have the facility etc to manufacture their own. It's the same with tv screens - but the sorrounding technology can make a difference & definitely size (the pixel number) does matter.

 

[Quantric]

I always go to Autoexpress and see if they have done any recent reviews. And they have https://www.autoexpress.co.uk/product-group-tests/85714/best-dash-cams-2023. Personally I like the Garmin Dashcams small and neat. But it does look like if you want picture quality then it's Nextbase.

 

[Guigsy]

Megapixel for megapixel I'd be surprised if that's not the case, few companies have the facility etc to manufacture their own. It's the same with tv screens - but the sorrounding technology can make a difference & definitely size (the pixel number) does matter.

The majority of cameras all use the same Sony IMX Starvis sensor and have done for several years. Some of the latest cameras use Starvis 2 I think? Not sure what the improvements are.

Many cameras also use the same all-in-one chip to do the image processing, recording and handle the interface. About half of all cameras make the same jingle tune when they switch on because they are the same chips just in a different branded box and the manufacturer can't even be bothered to change the default noises.

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[Howard B]

I have a Nextbase fitted to the bottom of the screen. Doesnt need removal to pull blinds.

 

[Mike800966]

Entirely agree with the advice GET AND USE A DASHCAM but mindful of point three as it can work against you. Oh and Never jump trafffic lights, but you wouldnt would you? as it will work against you.
We got sideswiped on an A road and initially the other co didnt want to know until they saw the dashcam. Claim was well over £5k for repairs. Get a dashcam, even the cheap ones work, if you can understand the instructions.
Mike

 

[stuartholmes]

Entirely agree with the advice GET AND USE A DASHCAM but mindful of point three as it can work against you. Oh and Never jump trafffic lights, but you wouldnt would you? as it will work against you.
We got sideswiped on an A road and initially the other co didnt want to know until they saw the dashcam. Claim was well over £5k for repairs. Get a dashcam, even the cheap ones work, if you can understand the instructions.
Mike

Getting sideswiped while minding my own business in the middle of a marked lane is exactly what happened to me, which reminds me why having the dashcam's sound recorder on is important - it captured & evidenced the moment of impact, which obviously synchronised with me being in the correct lane & speed.

And you're correct, I never jump traffic lights -although of course the section of video recording you send off to the insurance company and/or police is entirely at your choice. Unless the police arrive & seize your camera or visit you later with a search warrant and some undelete software....

On a related point, my new-to-us PVC feels as if it would sit happily all day at well above 80 (just a guess!), whereas our previous one felt to be struggling to sit at 60, but despite the joy that brings I've taken to setting the cruise control at about 56 on motorways so the lorries pass me instead of the other way round & I enjoy the view of the empty hard shoulder & beyond instead of metal on wheels to the left and the right. It's much more peaceful & adds very little to journey times because I mostly can actually do 56 instead of trying to do 66 or more & having to perpetually slow down & reaccelerate to deal with the changing pattern around me.
Anybody else take that approach, or think I'm doing wrong?

 

[tonyidle]

Getting sideswiped while minding my own business in the middle of a marked lane is exactly what happened to me, which reminds me why having the dashcam's sound recorder on is important - it captured & evidenced the moment of impact, which obviously synchronised with me being in the correct lane & speed.

And you're correct, I never jump traffic lights -although of course the section of video recording you send off to the insurance company and/or police is entirely at your choice. Unless the police arrive & seize your camera or visit you later with a search warrant and some undelete software....

On a related point, my new-to-us PVC feels as if it would sit happily all day at well above 80 (just a guess!), whereas our previous one felt to be struggling to sit at 60, but despite the joy that brings I've taken to setting the cruise control at about 56 on motorways so the lorries pass me instead of the other way round & I enjoy the view of the empty hard shoulder & beyond instead of metal on wheels to the left and the right. It's much more peaceful & adds very little to journey times because I mostly can actually do 56 instead of trying to do 66 or more & having to perpetually slow down & reaccelerate to deal with the changing pattern around me.
Anybody else take that approach, or think I'm doing wrong?

My sweetspot is 65 (set using satnav - 70 on speedo). I find I can stick it on cruise without touching it for miles.

 

[Widge]

Regarding European law, this is from a couple of years ago, in dutch then english, but i would double check for any countries that you are going to.

Dash Cam use across Europe - Thinkware Dash Cam UK

thinkwaredashcam.eu

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[stuartholmes]

Regarding European law, this is from a couple of years ago, in dutch then english, but i would double check for any countries that you are going to.

Dash Cam use across Europe - Thinkware Dash Cam UK

thinkwaredashcam.eu

Very important & surprising info I had no idea about!
Thank you. I just made a note to stay away from Portugal!!

 

[Riverbankannie]

Regarding the “fit and forget” comments above, my Nexbase cameras instructions say one should format the SD card every month. I don’t get around to it that often as it is a bit of a faff but I do do it regularly.

 

[stuartholmes]

Regarding the “fit and forget” comments above, my Nexbase cameras instructions say one should format the SD card every month. I don’t get around to it that often as it is a bit of a faff but I do do it regularly.

Mine reformats in the device, bigger card = less frequent need!

 

[Guigsy]

SD cards do wear out. There are a limited number of writes they'll take before they die. They've all got some built in hidden spare capacity to replace prematurely failed sectors, but it doesn't last forever. The bigger the card, the less frequently it'll loop round and start to suffer wear issues. But a good 32GB card should still last years if you're only doing 10k miles per year.

 

[cyberyacht]

I record parts of my journeys and download the files for compiling YouTube videos of holidays. YouTube videos

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[Wanders from Glos]

I believe it is now possible to fit your phone in such a way as to be used as a dashcam. If you just want scenery videos, why not try that?

That's an interesting idea

 

[Tonks]

I’ve had BlackVue cameras for years now. Compact being wi fi. (No screen). I run inverted image on one of them. Did fit with Reims blind on old van. (In the spot the rear view mirror would take). They’ve all been good and reliable. Occasionally some good offers on “recondition “ units.

My Blackvue camera (hardwired in professionally) has suddenly started asking me to login in order to view any of the clips. If I try to do so it tells me that my password is incorrect. It isn't. Then it asks me to connect the phone to the camera. It's already connected, and has been working fine for months. Up to now I've always been able to just connect immediately via the app on my phone, and see all the clips. But not any more (unless I remove the card from the camera). This is a right PITA, frankly, and I'm not very thrilled about it.

 

[Mickey1]

I'm having difficulty in finding a dash cam that actually fits to the dash. A windscreen sucker type is no good with our Remiss type blinds, if fitted to the dash these cameras are then "upside down" .

Has anyone found a camera to meet my needs. Apologies for piggy backing on this post.

Stick it on the rear view mirror.

 

[stuartholmes]

I'm having difficulty in finding a dash cam that actually fits to the dash. A windscreen sucker type is no good with our Remiss type blinds, if fitted to the dash these cameras are then "upside down" .

Has anyone found a camera to meet my needs. Apologies for piggy backing on this post.

Geistguy , Have you considered something like this: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/40378763...d=link&campid=5338547443&toolid=20001&mkevt=1
Or this: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/17569020...d=link&campid=5338547443&toolid=20001&mkevt=1

 

[Sasbo]

My Blackvue camera (hardwired in professionally) has suddenly started asking me to login in order to view any of the clips. If I try to do so it tells me that my password is incorrect. It isn't. Then it asks me to connect the phone to the camera. It's already connected, and has been working fine for months. Up to now I've always been able to just connect immediately via the app on my phone, and see all the clips. But not any more (unless I remove the card from the camera). This is a right PITA, frankly, and I'm not very thrilled about it.

Strange you should say that, just before we left home last week, the Blackvue in the toad stopped working. Power to the unit ok, reformatted the SD card and eventually did a factory reset. All to no avail, it switches on but that's all it does.

Looks like it's goosed so now looking for a replacement.

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[suavecarve]

Ours is taken down each time because of remis blinds. No great issue
Used in anger yesterday for first time.
Now realise should have changed reg number and time stamp

New side skirt required under gas cupboard.

 

[Shrimp]

I have two also, one in car and other in the camper, nextbase dash cams, fit and forget…

Same here too!

 

[stuartholmes]

I believe Nextbase and Garmin also use the same sensors.

Probably correct. I didn't mean to imply otherwise. I meant the cheap ones are not going to have the same sensor (or lens) as the ones with higher quoted resolution & sensitivity.
The link in someone's post above to the latest autoexpress test report is very helpful - as is the comment about using a smartphone as a dashcam, which is not ideal but very much consistent with my view that the best is best but anything is better than nothing.

 

[Geistguy]

Geistguy , Have you considered something like this: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/40378763...d=link&campid=5338547443&toolid=20001&mkevt=1
Or this: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/17569020...d=link&campid=5338547443&toolid=20001&mkevt=1

Thanks for those links but I don't think they would work as I don't have a rear view mirror and our type of blind is very close to the windscreen when pulled up.

 

[Tonks]

Strange you should say that, just before we left home last week, the Blackvue in the toad stopped working. Power to the unit ok, reformatted the SD card and eventually did a factory reset. All to no avail, it switches on but that's all it does.

Looks like it's goosed so now looking for a replacement.

I'll be interested to know what you change to. How old is your Blackvue?

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[Live Life Now]

Point one: congratulations on deciding to get a dash cam, anything is better than nothing! My son, his partner and I myself, in the space of about six months last year, had cause to use dashcam evidence in claims that saved us squillions in otherwise lost NCB and led to a conviction. So please just get one everybody.

Point two: the above mentioned son used to work in motor insurance claims. Before then he was opposed to dashcams on a civil liberties kind of basis, after a short time of watching footage (including a late motorcyclist's helmetcam, the content of which I leave to your immaginations) he became a firm advocate for their being fitted as standard to all vehicles.

Point three: said son also said, (this is important 'inside information') do not be tempted to tell your motor insurance company that you have one because the one time it's not working will be the one time you want it's recording & when you then have to tell your insurers you can't send it they will (wrongly but understandably) assume you deliberately 'lost' it to hide evidence that you were the driver at fault.

Point four: get it hard wired in so you don't have dangly wires and it is always on and get it stuck to the screen with 3M, not a sucker..

Point five: Any one is better than no one! However, the best you can afford is probably the best to get and Nextbase are the market leaders for good reason.
Their range includes one with a rearview camera. Look for high night sensitivity, lots of megapixels and a high refresh rate. Really, just the best in their range that's affordable is my recommendation. Don't skimp on the SD card.
Amazon (especially their Marketplace) is, unfortunately, a good place to look.

Point six: If Remiss blinds are an issue, there are versions that are built into the rearview mirror, they replace your existing mirror & have a little camera pointing out from the back. Genius for many people's needs.

Point seven: point one applies!!!

(sorry if anyone already said any of that!)

ps. Point eight: (or point three b) if there is no evidence to the contrary, any collision that involves lane changing or on a roundabout will be treated by your insurers as 'knock for knock', ie, goodbye to your excess & no claims discount. Dashcam recordings are evidence!! (Especially with sound, but be careful what you say.)

The information within your comment is of tremendous value, thank you for bothering to be so precise.

 

[gus-lopez]

Regarding European law, this is from a couple of years ago, in dutch then english, but i would double check for any countries that you are going to.

Dash Cam use across Europe - Thinkware Dash Cam UK

thinkwaredashcam.eu

"Then in a few countries, such as Austria and Portugal, dash cam use is completely banned. Repeat offenders in Austria face eye-watering five-figure fines."

You just throw back what they always use" If you have nothing to hide blah ,blah ,blah" If austria & portugal ban them then more reason to use them as they are definitely countries where the police cannot in any way be trusted.

As I said I turn mine on & it stays on wherever I go.Not that I would ever consider entering austria again.Godforsaken shite hole.

 

[Widge]

Thanks for those links but I don't think they would work as I don't have a rear view mirror and our type of blind is very close to the windscreen when pulled up.

"Then in a few countries, such as Austria and Portugal, dash cam use is completely banned. Repeat offenders in Austria face eye-watering five-figure fines."

You just throw back what they always use" If you have nothing to hide blah ,blah ,blah" If austria & portugal ban them then more reason to use them as they are definitely countries where the police cannot in any way be trusted.

As I said I turn mine on & it stays on wherever I go.Not that I would ever consider entering austria again.Godforsaken shite hole.

I think it is linked to civil liberties, surveillance cameras normally have to be clearly marked so anyone being filmed is aware of the situation. Obviously dashcams are not marked and could even be considered covert monitoring. Although i did read of a case in Portugal of sombody driving dangerously causing an accident also caught on a dashcam. He tried to get the case thrown out becouse he had been filmed illegally. But the judge wasn't having any of it, and he got prosecuted, as so he should.

 

[stuartholmes]

Thanks for those links but I don't think they would work as I don't have a rear view mirror and our type of blind is very close to the windscreen when pulled up.

You could always get a rearview mirror...☺

 

[Widge]

You could always get a rearview mirror...☺

Mine is also a screen for the rear dashcam giving me a rear view mirror, where i didnt have one before.

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[stuartholmes]

Mine is also a screen for the rear dashcam giving me a rear view mirror, where i didnt have one before.

That's clearer, should have guessed. Pity the screen can't also have an input for a camera mounted in the front, maybe poking through the radiator grille?