Buying a Dash Cam

Hi Debs,

I've not ventured into the field of dashcams yet, maybe they really are a good idea. "Which" recommends the Nextbase iN-car Cam 402G Professional. It's streets ahead of the other models they've tested.

Hi Tony,

i just looked up the 402G and i see it's a rebranded DOD LS430W GPS,i guess many of these cameras are generic and carry different brand names.

I see apart from the 'Which' best buy it has a further two accolades to include The Sunday Times Driving best buy and Audo Express best all rounder, also Techmoan on You Tube gave it a good review account albeit under the DOD brand.

It has many fine credentials, plus one of the few dash cams to come with MAC software, i wish there were more, plus it has an F1.6 lens which is faster than the F2.0 that seem to be the norm in many dash cams.

It's a rather bulky thing though, it would look fairly obvious in my windscreen, i'm hoping to find something as good but smaller and discreet so i don't need to remove it every time i park the car up.

However, i'm finding that the cameras i like the most for performing do seem to be bulkier.

The really good performer smaller dash cams tend to be more expensive.

So the Nextbase 402G is on my list of possible buys...

I'm presently favouring the Vico Marcus 4 for it's amazing 'cinemascreen' super-wide lens,160 diagonal degrees view angle for movie mode, and polariser filter connector. Trouble is it's a bit bulky too, and costs even more than the 402G : )

There is also a Marcus 5 which includes a rear camera too, i like the idea of having a rear cam but not the fitting of the cable  : /

Another very interesting front and rear kit is the Koonlung K1S which has tiny little unobtrusive cameras  that are cabled away from the control unit, that can be positioned where you choose. This one is also on my list of considerations...

Debs

It is absolutely not obvious to me. It has never occurred to me that they are a good idea. What is your evidence that "many road accidents are scams"? A few youtube videos? There are millions and millions of road accidents every year (at significant cost to us all). The vast majority are simply  due to the over-confidence, incompetence and inattention of drivers. I'd be surprised if more than a truly trivial percentage were deliberate scams. You've been watching too much Nancy Grace. They're not all out to get you.

On average, you'd drive for many lifetimes before the "evidence" your video camera collected was in any way valuable. Don't forget that your video evidence is also evidence of your own scofflaw driving habits. I'm not singling you out, Debs, it is just that nearly all motorists break traffic laws pretty much all the time.

Winky,

your post above is contradictory, you say you don't think it's a good idea for cars to have dash cams but go on to say car drivers are causing loads of accidents?

Firstly, if a car driver causes an accident, his/her dash cam will expose the truth regardless as you so rightly say but...

Secondly people often say that after fitting a dash cam they become more aware and conscious of their own driving habits and abilities, the dash cam can cause them to drive more carefully and improve their driving skills. This has got to be a good thing!

You should be an advocate of the car dash cam, they only serve to help expose the truth.

Evidence of cash for crash is in abundance, BBC Panorama have covered it, and here is a link to the Insurance Fraud Bureau:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cg5bF30YF-E

Well it is completely true that drivers cause loads of accidents. All of them, pretty much. Who else would be causing them?

I actually don't agree that having a dash-cam would make me, or anyone else a better driver, but hey, whatever? People often say otherwsie? I've not heard that. But anyway, that's not reason you gave. You said you were thinking of getting one because you were afraid of getting scammed.

I watched the video but am absolutely none-the-wiser regarding what is going on. How does the scam work? How do people profit from people running into them?

I very very rarely see any really bad driving. I see some stupidity that I ignore. I don't know anyone (or even hear about anyone third hand) that has ever been scammed.

What do dash cams record?

Well, I want one so I can put footage of drivers behaving badly on U-Tube and make a fortune!

Anything with any credibility though?

I wish I'd had a helmet cam on my bike helmet yesterday when a car turned into me. With a new frame costing £2,500 and a new wheel £400, I think recovering it could prove challenging. 

Surely your insurance company will deal with it.

I've got a Mio MiVue dashcam in my car, I think its a 518 but not certain.  Bought it mainly as an insurance policy after a close miss with an idiot on the road.  It sits just behind my rear view mirror and is very unobtrusive.  It records in HD and works very well although once I'd tested it out I just left it there and forgot about it.  The software that comes with it is a bit crap but the files are a standard format and its easy to view them, clip them and share them if yyou want to. For less than a hudred quid I thought it was a small price to pay for the extra security

If you've never been involved in a cash for crash [ or flash for cash] scam, then the subject may seem fairly irrelevant as your own personal experience could amount to 0%

However, if you are the victim of a car crash scam the credibility of if these can and do actually happen becomes 100%

However the primary reason for having a dash cam is similar to using a black box in an aircraft. It is a reliable resource of actuate recording proof and information that can be used in the event of an accident.

This is the main and far bigger reason for having a dash cam, the scam risk is a far far lesser chance although it still could happen.

Also, don't forget this topic has been seriously tread-dumped by winky who seems to think it's a tread entirely about not believing in car crash scams.

The intention of this thread is to discuss dash cam DVR products that are available on the market today.

Anyone who has been involved in a RTA will know it's usually essential to have witnesses to the event, and a car camera can provide good reliable back up evidence to support or prove your case.

Debs 

Thanks for a sensible reply, deyjay  : )

Debs

Clive, sorry to hear about your bike damage.

I also would like to have a helmet cam for my bike rides, maybe worth including these products within this thread. But i know bike cams [on bicycles] will need a good battery which i believe provides power for a few hours? before needing a charge.

Bike and helmet cams have different design needs from car dash cams, i haven't started to look into them yet, and know not much about them.

Debs

What crap. If I get hit by a meteorite I will regret not having meteorite insurance, too. What's your point?

I understand the purpose of dash cams, but haven't seen any evidence (just anecdotes) that they would be worth the bother. I'll pass. Have fun with it.

I do wonder how long it will be before everyone is wearing a camera everywhere they go.

Surely you don't let your children out without active monitoring...

Why not have cars with built in dash cam with some server/user gps tech that records and sends information about everything.    

… and maybe one cam facing the driver and with a combined thumb print blood analysis ingnition system