Recommend a dash cam ?

January 06, 2022, 08:31 AM

Ronin1069

Lots of options out there, here’s some specifics the matter to me.

This is a leased vehicle so I do not want to replace the mirror.

I am not concerned about night vision.

I am not concerned about backup camera, my car has that.

I am not interested in having a camera that records what is happening inside the vehicle.

I am most interested in the forward facing camera and ease of viewing video.

ETA - because this is a leased vehicle, I do not need/want something that has to be hardwired.

January 06, 2022, 08:38 AM

BigSwede

Budget? I have several, mine is a dual camera setup. I have two of these Apeman's in the wife and daughters car. They work, record when they are supposed to and the mount it comes with is better than most cheaper ones

https://apemans.com/collection...peman-dash-cam-c450a

I bought them on Amazon a while back but they don't show there anymore, paid more too

January 06, 2022, 08:40 AM

V-Tail

If the vehicle does not have built-in navigation system, I recommend the Garmin Drive-Assist 50 LMT or 51 LMT. These are combination GPS / navigation systems with traffic data, and dash cameras.

My wife and I each have one. No problems with them, have had them for several years.

January 06, 2022, 08:58 AM

darthfuster

I have a BlackVue 750 lte dual cam. It records front and rear. I’m very happy with it. Surprising how many incidents get recorded.

January 06, 2022, 09:25 AM

h2oys

This is a good website to look at:

https://dashcameras.net/best-dash-cams/

January 06, 2022, 09:53 AM

P250UA5

I used a GoPro for a while.
BlackVue always seems to be well regarded. Haven't bothered to look recently since removing the GP mount from my truck when I sold it (the truck).

January 06, 2022, 09:56 AM

Mars_Attacks

I have the Garmin DriveAssist 51.

In fact I have one in each vehicle.

January 06, 2022, 10:20 AM

mcrimm

I have had the Garmin Dash Cam 55 for a couple of years. I am very happy and have saved clips from it from time to time.

January 06, 2022, 11:03 AM

BurtonRW

I've used about half a dozen over as many years, but the only one I haven't replaced (and have actually been using for at least 2+ years now with no complaints at all) is the Street Guardian SG9663DCPRO.

I'm sure they have new and improved models by now, but for the price, form factor, ease of use, and reliability, I'm very happy.

-Rob

January 06, 2022, 11:45 AM

Ronin1069

Rob:

That looks like a great unit, one of the challenges I am running into is finding something that does not have to be hardwired in. I have a company car and it gets switched out every 2 years or so.

January 06, 2022, 12:17 PM

tatortodd

quote:
Originally posted by h2oys:
This is a good website to look at:

https://dashcameras.net/best-dash-cams/

^^^ THIS ^^^

Or https://dashcamtalk.com/

Much better than someone like me who buys one every 2 or 3 years and is writing about something with limited frame of reference. The guys on these review sites have 4, 5, or 6 dash cams running at once (ie great comparisons) and eat, sleep, and breath this stuff. Both of my dash cams were their recommendations at the time, and when I replace my truck I’ll buy a new dash cam based on their recommendations.

January 06, 2022, 12:19 PM

BurtonRW

quote:
Originally posted by Ronin1069:
Rob:

That looks like a great unit, one of the challenges I am running into is finding something that does not have to be hardwired in. I have a company car and it gets switched out every 2 years or so.

FWIW, I ran it on my cigarette lighter for about a year before I had it professionally wired. If you don't mind the wire hanging wherever, it functioned just as well that way, and the power input is micro-USB, so you could always source your own extra long cable and tuck it wherever. Nothing proprietary about it.

-Rob

January 06, 2022, 12:53 PM

Black92LX

Dependent upon your vehicle you may have a mirror power adapter that is plug and play available.
https://dongar.tech/

Dad got me a Rove for Christmas as that is what he has been using for sometime and is very happy with it. Not had a chance to put it in the car yet but just fiddled around the house with it.
Seems like a solid product and my Dad does lots of research before purchases.
https://www.rovedashcam.com/pr...ve-r2-4k-car-dashcam

January 06, 2022, 01:48 PM

JohnCourage

I have the Donger rear view power adapter and a Vantrue cam. Super clean install with no wires showing and it can easily be removed.

January 06, 2022, 02:07 PM

M'headSig

quote:
Originally posted by M'headSig:
quote:
Originally posted by BurtonRW:
quote:
Originally posted by Ronin1069:
Rob:

That looks like a great unit, one of the challenges I am running into is finding something that does not have to be hardwired in. I have a company car and it gets switched out every 2 years or so.

FWIW, I ran it on my cigarette lighter for about a year before I had it professionally wired. If you don't mind the wire hanging wherever, it functioned just as well that way, and the power input is micro-USB, so you could always source your own extra long cable and tuck it wherever. Nothing proprietary about it.

-Rob

I mounted my ROVE low on my windshield, in the middle, behind the infotainment screen. I've got a Mazda CX-5 and the infotainment screen rises up from the dash, like in an Audi. The screen hides the dash cam pretty much from my view and the dash cam's lens picks up a full road view just fine. The power cord is coiled up on the dash behind the infotainment screen and then just drapes down a few inches to plug into my front power socket ahead of the console shifter. It's another way to do it if you don't want to hardwire, don't want a wire dangling, and, like me, are concerned about tucking wires into the car's A-pillars, which in my case, house side curtain airbags.

January 06, 2022, 05:40 PM

SigM4

The Dongar power adaptor that Black posted is great and can be used with most dashcams these days. I have one of the adaptors in both my truck and my wife's car, as does my father. We all have some variation of the Garmin series and love them. Super easy to use, excellent video quality, and the app makes it a cinch to download and forward any videos/pics that you want to export without having to take out the memory card. I'm sold on the Garmin units anymore.

January 06, 2022, 08:57 PM

mrvmax

Bought mine from blackboxmycar.com

January 07, 2022, 02:31 PM

gjgalligan

quote:
Originally posted by BigSwede:
Budget? I have several, mine is a dual camera setup. I have two of these Apeman's in the wife and daughters car. They work, record when they are supposed to and the mount it comes with is better than most cheaper ones

https://apemans.com/collection...peman-dash-cam-c450a

I bought them on Amazon a while back but they don't show there anymore, paid more too

Disregard, I found the info I was looking for.