new dash cams?

Most of the specifications will depend on what you expect from the cam. Are you planning for it to provide a video record of your trips or evidence in the case of legal action?

If its a video record of your travels, then do you do much travel at night? If so, you will want good night vision specs. If you don't do much night travel, then you don't need the expensive long reaching night vision. Do you need broadcast quality high definition for travel documentaries or is a clear picture enough? If its just a clear picture then a 720K model is good. The same goes or the field of view. Where you mount and power the camera will also come into play. Lots of things to decide before springing for a dash cam.

I have had 3 accidents that were NOT my fault. The other parties involved lied their butts off and the insurance companies just claimed "Double Negligence". So I had to pay when I should not have had to. This is why I have a Dash Cam with a rear camera.

Dash cams are as low as 12.49 USD at Amazon. You have to go above 50 USD to get one that is decent quality though. Search the online reviews for a particular model to get an honest report. I don't trust the reviews at Amazon as many of them are "seeded" by the vendor. 100 USD (or less) will buy a Dash Cam that has decent quality and a front and rear view camera. Mine is hardwired into my truck and I don't have to worry about remembering to turn it on or off.

The main thing is to get the highest resolution for the front camera that is affordable (HD 1080P recommended). You need to be able to read a license plate in a "Hit & Run" incident. The optional rear camera is usually lower resolution, but high resolution is better.

Be sure that you get a model that supports a large SD card. When the card fills up, the unit will delete the oldest file in order to write the new one. You might have to do a lot of driving before you can D/L the video to a computer. SD cards are cheap and it is worth the investment.

One is hard pressed to locate where to connect it, as a lot of newer vehicles don't use the "Body" of the vehicle as ground. Everything is "Hot" and the device is turned on by connecting the ground lead at a switch or by a computer. Using a cigarette lighter outlet will work, but makes the camera stand out to thieves and causes a lot of stress to the USB port. Locating where to connect it can be frustrating. YouTube can be very helpful as there are plenty of videos that show where the connections are. Shop around at different Auto Audio stores if you don't want to install it yourself.

It is too bad that the backup cam built into most new cars can't double as a rearview camera.

You can enable Honda Accord backup cam to show the rear view continuously. It just doesn't record.

https://dashcamtalk.com/

A website for dashcams like poi-factory is for GPS.

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Thanks for the reference link soberbyker!

The viofo 119s, the second on the page. No dumb suction cup mount and it lets you mount the DC very discreetly. Actually sells for less than the quoted $ 120.00

I was in Costco today and noticed a Garmin/GPS recording camera with automatic G-force accident recording, lane wander assist and a warning if you approach the vehicle ahead, whatever that's called. It also warns if you are going the wrong way on a one way and recording for travelogues. Plus a Garmin GPS with all the usual bells and whistles. All for $269 Canadian.

Provide documentation or a url showing how to achiev this please?

By sure to click on the name of each cam for more detailed info on each one, as well as sample videos.

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Prices were at the time the page was published, there can always be a better deal if you shop around.

I'm starting to feel that a dash cam is only as good as its warranty, just like a floor jack. You can spend $1400 on a nice name brand floor jack (better get it in the next 10 days tariffs), or you can spend $80 on a nice floor jack. They both look similar physically, and they both do the job exactly the same. Will one leak sooner than the other? Not likely (I've had the $80 one which everyone has on YouTube and so far 6 years i.e. both warranties gone in that time span, expensive and cheap models).

My suggestion is to get a <$50 dash cam (look on amazon and look at reviews). I have such a device, and I also have a $130 device. Neither take great videos even though they are 1080P @ 30fps. The more expensive does gps showing speed and map--nice? Sure. $80 nice? nah.

Once all cams are 4K maybe that will be when license plates can be read in less than ideal conditions...

Here it is:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CqToHdFXr-o

I drive a 2017 Accord LX. It works on my car but serves no real purpose. It actually makes me dizzy when the car is on the move.

If you don't want to watch that YouTube video, here's the instructions:

- Press 1 6 (radio presets) and DISP (right above power) buttons simultaneously.

- While holding those 3 buttons pressed, hit the power button. Your i-MID display will now show DIAG.

- Then press Menu button.

Thank you.

Your recommendation not only saved me searching, but also provided guidance for choosing among options. (When I originally came here years ago, a Google search turned up a lot of alternatives and it took a while to figure out that this is the one that best met my objectives.)

- Tom -

basically for accidents and "Door Bashers"

More DC's are built now using a capacitor instead of a battery. Regardless a forward or rear facing DC would not see any " Door Bashers ". Their viewing area is less than 180°.

As for using a built in back-up camera to see what's going on behind you while underway, I think that could drive you bonkers.

Install a second DC in your rear window, you only need to see what's on it in case of a mishap.

Of course you could have both forward and rear camera wired in to be always live if you are so concerned about what's going on around your vehicle!

I wouldn't want a backup camera to continuously display, but it would be nice if car manufacturers would add the function to record while you drive. The camera is already there and wired in … it would make sense to me to use it as a rear facing recorder.

Oh now isn't that interesting