Dashcams

[Fraser]

So was wondering if anyone else has gone down this route.
Got the idea from YouTube a while back and did a bit of homework in this regard.

Invested in a Dash Cam whilst in Beijing China last year.
Unfortunately the quality want up to much but the camera facility itself did the job for the R350 I paid for it.
I bought a 16meg SD Card and used the camera on high definition which was perfect for what I needed.

Benefits of these cameras is being able to constantly record whilst driving and if you are involved in a collision the actual accident can be forwarded to your insurance company for reference.

Here's what the Cam looks like:








On Thursday my brother landed from London and brought me a more advanced camera.
Unfortunately trying to get the price out of him was fruitless but I think it was around €100

The quality is far superior and switches on when you start the car constantly recording over an8GB mini SD Card.

It has two cameras. One facing the front and one to the rear. Video is in High Definition and can be downloaded on your computer if need be.

Additionally this camera has an in built GPS System which monitors constantly your movements.
Again should you be involved in an accident you can forward the actual video as well as GPS coordinates to your insurance company. The camera automatically downloads pictures if the area of the accident scene via Google Maps.

The reason I looked at the camera was as a result of my fight with my insurance company after I claimed damages after an attempted hijacking outside my house.
If the camera had been installed I wouldn't have needed witnesses.






For those of you who might think this is a good idea but can't get their hands on a camera and are in a fortunate position to own an iPhone have a look for an application called "witness"
It allows your phone to be used as a dashcam and has the built in GPS facility built in.

Problems I found with the App was positioning of your phone cradle has to be high up to see over the bonnet, the constant use age sucks away at your battery life so the phone has to be plugged into a charger at all times and a normal cradle has a lot if vibration.
Pros are the recording and GPS facilities are excellent.
Will try and upload an example but if I can't check out YouTube for a more detailed overview.
Ok couldn't get the vid to upload. Was taking forever.
Hope this helps someone.

 

[Dippies]

Great i have also gone down this lane and you can find my threads here

http://www.bmwfanatics.co.za/showthread.php?tid=36890

http://www.bmwfanatics.co.za/showthread.php?tid=36675

I have the eagle Dash cam with Hd recording but i decided to get the 32GB sd cards x 2 for Recording and i clear it once a weak.

I use Windows movie maker to edit and clip the Videos and capture pics of recordings also posted it to Youtube.

:thumbs:

 

[Fraser]

Nice Dippies
Going to go through your threads in a minute.

Glad to find someone in here I can lean on if I need advice.

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Just gone through your threads and read some of the comments.
Let me just say this, how you stay so calm is beyond me.

I'm with the Metro Police and delegated by the NPA to prosecute these idiots in the Municipal Traffic Courts. I have a pet hate for inconsiderate drivers but save my venting for the courts.

As far as using these videos in court I would more than welcome them, however as far as the legal process is concerned we would need the person responsible for taking the movie to testify in court.

I would save handing these clips over for fear of spending a predominant part of my month in court.

One if the reasons I have mine in the car is for exactly that, my own protection and being able to compliment my professionalism as a witness to help out some poor sod who may be involved in an incident in front if me.

 

[Dippies]

What you say is true i have successfully aided to prosecute 3 drivers already and gave them the original footage that was not tampered with as we found that the Defense Council tried to make it inadmissible in court due to the fact that the "evidence " was altered in which case i c their point.

But the original files which is in sequence has a date stamp and number unique was what was used to prosecute the drivers.

O and i only say nothing cause i Know its recorded. :roflol:

The biggest fine to date was a Suspended drivers license, 5k admission of guild, and mandatory community service.

:rollsmile:

It is the only way of protecting yourself in a accident situation. :rollsmile:

I actually use it for Intelligence as i Work in the Terrain Intelligence environment for the Defense Force. when i go out to the Field. Primary Function.

 

[Spy007]

Paid 599 for mine. Not great but good enough for me as a rep on the road al the time.



http://www.bmwfanatics.co.za/showthread.php?tid=33843

 

[Dippies]

I was waiting For you to reply as well Cause you the only other guy i know of that has one :thumbs:

 

[NavZ]

S2+Dock=Dashcam :rollsmile:
Managed to catch a run with a 458 Spyder :fencelook:

 

[Fraser]

S2+Dock=Dashcam :rollsmile:
Managed to catch a run with a 458 Spyder :fencelook:

Would be interested to know what it does to your battery life.
How about posting the vid.

 

[Smartiesman]

I also have 1. CarCam 1080p HD
Happy with it.

 

[Radar747]

S2+Dock=Dashcam :rollsmile:
Managed to catch a run with a 458 Spyder :fencelook:

Hi NavZ what doc do you use for your s2 and where did you get it? Is it steady?

Sent from my GT-I9100 using Tapatalk 2

 

[Thunder]

I`ve been looking at cams for a month or two now.

Just I`m very fussy on look and so that it takes a bit to find the one I like.:rollsmile:

 

[Dippies]

Its important to note

If you leave it in your car permanently it mite not be a good idea to buy the best there is on the market, as Prying eyes will brake your window the first opportunity they get.

 

[Fraser]

I`ve been looking at cams for a month or two now.

Just I`m very fussy on look and so that it takes a bit to find the one I like.:rollsmile:

And rightfully so.
Take a careful look with regards to the suppliers.

Was reading a blog the other day about a person who ordered a specific camera and paid the retail price for it, when it was delivered it was a Chinese Copy valued at a tenth of the price.

Betweent the two the cheaper was definitely not the best solution. It would have been better to go the extra mile from the beginning.

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Its important to note

If you leave it in your car permanently it mite not be a good idea to buy the best there is on the market, as Prying eyes will brake your window the first opportunity they get.

This is true but the more expensive cameras are set up for convenience and just like your modern day GPS they can be easily unclipped and put away under the seat etc.

No hassle at all.

 

[Spy007]

I am saving for the GoPro but it is 5k

 

[Philip Foglar]

I am saving for the GoPro but it is 5k

The normal GoPro Hero 3 White is R2999 - Black version is overkill! Can always keep an eye open for a well looked after young Hero 2... :thumbs:

 

[Rory]

I wouldn't mind running a dashcam but I'd prefer something to just always be running because I don't want to me hiding it away and fiddling to set it up again every single time I drive anywhere and if I don't do it every time then what's the point?

So requirements would be something like:
a) Discreet/OEM type of look so it doesn't look like something to steal
b) No wires hanging about
c) Start up when car starts and shut down automatically
d) Be able to automatically "rotate" files on the sd card, ie record 1,2,3,4,5,6 then when low on space delete the oldest file (1)
e) Quality is important, something gopro like would be great but the go pro's aren't cheap but it would really help to be able to read a numberplate in the video

Then basically it's plug and play and if you do need it for something you just have to pull out the SD card and copy it off. Something automated via wifi would be cool but I think would significantly add to the cost.

 

[Philip Foglar]

I love my GoPro's, but I would prefer to have a proper discreet dashcam for daily usage! The GoPro's are great, but yes, they kind of stand out like a sore thumb and having to fit/remove each time you get in and out of the car would be a pain! Charging is another issue, but the battery is good for roughly 2 to 2.5 hours which is enough in most cases...

 

[Rory]

If the gopro black was was a helluva lot cheaper and the software could do the automatic start/stop with rotation of the files I'm sure a plan could be made to blend it in somewhere around the rear view mirror (and run wiring to it somehow).

 

[NavZ]

Its important to note

If you leave it in your car permanently it mite not be a good idea to buy the best there is on the market, as Prying eyes will brake your window the first opportunity they get.

This is why the phone option works. You'll never forget it & you keep the battery charged already so one less thing to worry about. Also no messy wires.
I used the Genuine Samsung Car Dock, MSM was selling one, might still be available. http://www.bmwfanatics.co.za/showthread.php?tid=42039

It's not too bad on the battery & I use it on 720p with my screen quite bright.
Only problem is my windshield is pitted so the cam can get confused at night with all the lights ie. it's not sure what to focus on.
This is not really the cams fault though but it does the job

Might get a GoPro one day but that'll be for my mountain biking more than for my car.

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If the gopro black was was a helluva lot cheaper and the software could do the automatic start/stop with rotation of the files I'm sure a plan could be made to blend it in somewhere around the rear view mirror (and run wiring to it somehow).

Sounds neat, but the best vids are from low down...
I'd mount it next to a fog light :rollsmile:
Make a nice mount that's invisible when not in use.

 

[Baron]

By FAR the most impressive dash cam I've seen is the BlackVue (dr400g-hd I believe).

Check this quality out:

Wouldnt mind getting one of these myself, import duties or not.

EDIT: Sweet, they got a local distributor!
http://www.blackvue.co.za/index.php/blackvue-new-dr400g-hd-with-gps-v2-32.html

EDIT 2: Hmm, blackvue.co.za seems to be pretty dodgy. Little to no information on the site itself...