How to choose a dashcam
Dashboard cameras, or dashcams, are small devices that monitor the area in front of and around your vehicle. Their recordings can serve as evidence when dealing with traffic incidents. Most models are mounted under the windscreen and use "loop recording" when writing to a memory card.
Advantages and disadvantages
Frequently asked questions when choosing a dashboard camera
How can dashcams help with insurance claims?
Continuous recording means you can capture any traffic indicents that happen in front of or around your vehicle. These videos can serve as important evidence for the police and insurance companies, thus protecting you from loss. A a result, dashcams give you a greater sense of security while driving.
Do dashcams only record in front of the vehicle and during daylight?
Dashcams with high-quality sensors and wide aperture lenses allow you to record videos at dusk or at night in areas with street lights. The best sensors and a maximum aperture of f/1.4 or f/1.6 allows you to capture high-quality images at night even without additional lighting.
Dual cameras, for instance the MIO MiVue 698 DUAL, also feature a rear-facing camera, so you can record both in front of and behide your vehicle.
How do I transfer video files to a computer?
Recorded videos can be stotred on SD cards, which can then be easily removed and inserted into a card reader on your laptop or computer. You can also transfer files via USB, whereby the camera acts as a flash drive. Video files can be viewed on your TV using a HDMI cable.
Dashboard cameras
Important parameters
Recording resolution
The higher the resolution, the more detailed the resulting record, but also the larger the file size. For high-resolution recording, make sure you have a memory card with a large capacity.
Ordinary resolutions
- SD (640 × 480)
- HD Ready (1280 x 720)
- Full HD (1920 × 1080)
Viewing angle
The viewing angle is the horizantal range that the camera can record, ideally between 110° and 150°. If the angle is too small, the camera will fail to pick up vehicles in your field of vision, which could mean missing vital evidence in the event of an incident. Wider angles give you a better perspective; however, at angles greater than 150°, fisheye effect occurs and image quality decreases.
Automatic start
A useful feature that means the camera starts recording automatically when you start the car.
Date and time
A common feature that adds the current date and time to the video, making it easier to find a particular video on a memory card. This feature can be very important in the event of a police investigation or insurance claim.
GPS module
GPS (Global Positioning System) allows you to trace the exact route taken by your vehicle. This function is widely used for monitoring the movement of workers, thereby reducing business costs. It can also add an extra layer of context and proof in the event of a traffic incident.
Motion detector
This feature is not used during normal driving, but in parking mode. When motion is detected, the device automatically switches on and starts recording.
Glossary - Dashboard cameras
G-Sensor
A G-sensor, sometimes called a shock sensor, measures changes in velocity. As a result, it can be used to measure the force and direction of impacts, making it a useful tool in dashcams. In the event of an accident, a G-Sensor automatically locks the video file, ensuring that the video footage is saved both before and after the crash.
Night vision
Night vision is dependent on light transmission and sensor sensitivity; it does not mean that the camera can see in absolute darkness. High-quality cameras, however, are capable of recording at night in the glow of street lighting. Some can even be used in the absence of artificial lighting. A very good aperture is f / 1.4 or f / 1.6.
Dual camera
Dual-camera models feature two cameras - one on the front and one on the rear. This allows you to record the area in front and behind the vehicle.
Glossary
Image sensor
There are typically two different types of image sensor.
CCD sensors - more sensitive to light, which is reflected in better image quality in low light conditions. They are used in cameras with higher resolution. The disadvantage is their higher price.
CMOS sensors - less light sensitivity than CCD sensors. On the other hand, they are less expensive to manufacture and enable the production of cameras with smaller physical dimensions.