Leslie Massey
A dash cam is a mountable small digital video recorder that you can mount on your car's windshield or rearview mirror. It's a valuable accessory for your car as it can limit your liability in accidents and record instances of vandalism or road rage incidents. When looking for a dash cam, it's important to consider the video quality, inbuilt storage capacity, ease of use, compatibility with apps, affordability, and extra features such as GPS tracking, Wi-Fi connectivity, and lane departure warnings. Some popular dash cam options in Australia include the Nextbase 622GW, the Garmin Dash Cam Mini 2 and Mini 3, and the Vantrue E1.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Purpose | Record evidence during an accident or road rage incident, limit liability, record instances of vandalism, capture viral videos of bad drivers or natural events |
| Price | Between $50 and $800+ depending on features |
| Resolution | 1080p, 1440p, 4K |
| Features | GPS, Wi-Fi connectivity, automatic incident recording, emergency SOS, lane departure warnings, forward collision alerts, red light alerts, speed camera alerts, school zone alerts, curve alerts, Bluetooth, cellular connectivity, voice commands, parking mode, secondary camera, wide-angle lenses, night vision, impact detection, proximity radar, automatic incident recording, remote live view, microSD card, smartphone app |
| Memory | Removable memory cards, Micro SD cards, up to 512GB |
| Power | Plugs into the vehicle's 12v socket, hardwired |
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What You'll Learn
Front and rear-facing dash cams
Dash cams are a great way to protect your car and ensure safety on the road. While they can't prevent accidents, they can provide a record of what happened, which can be extremely useful for insurance claims and explaining accidents.
When choosing a dash cam, it's important to consider factors such as video quality, inbuilt storage capacity, ease of use, compatibility with apps, affordability, and extra features. One such feature is a rear-facing camera, which allows you to capture footage from behind your car in addition to the front.
The BlackVue DR770X-2CH is a premium front and rear dash cam that offers 2K QHD resolution for the front camera and Full HD for the rear, ensuring sharp and detailed footage. It also has built-in Wi-Fi and GPS, allowing you to view recordings, track speed and location, and adjust settings via the BlackVue App.
Another option is the Thinkware U1000, which features a 4K UHD front-facing camera and a 2K QHD rear-facing camera. This model offers superior video quality and storage with the Sony STARVIS 2 sensor.
The Miofive Dual Dash Cam is also worth considering, as it provides 4K recording for the front-facing camera and 2K for the rear-facing camera. It includes built-in GPS and collision warnings, and its slim design makes it easy to tuck away at the top of your windscreen.
Lastly, the Nextbase iQ is a smart dash cam with a range of features. It offers 4K resolution for the front camera and up to 1440p for the rear camera. The standard free plan includes app access, voice control, and real-time text notifications, while the paid 'Protect' and 'Protect Plus' subscriptions offer additional features such as cloud storage, multi-user accounts, and Emergency SOS.
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Dash cam affordability
When it comes to dash cam affordability, there are a few things to consider. Firstly, dash cams in Australia vary in price, ranging from $50 to $800 or more, depending on the features included. While cheaper options may be tempting, it's important to remember that very low-cost dash cams may not function properly when needed. On the other hand, a high price doesn't always guarantee the best performance. Some recommended models cost less than $200.
It's essential to identify the features that are most important to you and your specific needs. For example, some dash cams offer 4K resolution, while others record in 1080p or 1440p. If you're looking for a basic model, you may not need 4K resolution or various smart features. Instead, opt for a camera that records good-quality video and has essential features like automatic accident detection.
Other factors to consider include built-in storage capacity versus the need for a memory card, front and rear camera options, and additional features like GPS tracking, Wi-Fi connectivity, and driver assistance. These extra features can increase the price, so it's important to weigh their value to you against the overall cost.
When considering affordability, it's also worth thinking about the long-term costs of ownership. For example, some dash cams offer cloud storage plans for a subscription fee, providing added convenience and peace of mind. Additionally, memory cards have a limited lifespan and need to be replaced periodically, adding to the overall cost of owning a dash cam.
Overall, when it comes to dash cam affordability, it's crucial to strike a balance between your budget and the features you require. By identifying your must-have features and comparing prices, you can find a dash cam that suits your needs and budget.
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Dash cam resolution
When shopping for a dashcam, one of the first numbers you will see is the video resolution. Resolution refers to the number of pixels that make up the video or image. A single pixel is one tiny dot on the screen. A higher resolution means a sharper, clearer image that allows for a more robust capture.
There are many different resolutions available on the market, such as 720p, 1080p, 2k, and 4k. 1080p, or Full HD, is the lowest resolution available for dashcams and is excellent picture quality. 2k and 4k displays offer a sharper, clearer image that allows for a more robust capture. 2k is a bit of a "catch-all" term used to describe devices that capture or display over 2000 horizontal pixels x 1080. 4k is four times the resolution of 1080p, meaning zooming in on this footage is completely seamless, allowing for a full and vivid picture of what was captured, even at super high zoom levels.
While 4k dashcams are the highest-resolution option, it's important to note that some companies have cheated the specs and utilized poor chipsets, which are actually just recording in HD and resizing the image to 4k. Additionally, 4k dash cams tend to be more expensive.
When choosing a dashcam, it's important to consider not only the resolution but also other features such as built-in storage, compatibility with a memory card, front and rear-facing cameras, and built-in GPS.
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Dash cam storage
When it comes to dash cam storage, there are a few key factors to consider. Firstly, let's talk about the storage device itself. Almost all dash cams use SD (Secure Digital) cards, with a growing number utilising microSD cards, which are commonly used in smaller electronic devices. These cards offer portable storage for various types of data, including images and videos, and can be easily transferred between devices.
Now, let's discuss storage capacity and video resolution. The higher the resolution of your dash cam footage, the more storage space you will need. For example, 4K images occupy significantly more space than 2K or 1080p images. As a result, you may want to consider a larger memory capacity, such as 512GB, to reduce the frequency of write-cycles and prolong the lifespan of the card.
It's also worth noting that dash cams with higher resolutions will be more demanding on your SD card, so be sure to select a card that can handle the resolution and has a high-speed data writing capability. Typically, one hour of 1080p video recording will consume around 6GB of storage. If you're driving for two hours daily, five days a week, you'll need approximately 64GB of memory.
Additionally, consider the recording mode of your dash cam. If you have parking mode enabled, the camera will record for extended periods, which can quickly fill up your storage space. To conserve space, you may want to record only when motion or impact is detected or record at a lower frame rate.
Lastly, it's important to choose a high-endurance microSD card designed for heavy use and write-intensive applications. Dash cams will rewrite data numerous times, so a high-endurance card will ensure the card's longevity and reliable performance. Look for cards with a Class 10 or UHS-I (U1) speed rating, guaranteeing a minimum write speed of 10MB/s, suitable for cameras rated 4K and below.
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Dash cam installation
Dash cams are a great way to protect yourself on the road and they can be easily installed at home. They can help speed up insurance claims in the event of an accident, capture fun moments on a road trip, and even provide safety features like lane departure and collision warnings.
When it comes to installation, dash cams are mounted on the windscreen and plugged into a power source. This can be done by plugging the dash cam into a 12/24V female cigarette lighter socket or hardwiring it to the fusebox. If you're using the cigarette lighter socket, the installation is straightforward. Most manufacturers supply a long cable that can be routed and hidden around the windscreen, through the gap between the windscreen and roof liner, and down the A-pillar (the pillar between the door and windscreen).
If you're hardwiring your dash cam, you'll need to connect it to the fusebox, which will allow the camera to stay on and record while parked by drawing power from the car battery. This is a more complex process and it's recommended that a qualified auto electrician with dash cam installation experience installs the hardwire cable into the fusebox. The basic process involves using accessories called "fusetaps/add-a-fuses" which are like double adapters for the fusebox. You pull out a particular fuse, insert the fuse tap, and then re-insert the original car fuse into the fusetap, allowing the car circuit to run both the dash cam wire and the car fuse together.
Before mounting your dash cam, ensure the mounting area is clean and dry. If installing in cold temperatures, the adhesive pad may lose tack, so try pre-warming it by holding it in front of your car heater vent. Once mounted, turn on your vehicle and make sure the dash cam powers up. You can then refine how the wire is tucked away.
There are thousands of dash cam installation videos on YouTube that can provide a more detailed guide, and many dash cams come with their own startup guides.
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Frequently asked questions
Here are some dash cams available in Australia:
- Nextbase 622GW
- Garmin Dash Cam Mini 2
- Vantrue E1
- Viofo’s A329
- Nextbase iQ
- Garmin Dash Cam Live
Some features to look out for are:
- Video quality
- Inbuilt storage capacity
- Compatibility with an app
- Affordability
- GPS
- Parking mode
- Multiple cameras
- Bluetooth
- Wi-Fi connectivity
Dash cams are useful for recording evidence in accidents, road rage incidents, or instances of vandalism. They can also capture viral videos of bad drivers or stunning natural events.
Dash cams are mounted on the dashboard or windshield of a car. It is recommended to go for a test drive after attaching one to ensure it doesn't obstruct your view.
Dash cams can cost anywhere from $50 to $800+, depending on the features.
