I had to run into town today and saw some wild shyt out on the interstate, people driving like,,, well like they were crazy. Cutting off big trucks and then break checking them and just stupid drivers on the phone and texting,,, And I though, what happens when it all goes south, and who does the blame fall on, or is it split up, which I find is BS anyway. So I was wondering about these dash cams, anybody know anything about them how they work, and so on,, Yeah it might not be anything you ever needed, but there is always that one time, where a picture is worth a couple thousand bucks.
Dash cams
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torch
Well-known member
Equipment
B7100HSD, B2789, B2550, B4672, 48" cultivator, homemade FEL and Cab
I have a dash cam in each of our 4 vehicles. In this jurisdiction (Ontario), there's a codified system wherein one driver is automatically deemed to be at fault unless (s)he can prove otherwise. Insurance rates can skyrocket as a result.
Several years ago there was a viral you-tube video of a car deliberately backing into the car behind in stop-and-go traffic on the 401 (a major highway), followed by the guilty driver attempting to shake down the following one for an on-the-spot cash settlement when the drivers met between the cars. That is, until the intended victim pointed out his dash cam and the shake down artist quickly jumped back in his own vehicle and fled. Not only did the erstwhile victim save himself a bundle of cash, the Ontario Provincial Police tracked the crook down by the license plate and arrested him.
For less than $100, a basic dashcam seems to me to be cheap insurance. They are becoming more and more common. In fact, I saw an appeal by police for dashcam footage of a recent incident on Hwy. 400. Of course, they are a double-edged sword: your own dashcam could be used against you much like the "black box" under the driver's seat can be seized by police in an investigation. It's not only the visual record, either. Most cameras record sound and GPS equipped cameras also record your speed frame by frame.
Quality and size varies. Not just resolution, but exposure range are important factors. Ideally the camera can record a clear picture in light conditions ranging from headlights only to bright sunlight at a high enough resolution to pick out details like license plates and at a high enough frame rate to catch all the action while keeping everything beyond the hood in perfect focus and retaining the recordings for hours.
In reality, only the most expensive cameras come close. But you can get a reasonable image for under $100. The focus may drift slightly as temperature of the inexpensive lenses changes, but even if you can't quite read the plate number of the car ahead, that driver's overall actions will be clear enough to a cop or insurance company should you need to prove your innocence.
Some things I look for:
Discrete. Small and tucked up by the rear view mirror. I don't want to advertise it's presence so I can decide whether or not I release the video. Also, I don't want to block my own vision of the road. I avoid long complex mounts that can be adjusted in three axis and suction cups in favour of a simple mount with double-sided tape
Reasonable low-light performance. Actually, it's amazing how much even a cheap camera can catch, but it may take some contrast and brightness adjustments in the playback software to bring it out. More expensive units can have remarkable performance even when the only lighting is your headlights.
Auto start with the ignition. The camera is no good unless it's running and I'm likely to forget to turn it on when I jump in the car. Most cameras can be set to turn themselves on and off automatically if plugged into an accessory outlet that is switched by the ignition.
On-board power. After an accident, I want to be able to take the same camera and use it as a handheld to record the aftermath before anything gets moved or changed. That said, I found my first couple of cameras, which used Nokia-style Chinese cell phone batteries, to be problematic as the batteries age. Now I use cameras powered by high-capacity capacitors instead of batteries. They won't last long as a hand-held recording device compared to a battery powered unit, but the capacitors are far more heat tolerant -- important in a device that spends much of it's life 2" from the windshield in a closed vehicle.
Seamless transitions. The camera records in blocks of usually 2 to 10 minutes each. They are time-stamped and the oldest blocks are continuously overwritten. Older, slower SD cards and/or cameras suffered from a few seconds gap between segments while the current video file is saved and the next one started. With my luck, that would be the moment something happened.
Impact sensor: a 32GB card is sufficient to store several hours of video at 30 frames per second. But even so, I don't want that critical block overwritten because someone was playing with the camera afterwards and forgot to shut it off. A shock sensor will tell the camera to lock the current segment so it cannot be overwritten.
There's all sorts of other options available if you want to spend the money. Dual cameras, remote storage, GPS speed sensors, etc. etc. There are many websites devoted to the subject that go into far more depth than I can. But personally, I don't figure I need all those bells and whistles. Your mileage may vary.
Several years ago there was a viral you-tube video of a car deliberately backing into the car behind in stop-and-go traffic on the 401 (a major highway), followed by the guilty driver attempting to shake down the following one for an on-the-spot cash settlement when the drivers met between the cars. That is, until the intended victim pointed out his dash cam and the shake down artist quickly jumped back in his own vehicle and fled. Not only did the erstwhile victim save himself a bundle of cash, the Ontario Provincial Police tracked the crook down by the license plate and arrested him.
For less than $100, a basic dashcam seems to me to be cheap insurance. They are becoming more and more common. In fact, I saw an appeal by police for dashcam footage of a recent incident on Hwy. 400. Of course, they are a double-edged sword: your own dashcam could be used against you much like the "black box" under the driver's seat can be seized by police in an investigation. It's not only the visual record, either. Most cameras record sound and GPS equipped cameras also record your speed frame by frame.
Quality and size varies. Not just resolution, but exposure range are important factors. Ideally the camera can record a clear picture in light conditions ranging from headlights only to bright sunlight at a high enough resolution to pick out details like license plates and at a high enough frame rate to catch all the action while keeping everything beyond the hood in perfect focus and retaining the recordings for hours.
In reality, only the most expensive cameras come close. But you can get a reasonable image for under $100. The focus may drift slightly as temperature of the inexpensive lenses changes, but even if you can't quite read the plate number of the car ahead, that driver's overall actions will be clear enough to a cop or insurance company should you need to prove your innocence.
Some things I look for:
Discrete. Small and tucked up by the rear view mirror. I don't want to advertise it's presence so I can decide whether or not I release the video. Also, I don't want to block my own vision of the road. I avoid long complex mounts that can be adjusted in three axis and suction cups in favour of a simple mount with double-sided tape
Reasonable low-light performance. Actually, it's amazing how much even a cheap camera can catch, but it may take some contrast and brightness adjustments in the playback software to bring it out. More expensive units can have remarkable performance even when the only lighting is your headlights.
Auto start with the ignition. The camera is no good unless it's running and I'm likely to forget to turn it on when I jump in the car. Most cameras can be set to turn themselves on and off automatically if plugged into an accessory outlet that is switched by the ignition.
On-board power. After an accident, I want to be able to take the same camera and use it as a handheld to record the aftermath before anything gets moved or changed. That said, I found my first couple of cameras, which used Nokia-style Chinese cell phone batteries, to be problematic as the batteries age. Now I use cameras powered by high-capacity capacitors instead of batteries. They won't last long as a hand-held recording device compared to a battery powered unit, but the capacitors are far more heat tolerant -- important in a device that spends much of it's life 2" from the windshield in a closed vehicle.
Seamless transitions. The camera records in blocks of usually 2 to 10 minutes each. They are time-stamped and the oldest blocks are continuously overwritten. Older, slower SD cards and/or cameras suffered from a few seconds gap between segments while the current video file is saved and the next one started. With my luck, that would be the moment something happened.
Impact sensor: a 32GB card is sufficient to store several hours of video at 30 frames per second. But even so, I don't want that critical block overwritten because someone was playing with the camera afterwards and forgot to shut it off. A shock sensor will tell the camera to lock the current segment so it cannot be overwritten.
There's all sorts of other options available if you want to spend the money. Dual cameras, remote storage, GPS speed sensors, etc. etc. There are many websites devoted to the subject that go into far more depth than I can. But personally, I don't figure I need all those bells and whistles. Your mileage may vary.
Spend a little more money, I have been through about 4 of them. I bought one years ago when they came out and it was junk. Then I bought 3 of the cobra models and was very happy at first, but out of the 3 only one works and sometimes it stops working. Thinking of this one next.
http://www.spytecinc.com/k1s-1080p-...CWb578e8iJLgUnKZsr15fGQnH8Wtx78lCgRoCzF7w_wcB
http://www.spytecinc.com/k1s-1080p-...CWb578e8iJLgUnKZsr15fGQnH8Wtx78lCgRoCzF7w_wcB
armylifer
Well-known member
Lifetime Member
Equipment
BX1860, FEL, RCK54P MMM, BB1548 Box Scraper, Quick Hitch, Piranha Bar, BX6315
I have a suggestion for those of you that may want a dash cam. I have found several camera apps on the Google Play store that you can install on old smart phones. These apps convert your old smart phones into a dash cam. Most smart phones have much more memory that many of the dedicated dash cams that are on the market. I have one old smart phone that I installed on my motorcycle and another one that I installed in our van. I am here to testify that they do work and converting an old smart phone into a dash cam can save you a lot of money.
My wife was recently broadsided by someone driving a pickup truck at an intersection. Because we were able to provide video and photos from Google maps of the accident scene, we were able to prevent a potentially long fight to prove who was at fault in that accident. Those videos and the photos of the intersection that we obtained from Google Maps, helped us to prove beyond any doubt who was at fault. The other guys insurance company accepted liability without a fight and we will be made whole as a result of having video evidence of what happened.
My suggestion is that you take an old smart phone and load a dash cam app on it and use it. It may help you as it did for me and my wife.
BTW, as a side note for those of you that have met me and my wife; she is doing much better now. It has been a month since the accident and she is recovering well. It helps that we had video evidence of what happened. It took a lot of stress out of the ordeal.
My wife was recently broadsided by someone driving a pickup truck at an intersection. Because we were able to provide video and photos from Google maps of the accident scene, we were able to prevent a potentially long fight to prove who was at fault in that accident. Those videos and the photos of the intersection that we obtained from Google Maps, helped us to prove beyond any doubt who was at fault. The other guys insurance company accepted liability without a fight and we will be made whole as a result of having video evidence of what happened.
My suggestion is that you take an old smart phone and load a dash cam app on it and use it. It may help you as it did for me and my wife.
BTW, as a side note for those of you that have met me and my wife; she is doing much better now. It has been a month since the accident and she is recovering well. It helps that we had video evidence of what happened. It took a lot of stress out of the ordeal.
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Armylifer, I am sorry to hear of your wife's accident, hoping recovery continues well.
To use an old smart phone for this purpose do you need to keep it on your cell phone carrier account? Or did the gps information come from another device?
Thanks! Sure sounds like a good idea.
To use an old smart phone for this purpose do you need to keep it on your cell phone carrier account? Or did the gps information come from another device?
Thanks! Sure sounds like a good idea.
Lil Foot
Well-known member
Lifetime Member
Equipment
1979 B7100DT Gear, Nissan Hanix N150-2 Excavator
Joe, I'm also sorry to hear about your wife's accident, and glad it wasn't worse- getting T-boned by a truck is a pretty serious incident. Hope she has a quick, painless, & full recovery.
torch
Well-known member
Equipment
B7100HSD, B2789, B2550, B4672, 48" cultivator, homemade FEL and Cab
I'm glad to hear that your wife is recovering and that your video proof has protected you from spurious claims.
What is the viewing angle of your smart phone lens? Dashcams tend to have a wide angle view and catch most of what a driver might see with their peripheral vision, albiet with a "fish-eye" effect. While that is an intriguing use for an old phone, I wonder if it might be better suited for a rear-facing camera ancillary to a wide angle front facing camera.
What is the viewing angle of your smart phone lens? Dashcams tend to have a wide angle view and catch most of what a driver might see with their peripheral vision, albiet with a "fish-eye" effect. While that is an intriguing use for an old phone, I wonder if it might be better suited for a rear-facing camera ancillary to a wide angle front facing camera.
A friend of mine has this one and he likes it a lot.
http://www.viofo.com/home/34-a119s-1080p-60fps-car-dash-cam.html
http://www.viofo.com/home/34-a119s-1080p-60fps-car-dash-cam.html
torch
Well-known member
Equipment
B7100HSD, B2789, B2550, B4672, 48" cultivator, homemade FEL and Cab
I have that one and it's predecessor (A118). Good units that meet all the requirements I listed above.
armylifer
Well-known member
Lifetime Member
Equipment
BX1860, FEL, RCK54P MMM, BB1548 Box Scraper, Quick Hitch, Piranha Bar, BX6315
Sheepfarmer, to use an old smartphone as A dash cam you do not have to be connected to a cell service provider. There is no GPS functionality unless you tether the old cell phone to you active cell phone data. Really, there is nothing stoppig you from using an active cell phone as a dash cam if you want to. That way you would hace GPS functionality as well as speed and direction of travel. The point that I was trying to make is that if one cannot afford a real dash cam then there is a way to get the video record other than buying another expensive gadget. It is not the best solution but it works if all you want is a video record of events.
All, thank you on behalf of my wife for the well wishes. She is recovering nicely. She is following doctor's orders and we expect a full and speedy recovery.
All, thank you on behalf of my wife for the well wishes. She is recovering nicely. She is following doctor's orders and we expect a full and speedy recovery.
RCW
Well-known member
Lifetime Member
Equipment
BX2360, FEL, MMM, BX2750D snowblower. 1953 Minneapolis Moline ZAU
Skeets - I have a solution.
Move up to my neighborhood - we don't have interstates!
Seriously - Joe, glad she is recovering well..
I see those rear-view mirror with a camera things on the infomercials. They've obviously seen a market niche for the same reason.....
Move up to my neighborhood - we don't have interstates!
Seriously - Joe, glad she is recovering well..
I see those rear-view mirror with a camera things on the infomercials. They've obviously seen a market niche for the same reason.....
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armylifer
Well-known member
Lifetime Member
Equipment
BX1860, FEL, RCK54P MMM, BB1548 Box Scraper, Quick Hitch, Piranha Bar, BX6315
Thanks Skeets. We were at the doctor's today and be said that she is progressing nicely. She will be as good as new in no time at all.
My wife and I both have dash cams. Many years ago before dash cams were affordable, l was sued for permanent disability from two different accidents. With the help of witnesses they were proven to be fraud. A camera back then would have made it much easier to prove it wasn't my fault.
Now 25 years later, my wife was hit from behind. The camera only recorded what was in front of her and not the collision from behind, but it shows how she was driving which can also be important in court. Two months after her car was repaired, a car made a left turn in front of her wrecking the front of the car. The camera recorded it and she was able to play it back to the police officer at the scene.
I can't recommend a good one. We bought the Cobra brand from Costco. We've had to replace it twice when it stopped working.
Now 25 years later, my wife was hit from behind. The camera only recorded what was in front of her and not the collision from behind, but it shows how she was driving which can also be important in court. Two months after her car was repaired, a car made a left turn in front of her wrecking the front of the car. The camera recorded it and she was able to play it back to the police officer at the scene.
I can't recommend a good one. We bought the Cobra brand from Costco. We've had to replace it twice when it stopped working.
These cams have their advantages and disadvantages. I'll rather have them anyways. So if you are looking to buy car dash cams, I'll recommend two models:
1. Viofo A129: It uses Novatek NT96663 processor and Sony STARVIS IMX291 CMOS sensor for the front camera. It also uses the same Sony STARVIS IMX291 for the rear camera. Source: Dash Cam Reviews
2. Vantrue N2 Pro: Good for commercial vehicles, but can be for personal use. Prices are very affordable.
1. Viofo A129: It uses Novatek NT96663 processor and Sony STARVIS IMX291 CMOS sensor for the front camera. It also uses the same Sony STARVIS IMX291 for the rear camera. Source: Dash Cam Reviews
2. Vantrue N2 Pro: Good for commercial vehicles, but can be for personal use. Prices are very affordable.
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