I'm surrounded by idiots -- so dashboard camera, please!

QW3RTY on 04/06/2014 - 11:52

Hey there, my beloved OzBargainers.

Over the last few months, I've been having the odd close call in the car — with the most recent happening last night. Driving down road at 50km/h at 9pm. Some middle aged, suited gentlemen comes roaring out of a laneway, no lights on and fails to give way. I missed him by a metre, but let's just say I'm glad I didn't hurt my beloved 1999 Holden Astra. It's falling apart on its own — doesn't need any help.

But I have been thinking about investing in a dashboard camera, would be good for peace of mind, and who knows, might even catch something hilarious on it for YouTube. I'm also looking forward to an exotic car driving experience at the end of the year, so it'd be for work and play.

Does anybody have any experience with these things, and could offer some pointers?

Electrical & Electronics Dash Camera

Comments

  • idonteven on 04/06/2014 - 12:31
    +1

    For a guide check out:

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HQ0Tm9FFpKM&list=PLFB79814F2…

    Good comparison:

    http://dashcamtalk.com/

    I've got the mini 0801, cost me about $109 from USA, came with a 32GB samsung sd card. It's so tiny, fits right behind my rear view mirror and I don't even see it.

    Most popular seems to be about the G1W, costs about $50 from eBay. Going to get one of those for my rear mirror.

    Hope that helps.

    They are a good investment, it'll pay itself off soon enough.

    • QW3RTY on 04/06/2014 - 12:37

      Champion. Thanks for all the info!

    • Shadowsfury on 04/06/2014 - 12:56

      Get the G1W-C though because it comes with a capacitor (so it doesn't pose a risk with exploding in the heat)

      It does cost a bit more though, around $70 AUD delivered I think?

      I just received mine yesterday but haven't set it up yet.

      • QW3RTY on 04/06/2014 - 13:54

        I've just read that "night mode" makes use of a singular LED. No IR. Does this mean night mode effecitvely means, light-bulb-above-lens?

        • [Deactivated] on 04/06/2014 - 17:47

          Most night-modes are just a white led. Even if you did have an IR led, it would just reflect back off the window.

          I bought a G1W at the beginning of this year based on the Techmoan review, and used the suggested eBayer. Couldn't be happier with it.

          As for your close call last night, you didn't happen to fly up a hill, wildly overtake a car turning left into the laneway, and then brake not only for the car that pulled out, but the long line of traffic stopped at the red light, by any chance?

        • QW3RTY on 05/06/2014 - 10:01

          Hahaha, no I don't think that was me. No hills or traffic light in sight. Angry Astra owners it seems.

  • [Deactivated] on 04/06/2014 - 13:20

    Interested in this as well! Anyone post some links to good deals, how often do you have to charge these things??

  • victorwilson on 04/06/2014 - 14:01

    Dash Cam Owners Australia has a guide to purchasing a dashcam on their Facebook page.
    Could be useful!

  • [Deactivated] on 04/06/2014 - 14:28

    I'd subscribe to your YouTube dashcam channel. +1

  • Cheeper on 04/06/2014 - 15:56

    Ignore built in lighting like leds etc, you don't need them and they don't work anyway.

    With most you will need to buy a micro sd card… get a CL10 speed. The size of the card determines the amount of time it will record for before writing over itself.

    Battery???? They do have a small battery built in but they do not run off that… they plug into your cigarette lighter.

    Heaps and heaps and heaps of info already written about these on the net…. even heaps written here in OzB… do some looking and you will learn. :-)

    • scrimshaw on 04/06/2014 - 16:11

      Now a lot of newer dashcams use capacitors rather than batteries, as lithium batteries don't like being cooped up in your car in 40 degree heat. Another thing to consider.

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