Dash cam recommendations.

[studabear]

Anybody got any recommendations for a reasonable priced/quality dash cam?

[oli]

I went for a RoadHawk vision super HD (a couple actually - one for me and mrs after someone jumped a light and did some minor damage)
I think it was about £110 (each)

I wanted something discrete, so no screen and I didn't want GPS. I seem to be in the minority with this, but I worry about the implications of having a non-fault accident then being shown to be doing 31mph in a 30. I also didn't want it to become a target for thieves, be distracting or take up much windscreen space.

Linking it with your phone is a bit of a pest for settings and viewing (you can always just remove the card and stick it in a laptop). Image quality is good. I've still not set off the crash sensor, so it's clearly not over sensitive! I don't like the fact the power lead is cigar type, not USB. They do make a hardwiring kit though.

Would I buy another?

Yes, I'm getting one for the Defender.

Oli

[grimep]

snap, I've recently fitted 2 Roadhawk Visions to my car after a crash-for-cash incident. I've hardwired them in using Roadhawk's own slightly pricey kit. Nice and discrete, and no gps to incriminate you for speeding (not that I do much these days). They were in the discount section on the Roadhawk site for £40 each which seemed a no-brainer. Unfortunately theyve sold out but the ones bundled with sd cards are still available, eg:
www.roadhawk.co.uk/roadhawk-vision-special-bundle-deal-vision-dash-cam-suction-mount-16gb-microsd-card
for £53.99

However I got 2 64Gb Samsung cards for £10 each from Picstop so I was lucky to catch the £40 ones with no card bundled.

For some reason the one facing backwards seems grainier than the front, I should check settings but I'm sure they're both the same. Also occasionally they don't record a journey. No idea why this is, but its a bit worrying. I did a proper job hardwiring them so its not that. I was checking today's footage and one journey was missing, front and back. I think it might have something to do with the timing when turning the ignition key. Turn to position II starts the cameras, then when the starter motor runs with key in pos III the cameras restart because the control unit cuts power to accessories. Perhaps there's some sort of timing issue with the 2 starts, that sometimes causes it to fail to record. I've seen similar comments in other reviews for this camera.

So a bit worrying it might not be working when needed. Otherwise in the couple of week's I've had them I've caught a car with no MOT, red light jumpers, and a light side-swipe crash on the one way system in town. Entertaining!

[oli]

Jul 17, 2019 0:06:21 GMT 1 grimep said:

snap, I've recently fitted 2 Roadhawk Visions to my car after a crash-for-cash incident. I've hardwired them in using Roadhawk's own slightly pricey kit. Nice and discrete, and no gps to incriminate you for speeding (not that I do much these days). They were in the discount section on the Roadhawk site for £40 each which seemed a no-brainer. Unfortunately theyve sold out but the ones bundled with sd cards are still available, eg:
www.roadhawk.co.uk/roadhawk-vision-special-bundle-deal-vision-dash-cam-suction-mount-16gb-microsd-card
for £53.99

However I got 2 64Gb Samsung cards for £10 each from Picstop so I was lucky to catch the £40 ones with no card bundled.

For some reason the one facing backwards seems grainier than the front, I should check settings but I'm sure they're both the same. Also occasionally they don't record a journey. No idea why this is, but its a bit worrying. I did a proper job hardwiring them so its not that. I was checking today's footage and one journey was missing, front and back. I think it might have something to do with the timing when turning the ignition key. Turn to position II starts the cameras, then when the starter motor runs with key in pos III the cameras restart because the control unit cuts power to accessories. Perhaps there's some sort of timing issue with the 2 starts, that sometimes causes it to fail to record. I've seen similar comments in other reviews for this camera.

So a bit worrying it might not be working when needed. Otherwise in the couple of week's I've had them I've caught a car with no MOT, red light jumpers, and a light side-swipe crash on the one way system in town. Entertaining!

That is a worry. Check the settings, as I found one of ours seemed to leave the factory on the low resolution setting.

Oli