Dashcam buyer’s Guide
All dashcams are not created equal and so you’ll need to make sure you’re getting the features you’re expecting and not paying through the nose for those you don’t need. Here are some of the main things to watch out for…
Most people will only need the footage from the last incident recorded so it won’t matter if the camera simply starts erasing older files once storage is full.
SD card storage
Virtually all dashcams use microSD cards for storage but few actually come with one in the box. While this may smack of stinginess, there’s the issue that the dashcam maker doesn’t want to take responsibility for a core component that is manufactured by another company. Note that there are also many different choices of microSD card on the market with some offering certified ruggedisation, which could be important in a bad smash. Spending big on high capacities is unnecessary for everyone: most people will only need the footage from the last incident recorded so it won’t matter if the camera simply starts erasing older files once storage is full. However, some users – especially commercial drivers – may need high capacities if they need to keep a record of footage to refer back to.
Resolution and field of view
Nothing affects a dashcam more than its resolution. Too low and you won’t be able to see number plates or faces and the only use will be to identify fault in major incidents. There are still models which don’t offer widescreen views either. While this is technically an artificial limitation, cameras which don’t use widescreen views tend to omit peripheral detail and only capture what’s directly in front of you.
Dashcams with 4K resolutions are becoming increasingly common but not all are created even. The best models make full use of the resolution (which is 4x Full HD) by including wide fields of view that approach a full, 180o view of what’s happening ahead and to the sides.
Contrast and low-light performance
Few people only drive during the daytime and even if you do, incidents can still occur in dark tunnels and carparks. Consequently, be sure your dashcam can make things out in the dark. However, it’s also important to check out the contrast performance of a dashcam: in flat light most cameras operate well, but in bright countries like Australia, there are often highlights and dark shadows in the same scene. These can fox lesser digital cameras, which can’t always expose correctly for all areas of an image. If possible, check YouTube for footage from your potential purchase before buying.
If we were in a rush, even the mild chore of starting up and recording seemed too much to bother with and you just know that the one time you don’t do it is the one time you’ll wish you had!
Sound recording and privacy
Even the most careful drivers don’t always want sound to be recorded – especially if they’re having private conversations with passengers. In all the dashcams we’ve seen you can turn audio recording off, but it’s usually on by default. Of course, if you’re wanting to contribute to various Australian dashcam-owners highlight reels, it’s worth keeping the sound on and spouting some good
Aussie vernacular to help your clip go viral.
No screen no problem?
Barrel-shaped dashcams look cool but you have to trust that they’re recording. Even their manufacturers point out that errors happen – especially when complex, round-theclock monitoring is occurring. We suspect that few people will regularly connect to screenless models with their phones despite there being many almost-horror stories of people finding that footage stopped recording months beforehand. While this is still a potential issue on dashcams with screens, you’re more likely to get a visual warning if something goes wrong.
Sucker or sticker
If you want to remove your dashcam from time to time – whether it’s to swap cars, or take it travelling – it’s worth opting for a model with a suction cup mount. While it’s not impossible to remove a ‘permanent’ sticker, once it’s come off it will usually need replacing.
Battery power
All dashcams turn on automatically with a car, but only some have varying degrees of battery power, which will allow for impact or motion monitoring when it’s off. While you can wire dashcams into a car’s power, you won’t want it to stop your car starting. Some models come with separate, chargeable batteries that can be used to power 24-hour monitoring.
GPS
While we’re not convinced GPS is totally necessary to identify the location of an incident, it can be useful if you’re on an unmarked road at night. More importantly, though, is that it adds your speed to recorded footage – which can be as self-damning as it is useful should the law get involved.
Rear cameras and wire management
Many dashcams now come with rear cameras. While these are often lower resolution they’re still very useful considering how many incidents come from behind. Just note that most don’t operate independently – they need to be connected with wire to the main, front-mounted dashcam. It’s common for there to be many metres of cabling for this, so plan how to wrap it around your windscreen and through the car. In some cases you can wedge it under panelling (which can be hard to remove later) but often you’ll need (unsightly) tape or cable-tidy stickers (which aren’t always included).
Driver aids
Some dashcams come with driver aids such as brake-light detection plus lane-drift, school-zone and speed limit warnings. Just note that the former live-processing warnings are very poor when compared to expensive, integrated car safety systems.
Do you need a dashcam when you have a phone?
We found it simple to place a phone in a windscreen holder and start recording using an app. However, idly filling and re-filling flash memory can reduce its lifespan and performance over time. This is a particular concern for Apple devices which are prone to getting filled up with junk, whereas Android phones often have microSD card slots to shoulder the burden. The apps also make phones get very warm which won’t be good for battery longevity. Ultimately, we preferred knowing that the dedicated dashcam would just start-up and work regardless of who was driving the car. If we were in a rush, even the mild chore of starting up and recording seemed too much to bother with and you just know that the one time you don’t do it is the one time you’ll wish you had!