FOCUS ON THE IMAGE
Matt Allan tests the latest high-end dash cam from Thinkware
Th e U 10 0 0 i s t h e l a t e s t m o d e l f r o m d a s h a n d s p o r t s c a m e r a b r a n d Thinkware and sits at the top of its line, starting at £339 and rising to £469 for the dual-channel version tested here.
That’s not cheap, given that you can pick up a dash cam from a recognised brand for as little as £50, but it does come with a good number of highend features. The front camera uses a 150-degree Sony Starvis lens and 4K sensor while the included rear camera offers 2K recording. A parking mode with ultra-low power setting can provide night and day protection for up to 24 days and G P S , w i f i a n d s ma r t p h o n e c o n n e c t iv i t y a r e s t a n d a r d . Also included are traffic light and speed camera warning, a host of ADAS functions and geo fencing that can track the camera’s location if the vehicle leaves a defined area.
T h e m a i n c a m e r a u n i t i s quite long but fairly flat and should fit b ehind most rear view mirrors without intrudi n g i n t o t h e d r i v e r ’s v i e w, helped by an incredibly thin mount. The downside to the mount is that it doesn’t offer a ny a d j u s t m e n t a n d , o n c e fitted, the camera lens only a d j u s t s f o r h e i g h t . Fo r t h i s r e a s o n , i t ’s b e s t t o h o o k u p the free smartphone app first, which allows you to view live and recorded footage from the camera so you can position it correctly.
T h e r e a r c a m e r a i s a f a r smaller lozenge-shaped unit with ver tical adjustment so you can mount it high up and out of the way.
U n l i k e p r e v i o u s T h i n k - ware units, the U1000 thankfully comes with a 12V power adaptor as standard for quick installation. But it also comes with the hard-wiring kit for a professional installation – ideal for business users who want round-the-clock functionality and a neater fitting.
Three small buttons on the main camera toggle the power, wifi and microphone while a larger central button allows you to start or stop recording manually. Most of the time, however, the camera will run in continuous mode, meaning as so on as you star t the e ng i n e i t b e g i n s r e c o r d i n g , overwriting any older footage you haven’t locked. If the camera detects a sharp impact, it will automatically save and protect the footage, stopping it from being overwritten.
O t h e r r e c o r d i n g o p t i o n s include a parking mode that requires the unit to be hardwired in. When this is done it offers time lapse recording as well as a “wake on impact” mode.
Connecting the smartphone a p p i s q u i c k a n d e a s y a n d allows most camera settings and function to be controlled via your phone, including activating the various driver aid functions.
As with many higher-priced dash cams, the U1000 offers adva nced drive r a ss ista nc e systems in the shap e of forward collision detection and lane departure warning. And, as with other cameras, these a r e i n c r e d i b l y s e n s i t i ve t o the camera’s positioning and calibration and are not a patch o n ma n u f a c t u r e r i n s t a l l e d systems.
The image from the front 4K camera is as good as you would hope, with sharp detail and decent contrast no matter how bright the sunlight, i m p r o v e d b y a n i n c l u d e d polarising filter. The rear camera offers 2K resolution and, while obviously not on a par with the front camera, still produces clear, usable images i n d a y - t o - d a y c o n d i t i o n s . Super Night Vision 2.0 might sound ridiculous but the inbuilt image processing does offer a noticeable improve - ment on low-light footage as well.
The U1000 is definitely one of the more exp ensive dash cam options on the market. For that reason, it’s probably aimed more at professional drivers and businesses with a fleet of vehicles who need a p ermanently installed unit. Fo r t h e m o n e y, t h o u g h , i t offers excellent image quality and a wealth of features to offer protection on the move and when the car is parked.