Dashcams

**PaulRS7** · 09-25-2023 12:14 PM

Wanting opinions on which Dashcam to buy.
What is everyone using?
Ideally I’m after a front and rear camera that offers the best resolution, also records while parked.
So many to choose from these days, so looking for personal experiences that users have.
Many thanks
Paul

**SSSSS5** · 09-25-2023 12:29 PM

I've gone through the gambit of cheap dash cams. They all work just fine until they don't because of how cheaply they are made, then you're stuck buying another one because customer service is non virtually non-existent.

I've settled on Garmin. The Tandem works great, front and rear, and Garmin offers a hardwire kit for parked recording.
https://www.garmin.com/en-US/p/671095
I'm sure there's better options, but I want a dash cam for the following reasons. Any other features I don't really care to pay for.

- Relatively cheap (less than $350 all in)
- Reputable brand
- US based customer service/support team
- An app that wasn't designed by a 4th grader
- Easy install
- Easy to move between vehicles

**MyDimeIsUp** · 09-25-2023 12:57 PM

I've had good luck with VIOFO. They're an actual brand, have good support forums, and aren't too expensive. A129 DUO if you want front and rear, or you can pick up an A129 single camera, or even an A119 v3 used if you're looking to spend < $100. Grab a hard wire kit and you're good. I've been running my A119 v2 since 2019, I installed an A129 in my mom's car, and will install an A129 in my grandmother's car soon.

**THCarpenter** · 09-25-2023 01:10 PM

I have in my room the A129 Duo from Viofo...they are highly recommended in the other forums.

Cameron from AudiC7Owners YT/IG was gifted the A139 three camera setup for product review and he is in love....search his YT and you will see his updates about it too

**Audibot** · 09-25-2023 01:47 PM

I've got a Thinkware and it's fine.

**PaulRS7** · 09-25-2023 06:04 PM

Thanks for the ideas, will research

**turbostang** · 09-25-2023 06:19 PM

Thinkware f200. Inexpensive and work perfectly. $150 front and rear cameras and hardwire cable.

**bpd** · 09-25-2023 09:30 PM

Blackvue DR970X 2ch 4k, Thinkware is another good one.

**jeff351** · 09-26-2023 07:16 AM

For those of us with the idatalink remote starter with drone mobile, drone mobile just launched a dash cam that pairs with the system and allows live remote view https://www.dronemobile.com/xc-lte-dash-cam

**Kczach** · 09-26-2023 08:24 AM

Originally Posted by bpd

Blackvue DR970X 2ch 4k, Thinkware is another good one.

I've got the Blackvue as well. I got the separate backup battery as well.

**PaulRS7** · 09-27-2023 08:32 AM

Originally Posted by Kczach

I've got the Blackvue as well. I got the separate backup battery as well.

I’m guessing the backup battery is to allow it to record while the car isn’t running and not deplete the cars battery

**Kczach** · 09-27-2023 08:54 AM

Yup, I don't really know how many hours it'll backup for. If you were parking outside all night I doubt the battery backup would be sufficient. For parking for 6-8 hours it seems good.

**bpd** · 09-27-2023 01:03 PM

The new Blackvue's have a timer and voltage sensor for parking mode. I have an older gen where I have an accessory Blackvue power magic pro for parking mode. Its just a small control box where you select hours camera is on after car is off or if it gets below a selected voltage it turns cam off.

**hunte88** · 09-27-2023 01:58 PM

Hi guys, i have always take only professional item. In the 2018 i take F800 Pro of thinkware is very good camer on the paper...she permit of recorder the video from sd card to other server with wifi, when i arrive to my home she connected automatic with my server home and download all video on my server. The problem of this camera as others are the high temperatures. In my case, the cam is dead after high sun. The auto protection not worked for me.

Do you have any review of your dashcam with hot ?

Do you have any model with LTE 4G module or do you have any solution with modem lte in your cars ?

Thanks a lot.

**Botbasher** · 09-28-2023 10:45 AM

Originally Posted by bpd

The new Blackvue's have a timer and voltage sensor for parking mode. I have an older gen where I have an accessory Blackvue power magic pro for parking mode. Its just a small control box where you select hours camera is on after car is off or if it gets below a selected voltage it turns cam off.

I love my Blackvue cams... one in every car! Highly rate them and often suggest them!

Cheers,

KS

**petarat** · 09-28-2023 12:10 PM

I had a blackvue 1080p model and it lived up to all my expectations, would run for about 2 days before the auto battery would shut it off. I wanted a 4k one with the new camera sensors so I got the viofo a139 pro 1 channel and it likes to suck down battery. I have the external battery pack thing and it will only power it for about 28 hours in parking mode, and the viofo app is a huge step down from the blackvue app in terms of speed to get to your videos and bugs. That being said, one time my blackvue did glitch out and not auto shut down and it ran my car battery completely empty.

**PaulRS7** · 09-28-2023 12:33 PM

Thanks everyone lots of cameras to review now

**Nosferatu** · 09-30-2023 09:14 PM

Viofo A229

I've paid more for Thinkware and Blackvue flagships back in the day not worth the price difference. Here's actual footage from the A229 in two of my vehicles. Also you should watch this general video it'll help show you more money doesn't mean better camera...unless you want to pay an arm and a leg for a STARVIS 2 sensor camera.

**hunte88** · 10-01-2023 04:19 AM

Do you know these models of dashcam ?
They seems very good on the paper, they have 2 camera for left e right side.

https://it.aliexpress.com/item/10050...d=rq5Le8jg139U

https://it.aliexpress.com/item/10050...d=ReUx3QwDfGvq

https://it.aliexpress.com/item/10050...d=jV8nxHLDSMgr

What you do you think of these cameras ?

**joejoe3** · 10-01-2023 11:13 AM

I have the VIOFO duo on our s7 as well, front and rear cameras, hardwired and parking mode setup - it does the job, image quality is great and was a solid price in terms of this setup.

**ilikecooltech** · 10-03-2023 08:13 AM

I’m running BlackVue in my RS& and my wife’s Q8

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**ericw.** · 10-03-2023 01:14 PM

Blackvue and Thinkware are the only two brands that survive the heat in my region..

**paul-g** · 10-05-2023 04:11 AM

Originally Posted by Nosferatu

Viofo A229

I've paid more for Thinkware and Blackvue flagships back in the day not worth the price difference. Here's actual footage from the A229 in two of my vehicles. Also you should watch this general video it'll help show you more money doesn't mean better camera...unless you want to pay an arm and a leg for a STARVIS 2 sensor camera.

i agree 100% with this you can spend way to much for cameras and honestly they are roughly the same quality (mostly anyhow) video. There are a lot of reviews that show that there isn't a huge difference in a $100 4k dash cam verse $400 one, IMO night time is probably the only difference area. I've been running rexing dash cams for a long time and totally happy with them and the price points are great and video quality is right there with the rest of them.

I guess I see it this way, I'm not trying to make movies with it so all I want to see is that person running a red light that slams into me or something of that nature, get a plate hopefully if angle is good and that's it.

**Botbasher** · 10-05-2023 01:38 PM

Originally Posted by paul-g

i agree 100% with this you can spend way to much for cameras and honestly they are roughly the same quality (mostly anyhow) video.

Since there is generally only one sensor being used (Starvis2), the real difference is CPU power and features.

Hey VIOFO owners...

They state that the A229 3CH is a Front 4K/Rear 1080/Interior 2k... Is there any reason the A229 "interior" camera could not be used as a Rear camera? I want better outside recording than inside but just wondering if their are any other differences? Light metering, app features...

Also... they state there is an option for an internal mic. Is it required to have sound recorded, or is that only for better quality sound. Again, not really worried about the interior of the car, but I do like hearing the basics, like if a window were rolled down and such.

I love my Blackvue, but I want 4k after I couldn't barely read a plate the other day, and at nearly 2x the cost to get it in Blackvue... I'm not that big a fanboy!!

Cheers,

KS

**paul-g** · 10-06-2023 03:39 AM

Because this was brought up again i figured i would do some research again....yep 2 sensors still so software is the only thing that kinds changes stuff between cameras. Honestly i was a bit shocked at how close they all were no matter the price point, some tad better than others in only certain situations......

**Audisthesia** · 10-08-2023 05:02 AM

https://fitcamx.com/products/fitcamx...40985746833580

**ActiveMonkey** · 10-08-2023 01:41 PM

IMG_4408.jpg
I like the Escort M2. It certainly is not the best dash cam and it’s a bit pricey for what you get however, it plugs directly in with my Escort Max 360c radar detector while providing a very nice clean package.

Day video
https://youtu.be/7CRz_AvylCE?si=sQ6Cg3R5cpwWjcrZ

Night video
https://youtu.be/dOdE-UOjGAs?si=SYKKV3Cz1bvh30mU

**Botbasher** · 10-09-2023 11:33 AM

Originally Posted by ActiveMonkey

Night video
https://youtu.be/dOdE-UOjGAs?si=SYKKV3Cz1bvh30mU

Day video was good... gotta love OC drivers!!

The night vid though... Can't quite make out the plate... saturation makes it tough to read... especially after he covers it with Gap Sauce!

What the hell was it?? He's a total asshat in the lane management category though. WTF was that for??

Good Luck next race!

Cheers,

KS

**ActiveMonkey** · 10-09-2023 04:09 PM

That was a Tesla model S plaid. Legit not trying to race that dickhead. Just trying to get on the freeway, but he was being a fuck boy.

**ericw.** · 10-10-2023 08:52 AM

Tesla owners quickly took the trophy for worst drivers. They ripped it out of the hands of prius and altima owners with prejudice.

Around here it's all the base model 3's who think they're fast until an actual fast car shows up at the next stop light, then they're on their best behavior like the police just showed up.

**Gunnarrrrr** · 10-10-2023 09:36 AM

Originally Posted by ericw.

Tesla owners quickly took the trophy for worst drivers. They ripped it out of the hands of prius and altima owners with prejudice.

Around here it's all the base model 3's who think they're fast until an actual fast car shows up at the next stop light, then they're on their best behavior like the police just showed up.

The same people who were the first to buy a prius when they came out are now tesla owners. they’re still the same people, but as “current thing enjoyers” by nature, they’ve just moved on to the new current thing.

The working man has wrestled the prius from their weak noodle arms and now the prius is the official car of the working class

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**Audibot** · 10-10-2023 11:32 AM

Worst drivers (not by vehicle) I've encountered are either Florida or Maryland. Florida drivers are either 20+ over or 10 under the limit. No in between. Maryland drivers love to ride at the speed limit (or just under) in all lanes. Neither know how to use turn signals.

**Nosferatu** · 10-12-2023 10:57 AM

Originally Posted by ericw.

Tesla owners quickly took the trophy for worst drivers. They ripped it out of the hands of prius and altima owners with prejudice.

Around here it's all the base model 3's who think they're fast until an actual fast car shows up at the next stop light, then they're on their best behavior like the police just showed up.

Originally Posted by Audibot

Worst drivers (not by vehicle) I've encountered are either Florida or Maryland. Florida drivers are either 20+ over or 10 under the limit. No in between. Maryland drivers love to ride at the speed limit (or just under) in all lanes. Neither know how to use turn signals.

I guess being from Florida and owning a Model S Plaid I guess I'm not a cool RS7 owner then...

**Audibot** · 10-12-2023 11:19 AM

Originally Posted by Nosferatu

I guess being from Florida and owning a Model S Plaid I guess I'm not a cool RS7 owner then...

You can be cool but still drive like a dick

**THCarpenter** · 10-13-2023 06:13 AM

Originally Posted by Audibot

You can be cool but still drive like a dick

fun fact....he is a dick!

a sweet loveable rich dick....but a dick none the less

**Nosferatu** · 10-13-2023 07:08 AM

Originally Posted by THCarpenter

fun fact....he is a dick!

a sweet loveable rich dick....but a dick none the less

**kringtan** · 03-16-2024 01:19 AM

I use the Mercylion integrated dash cam. It offers excellent resolution for both front and rear cameras and reliable parking mode recording. I've had positive experiences with its performance.

**Audisthesia** · 03-16-2024 03:05 AM

Originally Posted by Audibot

Worst drivers (not by vehicle) I've encountered are either Florida or Maryland. Florida drivers are either 20+ over or 10 under the limit. No in between. Maryland drivers love to ride at the speed limit (or just under) in all lanes. Neither know how to use turn signals.

The worst drivers you encountered in Florida moved to Florida from other shit states.

**mrdouble99** · 03-16-2024 05:29 AM

Originally Posted by Nosferatu

Viofo A229

I've paid more for Thinkware and Blackvue flagships back in the day not worth the price difference. Here's actual footage from the A229 in two of my vehicles. Also you should watch this general video it'll help show you more money doesn't mean better camera...unless you want to pay an arm and a leg for a STARVIS 2 sensor camera.

Exactly what i was about to post, they are all the same