Have you noticed that more and more videos of car accidents are posted on YouTube, much of which is from Russia? All of these videos are recorded with the dashcam , a small video camera installed in the front window of a car.
What is a DashCam?
A Dash Cam is a small video camera that is normally installed on the dashboard of the car, hence its name “dash” from its English word “dashboard”, although they can also be installed on the windshield. Its main objective is to continuously record what is in front of or inside the vehicle in case of any accident in which we may be involved.
In reality, any camera or video recording device can be used as Dash Cams, but these normally include the following features: run at 12 volts DC, loop continuous recording, and automatically record on top of old information.
Many have other functionalities, but those are the main ones of a Dash Cam. The ability to run at 12 volts direct current means the device can be connected to the car’s electrical system, its ‘always on’ functionality allows it to start recording when the car starts, and the ability to record On top of old information, the driver does not have to worry about the space of the device.
How do they work?
These cameras are usually very simple. Once installed, they are directly connected to the vehicle’s electrical circuit using the car cigarette lighter. Thus the camera only turns on when the car is running and can constantly record video, usually to an external memory card such as an SD, microSD, USB or internal memory . When these fill up, the camera automatically overwrites the oldest video files. This allows us to forget about it once installed on the dashboard.
Are they legal?
In Spain there is no rule prohibiting its use, as long as it is not handled while driving. But two points must be taken into account: the regulations of the DGT and the Data Protection Law (LOPD).
According to the DGT, there is no problem by having a Dash Cam installed on the dashboard or as long as it does not obstruct vision and does not operate while driving. The LOPD only allows you to record and reproduce your content for private use and it cannot be shared on the network since it would be violating the privacy of the people who appear in the videos. And its continuous recording supposes a use of video surveillance, which is only allowed to the Law Enforcement as the BOE says.
Features to consider
When selecting a Dash Cam it can be an overwhelming task due to the number of options that exist in the market. Therefore, below, we present a series of tips to facilitate your choice
- Camera quality : Better image quality allows better clarity which can be very useful for capturing details after an accident.
- Resolution : In general, how many more pixels does a camera have is always much better. We recommend purchasing a dash camera with at least 1080p resolution.
- Field of vision : how big do we want the area to be captured on video to be.
- Frames Per Second : Generally, many of the dash cams offer 30 frames per second (FPS) which is the perfect choice for most users. Others allow up to 60 frames per second, resulting in a much smoother video image.
- Night vision: Night vision can be very useful for some drivers, especially those who have to use it constantly at night.
- Frame : adhesive or suction cup. When installing a dash cam in our car, and there are different ways to mount it.
- Connectivity : Bluetooth or Wifi? The only notable difference is the connection speed to our devices.
- GPS : location and speed. As well as connectivity, GPS adds extra functionality to store location, speed, and direction information that can help resolve a traffic dispute.
- Storage : We recommend a microSD external memory of at least 64GB.
- Recordings protection : prevent overwriting on top of other videos. Many times we realize that we need the recordings when it is too late.
- Screen : many of these cameras can be connected directly to the mobile to manipulate them, but others also include a touch screen to manage and configure your preferences.
- Continuous loop recording: loop recording allows us to store video, even if we do not have enough space on the memory card. As it does? Overwriting old recordings.
Recommended Models
There are many things to keep in mind when choosing a Dash Cam or dash camera, then we have a compilation of the best options on the market:
Awesafe
This dash cam, has the built-in G-Sensor function, you can choose the sensitivity of gravity detection according to the situation of your vehicle. If there is a traffic accident, our car camera will automatically record the situation at that time, providing important evidence for insurance companies and the police. With a wide 170 ° wide angle, you can see at least 5 lanes. When you play the video. Loop recording has settings of 1 minute, 3/5/10/20 minutes, the car recorder camera can overwrite the old video.
Apeman
Simultaneous recording with super high resolution FHD 1080P lens, and large 3-inch LCD screen. It can offer clearer videos and images and reproduce the key moment even when driving at high speed. This car recorder employs a 170 ° super wide angle lens. Ultra-wide field of view reduces blind spots and captures more detail to preserve the real scene.
With the built-in G-sensor, the Apeman car camera can automatically detect a sudden jolt / collision and lock the footage to prevent the video from being overwritten even in loop recording. The accident scene can be restored.
Aukey
The DR02 D is a complete front and rear camera system that supports you in any road incident. The Sony Exmor sensors on both cameras capture super sharp 1080p video (accompanied by optional in-car audio) and work well for driving at night.
Wide-angle lenses cover more, capturing crucial peripheral action. The 170 ° front and 152 ° rear fields of view monitor vehicle movements and other activities in front, behind and even to the side.
70Mai
This car camera features SONY’s world-class recorder image sensor IMX335, 2um super pixel point, opens a new chapter of quality video recording. You can continue recording in stop mode with g-sensor support for latency and motion detection.
Nwouiiay
Simultaneous recording with super high resolution FHD 1080P lens, and large 3-inch LCD screen. It can offer clearer videos and images and reproduce the key moment even when driving at high speed. When the car’s engine starts, the camera will automatically turn on and start recording, save the file, and turn off the power when the engine is stopped.
When you start loop recording, the latest video will automatically overwrite the oldest recorded video, ensuring no logs are missing in the driving process.
Aukey
The Sony Exmor sensor captures the image with 1080p resolution and stunning sharpness thanks to its 170 ° wide-angle lens, while working well in low light so you can use it at night. Use the 3M adhesive pad to attach the car camera to the dashboard safely in no time. Loop recording mode records continuously (in segments of up to ten minutes each) and overwrites old material when the micro SD card is full. You will never run out of memory nor will you have to worry about managing it.
Aukey
The DR01 camera with Sony Exmor sensor and a 6-channel ultra-wide field of view, from 170 ° resolution to 1080p (1920 x 1080 pixels) for perfect clarity. Record video (optional with car audio) and photos. While you are using the car, it records everything. The alternative motion detection recording method detects even when you close and leave. Use the 3M adhesive pad or suction cup to attach the car camera to the dashboard safely in no time.
Onreal
Car security camera for Uber and Lyft taxi. The OnReal 150 ° Wide Angle Dual Car Camera clearly captures driving video, which can be used as a car travel camera. The car’s cabin camera can be rotated 360 °, allowing you to record what happened in the cabin from multiple angles, ensuring driving safety and retaining evidence of accidents.
Oasser
The dash cam has an image resolution of 2880 × 2160P, which ensures the sharpness of the video. In addition, there is a large 3-inch IPS screen, so you can watch HD videos easily and comfortably. It has a 170 ° gan angle and an f / 1.8 aperture, so you can capture the road condition to the maximum when driving. It incorporates SONY STARVIS IMX335 Image Sensor, so it records video perfectly in the dark.
Azdome
With F1.8 large aperture and WDR / HDR technology, AZDOME 4K Dashcam offers super HD 4K resolution, 2880x2160P @ 24fps, 2.4-inch high-definition LCD screen, with stunning image clarity and vivid colors. Allows the camera to save and lock recorded files to prevent deletion if a car collision occurs. Older files will be automatically covered when the TF card is full, which means it will never stop recording and continue filming.
