We’re delighted to have introduced a range of dashcams by Lukas to our website recently. We’re always looking to add top-quality cameras to our site and Lukas cameras are among the best quality available.
If you’re not familiar with the Lukas brand, they have grown a huge reputation in their native Korea since they were formed in 2006. Since then they have developed a range of high-quality, high-specification dashcams that are now among the most popular in Korea; which is no mean feat considering how competitive the market is there.
We’ve added the Lukas LK-7700 and Lukas LK-7900, which offer a distinctive and discreet design which is sure to be popular. But they’re not all style and no substance. Each camera offers full HD 1080p video recording, captures GPS and g-shock data and features an optional 37mm UV filter. The Lukas LK-7900 has an improved sensor – a 2.4MP SONY Exmor CMOS sensor in case you were wondering – which means it captures better image quality.
But if you’re looking for a 2-channel dashcam offering front and rear protection, then we’ve added the Lukas LK-7950 and Lukas LK-9750. Both of these brilliant dashcams record full HD 1080p at front and rear as well as a host of useful features. The LK-7950 features a mobile app which enables you to view footage and adjust settings, while on the LK-9750 this can be done via it’s 4″ LCD touch screen.
All of these cameras offer HUGE memory capacity as they are among the only models to support 256GB cards. This makes them perfect for anyone who spends a significant amount of time on the roads such as lorry drivers, taxi drivers and driving instructors.
We hope you’ll agree that the Lukas range are a great addition to our website. Keep your eyes peeled for more great dashcams coming to carcamerashop.co.uk in the future.
If you’ve been anywhere near a TV in the last few weeks, you might have caught some of Car Crash Britain, a two-part programme on ITV, highlighting examples of shocking driving from throughout the UK. From lumbering lorries careering off motorways to examples of reckless driving that have to be seen to be believed, the programme showed crash after crash, with most of the footage captured on dashcams.
While we’re used to seeing such footage here at Car Camera Shop, due to the amount of video we capture ourselves and our customers share with us, it appears that a large number of the British public had their eyes opened to the world of car cameras and how beneficial it can be to have one installed in your vehicle.
Clearly we’re huge believers in the benefits of dashcams, but it’s been fantastic to have been contacted by so many people over the past few weeks, eager to learn more about how a camera can help them. If you’re one of them, our why buy a dashcam page outlines the main features of dashcams, but if that’s more bamboozling then helpful, then our dashcam buyers guide will help to walk you through the steps to choose the right camera for you.
As always, if you have any questions, please fill in our enquiry form.
PDATE: To order, or to find out more about the Mini 0806, visit our product page.
We were all hoping it would arrive before Christmas, so a lucky few of us might find a shiny new Mini 0806 dashcam under their tree on the 25th, but it’s not to be. However, the good news is that the Mini 0806 should be available early next year, and it appears to offer some outstanding new features which could make it even more popular than the Mini 0801 and Mini 0803, which have both been among our best selling car cameras for some time.
While it’s currently in the final stages of testing and development, mass production should soon begin and we’ll be able to get our hands on the Mini 0806, with no small amount of excitement. As a long-time user of the Mini series, I’m personally hoping that the Mini 0806 will adorn my windscreen for some time, and judging by the test footage and technical specifications that we’ve seen so far, that looks likely.
One of the first things that makes the Mini 0806 stand out from it’s predecessors, aside from the slight difference in shape, is the number of ventilation holes all around it. Due to the large amount of data being processed by the components inside them, dashcams can generate a lot of heat, and if this can’t dissipate well enough, this heat can cause problems. The Mini 0803 initially suffered from this until additional heat sinks were added, so it’s great to see that lessons have been learned and the Mini 0806 seeks to address that particular problem head on.
Next up, we notice that the camera mounting point can rotate 180 degrees. This might not seem like a bit deal, but combine it with the ability to flip the image in the camera and this paves the way for a multitude of mounting options. Left-handed, right-handed, windscreen-mounted or dashboard-mounted, the choice will be yours. We would always recommend that a car camera be mounted as high up the windscreen as possible, but many of our customers have requested the option to mount a camera on their dashboard, so it’s nice to see the option added.
Aesthetically there are a few other tweaks, but the most useful of which is the new LED set-up and placement. A common confusion caused by the Mini 0801 and Mini 0803, was that two LEDs were visible via one hole in the camera’s body. One blue, and one red, which often appeared purple when flashing together, prompting many questions from our customers. This issue has been addressed by providing individual LEDs to signify power and recording, and a third LED that can possibly be configured to either indicate that a GPS signal has been found or that audio recording is enabled or disabled.
One of the most important new features of the Mini 0806 car camera is it’s ability to use two external memory cards, and the fact that it supports up to 128GB cards in each slot! That means that it offers a whopping 256GB of storage! Wow!! Based on the current cameras, that could mean that the Mini 0806 can hold around 48 hours worth of footage at any one time, making it ideal for anyone who spends a significant amount of time behind the wheel such as long distance haulage lorry drivers, driving instructors and taxi drivers.
It will also offer the ability to use an optional circular polarizing filter (CPL) to reduce glare when recording in the daytime. Particularly in bright conditions. This is a welcome addition to the range and it appears that the filter can be attached quickly and easily by way of a magnet which will make it easy to remove at night so that it doesn’t impair low light recording.
In terms of it’s video recording ability, it doesn’t look like it will deliver the 1440p resolution that the early information hinted at, but it will deliver 1296p video at 30 frames per second and a new option of full HD 1080p recording at 45 frames a second. The improved frame rate will help the Mini 0806 to deliver smoother video which will offer greater clarity. Given that the wide dynamic range (WDR) of the Mini 0803 has been retained, albeit called a high dynamic range (HDR), the Mini 0806 will record well at night, and the test footage that we’ve seen so far looks impressive.
The Mini 0806 retains the safety features that were introduced with the Mini 0803, such as a lane departure warning system (LDWS), but these haven’t been embraced by the dashcam community as much as we’d expected. While they do work, they lack the sophistication of more advanced systems and, as such, may be a touch too crude to be relied on. I’m sure we’ll see these features become more refined in the future and offer a real benefit to dashcam owners.
So overall, the Mini 0806 dashcam promises to be an exceptional car camera. It’s clear that the manufacturer has listened to the dashcam community and developed a product that appears to be raising the bar in many respects. With the level of testing and development that appears to have been down we’re hopeful that the Mini 0806 will launch without as many bugs as the Mini 0803 had, but we’ll reserve judgement until we’ve run our own tests. Rest assured that we won’t be offering the Mini 0806 for sale until we’re happy that it performs as it should.
We’re proud to stock a selection of iPixi dash cams at Car Camera Shop; they have a great build quality, are easy to use and we love their design. We were, however, also extremely chuffed to discover that they’d made it onto arguably the biggest car show in the world – Top Gear!
The Stig vs.. The Stig
This footage, courtesy of an iPixi dash cam (the V300HD) recorded every second of this indoor test of the BAC Mono in 2012 where The Stig smashed the current speed record held there by over 10 seconds. It also gave us a rare and valuable insight into what he sees behind the wheel and how he drives. Check it out below:
Car Camera Shop Reviews
We presently stock two iPixi cameras, and we’ve reviewed both in detail, which you can click to read, awarding them an aggregate score of 4.2/5 stars and a high recommendation:
Read the iPixi Winycam review here: (4.3/5 stars) X100FHD. Read the iPixi Winycam review here: (4/5 stars) V200HD.
To see our own footage of how the iPixi X100FHD records, you can watch the video below:
To shop iPixi dash cams, check out their brand page.
The leaves are falling and we’re getting blown all over the place. This can only mean one thing; Autumn is well underway and Winter is just around the corner! If last year is anything to go by, it’s going to be wet and very windy. Overall, we escaped the snow and ice last year compared to previous years but we never know what’s going to happen each Winter.
Now is the time to start getting ready for Winter driving and staying safe. We’ve put a short guide together with tips on how to stay safe and warm this Winter. If you have any more, jot them down in the comments below – the more the better!
1. Switch your lights on
It may sound like a stupid thing to say but you’d be surprised. When the clocks go back there is usually a spike in accidents as people forget to turn their lights on driving home from work. If it doubt, turn them on. Make it a habit when you get in your car to just turn the lights on.
Most modern cars have automatic lights but you should never rely on this clever little feature. Always check they are on when you are driving.
2. Check engine coolant, oil, screen wash
The last thing you want is to run out of engine coolant, oil, or screen wash so make sure you’re all topped up. Do it now before it becomes a problem later on. For winter driving make sure the engine coolant has the correct mix with water to prevent freezing (check the coolant and car manual for details). If in doubt, whip the car into your local garage and ask them to check and top up. It’s only a 10 minute job which won’t cost the earth.
3. Carry warning triangle and first aid kit
Regardless of the weather, you should always make sure you have a portable warning triangle and first aid kit in the car. Remember, you may not actually use it for yourself but another broken down motorist or someone else in trouble.
4. Check your tyre tread
Winter = Rain. So double-check the tread on your tyres and replace them if they’re low. Don’t wait for them to reach the minimum level (currently 1.6mm) – this is your life and the lives of others we’re talking about. If they’re low and below 3mm get them replaced. If you’re in an area with extreme levels of snowfall, buy some snow chains to give you that extra grip.
5. Check your heating and heated windscreens now
We all hate the feeling of being cold in the car waiting for the heating to come on. Make sure it all works now before you’re forced to spend your trips to work in the freezing cold. Whilst you’re checking the heating, just double check the heated windscreen works too – you’ll need to check it on a morning with condensation on the windscreen.
6. Check your wiper blades and windscreen washer jets
You’ll be cleaning your windscreen a lot during the winter so make sure the blades are in tip-top condition with no streak marks or vibrations. Try cleaning them first with some vinegar. The same goes for the windscreen washer jets that can get clogged up. Clean them and point them at the windscreen – don’t find yourself cleaning the pavement or worse still, the car behind!
7. Check your lights
Turn all the lights on you can including fog lights, main beam, dipped bean, side lights, and indicators and replace any broken bulbs now. Do it before the clocks go back and you may be driving more in the dark than in daylight.
8. Make sure to scrape the ice from all your windows
It might sound blindingly obvious, but it’s difficult to drive when the windows are covered with ice, but we’ve all seen people driving along, peering through a letter box sized gap in the ice on their windscreen! Before you set off make sure you have removed all the ice from all the windows and clear the windscreen inside. Use a scraper or de-icer to make the job easier.
It’s better to wait a few minutes in the car whilst everything clears up than drive into the first tree you see, or worse still, a child on their way to school!
9. Only drive in icy conditions if it’s absolutely necessary
If the roads are icy or bad weather is forecast, only drive if you absolutely need to. It’s not worth the risk, especially if it’s something that can wait for another day. You can always order online rather than travel to the shops.
10. Check the road conditions and traffic online before you leave
Before you leave, especially on a long journey, check the weather forecast and traffic updates. You may find that the roads are closed anyway so you’ll be better off staying in with a hot water bottle and a hot cuppa!
11. Take warm blankets, water, snacks, and a shovel with you
Be prepared and keep a couple of blankets, bottles of water, snacks, and a shovel in the boot of your car. A torch and first-aid would also be recommended.
12. Wear appropriate clothing when you travel out (gloves, warm clothes, jacket, hat etc.)
If you’re heading out on a cold night, wear appropriate clothing or at least take warm clothing with you should you get stuck or stranded. You can always keep a spare pair of gloves, a hat, and an old jacket in the car just in case.
13. And finally… buy a dash cam!
For when you do have an accident (or even witness another accident) you’ll need proof of what happened. If someone skids into your car you’ll want evidence to prove to the insurance company and police of exactly what happened. Car cameras start from under £50 and can save you a lot of hassle and gives you instant peace of mind.
In our work with dash cams we’ve come across the rather more serious issue of Crash for Cash schemes. The Insurance Fraud Bureau have issued some concerning facts about these schemes which we’ve simplified down into our very own Car Camera Shop visual – check it out and please share and spread the word:
UPDATE: To order, or to find out more about the Mini 0806, visit our product page.
UPDATE: More information is now available about the Mini 0806. Read our latest blog post here.
After the popularity of the Mini 0801 and Mini 0803, it’s with great excitement that we hear that a Mini 0806 is currently in development! Also referred to as the Mini 0803 Pro, it appears to be in a testing phase so hopefully it will be available to purchase sooner, rather than later!
Physically, if the blurred pictures that have been released by the manufacturer bare any relation to the finished product, the Mini 0806 appears to keep a similar styling to it’s predecessors, but with a few modifications. The rounded end of the 0801 and 0803 looks to have been squared off slightly and on the rear, the LCD screen and buttons look as if they have a new white surround?!
While the exact specification is closely guarded secret at this stage, some YouTube videos showing day and night test footage offer a 1440p video resolution which hints that the Mini 0806 could offer ultra high definition video. Also, the night time footage appears to be very clear, which indicates that the Mini 0806 has retained the wide dynamic range (WDR) of the Mini 0803.
We’re hoping to be a part of the testing process for the Mini 0806 and have contacted the manufacturer to try and get involved. While the Mini 0803 has had a few teething problems, we’re huge fans of this fantastic range of cameras and they’ve been very popular with our customers.
We’ll keep you updated as we get any more information and hope to get our hands on the Mini 0806 as soon as possible.
We regularly get asked about which memory cards are suitable for the dashcams that we sell. What type of card do I need? What does the class rating mean? And above all, how much video can I record per gigabyte?! To try and answer some of these questions, here’s the Car Camera Shop ‘Guide to Memory Cards’!
What type of memory card do I need?
While there are many different types of memory card, almost all dashcams accept Micro SD cards. At just 15mm by 11mm, these tiny little cards can offer many gigabytes of recording space, but typically dashcams will support 8GB, 16GB and 32GB cards, with some newer cameras even accepting 64GB cards.
As well as the card capacity, it will also have a class rating which indicates the speed at which data can be written to it. Most current dashcams require class 6 or class 10 memory cards. The higher the class rating, the quicker data can be recorded onto it. However, it’s not always a case of the quicker the better. Occasionally a dashcam will struggle to cope with a card that is too fast for it and this can present problems. Ensure you use the class of memory that is compatible with your car camera.
How much footage will a card hold?
The amount of footage that can be recorded onto these cards is dependent on several factors, but most notably the bitrate of your camera. This relates to the amount of data that your camera processes at any one time. The higher the bitrate, the higher the quality of the footage it should capture, and therefore the more storage space it requires.
The resolution that you choose to record in will also have a significant impact on the capacity of your memory card. With most car cameras offering a choice of recording options, such as 1080p or 720p of differing numbers of frames-per-second, you may find yourself struggling to decide which to choose. We would always suggest recording at the highest resolution possible, to ensure that you capture as much detail as possible. This could make the difference between being able to read a number plate or not.
Other information captured such as audio, GPS and g-sensor data will all consume more storage space on your card and impact the amount of footage it can hold.
As a rough guideline for some of our most popular cameras, the following amount of footage can be recorded:
Camera
Bitrate (kbps)
8GB
16GB
32GB
Mobius
18,000
1 hour
2 hours
4 hours
Mini 0801
12,000
1½ hours
3 hours
6 hours
G1W
15,000
1¼ hours
2½ hours
5 hours
BlackVue DR3500-FHD
10,000
1¾ hours
3½ hours
7 hours
Mi-Witness HD
10,000
1¾ hours
3½ hours
7 hours
BlackVue DR650GW-2CH
11,700
1½ hours
3 hours
6 hours
How much storage do I need?
There are several schools of thought when it comes to deciding how much memory you should have. While many will argue that in the case of an incident it’s only the last few moments of footage that you’ll need, the reality is that your memory card will more than likely accumulate locked video files which will remain on your memory card until you delete them manually. Over time, these locked files will reduce the amount of room left for new files as your camera uses loop recording to overwrite old uneventful footage. A larger memory card will increase the amount of time between the occasions that you’ll need to clear your card.
This is done by formatting it, which is ideally done in-camera or alternatively the card can be inserted into your computer via a card reader or a USB adapter. Formatting will erase all content from the card, giving you the full card capacity back. Formatting your cards regularly is a good habit to get into but make sure that you’ve copied all footage that you might later want to refer to into a safe location beforehand.
How do I know if my memory card is genuine?
Unfortunately there are many fake memory cards in circulation, which look identical to their branded counterparts, but often perform poorly and fail to record successfully. The last thing you want in the case of an incident is to look for your footage and find that it hasn’t been recorded so genuine memory cards are a must. Always buy your cards from a reputable source.
If you’re looking for a memory card for your dashcam, we supply genuine Samsung class 6 and class 10 MicroSD memory cards.
Samsung 8GB Class 6 MicroSD Memory Card Samsung 16GB Class 6 MicroSD Memory Card Samsung 32GB Class 6 MicroSD Memory Card Samsung 8GB Class 10 MicroSD Memory Card Samsung 16GB Class 10 MicroSD Memory Card Samsung 32GB Class 10 MicroSD Memory Card
Being a daily cycle commuter, I had been wanting to review the Replay XD 1080 for some time and so was especially pleased when the new Replay XD 1080 Mini was released and I managed to get my hands on one. Smaller and lighter than it’s predecessor, it manages to cram the same performance into it’s tough aluminium housing.
Key Features
Full HD quality video (1920 x 1080) at 30fps.
120° wide angle lens with a 5MP CMOS sensor.
Tough aluminium body.
Waterproof to 3m.
Vibration feedback for easy control while wearing a helmet.
A range of adhesive mounts.
MicroSD cards up to 32GB. 4GB card supplied.
When people think of cameras for their bicycles or motorbikes, many consider the costly GoPro range, but for me, the asthetics of the Replay means it’s much more suited to the job. The Replay XD 1080 Mini’s barrel design – which has helped this type of camera to become known as a bullet camera – means that it’s much more aerodynamic and compact than the GoPro, especially when it’s waterproof housing and mounts are taken into consideration.
The first thing you notice about the Replay XD 1080 Mini is it’s exceptional quality. From the camera itself and it’s array of mounts, right through to the instruction booklet, stickers and packaging, the entire bundle is very impressive. Within the smart perspex outer packaging, Replay have included a fabric ‘ballistic’ case to store everything in when not being used and another smaller microfibre sleeve to protect the camera itself. Some Replay stickers complete a very neat package indeed.
The camera is very well put together and the fact that it’s waterproof to three metres without the need for an additional housing means that it remains neat and compact when in use. With double o-ring threads at either end of the camera protecting the lens at the front and the memory card slot, switches and power connectors at the rear, the camera will be more than weatherproof for use outdoors in rainy conditions.
The mounts are well constructed and very sturdy. While the LowBoy mount simply the camera in one, fixed position, the HeimLock mount offers the ability to move the camera slightly, by using a quick release mechanism. Both of these mounts allow the camera to be twisted throughout 360° to be positioned as required and small lines around the camera help with alignment.
Once clipped into any of the SnapTrays provided, the mounts become very sturdy indeed. Three of these SnapTrays are included, and the Flat, Tripod and Curved SnapTrays are each designed for for a slightly different purpose. I used the Curved SnapTray on my cycle helmet and it stuck well, thanks to the 3M adhesive used. I would say that I was slightly concerned that the mount wouldn’t adhere to my helmet well, as the adhesive pad would have to sit across a vent hole. However, it has remained stuck very well and I have no concerns as to it falling off. On a motorbike helmet, where it would have a much better contact, it would stick extremely well.
The camera only has two external buttons with which to control the camera which are also waterproof to prevent moisture getting inside. The simplistic control system works exceptionally well and makes it easy to control the Replay XD 1080 Mini without having to look at it. The two raised buttons either turn the camera on/off or start/stop recording and can be felt easily through gloves. While the camera has small LCDs that tell you what the camera is currently doing, each button press in also accompanied with a vibration alert which can be felt through your helmet to ensure you know that you’re recording. By adjusting the cameras settings, it can be made to start recording with the touch of just one button, but more on that later.
At the front, the impact-resistant polycarbonate lens offers a 120 degree field-of-view, enabling the Replay XD 1080 Mini to capture significant detail without the image distorting due to a wide angle fish-eye lens. This lends itself well to the purpose of capturing footage in the case of an incident on the road as all aspects of the image will be clear. Recording at either 1080p at 30 frames-per-second, or 720p at 60 frames-per-second the video quality is excellent. A simple switch, hidden behind the rear bezel, changes between these two main recording options but others are available via an ‘advanced’ set up solution.
With this, it’s possible to alter many technical aspects of the Replay XD 1080 Mini, to tailor it exactly to your specific needs. While it’s not the most intuitive process, by manually altering a text file found on your memory card, you can tweak features such as exposure, sharpness and contrast, as well as various recording functions. In my case, I activated loop recording and one touch recording, so that it started to record automatically as soon as I turned it on. This meant that during my daily commute, I simply turned the camera on as I started my journey and it would start recording, recording over the oldest footage when the 4GB memory card (supplied) was full. This took around 40 minutes, and I wanted to retain slightly more footage than that so I eventually upgraded to a larger card.
With about a two hour battery life, the Replay XD 1080 Mini offers enough recording time for many journeys, but it’s not going to last for a full day’s cycle ride by any means. With this in mind, there are a range of power accessories available, from three and six hour battery packs to hardwire kits. These open the door to many different applications for cyclists and motorcyclists and all offer the same high level of build quality throughout. Other accessories include a ReView monitor to view footage while out and about and a mountain of mounting options for almost every conceivable eventuality.
Overall, the Replay XD 1080 Mini is a great camera, either for the daily commuter, or for the more ‘extreme’ user. I found that when I had the camera mounted on my helmet the constant movement suited the 720p setting better, due to the higher frame rate, and produced a smoother picture. I also experimented with the WindBreaker stickers that came in the package and found that they do an effective job of cutting out wind noise, especially if travelling at high speeds.
I feel confident that in the case of any incident I will have a detailed record of the events leading up to it which I can refer to if necessary. The footage quality is good enough to capture vehicle registrations and other details, even at speed, and by mounting the camera on my helmet it meant it was almost always focussed on danger areas. For more recreational activities, such as snowboarding, I look forward to experimenting with the many other mounting options.
How to report an incident you see on your dash cam
All drivers see things while driving their cars, including accidents, and at some unfortunate times they have a front-row seat to an accident of their own. Usually the authorities and the insurance companies find out about what happened by asking those involved and any witnesses they can find. This is typically a long and sometimes inaccurate process. A car camera provides irrefutable evidence in such situations but how do you report an incident you see on your car camera?
Reporting an Accident You Witness
You are not required by law to stop at the scene of an accident that you have witnessed but are not involved in. But it is common decency and morality to stop and offer assistance, particularly if there are injuries.
In those situations you can let the people involved in the accident know that you have camera footage if it would be useful. If it is not possible to speak to the people in the crash you can let a police officer know.
There are situations where you will not stop though. This can include an incident where lots of people are already offering assistance, or it could be one of the many thousands of minor accidents that take place on Britain’s roads every year where the people involved don’t require help. In these situations your presence can be as much of a hindrance as a help.
That said the people involved in the accident or their insurance companies are likely to want to see your footage. You can do this by calling your local police station to let them know you saw the crash and would be happy to give those involved the file from your camera.
Sending Your Camera Footage
In both of these situations – when you stop and when you don’t – you have to get the video off the camera and then you need a means to send it. The process for getting the video off your camera varies from brand to brand but it is a similar process to taking photos or videos off your phone. Sending it is the part that many people are new to.
The easiest way to do this is to upload the video to Youtube. If you do not have a Youtube account you can create one for free. There are no privacy or data protection laws that you have to worry about as this is your video but you can keep it private if you want. Those settings are available to you during the upload process. After it is uploaded you just need to send on the link so others can access it.
Even when you have the video on YouTube always keep the original. Youtube compresses video files to make them quicker to load but this can result in a loss of quality. Your original file will have the high quality video which might be needed at a later date.
Reporting an Accident You Are Involved In
The rules for stopping at an accident you are involved in are the opposite of the rules for stopping at an accident you witness. If you are involved in an accident you must stop.
The procedure you should follow in terms of contacting the police and getting the details of the other driver are the same whether you have a car camera or not. The difference comes when you are dealing with the police and the insurance companies after the incident. At this point you should upload the video to Youtube and send them a link to speed up the process of dealing with the accident.
There is another type of accident that you might witness now that you have a car camera: hit-and-runs. This sort of thing happens in car parks and petrol station forecourts all of the time – you are inside the shop and unknown to you someone bumps into your car, does some minor damage, and then drives off leaving you to cover the bill.
Without a car camera there is often little you can do about this. But a car camera acts as your witness so you can get the details of the car that hit you, particularly the registration number. With that you can notify the DVLA and give them details of the incident. They don’t have to give you the details of the other driver but stills taken from your camera footage will add weight to your claim and will make that possibility more likely. From there you can pursue a claim for damages.
When accidents happen memories are often clouded and recollections are usually embellished. This is why a car camera is useful as video footage does not lie.