Buying Info Archives - Page 2 of 2

Posted on July 14, 2021January 24, 2023 by Eric Rogers

Mobius ActionCam (Dash Cam Version) Review

The Mobius ActionCam is an all round action camera which comes with the basic dash cam features required to make it an ideal car camera. This includes loop recording, auto power on/off, range of car mounts, and auto recording amongst other things which turn this light and nimble action camera into the perfect dash cam.

Key Features

Full HD 1080p @ 30fps.
Loop recording, auto power on/off.
Photo mode.
Motion detection.
Range of mounts available.
MicroSD memory cards up to 32GB (class 6)

When you first hold the camera you realise just how small and light it actually is with an excellent build quality – it feels very strong and sturdy, more than enough to cope with even the worst drivers out there! It’s by far the smallest dash cam on the market and one of the cheapest. There’s no official box with the camera and there isn’t any instructions or software provided. However, you can download some Windows software to change the camera preferences and a PDF user manual created by third-parties (see download links below). Without the software, you can change the camera preferences by editing a text file on the memory card – it’s easy enough but can appear a little daunting at first.

The Mobius camera comes with lots of mounting options allowing you to mount it in the car with a suction or adhesive mount, depending on your preference. If you want to use the camera for other activities such as cycling or even snowboarding, you can purchase additional mounts. The camera mounts using a standard tripod thread which means you can use any mount with the tripod thread connection.

I’ve actually been using the little Mobius camera in my car for a few months and absolutely love it. During this time the manufacturer has released half a dozen firmware updates which improves reliability and adds new functionality. I’ve not had a single problem with the camera in the 3 months I’ve been using it and it has even captured an accident.

On a 16GB MicroSD memory card you can get around 2 hours of video at the full 1080p 30fps high quality setting. You can obviously get more if you reduce the quality down to 720p but you need the full HD to get the best quality footage available. The manufacturer recommends a class 6 memory card but I’ve been using a class 10 card without problems.

When you open the software you’ll notice that there’s lots of camera settings to play with. It’s worth having a play with the settings and trying the different options until you’re happy you have the best quality video for how you use it. Like many dash cams, it comes with High Dynamic Range (sometimes called Wide Dynamic Range) which improves the video quality in low-light or at night time. This can compromise the standard video however, since more noise is added to the video. If you rarely drive at night, then it’s best to leave this feature off.

After a recent firmware update, motion detection was added to the camera features. This works well but you cannot have motion detection running alongside normal recording. Unlike most dash cams, where the motion detection normally kicks in when you have parked the car, you will need to run the camera with motion detection on all the time which means you may miss out on footage whilst the car has stopped. It’s good to see the manufacturer releasing new firmware and features though – perhaps motion detection will improve over time.

The camera does lack some of the advanced features offered by other dash cams such as GPS maps, LCD screen, speed tracking, or a g-sensor. Event recording is not automatic (normally a g-sensor will automatically sense an impact and lock the video file) but there is a button on the camera which you can press to lock a file. This isn’t a feature I’ve ever used (I always forget which button it is!) so if you need to save a video file you can just stop the camera before it loops and overwrites the footage you want to keep.

Whilst it does lack some of the advanced car camera features, the quality of the full HD 1080p video is astonishing and trumps the top of the range £300+ cameras. It really is excellent both during the day and at night. So, if you’re looking for a small camera which takes exceptional video without the extra features this is the perfect camera.

video without the extra features this is the perfect camera.

Sample Mobius Videos

Sample Daytime Footage

Sample Night-time Footage

Comparison of the Mobius vs. BlackVue DR550

Posted on July 14, 2021January 24, 2023 by Eric Rogers

Updating your Mini 0801 Firmware (Tutorial)

The Mini 0801 is one of our most popular car cameras, and it’s easy to see why. It records great video, has a handy little LCD screen and hides discreetly in any vehicle. I use one in my car in fact and wouldn’t go anywhere without it nowadays. On the rare occasion that I have to drive somewhere and have forgotten to put the memory card back in it, I feel vulnerable! Strange but true! I feel positive that the time my Mini 0801 isn’t recording, will be the time something happens!! Anyway, I’m rambling…

One way of ensuring your Mini 0801 dashcam is performing at it’s best is to keep the firmware up to date. Firmware is essentially the programming of your camera and manufacturers will release new firmware files as they develop their products so users can update them. This often adds new features and menu options, or fixes known issues and bugs. With each firmware upgrade your product will usually get better and more stable.

Firmware is provided in the shape of a small file that can be downloaded via the internet and uploaded to your camera either via the memory card, or occasionally by plugging the camera into a computer.

The steps below outline how you can update your Mini 0801 dashcam with the latest firmware. Please note: While these instructions are tried and tested, any changes or updates to your firmware are done so at your own risk.

How to check your current Mini 0801 firmware version
If you want to check which version of the firmware your Mini 0801 currently has, you can find this information in the menu. Press ok to stop your camera from recording if necessary and then hold the up button to access the menu. Press up again once the menu is open to highlight the ‘FIRMWARE’ option, then press OK. This will show you the firmware version you currently have.

STEP 1

Download the firmware file that is applicable to your camera. At the time of writing, the latest Mini 0801 firmware for the versions that we offer (without internal memory) is available below, and in the support section of our site. This is version 20131202.

Download: Mini 0801 Firmware (20131202)

STEP 2

Copy the firmware file onto a Micro SD card. If you’re using the one from your camera, format the card first so that the firmware is the only file remaining on it.

STEP 3

Insert the memory card into your Mini 0801 dashcam and turn the power on.

STEP 4

When prompted with ‘FIRMWARE UPDATE?’, press up top highlight YES in red, then press OK.

STEP 5

The screen will then display ‘PROCESSING…’ for a short time and the LED will stay solid blue. If your screen is set to turn off after a minute, it will do so but the update will continue to be carried out. The LED will remain blue until the update is finished (approximately 1m 40s later in our tests) at which point the camera will turn itself off. You may hear the power off tone and the LED will turn off.

STEP 6

Your Mini 0801 is now updated, but before you proceed, remove the firmware file from your Micro SD card to prevent the camera from asking if you want to update your firmware the next time you turn it on.

STEP 7

Re-insert your Micro SD card, power up your camera and check that the latest firmware is installed. You may need to check the menu settings and adjust them as they will have been restored to the default settings.

And that’s it. Told you it was easy, and your Mini 0801 is now bang up-to-date!

Posted on July 14, 2021January 24, 2023 by Eric Rogers

BlackVue DR550GW-HD Car Camera Review

Posted by Car Camera Shop on Tuesday, 14 January 2014

We’ve tested a lot of dash cams here at Car Camera Shop, but never before one with a rear-facing camera. So when Pittasoft offered us a BlackVue DR550GW-HD to review, their first two-channel camera, we jumped at the chance. Having the ability to record behind your vehicle, as well as in front, greatly increases the chances of you capturing any activity that could lead to you needing to claim on your insurance.

Key Features

Full HD quality video (1920 x 1080) at 30fps.
139° wide angle lens with a 2.4MP Sony Exmor CMOS sensor.
Multi-lens to capture video from front and rear.
Wifi enabled to connect to a mobile app.
GPS maps for speed and location tracking.
G-shock sensor to detect sudden and severe movement.
Parking mode for protection when parked.
Photo mode.
MicroSD cards up to 32GB. 16GB card supplied.
Adjustable adhesive windscreen mount.

Upon opening the well-presented packaging, the build and design quality of both cameras is the first thing you notice, certainly in comparison to some of the budget range of cameras available in the market today. Continuing the sleek, barrel design of the existing BlackVue cameras, these are constructed of tough, beautifully finished plastic, with smart little design features, from the subtle placement of status LEDs to the touch-sensitive audio on/off sensor on the front camera. Even the air ventilation holes complement the design beautifully!

There are also some nice finishing touches such as the BlackVue logo on the lens cap and even etched underneath the adhesive pad on the rear camera that, while not strictly necessary, really do paint the picture that this is a premium quality product. The camera isn’t cluttered with buttons which helps retain its sense of style, but that doesn’t mean that it’s short on functionality either. At one end, a touch-sensitive panel enables you to turn audio recording on and off easily while driving and at the opposite end, alongside the power and rear camera connectors, a single button engages the DR550GW’s own WiFi hotspot. This enables you to access a wealth of setting and options via your smartphone, but we’ll talk more about that later!

Installation was easy, and we were impressed with the quality of the cables provided. Every connection felt made-to-measure, particularly the AV in/out cable connecting the two cameras which clicked into place firmly. All cables were long enough to route around the car, completely hidden from view behind the trim and beneath the carpet. The only complication we encountered was the amount of slack cable required to allow our hatchback boot to open. This loop of cable couldn’t be hidden as well as we’d have liked when the boot was closed, but it didn’t cause any visibility issues in the slightest and wasn’t very noticeable.

There’s definitely something very comforting about having a car camera installed. The peace-of-mind that comes from knowing you’ll have footage if anything happens on the road is appreciated. So catching sight of the additional rear camera in our mirror was very welcome. Its subtle white LED let us know that it was powered up and recording.

On powering up the camera for the first time we’re welcomed with a voice message, “BlackVue for your safe driving”. These voice prompts give you updates as to the status of the camera to make sure you it’s all working properly. While they’re a novelty at first, we eventually turned them off, preferring our camera to be seen and not heard. With this in mind, and despite the DR550-GW-HD being bigger than some cameras on the market, the main unit was discreetly hidden behind our rear-view mirror.

Using the free BlackVue app, available for iOS and Android devices, you can adjust just about anything you could wish to on your camera. From the video brightness and g-sensor sensitivity to the length of videos being recorded and which voice alerts you wish to hear. It also lets you view a live feed of what the front and rear cameras are viewing which is invaluable in positioning them in your vehicle. More importantly, the app is one of the key ways in which you can view the videos that your camera has recorded and we were impressed at how easy it is to use. The video files are easily identified as either ‘normal’, ‘event’ or ‘parking’ and by being either front or rear facing videos. They can be easily filtered so you can access the files you want quickly and easily.

Once playing, the videos streamed well from the camera and the image looked sharp. The view could be switched from front to back seamlessly at the push of a button. Depending on the device you’re using, you might not quite be able to make out registration plate numbers, but rest assured that the detail will be there once you view them on a bigger screen, such as on your PC or Mac.

The software provided is also intuitive and uses the same filtering system as the app to let you find the videos that you’re looking for easily. Using a smart picture-in-picture mechanism, you’re able to view the front and rear-facing footage simultaneously giving you a complete picture of activity around you at the time of any incident. To view more detail, the videos can be viewed at full screen size.

The only issue we found with the footage was that at speed, areas of the video became blocky and pixelated which was disappointing. When stationary, both the front and rear images look very sharp but they quickly deteriorate as the cameras struggle to process the images. This issue is caused by the low bitrate that each camera has. Even updating the camera to the latest firmware, which improved the video quality, we still noticed issues with the image quality. We’ve contacted Pittasoft for comment and will update this review once we hear from them. With the dashcam community happy to feedback to manufacturers to help them develop their products, we’d like to think that future updates will help to resolve this issue.

We also missed the ability to be able to lock video files of our choosing if, for example, something happened on the road around us that we wanted to keep a record of, but that we weren’t directly involved in; for example, a near-miss between other cars on the road or some anti-social behavior. With other dashcams, you can press a button to create an ‘;event’ file which won’t be overwritten by the camera and will be kept safe. It’s purely down to personal preference but we’d like to see this feature on the DR550GW-HD as we regularly use this feature on other test cameras. With so many people sharing video files of their experiences on the road nowadays, this is a very popular feature.

And so, in conclusion, the BlackVue DR550GW-HD really does set the bar high in terms of build quality and features, but has improvements to make in the video quality department. We genuinely hope that future firmware updates will rectify the issues that the camera currently has, at which point this camera has the potential to become one of the best cameras on the market.

Sample footage: Front view

Sample footage: Rear view

Sample footage: BlackVue HD Software

Note: the software footage above appears jerky due to our screen capture software. On-screen the footage is perfectly smooth.

Posted on July 14, 2021January 24, 2023 by Eric Rogers — Leave a comment

10 tips for getting the best dash cam footage

Congratulations on owning a car camera! You’re now fully enjoying the benefits they bring and probably can’t live without it any more? Now you’ve got your camera, you need to make sure you’re getting the most out of it and record the best quality footage you can. We’ve put a simple list of 10 things you can do to improve the video quality and get the most out of owning a car camera.

1. Position the camera in the centre of the screen

It may sound obvious, but we’ve seen plenty of videos where the camera is mounted in the corner which tends to distort the footage making for a less clear picture, especially when driving at night. The camera should be positioned in the centre of the windscreen near the top, ideally behind the rear view mirror.

2. Reduce the amount of sky in the picture

Everyone loves the sky but, unless you’re trying to capture the next meteorite landing, you should limit the amount of sky you capture as you drive. The more sky you have the more sunlight you get which results in more glare, reducing the quality of the video. The camera will also try to compensate for the brightness of the sky, darkening the video, which can make the detail on other vehicles harder to make out. It doesn’t matter if you record more of the car dashboard – as long as you capture the road ahead.

3. Adjust g-sensor sensitivity settings

Many car cameras equipped with a g-sensor automatically lock a video clip if it detects an accident. Sometimes, the camera will lock a file by mistake when you go over a bump or take a sharp turn. You can usually tweak the sensitivity of the g-sensors to prevent your memory card filling up with locked files. Adjust to a setting which works well for you – some cars, particularly performance cars, require a less sensitive g-sensor.

4. Mute/unmute the audio

This is down to preference of whether you want to record sound. Personally, I prefer to mute the sound so I don’t record my dreadful singing or telephone calls on the video. The important thing is the video so sound is an added bonus.

5. Clean your windscreen

It’s vital that you keep your windscreen clean. Aside from being able to see where you’re driving, you’ll have clearer footage should you be involved in an accident. Try and clean the inside with window cleaner every month and make sure you keep your windscreen washer fluid topped up – especially in the Winter.

When driving in the rain or wet conditions make sure to use your wipers to not only see where you’re going (very important!) but to clear the windscreen for the camera. If you have muck or light drizzle on the windscreen the quality of the video footage will be significantly worse.

6. Adjust video quality and frame rate

All cameras provide the option to change the resolution (Full HD, HD, VGA etc.) and possibly the frame rate. Generally speaking, there is no real need for 60fps for a car camera and we recommend the highest resolution possible. When we get a new camera we always experiment with the different resolutions and frame rates to see which works best during the days and equally at night.

When it comes to night time driving, many cameras come equipped with a WDR (Wide Dynamic Range) mode. This mode improve the light for night time driving but does tend to add noise to the footage which can reduce the quality of day-time footage. Generally speaking, if you drive a lot at night then it’s worth using, otherwise, leave it off. Try the settings and see what works for you.

2. Reduce the amount of sky in the picture

Posted on July 14, 2021January 24, 2023 by Eric Rogers — Leave a comment

Mini 0801 Car Camera Review

We’ve been road testing the Black Bullet Mini 0801 car camera for some time now. Putting it through its paces and seeing how it fairs over an extended period of time. So often dash cams are reviewed after only a brief test, but we feel that to give a truly informed opinion you need to use a camera for a significant period.

Key Features

Full HD quality video (1920 x 1080) at 30fps.
135° wide angle lens.
1.5″ LCD screen.
GPS maps for speed and location tracking (optional).
Photo mode.
G-shock sensor to detect sudden and severe movement.
Parking mode for protection when parked.
Adhesive windscreen mount.
Micro SD cards up to 32GB.

The first thing that impressed us about this car camera was the size. At just 2.8″ wide it’s ultra compact, but it’s bullet design ensures that it makes use of the space well; squeezing a 1.5″ LCD screen in along with the regular features such as the lens, a speaker, a microphone, a status LED and the usual controls. Build quality might not be to the same level as some of the more premium cameras, such as the BlackVue DR550GW-HD, but it’s perfectly acceptable given the cost. A power button on the end of the camera has a distinctly plasticky feel to it, but continues to work perfectly.

Once installed, it’s hidden completely behind the rear view mirror and remains very discrete when viewed through the windscreen, which offers peace of mind when leaving it mounted in your vehicle. The mount is another pleasant surprise; not only is it very small, but the power cable plugs directly into it, meaning that if the camera is ever removed from the car, as we choose to do sometimes, the power cable remains neatly attached to the mount, rather than dangling aimlessly.

The mount houses the GPS unit (optional), which brings us to the first issue we’ve had while testing the Mini 0801. Sometimes the GPS unit either doesn’t record our location or registers it incorrectly. However, this could be due to the heated windscreen in our test vehicle. This can sometimes impact a dash cams ability to locate a strong GPS signal.

The screen, while small, enables you to manage the camera easily and view your videos and photos. While you might not be able to make out the finer details on this size screen, it’s often enough to give you on indication that you captured the incident you’d hoped to. From this point it can easily be viewed on a computer using the software provided. The quality is impressive and at full HD 1080p it delivers sharp, crisp video which captures details such as registration plates well.

In low light conditions it struggles slightly, but in built-up areas with adequate street lighting, it still picks up a good level of detail.

The menus are easy to navigate but aren’t immediately intuitive and the manual supplied gives instructions in the most basic form. But, given that this is a budget camera, supplied from the Far East, it’s better than most that fall into this price bracket. With only three buttons to control the camera, it makes use of single and extended button presses to navigate various options that might not be as obvious as they could be. Having said that, we had our camera set up as we wanted in no time at all. We had to tweak the G-sensor sensitivity a few times to find the desired level but that is the case for all dash cams we’ve tested.

Overall, it’s easy to see why this camera proves to be so popular. It’s compact yet fully functional, delivers full HD video and, available from just £89.99, makes a great entry-level car camera. It’s not without its faults, and is lacking slightly in terms a build quality, but these issues can easily be overlooked for the cost.

Posted on July 14, 2021January 24, 2023 by Eric Rogers — Leave a comment

Mi-Witness HD – Product of the Year 2013

Mi-Witness HD - Product of the Year 2013

This month, the popular Mi-Witness HD car camera won Product of the Year at the inaugural 2013 Vehicle Electronics Professional (VEP) awards. The awards, hosted by Pollyanna Woodward of The Gadget Show took place on the 19th November and is a ceremony that marks the achievements of the vehicle electronics industry.

The Mi-Witness dash cam is one of our most popular cameras, partly due to the range of options available from a 2nd rear camera, WIFI, case, and integrated smart power.

We’re currently running a Winter Special on the Mi-Witness camera which includes the camera, additional 2nd camera, soft case, smart power, and the WIFI dongle – all for £299.99 (saving you £64.99).

Posted on July 14, 2021January 24, 2023 by Eric Rogers — Leave a comment

New iPixi range of car cameras

We’re excited to announce that we’ve introduced two excellent new dash cams to our website from UK-based manufacturer, iPixi. We make sure we only add the best quality cameras to our site and their Winycam range offer some unique features that certainly made them stand out from many of the other’s we’ve looked at.

Firstly, we really like the rotating barrel design of the iPixi X100FHD. This is great for passenger carrying users, particularly taxi drivers, who can quickly switch the camera from recording the road ahead, to pointing inwards, recording passenger activity. With many taxi drivers reporting issues of rude, abusive and even violent passengers, we think the ability to quickly capture HD video evidence will offer some peace-of-mind.

While there are several dual lens cameras that perform a similar function, such as the RoadHawk RH-2 and the X-3000, this is a new and innovative solution to the problem. The image being recorded automatically flips as the lens is rotated, so the video remains the right way up. Clever eh?!

Secondly, the iPixi V200HD features a smart 3″ LCD touch screen which we think is great! Not only does it mean that you can view videos clearly, but it makes accessing the menus, and navigating the cameras various settings, a breeze. Also, as the camera features a small second camera that mounts in the rear window of your vehicle, we particularly like the picture-in-picture viewing option which lets you see what’s happening on the road in front and behind you at the same time. The rear camera also means that this camera acts as a reversing aid too!

We hope you like these cameras as much as we do and if you have any questions about them please contact us here

Posted on July 30, 2020January 24, 2023 by Eric Rogers

Buyers Guide

Why buy a car camera?

Find the perfect dash cam with our simple buyers guide

At first, the process of choosing a dashcam can appear daunting and the multitude of different cameras and brands can feel like a minefield. And then when you’ve narrowed your choice down, the technical details can confuse you even further! From the wide range of video resolutions available to different memory and mounting options, identifying the right dashcam for you can seem impossible. So we’ve produced this guide to finding the right dashcam to help you narrow down your selection and find the right camera for you.

We regularly get asked which dashcam we recommend, and we’re always happy to offer an opinion, but the ideal camera for you is dependant on the features that you’re looking for. You can find out more about the features that are common among dashcams in our guide to the key features of car cameras, but here’s a closer look at the options that you should consider when picking your dashcam.

1. Camera Size

They say size isn’t everything, but it’s an important thing to consider when choosing your dashcam. Most people opt for a small, discreet camera as they believe it’s less likely to be spotted by would-be thieves, and also has less impact on the drivers view. Both very valid points, but small car cameras are also likely to have less features, or require external devices to enable options such as GPS or wifi. This is because there simply isn’t enough space inside for the components required. Larger cameras often feature screens too, which can make viewing footage and adjusting menu settings easier, and can usually be hidden very neatly behind your rear-view mirror so needn’t interrupt the drivers view of the road.

2. Your budget

Needless to say, the amount you have to spend is a key factor in any purchase, and as far as dashcams are concerned there is a camera to suit any size of wallet! But how much should you spend? Well, it really depends what’s important to you. While all of our cameras record outstanding footage, budget cameras may lack the build quality or refinement that more premium, big brand cameras offer. More expensive cameras may also offer advanced features such as wifi and touch screens, and are generally more user friendly too, so it’s important to decide what matters to you most.

3. Video quality and resolution

Your cameras resolution refers to the quality of the video that it can record. The higher the number, the better the quality. And when you may come to rely on your footage as evidence, it’s important that you’ve done everything you can to capture as much detail as possible. While almost all dashcams record in high definition (HD) nowadays there are still different levels of HD quality, from 720p, 1080p and even 1296p. (Don’t worry about the ‘p’ at this stage!). The higher quality settings mean that your camera needs to store more data too, so memory card capacity needs to be considered also.

View all HD quality cameras

4. Dual-lens front and rear cameras

For maximum protection, dual-lens dashcams offer cameras at the front and rear to record activity on the road in both directions. In these setups, the front camera usually acts as the main unit, managing all of the image processing, power and memory, which means that the rear unit can be much smaller, having less impact on rear visibility. The two cameras are often connected by a long cable which can easily be routed through your vehicle. Dual-lens setups usually include software that makes it easy to view your video and quickly flick between the front and rear view to give a clear picture of events happening around you.

View all dual lens front and rear cameras

5. GPS maps and speed

GPS allows your dashcam to monitor your location, and uses this information to plot your route on a map when you view your footage using the software provided with your camera. It also enables your camera to calculate your speed, which can offer vital information in the case of an incident. Some customers feel that this information can could count against them if they happen to be over the speed limit, so you may choose to disable any options that may stamp details of your speed onto the video if you’re slightly heavy-footed!

View all cameras with GPS

6. Memory Capacity

Almost all dashcams record their footage onto a Micro SD memory card which slides into a small slot on the outside of your camera. While these cards are all the same size physically, some offer a greater capacity and can hold more video. While some will argument that in the case of an incident you only ever need the last few minutes of footage, memory cards can accumulate files that are protected from being overwritten as the camera has determined that something of note happened while recording that video. These can reduce the amount of available space on your memory card unless you empty it regularly. Therefore, a larger capacity memory card can make this easier to manage. You can read much more in our guide to memory cards.

View memory cards

7. Parking Protection

If you’ve even returned to your car to find it damaged, and the culprit long gone, then parking protection will be of interest to you. In this mode, your dashcam will use motion detection technology to monitor activity around your vehicle and record a short clip if it detects any significant movement. It will also start to record if it feels a bump or knock using it’s internal g-sensor and start to record. In both cases, your car camera could well capture footage of the guilty party which can help you to track them down. For more information, read our guide to parking protection.

View all cameras with parking protection

8. Low-Light performance

Dashcams rely on there being a source of light in order for them to record useable video and some perform better in low-light situations than others. All cameras will capture useful footage if you’re driving in areas with good street-lighting , but if you spend a lot of your time driving at night then you should consider a camera with a wide dynamic range (WDR). This is sometimes referred to as a high dynamic range (HDR) but both terms refer to the cameras ability to process data effectively in low-light conditions and digitally enhance the footage to deliver improved results.

9. Event recording and G-Sensors

Almost all car cameras include an internal g-sensor which measures movement across three axis; up and down, left and right, forwards and backwards. Using this information, the camera can identify sudden or severe movement, such as braking heavily, swerving erratically or a significant collision, and can protect the video being recorded at that time from being overwritten. However, you may like to be able to protect video files manually too. If you witness an incident on the road around you that you would like to retain a record of, some dashcams feature an event record button which can be pressed and the footage being recorded at that time will be kept safe until you need it.

View all cameras with a g-sensor

10. Suction or adhesive mount

Dashcams are ideally affixed to your windscreen, behind the rear-view mirror, and this is done by the means of either a semi-permanent adhesive mount or a suction mount. While adhesive mounts are usually smaller and more compact, which can help your camera to remain discreet, a suction mount will offer a degree of flexibility, as it can be repositioned and removed from the vehicle as required. Most dashcams can easily be removed from their mounts, which is an important consideration for the security conscious.

Read our guide on mounts

11. LCD Screen

LCD screens have several benefits, making it easy to watch your recorded footage, change menu settings and align your dashcam so that it is pointing in precisely the right direction. Some cameras even offer touch screens which make navigation simple and intuitive. For cameras that don’t feature screens, these can often be connected to tablets and smart phones via wifi, so that a screen is not required and the camera itself can be kept as small and discreet as possible.

View all cameras with an LCD screen

12. WiFi

As mentioned above, some dashcams offer a wifi connection so that you can use your tablet or smartphone to review footage, adjust settings or watch a live feed to help when aligning your camera. When activated, your dashcam will produce it’s own wifi hotspot that you can connect to with your device. You will need to download a specific mobile app for your smartphone which will then allow you to connect to your camera. We often get asked if wifi means that you are able to connect to your dashcam from anywhere in the world via the internet, but this isn’t the case; your wifi hotspot has a range of 5-10 metres.

View all cameras with a mobile app

13. Hardwiring your camera

As standard, dash cams connect to your car via a cable to the cigarette lighter socket (just like a sat nav). However, some of our customers prefer to hardwire their camera into the car electrics. This means that there are no cables on show and you have a free cigarette lighter socket available for other car devices. When you hardwire the camera you can choose to wire it to a circuit which is powered all the time, meaning you can take advantage of the parking protection mode so the camera is always on and recording. Almost all dash cams can be wired to the car via an optional compatible hardwire kit. We always recommend using the services of a fully qualified, insured, and experienced auto electrician to do the installation for you. We now offer a nationwide mobile dash cam installation service from only £99..

By considering each of these features, we hope it has helped you to narrow down your choices and identify the perfect camera for you. Our website’s filtering and comparison tools will also help you to choose the dashcam that meets all of your needs. However, if you’re still not sure, please feel free to contact us.

Protect your no-claims bonus and insurance premiums

Many insurance claims prove nigh-on impossible to resolve fairly, as each party denies responsibility and police forensics only tell a part of the story. This can result in either both parties having to assume equal responsibility or, even worse, the innocent party being wholly blamed. By having clear video evidence, which in the case of many car cameras also contains date, time, speed and location data, insurers are able to completely understand the circumstances leading up to an incident. This evidence enables you to protect your no-claims bonus, ensuring your insurance premiums don’t increase.

Faster insurance claims processing

When an insurance claim is being processed there’s the inevitable back and forth as each party explains their case, making statements, providing diagrams and more often than not, embellishing the details in their favour as they do so. However, with high-quality video and supportive details regarding the location, time and speed of any incident, the facts speak for themselves and remove any doubt or indecision that may otherwise have delayed your claim from being processed and paid.

Protect against Crash for Cash scams

According to the Insurance Fraud Bureau, organised Crash for Cash scams are on the increase and cost the UK insurance industry £392 million a year, with 1 in 7 personal injury claims likely to be linked to one. Highly-organised gangs orchestrate crashes which usually result in an unwitting and innocent party rear-ending a gang member, who can then claim for anything from vehicle damage and loss of earnings to personal injury for themselves and often for passengers who weren’t even in the car! Protect yourself with irrefutable video evidence that will clearly show the circumstances leading up to any incident and put paid to any concerns about these scams impacting your insurance premiums.

Report dangerous and unsociable drivers

It’s an unfortunate truth that not all drivers value safety as much as we would hope. Drivers speeding, tailgating, under-taking and using mobile phones, among many other issues, mean that the roads are more dangerous than ever before. One method of combating this worrying behaviour is to report wreckless and dangerous drivers to the authorities by capturing them on video. In many cases these drivers are prosecuted purely on car camera evidence. As in-car cameras become more and more common, and the threat of being caught becomes more and more likely, we can help make our highways safer.

Capture and report road rage incidents

According to a recent survey by insurance company Admiral, road rage is becoming more common in the UK with over half the people interviewed admitting to getting angry at other motorists. The vast majority of incidents culminate in nothing more than some choice words and an offensive hand gesture but, more worryingly, nearly 10% of people interviewed said that they had been threatened with physical violence. Car cameras can be used to keep a detailed record of any such events and can also be used to diffuse situations as many attackers will back-down once they realise they’re being filmed.

Keep a record of your fleet and drivers activity

The level of detail captured by car cameras, particularly dual-lens cameras that record in-car activity at the same time as on-the-road action, mean that they can offer fleet owners the ability to monitor their vehicles and drivers activity easily and effectively. At the same time as protecting insurance premiums, particularly in the light of Crash for Cash scams, owners can rest assured that they have a complete understanding of their drivers activity and behaviour as well as a highly-detailed record of their vehicle’s usage.

Record and keep treasured memories

Fortunately, car cameras aren’t solely dedicated to capturing accidents, scams and negative behaviour. They also enable us to capture videos of more enjoyable activities such as scenic road trip holidays and exciting track-day races! Whatever treasured memories you want to keep, an in-car camera will deliver a high-definition record of events that you can watch time and time again. You never know, you might also be lucky enough to capture more unusual events such as meteors falling to the Earth, as recorded on many car cameras in Russia in 2013!