Cameras may have been around for more than 200 years now but the shape and form they have taken haven't been around for more than 30 years. Dash cams have especially been a new variation that has its special purpose of providing insight for racing drivers but also for everyday commuting. Dash cams work in the same way regular cameras do but they are able to synchronise different feeds as well as provide information such as travelling speed, time and date as well as cluster gauge information like RPM and the gear you're in. There are other reasons for adding a dash cam though.
Benefits of a Dash Cam
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| Source: nytimes.com |
Safety
The first and biggest reason why you should get a dash cam in your vehicle is for safety reasons. This way you get a view like no other which can help you correct your driving in places where you wouldn't have noticed it as easily otherwise. Buying any online popular dash cam is definitely going to improve safety levels as it can also keep watch when you're not in or near your vehicle.
Clever
Having a dash cam in your cabin is a smart way of staying not only safe but also informed of data that you don't pay attention to when on the track or on a twisty road. Alongside a passenger POV, you get data that can be used to improve your driving skills if that's what you're after.
Convenient
Having a dash cam is a rather seamless experience as all y
ou need to do is plug it in, turn it on and the camera does its thing. Every time you start your car the camera is on or you can change it to be always on so that you get constant surveillance.
Proof
In case of an accident, you can use a car dash cam to provide proof in court and for an insurance claim which is going to be a much easier process than without a video showing what actually happened.
What to Look for in a Dash Cam
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| Source: popularmechanics.com |
Resolution
One of the most important factors of dash cams is video quality which is most dependent on resolution. The higher the resolution the greater the detail the camera can capture which makes for much clearer and sharper recordings. A 1080p camera is the industry standard nowadays with 1440p cameras being the next step up and 2160p cameras being in the top tier range.
Field of View
The field of view of an online aftermarket dash cam lets you know how much of the road you'll be able to see on the footage it takes. A wider field of view means you get to see more of what's around but you also get a bit of distortion. Typically a dash cam with an FOV between 120° and 140° offers a balance between the two. Most dash cameras have a 90° FOV while the most advanced ones have lenses with an FOV between 160° and 180°.
Framerate
The smoothness of the footage you get from a dash cam depends on the framerate it captures it in. Also referred to as FPS or frames per second, it can be as little as 30 and as much as 60. More is better here as it makes for better recordings of objects especially at high speeds.
Night Vision
While not all dash cameras come with this feature, it's rather useful when you want 24/ 7 footage. Night vision helps the camera's lens see better at night since it doesn't blow out artificial light but it does give the footage enough contrast so that you can tell between light and dark better.
Battery
If you decide to go for a battery-powered car dash cam you should take into consideration its capacity as well as charging speeds. You might get a large-capacity battery but if it takes too long to get it charged you are simply not going to get the most out of it. Dash cams with replaceable batteries are a better option in this case.
Storage
The same goes for storage capacity, more space means more footage to be stored on the camera's SD card slot but this can also make the camera itself bulkier and thus heavier. If you don't mind that, then it's better to go bigger.
Mount
The way a dash cam mounts affects its usage. Most of them rely on suction cups while some attach to the rearview mirror with the help of a clamp, strap or both. Clamps are more of a long-term solution.
Connectivity
You can have your dash cam plugged into your car's 12V socket or even OBD port with the former being a better solution since it doesn't prevent you from doing diagnostics without unplugging the camera first.
GPS
Having a car dash cam with a built-in GPS can help you plan your routes better if you deliver packages. GPS capabilities also help set the time on your camera straight away, without you having to do it manually.
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