My Dashcams in 2024
It’s been years since I last looked at Dashcams, but that doesn’t mean I stopped using them. I just stopped making videos about them. I must have tried out another ten or so different models since my last proper video review, but I seem to have at last settled on a couple I’m happy with, so I thought it’s time to spill the beans on the Dash cams I’m using now.
https://youtu.be/QVc0n0_WrXw
By the way should it be dash cam, dash-cam or dashcam? Answers on a post-card (or postcard) to: This doesn’t matter, 4A Pedant Street, London.
This was one of those videos that required an insane amount of editing time and it’s all made me a bit cross eyed. So for the next couple off days I plan on staying away from the computer screen and focus on things further than a couple of feet away. I hope therefore that no one spots any issues with this one as I’d like to draw a line under it. I suspect though that given the subject, there won’t be the usual level of scrutiny applied, dashcam videos had their brief heyday a long time ago.
Take care and enjoy the rest of the week.
UPDATE: Re-edit reuploaded with a couple of tiny nips and tucks.
Comments (44)
just ordered from your affiliate links - hopefully a few sheckels for you :)
Well thanks - I hope everything meets your requirements.
Great update. Loved the behind the scenes for the MI shoot and editing. I appreciate the effort you put in.
That was useful, thanks, Mat. I bought a Viofo dashcam from one of your affiliate links about 4 years ago now and have not regretted it. In fact, I was impressed enough to make up this 2-minute bit of fun soon after I got it. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8IKAkh5CI-I :-)
The current Amazon affiliate link to A139Pro in US shows "not available" but only because it's a bundle with bluetooth remote. There is a product that includes only the camera which is in stock (ASIN B0BJ6HH96P, not giving direct link to not take away your affiliate revenue). Perhaps, you can change the link in the description to this one, so that interested people can actually buy it. Thanks for the video!
Thanks for the tip - I've swapped out the link as a result.
Very informative. Good hack suggestion about the use of a power brick.
The LTT video on dashcams really opened my eye on these, that they were basically all the same.
Yes he’s completion and utterly wrong on that. There’s dozens of side by side comparisons on YouTube of the latest models that show video quality varies wildly between them. Don’t believe what one source tells you on the internet, always verify
At 19:35, you talk about the thin cable in the old model compared to the new camera having a thicker cable. You'd probably want to cut around the mention of video resolution because YouTube comments would be non-stop. The old cable you described as "I think it only works up to 1080p" and the new camera has "a higher resolution camera at the back, I think it said it was a 2K camera". 2K is a backported term to describe 1080p. 4K could be described at 2160p (3840x2160) - double 1080p in both dimensions. but Marketing™ happened? (Although sometimes 4K is 4096x2160) So that new model should have the same resolution of 1920x1080 just with a term to blend in beside 4K. (Wish I knew why the cable had to change then..) I apologise for being pedantic, but I suppose if it's on Patreon and can save YouTube comments about a single topic over and over again, it's worth it? Maybe? At least I can say sorry too :P (Edit: I think the 21:20 mention of resolution is ok to leave in)
I'll need to add an overlay as the new rear is a higher resolution - it's 2560 x 1440P - but for some reason they call this 2K.
I ran the rear camera wire through the rubber connector between the hatch and body on my Golf, that said it was something of a git to do.
The Toyota briefly seen in the video when I’m talking about hiding wires used these big wide rubber pieces that could hide most wires easily. The Honda I replaced it with uses rubber the width of a pencil in places and there’s zero chance that those could conceal anything wider than this thin wire, it was touch and go in places.
I put a Viofo in my car last year, and apart from it occasionally selecting a timezone one hour off, it's been mostly solid. I have had issues with the rear camera disconnecting for a few seconds, but it always seems to happen at the same intersection?!
Feels like a Techmoan flashback! I just really got a kick out of the subject you did so often when I first started following your channel. I don't think the dashcam is used all that much here in the states- but the footage of where I assume you live in or near is just beautiful. "Look like they were recorded with a potato." gave me a good laugh if for no other reason than what a surprising statement it is. Take care.
External audio is useful for things like law enforcement, or taxicabs, so they can route their radio through the dashcam also.
The use of dash cams is legally problematic in my country. Although not prohibited in principle, the data protection regulations are almost impossible to comply with in practice. Not to mention that such recordings are highly unlikely to be utilisable in a legal sense over here. Even though I am not in the market for dash cams for the reasons mentioned, I found the video very interesting. I always admire your way of presenting with great attention to detail combined with real world experience. Most of the pitfalls mentioned would not be on my radar if I had to have a go at these devices.
Mat, the somewhat average dash cam I use has a habit of not saving the last video when I turn off the ignition. It used to do it ok originally. I'm guessing as there is no internal battery it must utilise a capacitor to power the camera for the few seconds after the ignition is off and it ism't doing that anymore. Frustrating when the clip you want isn't viewable later. No such problem with the VIOFO ?
I’ve yet to experience that issue with this one - but use anything long enough and it’ll let you down.
Have you ever had to make use of the dashcam footage for a collision?
Fortunately not. The one and only time I saw a crash while driving I was on my motorbike but didn’t have a camera on my helmet as I was returning from getting it serviced so I wasn’t fully geared up with all my usual stuff.
For certainty in case you want to re-edit, there are a few clips displaying full GPS coordinates (eg around 17m25s is one) which will geolocate to the specific road/intersection (confirmed with Google Maps and shop names). Between this and the electric vehicle range video (which showed a general “home to my father” map, the two seem to narrow down your location to at least a specific town. (I’m guessing you choose clips not right next to your house though :-) ) Ewen
I’m searchable online as being in Wigan, so it’s all good. Trust me, no one wants to come to Wigan, even the most crazed of stalkers draw a line at that.
I'm just amazed to watch you driving on those UK city streets. I think the only other driving I've seen you done were on more country roads so this was a little bit of a shock to a Californian. The squiggly center lines and the roundabouts that are just painted on. Crazy!!
Roads are the same everywhere - watch out for the moving (and static) stuff and assume every Audi driver is trying to kill you and themselves.
Dashcams in 2024???? :O I still use the Xiaomi one it's just about right for me
This is great and well timed. The dash cam I bought in 2014/5 which I think was based on one of your previous videos has started to play up. It's only HD and the quality looks awful these days, but the main issue is that the buttons have stopped working. I don't use them much and it's still happily recording away each journey, I just can't adjust the date etc. Maybe it's time for a new one. Ironically, the only time I've had need of one in all that time, I was rear ended in a queue. The front cam footage was enough but the rear would have helped and proved that the guy was on his phone.
After you've set the correct tilt on the dashcam, use a piece of black insulation tape to lock it in place.
I've added this tip in the video - thanks.
Just one week after I fit a dash cam to my new (to me) car, then you decide to do a dashcam video. I’m not angry, just disappointed. 🙃
• Editing video is a real bear, I feel your pain. It may look seamless upon view, but it is a lot of hard work. • You're wearing your old eyeglasses - I like them a lot. • My current dashcam is 2 1/2 years old and it cost about $39 - it's not the best quality but it's good enough. https://youtu.be/5tvzwuVs4i8 • My favorite 'dashcam' video you made isn't even about a real dashcam. I love your commentary about the other drivers: https://youtu.be/pfFBCuzoG-U&t=10m30s • I am glad you mentioned factory/dealership installed dashcams. I was curious about them when completing a 'dream car build' on some new vehicle websites. It is great that is becoming a thing. • Lastly, randomly - solely for entertainment's sake - AI artwork app 'art' that I have recently done are eerie and weird. I've got 500 more pics about different topics, it's my recent hobby. I have to keep myself occupied 😋: https://ibb.co/VN2k8mH https://ibb.co/hcTSKCB https://ibb.co/3cH6r9S https://ibb.co/nP71GbL https://ibb.co/pzzhd3t Take care, my friend. 🤍🤍
That video quality is still plenty good enough - it’ll even improve slightly if you tilt it down a tad to get the horizon slightly above half way up the image, that’ll brighten up the image a touch.
I went from a DDPai to Nextbase cameras. Better in comparison but the app is rubbish. I don't remember any dash cam software being good though.
I've had the A129 Pro Duo in my MX-5 for a couple of years and it's been great, clips are good enough to keep for road trip timelapses. the only minor irritation is when editing a picture-in-picture the clip cut point of both cameras isn't in sync with each other.
PS. Really useful video!
I'd want it to record while I'm parked (except in the garage), but I don't want to fanny about with cables connected under the bonnet. If I plugged a portable power bank into my car charger socket (which only works when the ignition on), and plugged the dash cam into the power bank, can anyone estimate how many mA per hour the dash cam would draw from the powerbank (so I can get a high enough capacity powerbank)?
Unfortunately the reality of power banks is that unless you drive for multiple hours each journey you’d never charge it enough to keep it recording all the time you’re parked.
Oh nice! I've been thinking about getting one, so I watched your videos, but they were all so old now that the products wouldn't be available (unless I guess I wanted to save money on the used market), so this is perfect timing!
A blast from the past. Dash ams were how I found Techmoan years and years ago!
A guy on Pedant Street handed me this: https://ibb.co/Dts6ZhV Maybe I should ask my IDE. Its spell checker keeps nagging me whenever I try to add English comments to my source code. On the other hand, I've never understood when to write compound words in English as one word, hyphenated or separated. Metadata? Meta-data? Meta data? I always get it wrong.
So ironically(?) the most popular ways to write dash cam don't even have the dash in them.
Thanks Mat! About time you dashcammed again, since the debacle with Aukey all those years ago. I've been looking for a new dashcam (I didn't ask the pedants) since falling out with NextBase. Unfortunately I don't want to spend a fortune on a piece of junk, I find this type of tech very hit and miss, perhaps because it's used for hours on end in all sorts of temperatures, the unenviable position of being stuck in a windscreen.
They’ve got very expensive over the last few years.
I was just thinking it’s been ages since you did some dash cam content! Love to see it despite how homogenized the market has become.