Dash cam recommendations and reviews

[Nanook]

I’m thinking of purchasing a dash cam and it seems many people on the forums like Blackvue, Thinkware, and Fitcam. I’ve tried searching for dash cam reviews and all I come up with is Garmin, Vantrue, Cobra, Garmin, Escort, one review on Nextbase, and a couple on Rove. Occasionally I see something mentioning Thnkware 1000. I’ve struggled to find any reviews on Blackvue or Fitcam unless I search specifically for them. A lot of people do not like Blackvue software, and Fitcam quality of picture or usability. Thinkware seems more like a parking monitor system.

I want a 2 channel system. I don’t need/want a camera filming me. My car is normally garaged (3 weeks at a time), and unfortunately I don’t drive it a lot, so I don’t need a parking monitor. I’d like 4k and good night quality.

I realize this is very subjective, but I’m really looking for real world experience and opinions. So many people like Blackvue, I’d like to understand why and how ya’ll discovered that brand. I like the hidden value of the Fitcam, but I’m not impressed with the reviews I find.

Thanks in advance for all your input.

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[Catanzaro]

I want a camera with filming while parked, all the way around, like the TESLA's.

 

[nawfoo]

unfortunately you will have to get a tesla. just dont get a white one. haaha.

I have a fitcamx on mine. looks oem and does the job. The camera itself is kinda flimsy for the price.

 

[TheReverend]

I'm running a Thinkware F200 (had it a while) and whilst it's fine for front and rear camera footage and is very discreet, it has an annoying alert every time it senses an incident. It just beeps as it looks to protect that footage.

With the suspension as firm as it is (even in comfort mode) if I hit a minor pot hole or even a rough section of road, it'll beep at me.

It certainly makes me drive very smoothly.
I can't deactivate it either...

It's not terminal but it can be annoying.

If I drove it hard, on a track day or something like that it would drive me insane.

 

[Unity Performance]

Between 2015 - 2019 I tried a bunch of cameras, mainly cheap Amazon offerings. Footage was OK, no app integration to export footage, but worst of all frequently spoiled SD cards.

Decided to splurge on a BlackVue DR750S 2 Channel in summer of 2019, and to this day that unit hasn't skipped a beat. Same memory card, same front and rear camera, and the ability to connect and pull footage in a minute right onto my phone.

This sold me on the brand, we became dealers for them last year, and have sold quite a number of them to folks who prioritize the footage quality, reliability, and ease of use.

On my wife's car and our new-to-us FL5 we have the DR770X 2 Channel units. The one in my wife's car has already paid itself off as she was involved in a side swipe situation where the other party turned into her, tried to blame her first, but then wanted shared responsibility. I arrived on the scene minutes later, checked on her, pulled the footage on my phone, showed it to both, and the case was closed in minutes. Got paid, repaired the car, and moved on

I'm going to retire and sell the DR750S from my FK8 to a friend, and upgrade to the newer DR970X 4K Box just for the sake of testing the newest tech.

Link to BlackVue

 

[Spartacus]

I run Thinkware F200 in the Ridgeline and I run BlackVue 900DR both 2CH and love both. I’m in the Ridgeline more often but don’t have any issues with either. I run parking mode on both as well which gives me such peace of mind

 

[alanwoohoo]

I installed a Garmin X310 + Constant Power plugged into OBD-II port.

 

[zumbooruk]

I went with Miofive S1 Ultra when it was on sale for $83 a few months ago.

4k front and back, also got the wiring kit so it is always powered by the car's battery and records while parked.

I watched several reviews, and decided it was good enough, no regrets.

https://www.amazon.com/Miofive-4K-Bluetooth-Monitoring-Recording/dp/B0D2KTJWG6

 

[SP R KiD]

I'm running a Thinkware F200 (had it a while) and whilst it's fine for front and rear camera footage and is very discreet, it has an annoying alert every time it senses an incident. It just beeps as it looks to protect that footage.

With the suspension as firm as it is (even in comfort mode) if I hit a minor pot hole or even a rough section of road, it'll beep at me.

It certainly makes me drive very smoothly.
I can't deactivate it either...

It's not terminal but it can be annoying.

If I drove it hard, on a track day or something like that it would drive me insane.

I just want to 2nd this. I also run thinkware F200 (Just got my wife a Q200). Great cameras. You can modify the sensitivity to try and reduce the amounts of "incident" events that get triggered. While the noise is whatever, it does make me feel better to know it works as a reminder. It's not a deal breaker.

If you want the thinkware F200 to work while in parking mode, you need to buy a set of tap fuses (mini microfuses) and do a little handy work to get it connected. The camera comes with a hardwire kit to do this so if you're handy it's not bad. The alternative is to buy an OBD II Hardwire kit and plug it direclty into your OBD II port. It'll provide power to the camera the same way.

If you need any help with install, feel free to PM me.

Amazon.com: THINKWARE Q200 2CH Dash Cam 2K Front 1080P Rear Car Dashboard Camera, WiFi, WDR, Speed Red Light Alerts, ADAS, 256GB Max, Parking Monitor, Night Vision (32GB MicroSD, 12V Cigar, Hardwiring Cable, GPS) : Electronics Here is a link to the Q200 Camera. It's 160 right now which is a solid deal.

Amazon.com: THINKWARE F200 PRO Dash Cam 1080P Full HD Front, Compact Design, Built-in Wi-Fi, Night Vision, G-Sensor Safety Camera alerts (Speed/red Light Camera), Integrated Thermal Protection, 24H Parking Mode : Electronics here is the F200.

Good luck!

Edit: Just realized this post is old old....sorry lol. Was trying to be helpful. Maybe someone new will get use out of it!

 

[Nanook]

lol no issues. I ended up with BlackVue and other than it being a bit of a pain to get videos off the camera, I love it.

 

[Unity Performance]

Been a BlackVue user for years, before Unity even. Between personal and shop cars we have the full range on our cars, and early last year we became an authorized dealer + installer.

Upon recommendations I have been trying out the VIOFO brand, and the footage quality is great but the app leaves much to be desired IF you are coming from BlackVue, and were used to their excellent app + optional LTE cloud connectivity. If you're coming from a sub $100 Amazon special, then yes the VIOFO app is just fine.

Nonetheless, get a dashcam it will save you some day. If you care about the car, get a Front and Rear with Parking Mode.

 

[TheReverend]

I just want to 2nd this. I also run thinkware F200 (Just got my wife a Q200). Great cameras. You can modify the sensitivity to try and reduce the amounts of "incident" events that get triggered. While the noise is whatever, it does make me feel better to know it works as a reminder. It's not a deal breaker.

If you want the thinkware F200 to work while in parking mode, you need to buy a set of tap fuses (mini microfuses) and do a little handy work to get it connected. The camera comes with a hardwire kit to do this so if you're handy it's not bad. The alternative is to buy an OBD II Hardwire kit and plug it direclty into your OBD II port. It'll provide power to the camera the same way.

If you need any help with install, feel free to PM me.

Amazon.com: THINKWARE Q200 2CH Dash Cam 2K Front 1080P Rear Car Dashboard Camera, WiFi, WDR, Speed Red Light Alerts, ADAS, 256GB Max, Parking Monitor, Night Vision (32GB MicroSD, 12V Cigar, Hardwiring Cable, GPS) : Electronics Here is a link to the Q200 Camera. It's 160 right now which is a solid deal.

Amazon.com: THINKWARE F200 PRO Dash Cam 1080P Full HD Front, Compact Design, Built-in Wi-Fi, Night Vision, G-Sensor Safety Camera alerts (Speed/red Light Camera), Integrated Thermal Protection, 24H Parking Mode : Electronics here is the F200.

Good luck!

Edit: Just realized this post is old old....sorry lol. Was trying to be helpful. Maybe someone new will get use out of it!

Thanks!
Interestingly, the suspension has softened a touch over the year I've owned the car so it gets triggered less often now.

 

[Chilly613]

+1 on the FitcamX for me, I currently only have the front camera, but I really like the OEM look of it. Debating if I want to get the 2 camera system with the front and back. Everyone's camera suggestions are really good though.

 

[Unity Performance]

Muted as wife and I were having a conversation on the phone, and also cropped for a square frame. This happened last September as she was driving her car, and I'm glad this time the BlackVue was installed in her car... wait till the end to see how he tried to play the victim card. I showed up minutes later, pulled the footage, and advised him that I'd be going to the police and insurance. He immediately changed his tone and paid me for the repairs.

2 months prior to this the BlackVue stock order had just arrived the day before, the box was sitting in her passenger seat, and the car was hit and run. $5k in damages, no footage...

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