Best Dash Cams For Your Model S?

lx3h said:

After watching this video,

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=724899497531333

I think I really want a dash cam.

Tested.com has its recommendation, http://www.tested.com/tech/456565-best-dash-cam-your-car-costs-60/

but are there better(-looking) / cheaper ones in Hong Kong?

Please let me know if you know.

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Funny you write this, I was looking at one a few days ago (of all places, in Golden Computer Arcade). Unfortunately, many of these requires Windows to extract the data. I need one I can read from a Mac, and I am even considering to have more than one camera (at least front and back), and a sufficiently wide angle and good resolution. The one I saw was 120 degrees wide.

Another point is how to get power to the camera. I don't want to turn it on and off manually, I want it to power up and run, any timer the car is powered. Possibly also recording - if possible - if the car is moved, i.e. another car crashes into it while parked.

There is an existing thread on this with some good information

How about a DashCam option?

I have the blackvue DR500GW-HD and it has served me well. There is a new model that has front and rear cameras.

Older VIN's have a continuous 12v source beneath the microphone grill; this is no longer present in new builds.

Take a look at the link below.
The video was taken by my 400 RMB camera brought on Taobao, and it cost less then 350 HKD in Duck street now.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u5K7MirjlVM

There are lots of these clips. Remember the comet/asteroid/whatever, in Russia? It was caught mainly by automotive dash cams. Same for the 747 freighter crash in (Bagram?), it was caught by a bus with a dash cam.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PcYIx_MdWEU

This is from mainland, but just the first I found.

For sure I am getting one of these cameras, especially with so many reckless drivers in HK.

Because of GasDoc's experience/expertise, I was convinced to get the Blackvue DR550 dual camera system. Needs a bit of care to install. Blackvue has a fully featured application for Windows and Mac to view/save/analyze the videos (including GPS location and mapping). Also there are smartphone apps (Android & iOS) which work great with the camera. If you don't have always-on 12V in your headliner, there are other ways to grab 12V (search these forums).

Note that Blackvue now has a model 530 dual cam WITHOUT GPS and with a slightly lower resolution for a lower price.

JPP said:

Because of GasDoc's experience/expertise, I was convinced to get the Blackvue DR550 dual camera system. Needs a bit of care to install. Blackvue has a fully featured application for Windows and Mac to view/save/analyze the videos (including GPS location and mapping). Also there are smartphone apps (Android & iOS) which work great with the camera. If you don't have always-on 12V in your headliner, there are other ways to grab 12V (search these forums).

Note that Blackvue now has a model 530 dual cam WITHOUT GPS and with a slightly lower resolution for a lower price.

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Thank you for the update. I went about half way though the Dashcam install thread, and learned as much as a cable has now been removed from later models, and one has to dig down into the A frame to find 12V.

I wish Tesla would put that 12V supply back again, that would make life much easier regarding dash cams (or speed trap warners, or whatever people like to install). Fine if they don't want to offer it as Tesla original install, but leave us the 12V.

Working with a Mac, and even iOS devices is a plus in my book, I would consider that Blackvue DR550. Howzit work at low light? Even with dual cams, I would consider more than one camera. Could even be two cams at the front, each looking a bit to the side. Maybe I'm going overboard, but what's the use if you are rammed from the side, or from the rear?

- - - Updated - - -

Dash cam comparison here:

http://dashcamtalk.com/

They are not that excited about most models, including the Blackvue DR550 ...

I'd rather have two good single channel models, than one bad dual channel.

DITB said:

Thank you for the update. I went about half way though the Dashcam install thread, and learned as much as a cable has now been removed from later models, and one has to dig down into the A frame to find 12V.

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You don't have to dig at all -- you can get 12V from the OBDII connector, as I did in my own Dashcam thread here:

Yet another hardwired Dashcam install -- 100% reversible/no splicing/no tapping

I had my Blackvue DR550 on my BMW E90 and it worked perfectly.
Simply using your mobile wifi connecting to the DR550 to download the video clip..easy done!

I am actually more concerned who do ask to install the dashcam? I do not want someone who has no knowledge of the Model S to take mine apart for the wiring.

I am using this via Taobao. Very clear, very bright.

http://item.taobao.com/item.htm?_u=g381c5sb4d2&id=19032818021

Maybe if we find an installer who knows how to install cameras we can all use him and save us a lot of problems.

Install just cost 100. 10 min work. No big deal.

cyrushk said:

Install just cost 100. 10 min work. No big deal.

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It all depends on how hard it is to find a 12V connection point - and whether you want an always-on or power-up only 12V DC.

Some will have the camera active 24/7, so they can see what happened if someone hit them while they were parked. This means you better not leave your car somewhere for too many days, if not plugged in, or you'll have a dead 12V battery.

If I just had the 12V wires ready from the car, it would be easy to install by yourself, but on the newer model S versions it seems you have to dig down quite far away from where the mirror is to find a place to connect.

DITB said:

It all depends on how hard it is to find a 12V connection point - and whether you want an always-on or power-up only 12V DC.

Some will have the camera active 24/7, so they can see what happened if someone hit them while they were parked. This means you better not leave your car somewhere for too many days, if not plugged in, or you'll have a dead 12V battery.

If I just had the 12V wires ready from the car, it would be easy to install by yourself, but on the newer model S versions it seems you have to dig down quite far away from where the mirror is to find a place to connect.

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It's not that hard -- I connected mine to the OBDII port and ran the wire up around the A pillar. No splicing and 100% reversible.

Just a easy task. Relax

I must strongly recommend against BlackVue. When the image on my DR400G started fading due to heat, I couldn't even get ahold of the company. Even if their newer products are more reliable, the company just doesn't stand behind their products.

The market really seems to be taking off. Now that Garmin and other bigger companies are getting into this market hopefully the quality, support and software will get better too. It really shouldn't be too hard for someone to design something really good.

dsm363 said:

The market really seems to be taking off. Now that Garmin and other bigger companies are getting into this market hopefully the quality, support and software will get better too. It really shouldn't be too hard for someone to design something really good.

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Totally agree! I'm tired of really poorly translated product manuals and strange menu structures that are also poorly translated.. as well as really odd codecs in order to just view the video files from these devices. There are a lot of good products out there, but it is time for dashcams to go mainstream like Garmin and HP jumping into the ring.. better firmware, support. menus, codecs, etc.