Top products from r/dashcams

Sorry to hear about your accidents. A few months ago I was also rear-ended at high speed (he was drunk) in my new car and it made me finally pull the trigger on dashcams for mine (when I get it back...still being fixed) and my girlfriend's car.

I installed the AUKEY dualcam in my girlfriend's car, and it was pretty simple. You just tuck the wires into the ceiling liner and weather-stripping to hide them, and snake them across under the glove box. It took about an hour for me to install it, but it was free? Lol. The difficulty will depend on the car too though, this was in a 2011 Mazda 3 sedan so pretty simple. I got the AUKEY dual for $90 on Prime Day, it's usually like $120ish. I've had no issues with it so far. Pretty simple to use and the videos it records are very good quality.

For my car, I got the Rexing V1P 3rd Gen. It also had a Prime Day special ($116) but was limited to 1 per customer, so I got the AUKEY for the Mazda. I haven't gotten to install or use it yet, but it is larger than the AUKEY. I sort of wish I'd just gotten 2 of the AUKEY, but oh well.

Anyway, I'm by no means an expert on car modding or anything, but I was able to install the camera very easily, and the wires are neatly hidden. The only issue I ran into was the Mazda is such a small car, that the wire to connect the rear cam was about 10ft too long. It is coiled up and I'm planning to hide it better eventually...lol.

If you want the camera hardwired into your fuse box (as opposed to using the cigarette lighter outlet) there are kits and YouTube videos on how to do that.

I think a high end vs bare bones cam will mostly vary in terms of overall video quality and features like GPS, parking mode, etc. For the most part, I think mid range will probably be your best bet in terms of cost to quality/features ratio.

Dashcam is a cheap way to have an extra peace of mind. Definitely recommend it. Also they are low maintenance. I don’t ever notice mine because it sits in front in rear view mirror.

Regarding the price, I say go for a mid range. The cheapo ones can be unreliable and low build quality. The expensive ones tend to be too much and more than what most people need. A good mid range dual cam is the A129. Make sure to get a good SD card too, one that is optimized for video. Fortunately they are pretty cheap.

Installation is easy if you just plug it to your cigarette lighter. Then you just run the cable in your trim, which is super easy to tuck into at the edge.

The next level is hardwiring it to your fuse box. That takes about an hour and can be done with a YouTube video instructional. Or take it into a car audio shop and they can probably do it for $150 or so.

Hope this helps!

I'm also looking and researching good dash cams and here is what I have come up with so far:

Garmin Dashcam 55($200)

• Video Quality
  
• I've heard good and bad about this, apparently it's one of the best out there right now but it had overheating issues from the start. Looks like the latest firmware update for this has resolved the overheating issues (which was like 99% of peoples complaints about it)
  
• Small and inconspicuous when mounted on windshield
  
• High-quality 3.7 megapixel camera with 1440p video capture; works even in low-light conditions
  
• Forward collision and lane departure warnings plus alerts for nearby red light cameras and speed cameras
  *GPS-enabled with automatic incident detection (G-Sensor) saves video footage on impact to show when and where events happened
  
• Voice control allows you to start/stop recording, take a still picture or start/stop the Travelapse photo capture feature
  
  THINKWARE X500D Dashcam($255)
  
  
• Video Quality
  
• If you want a good front + rear dashcam so you can catch things happening behind you too I hear this one is one of the best for the cost
  
• A Full HD 1080p dash cam with Sony Exmor image sensor and a Full HD 1080p rear cam provide complete front and rear surveillance of your vehicle
  
• High performance 32GB UHS-I microSD card with SPOR (Sudden Power Off Recovery) technology specifically tailored for Thinkware Dash Cams
  
• Lane departure, front collision, red light and speed camera alerts help increase driver awareness.
  
• Built-in GPS Tracker embeds crucial data such as time, speed, and location data
  
• Optional accessory: Hardwiring cable to enable Parking Surveillance mode
  
  Mobious ActionCam($70)
  
  
• Video Quality + Audio Quality test
  
• So if your looking for the best deal I hear this one is it. Shoots 1080p, can be concealed in your mirror and apparently takes really good video and sound. But it doesn't have a screen which means downloading them to a pc.

Having a CPL filter actually reduces glare on daytime videos but has a slight negative effect on nighttime recording generally. So not having one will actually improve it.

I'd go for a 64 gb card, and spefically a high endurance once like the Sandisk one. They are only a few bucks more than normal ones but apparently better for the cycles that video monitoring systems place on the cards.

As for buying on Amazon vs Viofo, i'd go with the one that's cheaper or has better shipping options. Also, Amazon has easy returns if something happens. Not sure about the Viofo store.

Hi Grace,

The A129 is definitely a good choice. Are you planning on hardwiring it? If so, it does come bundled with a hardwire kit. If you're looking for a higher end model, the Blackvue 750 is a good option for that. But the A129 or A119 are both fine easy to use options.

I got the A119 recently and it's great. I've had multiple dashcam brands in multiple vehicles over the years. The Viofo cams were generally the longest lasting (though I've never had an expensive cam like a Blackvue so can't comment on that). Also, they've recently stepped their game up in few things recently. First, the manual was the first manual i've ever gotten that didn't read like it was all Engrish and it was actually helpful. Second the V3 has really nice video quality. Third, it's pretty discreet. I have it high and tight next to the rear view mirror so it kind of looks like just a part of the assembly.

I didn't get the CPL one either. This is the one I got, if that's helpful to you. Not sure how useful GPS is going to be but thought it was worth it.

I would also add the Toguard one to your list as I've seen that one mentioned on here before. Personally tho, I have zero experience with any of the strap on mirror dashcam/reverse cams. No idea how the work. Vantrue will probably give you better customer support if anything goes wrong, whereas the off brands usually have very little to none.

On the other hand, since the price difference is substantial you could order either one and if you don't like it Amazon has a great return policy. Just an idea.

From the Community Info, the A119 V2 is your best bet for under $100. Although it doesn't have a dual cam mode being able to record well in low light areas would be very beneficial.

FYI looks like Viofo released an updated version of the A129. Now it's the A129 Pro Duo, and it's 4k in the front cam. Looks really nice.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07RXQJ148?ref=myi_title_dp

The A119 is super popular. Good combo of quality and price.

The clear favorite on Reddit is the A129. IT's reliable, capacitor powered so good for extreme temperatures, and long lasting. They just came out with a new one as well. Also it's a lot more reasonable than Blackvue cams. /u/niclariv

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07RXQJ148?ref=myi_title_dp

Yeah definitely. Not sure if the hardwire kits are all manufacturer specific but if you get the A129 Pro Duo, Viofo makes a hardwire kit with battery discharge protection. Then this will keep powering your dashcam until your car battery level reaches a certain level and then it turns off so that your car battery doesn't die.

I have the A129 cams hard-wired ( this Dashoto kit is the best deal ). I take the card out and upload to my computer. I need to get a second card so I don't have to bring the computer to the car or leave the cam without a card.

Be sure to get this card.

A little bit of google fu.. The logo on left bottom said mini 2. There are two mini 2 webcams. The below one fits the bill , look at the customer images and the logo is a perfect match.

https://www.amazon.com/Supercapacitor-G-Sensor-Snapshot-Recording-Parking/dp/B071YB6VBW

Great deal. Also recommend getting a high endurance SD card since it’s only a few bucks more but it’ll last longer. Normal ones can wear out quickly because of the read/write cycles

No... That's the kind you strap on top of your existing rear-view mirror. I'm looking for a unit which replaces the rear view mirror in its entirety. Something like this: Backup Camera (this unit uses a custom plug, though, not standard RCA adapters.)

What dashcam do you have? Cause here is one for the A119 V3, which enables parking mode. And yes, that's how the camera knows to enable parking mode.

I have the new A119 V3 and per the manual this is what it says regarding the operating temperature: -10 ~ 65°C (14°F - 149°F):

That is to say it below it it may work or turn off, but once you get the car started and warmed up it will work.

The good news is that almost all dashcams are made to be installed on the inside. Also they don't leave any permanent things from installation. You can take it out without a trace and reuse in your next car. Since you don't need 4k, I'd go with the A129 Duo. It's one of the favorites on Reddit and they just went live with the black friday deal which is a steal of a deal.

Search on the internet and they recommend this:

Blackvue 3 Channel Dash Cam | DR750S 2CH IR ... - Amazon.com

I use (and am VERY happy with) a DDPAI Mini2... paired to my phone, records a clip (# of seconds of your choice) to your phone (DDPAI app) it if you want.. with the press of a separate little black button, with 3M tape, that you can stick anywhere..

I don’t really use that but anyway I have one camera up front and 1 in the rear of my car (shooting through tint) and I can clearly read license plates from both .. the camera is discreet and offers up to 2K recording, also holds a 128gb card with no problem, so I have almost 3 months of recording at any one time. (I drive only 80 miles a week, approximately).. The upgraded Mini3 uses only flash memory but I prefer a removable memory card and will stick with this, as long as I can.

Also, before these, I was using a huge suction cup and a 2X more expensive, lower quality and less discreet dashcam.. the Roadhawk HD. (Available only from authorized retailers.. I can’t even resell them on amazon or eBay now) 🥴

DDPAI Mini2 Link below; ($69 on amazon but often on lightning deals) .... also, I’m trying to find a clip of a crash that I captured, to upload to show the quality.. I’ll edit this later if I can.

DDPai Mini2 Wi-Fi Dash Cam 1440P 2K Car Camera, Built-in Supercapacitor, G-Sensor, Snapshot Button, Night Vision, WDR, 140° Wide Angle, Loop Recording, Parking Monitor https://www.amazon.com/dp/B071YB6VBW/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_AUVvDbRPJXWJK

TOGUARD Backup Camera 7" Mirror Dash Cam Touch Screen 1080P Rearview Front and Rear Dual Lens with Waterproof Reversing Camera https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07DGS11CM/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_zhJCDbPFQ69KC this is what I have, you can't even tell it's a dashcam unless the car turns on and the screen lights up

Amazon links without the affiliate tag

• A119 V3 with GPS 2020 edition
  
  
• A129 Duo Dual Cam
  
  
• A129 IR Uber/Lyft cam
  
  
• SanDisk 128GB High Endurance Video MicroSD
  
  
• Rexing V1 3rd Gen
  
  
• APEMAN Mini Dash Cam 1080P
  
  
• AUKEY Dash Cam 1080P
  
  
• AUKEY 1080P Dual Dash Cam

The only ones I can find clip to the mirror, that is not a good look in my opinion.

If I can't get a combo, I'll probably just get a stand alone mirror backup camera and then a minimalistic dashcam system.

So far, this is what I've found: Auto-Vox X1PRO, but the price is a bit much.

Amazon link for the lazy:

VIOFO A129 Duo 2-Channel Full HD 1080p 30fps Car Dash Camera GPS Logger https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07CT6JPYW/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_b7WMBbVEFR1EZ

How do group buys work OP?

I'll show you my setup to see if it will work for you.

Dashcam - https://www.amazon.com/V1-Dashboard-Recorder-G-Sensor-Recording/dp/B00X528FNE/ref=sr_1_4?s=car&ie=UTF8&qid=1484000259&sr=1-4&keywords=dash+cam

add-a-fuse connected to an always hot fuse under the passenger side - https://www.amazon.com/HitCar-Vehicle-Circuit-Profile-Holder/dp/B00U61OO50/ref=sr_1_1?s=car&ie=UTF8&qid=1484000314&sr=1-1&keywords=add+a+fuse

12 volt to 5 volt adapter cable https://www.amazon.com/WheelWitness-Hardwire-Installation-Dashboard-Charger/dp/B00TGQ1Y3Q/ref=sr_1_3?s=car&ie=UTF8&qid=1484000362&sr=1-3&keywords=12+volt+to+5+volt+adapter

Run that to the dashcam, add a 64GB microSD and record at 720p.

You should get around 6 hours of footage before it erases the older one. You can spend a little more to get a dashcam that will support 128gb SD cards and get 12-14 hours out of it.

If you connect it to an always hot 12v fuse, you should have no problem keeping the dashcam running 24/7.

Note: In Texas, temp near the windshield can exceed 110 degrees so make you get a capacitor based dashcam if you live somewehre that gets really hot or really cold

Hi. I was looking in to buying a dash cam, and was wondering if the "A129 Duo" and the "Rexing V1P 3rd Gen " will record 24/7, even if the car is off, as we had a lot of problems with people driving in to our car at night.

My recommendation is to get one of the A119 V3's or the new A129 Pro duo and hardwire it. Specifically, get this hardwire kit: https://www.amazon.com/VIOFO-A129-Hardwire-Enables-Parking/dp/B07JQ1JYPJ/

This allows it to do exactly what you want. It will save the video if your car is hit or somethign happens, but it won't let your car battery die

Wow!....I've been using dashcams for 3 years now and realized after reading your post.....I know shit about dash cams!

I did it the lazy way and went with this: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B06XG27N5L/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o02_s00?ie=UTF8&th=1 simply because they have good customer service and are reputable. Even though I've had to twist their arms by complaining through the Dept of Consumer Affairs when their shit failed and they refused to comp me new dash cams....worked like a charm!

Should I get the hard wire kits for this?? Does it really make that big of a difference?? I have one on the front and back windshields. Sounds like overkill, I know, but this one time I was driving and this rideshare driver slammed into my driver side while breaking a double yellow from behind me to over take me from the left and insurance companies would've said I cut in front of him which is what it looked like until I sent them the rear dash cam and they just straight cut me a check in the mail!! No fuss, no haggling!