After car accidents, there are often disputes about the cause of the accident. Most of the time, to solve these problems, you need to be able to understand all the details of the event. Dash cams are becoming more and more popular these days. The information they collect can be made available to insurance companies as evidence. However, please note the legal regulations for recordings in public areas. Find out what are the characteristics of a good dash cam.
Eight Essential Features
- Resolution.This is the number of pixels determined by the height and width of the image and directly affects video quality. A higher resolution means a more detailed image. For example, you can see the driver of the oncoming vehicle and find out what distracted him while driving. Today the resolution standards are:
- VGA. 640×480 pixels. This is an outdated standard that is rarely used these days and offers average image quality.
- HD. 1280×720 pixels. This enables higher image quality, which can be enlarged to the screen size of a laptop without compromising quality. However, some objects, such as a car license plate, are often not fully visible.
- Full HD. 1920×1080 pixels. This video standard allows you to see small details on a widescreen TV.
- Super HD. 2304×1296 pixels. The image is 1.5 times sharper than Full HD.
- Bitrate.The image resolution depends on the bit rate (amount of information transmitted per second). If this is below 12 Mbit/s, you cannot see details such as license plate or car model. In addition, low CPU speed can result in video breaks of up to five seconds, which means important moments may not be recorded.
- Sensor size and number of megapixels.A larger sensor means better video quality. The sensitivity of the sensor depends on its size, which is very important for low-light recording. A sensor with 3-5 MP is sufficient for Full HD videos. Buying a camera with more MP is not a good idea as it will not take advantage of these features.
- Viewing angle.The wider this is, the larger the area recorded by a camera. However, an extremely wide viewing angle leads to distortions. The value of 100-130 ° is sufficient to ensure an optimal view.
- Number of lenses. Single-lens dash cams only record the area of the road directly ahead . That's why it's better to buy dash cams with mounts for auxiliary lenses, preferably three. This allows you to record events from all sides.
- Power source.Battery powered dash cams are not suitable for long journeys. If you spend a lot of time in the car, buy a dash cam with an adapter for the on-board power socket.
- Type of attachment.Dashcam mounts can be attached to the windshield with a suction cup or double-sided tape. The suction cups are quite large but can be attached repeatedly. The adhesive tape, on the other hand, is intended for single use. Dash cams can be attached to the mount with an inexpensive screw or a more expensive and convenient magnet.
- Additional features:
- Most modern digital recording systems come with a G-Shock sensor equipped that captures the moment of impact. If this is activated, the camera saves the footage of a few seconds before and after the accident in a read-only memory.
- SD cards are included with some VCRs. They allow you to transfer a needed video segment to yourself.
- Some dashcams are equipped with a screen. This is how you can view recorded videos.
- i Dash cams with GPS are more useful. The GPS automatically adjusts the time and date and records your location and driving speed.
- Infrared or LED lights help record a traffic accident at night.
Conclusion
A dash cam is a handy accessory for your car. This can help resolve many disputes that arise in road traffic. With the previous list of features, choose the most suitable dash cam with affordable price and suitable functions.