Roadcourse, let me know what camera you go with; I been thinking of getting one myself.

 

Dash and rear cam shopping now.

Roadcourse, let me know what camera you go with; I been thinking of getting one myself.

I know you will get the best bang for the buck soooo... Me too!

 

A guy I work with was witness to a murder, his dash cam caught the events and the police took the (micro?) SD card from his dash cam

 

If / When it happens I'll let everyone know. Found out last night I have to get 4 fan belts replaced on the Tacoma. The most inside one is very bad so might as well replace all of them. This last month has been a cash flow nightmare. A dash cam is one of those things I will do a lot of research on before pulling the trigger so it may be a while. I'm not into farces but not in to liability with the idiots on the roads either. Right now I'm thinkin Go Pro because I could use it on my bike ; ) Don't know how long they would record or if they can be wired. Lots of "don't knows" right now.

 

i too was in the market for one and done research. i will probably treat myself at christmas for one. i will more than likely get the Garmin 45. don't need a big screen to watch it. since it'll be recording all the time, no need at this time to have voice control over it. maybe in the future, once i get familiar with one...other features might be more welcomed.

this is the link for the one i'll be getting in the next few weeks. with an optional cable, it can monitor your car while turned off and parked.

https://buy.garmin.com/en-US/US/p/567313/pn/010-01750-00#

 

That's a nice one, fear24. I just need to get in the research mode and maybe after Christmas get in the buying mode. I kind of resent feeling the need for one due to a population of idiots driving around me constantly. I'm used to carrying a firearm in the car all the time so it's just another way to defend myself. That too, I would rather not feel the need to do. My home is my castle and sanctuary. My nice leather recliner is my specific chill out space. The better half has her's too we both flee to after the fray has settled down at the end of a day. What a world.

 

I, too, have been doing mucho research, and I think I have finally settled on an SJCAM SJ4000. I think.

 

so i got the one i mentioned above. so far, i like it. and, it almost paid for itself at lunch today. once i figure out how to upload the videos...i will share them.

 

a video from the dark...

 

a video from the dark...

Nice quality vids, fear24. I wonder if putting a "smile, you being videoed" would get anyone's attention? I guess they would have to know how to read for that to work. I have three 4 wheeled vehicles so easy portability would be a necessity. Just bought a new MacBook Pro I have to set up today before much else happens. This one is on it's last leg. Nine years out of a computer isn't bad.

 

it comes with a standard 12v plug in as the primary power source. the unit itself is bout the size of two reece's peanut butter cups stacked on one another, so pretty small overall.

the camera's mounting stem has a magnetic mount to it. it mounts to a peice of metal that mounts to your windshield via a sticky foam pad, smaller than a dime. so, i can remove it from the windshield if i feel the need to. https://buy.garmin.com/en-US/US/p/567473

there is an optional 'hard-wired' cord that cost about $30 retail that also allows the unit to record while the car is parked and you are away from it. https://www.amazon.com/Garmin-010-1...Cable/dp/B06XTBPYS2/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1512142394&sr=8-2&keywords=garmin+45

so, if you were to hard wire it in your main vehicle....and use the 12v socket for portability, you can move it around.

 

I bought an SJ4000. Still figuring it out. Eventually I'll take some dashcam video and post it here.

I hope mine doesn't play such horrible music.

 

So I've had my SJ4000 for about a month. I've worked out all the variables. Here's what I can tell you.

It takes very nice vids. I have it set to the 2nd to lowest (of 4) quality setting, and it looks fine. The highest setting eats up way too much memory, and you can't tell the difference, anyway.

I have two mounts for it in the car. One is on the traditional place on the front windshield just under the antenna mesh and the mirror. The other one, which I like the results of better, will take a little explaining.

I removed the rear center head restraint, bought a short piece of 7/16" fuel hose, cut it to size, and slid it up one of the head restraint stalks - the one closer to the passenger side. One of the clamps is fastened around the fuel hose, and the camera is mounted to that. The head restraint is then installed backwards, with just the bottom edges of the stalks in the holes. This allows the camera to face, and see, forward.

It's upside down, but there is a setting in the camera to record upside down, so it plays right side up once transferred to the computer, so that's all good.

I bought a 6.5 foot long microUSB cable and set the camera to begin recording when it receives power from the car, and shut off when the car is shut off or the cable is pulled.

I was taking the camera off the mount every time I parked the car, but I have found it easier to just take the headrest with me, with the camera on it, or lock it in the trunk. I won't leave it exposed when I'm not there.

When the camera is mounted in the back, here is the view I get:

I get B-pillar to B-piilar coverage which is good in case some shmoo drives into my flank. Also, I remove the front passenger head restraint to give the camera a better view. I am usually in this car by myself.

This camera comes with a bunch of different mounts, that are interchangeable, and can work together. When the camera is mounted on the front windshield, I put on a quick-release. Overall, it is easier to work with it when it's in the front, but I like the picture and coverage better from the rear.

 

Dash Cams

I think there is a dash cam thread here but I can't find it.

I'm looking for a simple, inexpensive, easy to set-up and use dash cam since I'm electronically challenged. I don't want a bunch of bells and whistles. Is there such a thing and what is it?

Thank you very much. RC

 

I would suggest this website: https://dashcamtalk.com/

More specifically this page as it has all different scenarios to help figure out what camera would be good: https://dashcamtalk.com/best-dash-cams-of-2018/

I've had dashcams in both of our cars for years now and I'm never not going to have one again. I've had a few different eBay (china) specials that did ok for a couple years. They were the like this: https://dashcamtalk.com/g1w/

And most recently when updating the one in my wifes car we decided to spend a bit more and get some "bells and whistles": https://dashcamtalk.com/sg9665gc/

Anyway, the site is loaded up with info, reviews, forums, etc.

 

I would suggest this website: https://dashcamtalk.com/

More specifically this page as it has all different scenarios to help figure out what camera would be good: https://dashcamtalk.com/best-dash-cams-of-2018/

I've had dashcams in both of our cars for years now and I'm never not going to have one again. I've had a few different eBay (china) specials that did ok for a couple years. They were the like this: https://dashcamtalk.com/g1w/

And most recently when updating the one in my wifes car we decided to spend a bit more and get some "bells and whistles": https://dashcamtalk.com/sg9665gc/

Anyway, the site is loaded up with info, reviews, forums, etc.

Thank you for being very helpful. Almost all truckers have dash cams and I don't blame them. Driving has become treacherous. Shoot back.

 

When I was shopping around and bought mine, I found the writeups and videos here to be helpful.

dashboardcamerareviews (dot) com (I can't post links yet)

Also, if you go to the Comparison Tables (link at the top of that page), it will break them all down by price range and compare features across the board. So, if you're looking for 1 or 2 things in particular, you can find which ones have it, then narrow your search down to those 1 or 2. Also, from there, you can go to manufacturer's websites and then see if there is an updated version (if you're looking for the most current) or shop the used market for a slightly cheaper one when people upgrade. Best of luck with your search.

 

Merged.

 

Here's the one I have and use every day. No complaints.

https://sjcam.com/product/sj4000/