In-Car Cameras

revcore · 01-02-2013, 12:55 PM

Wondering if anyone here uses a in-car camera (Crash Cam)? If so what type have you got?
I'm looking into buying one but with so many different brands on the market it's a bit confusing. Something with a G Sensor is what I am looking for.

Ben73 · 01-02-2013, 01:49 PM

I'm not that fancy, I just stick my Go Pro on the dash.
Records video and sound which is all I require.

mac_man_luke · 01-02-2013, 01:58 PM

I did a bit of research and found the "blackvue dr400g" was pretty highly rated.

Otherwise cheap chinese ones from either ebay or dealextreme can be ok but luck of the draw.

tweeked · 01-02-2013, 02:16 PM

Yeah, I just bought 3 off Ebay to do all the cars, $67 dollars delivered for the lot. If they are good - I may upgrade to something a bit more clever.

SM1DY · 01-02-2013, 02:27 PM

I'm currently running the Blackvue DR400g HD, have so for just over a year now. I'm no expert on these things, but it does everything I want it to and it never gives me any trouble.

XR6T0Y · 01-02-2013, 02:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SM1DY

I'm currently running the Blackvue DR400g HD, have so for just over a year now. I'm no expert on these things, but it does everything I want it to and it never gives me any trouble.

Have one of these as well. Good little bit of kit for the price I got it for (80$ delivered). Apparently price has gone up now though.
Gps, Speed, G's, parking mode etc etc etc

P.S No laws were broken in this clip. Just gives you an idea.
If you play it through the Blackview player (downloadable) it gives you all the extra things like G readings and GPS co ords etc

**GasoLane** · 01-02-2013, 05:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by revcore

Wondering if anyone here uses a in-car camera (Crash Cam)? If so what type have you got?
I'm looking into buying one but with so many different brands on the market it's a bit confusing. Something with a G Sensor is what I am looking for.

Crash Cam ?

A few of us on here have the 'Auto Cam', but they aren't cheap (from $200- $400) all the usual stuff like Full HD, time, date, speed, gps etc.
They come in handy at times if only for entertainment value as Full Noise shows us

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=39grA...2_l1WQ&index=9

Quote:

Originally Posted by XR6T0Y

Have one of these as well. Good little bit of kit for the price I got it for (80$ delivered). Apparently price has gone up now though.
Gps, Speed, G's, parking mode etc etc etc

Whoa!! that looks like looking through one of the door spyholes in Hotels

JC · 01-02-2013, 07:20 PM

I have tried a few, and don't need the GPS, so just use one of these:
http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Black-2-5...item3f21b23576

At under $20, they do well (require an SD card at extra cost, but the Aldi 8GB ones at $8 are cheap and work). Has sound, night mode, motion detection (in a car, not sure how useful this is) and starts recording as soon as ignition turns on and turns off with key - if you have it on charge all the time.

Sizey · 01-02-2013, 07:43 PM

I have the HD version of the blackvue. Excellent system however i have had mine for 2 years now and it now likes to not playback videos, not recognise SD cards and freeze frame then quickly catch up halfway through playback.

In saying this, i wiould still buy more of them because i love the mounting versatility, gps, travel speed, power timeouts, shock sensor and audio control.

|Nate · 01-02-2013, 08:04 PM

Definitely, like others, I recommend the Blackvue, either the DR400G or their new DR500GW. Both will perform extremely well.

I have the DR400G right now, but I am buying the VicoVation TF2 soon to put at the front as I believe it has better aperture control in dark to light, light to dark situations. It may not have GPS but the DR400G will be going on the back window so I'll still have some form of GPS speed indication.

Joshmcmillan · 01-02-2013, 08:37 PM

I recently done a LOT of research. It pretty quickly narrowed down to the BlackVue mentioned above or Itronics ITB100HD.

When I bought mine on weeks ago, I bought the iTronics as it was $170 compared to the $260 of the blackvue. The iTronics also takes better videos at night, much better viewing angle and is generally considered a more reliable unit. The Blackvue has a better exterior look in my opinion.

The Blackvue's used to be a lot cheaper until they did a big cut down on people selling them on eBay, as this was mostly people selling them illegally. Not fakes, just unauthorized sellers. iTronics has recently done the same thing, which their unit now being $240 on eBay.

I'd still go the iTronics over the Blackvue from everything I read online. Other than the better viewing angle, the iTronics is also very quick to delete old files when card is full with minimal recording time lost. Plenty of video's on youtube comparing the quality in night and day. iTronics (not unlike the Blackvue) has Full 1080p, GPS sensing with speed in km/h, 6 directional G-Force sensor.

Lastly, for an extra $30-40 you can get either a 'Power Magic' or an 'Uninterrupted power supply' that will cut the power off when in parking mode, if battery goes bellow a set voltage or after a set timer. Any of these will work, some have more time options, and some have more voltage options, price varies, just pick to suit.

I've never tried a cheap one from eBay. But I didn't want to hardwire something cheap and unreliable into my car. I also didn't want something massive and ugly.

(Hint: on B-series falcons buy JayCar part # PP-2066 for $4 and you can make up a plug that will plug straight into the mobile phone kit plug behind fuse panel).

Joshmcmillan · 01-02-2013, 08:48 PM

Here's a snapshot of mine today to show what you can see. See what I mean about the wide angle that it records, it's an important feature.
Also if you look at the G-Force sample graph down the bottom, you can see just after where it is in the video there is a bit of movement. That's from me braking when the car in the picture pulled out in front of me.
It shows the map of where it was in Port Macquarie in the bottom right. And the speed up the top.

gcg2503 · 01-02-2013, 08:59 PM

Where did you get the itronics for $170

That seems reasonable vs autocam $380!

John G · 01-02-2013, 09:01 PM

Carvun F30 Google it. best value for the features

Joshmcmillan · 01-02-2013, 09:03 PM

eBay, from eBay seller 'Apple-Ct'. Which is one of most reputable eBay sellers for both brands of camera's. However they and all other sellers have recently been banned from selling them on eBay.
Now only one seller has the iTronics like mine:
http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/2013-Bran...ht_2494wt_1163

It's still a bit cheaper than the Blackvue.

revcore · 01-02-2013, 09:38 PM

I'm considering buying one of these...

http://www.officeworks.com.au/retail...der/LAKBA12001

Might head on down to Officeworks tomorrow and take a look.

XR6T0Y · 01-02-2013, 10:13 PM

I wouldn't go a VGA camera

eyes87 · 01-02-2013, 10:33 PM

Considered getting one for a while now. The amount of people that I seem to have pull out in front of me is incredible so I can really see the value in having them.

TC200six · 01-02-2013, 11:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by XR6T0Y

I wouldn't go a VGA camera

Yeah you probably wouldn't even be able to recognise a number plate with a resolution that low, which would defeat the purpose of having a camera.

Vincenzo · 02-02-2013, 02:22 AM

I've had a Blackvue 400G for just over a year now. Picture quality is great, software is easy to use and download. The power Magic is easy to set up and use but can be fragile and temperamental at times.

The one, the only problem I've had with it is that it is not designed for tropical heat of Darwin. Two units sent back under warranty but have received replacements.

Cheers Vincenzo

**MercurySilver** · 02-02-2013, 11:02 AM

do they look ok tho or is there wires hanging down everywhere and around the mirror
id want a unit that was small compact could hide behind my mirror and no wires or cables dangling about
the amount of dicks on the road in front of me sometimes makes me think i should get one just for the replays comedic value

XR6T0Y · 02-02-2013, 11:34 AM

This is how mine is. Got it wired up and put the cable through the A-pillar

GTP534 · 02-02-2013, 01:52 PM

Where do these connect into in the car? In the Power Socket? Thanks.

XR6T0Y · 02-02-2013, 01:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GTP534

Where do these connect into in the car? In the Power Socket? Thanks.

They come with a 12v power (generally ciggy lighter). I got the end cut off mine and wired into the car so it's always on (when car starts etc) and that way I have no hanging wires. Much cleaner

XR6T0Y · 02-02-2013, 02:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JC

I have tried a few, and don't need the GPS, so just use one of these:
http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Black-2-5...item3f21b23576

At under $20, they do well (require an SD card at extra cost, but the Aldi 8GB ones at $8 are cheap and work). Has sound, night mode, motion detection (in a car, not sure how useful this is) and starts recording as soon as ignition turns on and turns off with key - if you have it on charge all the time.

I was close to getting one of these, but found a few problems.
One is, they are really bulky, which means you can't hide it very well

Two, It's not real HD, and not very good quality images/playback

Three, the dropdown screen can break rather easily

Just some food for though

Simple6 · 02-02-2013, 02:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Joshmcmillan

Here's a snapshot of mine today to show what you can see. See what I mean about the wide angle that it records, it's an important feature.
Also if you look at the G-Force sample graph down the bottom, you can see just after where it is in the video there is a bit of movement. That's from me braking when the car in the picture pulled out in front of me.
It shows the map of where it was in Port Macquarie in the bottom right. And the speed up the top.

image

So what's the amount of time you're getting on your card before it overwrites itself?

Joshmcmillan · 02-02-2013, 03:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Simple6

So what's the amount of time you're getting on your card before it overwrites itself?

Bit over 6 hours full time recording on the 16GB SD card I bought. Or a few days in parking mode depending how many people walk/drive past and birds etc...
The card that comes with them is 8gb. It's only $15 or so for a 16gb one.

Ben73 · 02-02-2013, 03:21 PM

Are these really cheap cameras HD? I want to be able to see plate numbers in front of me clearly.
I normally record in 960p @ 50FPS or 1080p at 25FPS. Both record for about 2.5 hours on the 16GB memory card.

XR6T0Y · 02-02-2013, 04:25 PM

This is the most recent clip of mine (don't mind the wandering, was a bit breezy) and a screenshot of the program it runs through showing G reading, co ords etc

**GasoLane** · 02-02-2013, 06:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by XR6T0Y

This is the most recent clip of mine (don't mind the wandering, was a bit breezy) and a screenshot of the program it runs through showing G reading, co ords etc

I like the program that comes with it but it a little too much like a fisheye lens for me.

This is the one I use. (the view is a higher being on the Truck windscreen.)