Vehicles these days are extremely complex machines that have seen massive improvements in terms of safety. But, short of a global revolution of a fully networked system of fully autonomous vehicles ferrying passengers around, there is always room for error that could result in a fender bender.
This is why more and more vehicle owners are opting to install a dashcam on their rides. Here are some considerations you might want to make before purchasing one yourself.
Your needs
It does not make any sense to get the best possible dashcam system if your driving is confined to only a few hundred metres to the grocery store and back on a weekly basis. While there is no accounting for when and where accidents happen, those who are on the road more often will want to look into dashcam systems with better cameras and features.
Number of cameras
Bare-bones models feature just a single front-facing camera that is unable to see anything beyond its field of view. So woe to you if anyone hits you from behind or the side, or if an incident happens within the cabin of the vehicle itself.
Selected models feature rear-facing as well as cabin-facing cameras. Ride-hailing drivers would do well to pick up such a model considering the amount of time they spend on the road daily.
A cabin-facing camera will also keep ride-hailing drivers safe from accusations of molestation or harassment. The dual- or four-camera dashcam makes sense for literally all-round protection.
Field of view (FOV)
Those who have indulged in first-person shooter video games will be familiar with FOV: the wider it is, the more it can see. The ultra wide-angle camera on your smartphone is another good example, letting you capture far more detail from a closer distance.
Ideally, the FOV of your dashcam should range from 130-160° so you can see the entire windshield from its vantage point. Anything lower and it would likely miss out on incidents that affect your vehicle’s front bumper area.
Remember that vehicles have different designs, so select the model that has the most suitable FOV for your transportation of choice. A taller vehicle would work better with a wider FOV, while a city-centric ride with a narrower chassis would do perfectly fine with a smaller FOV.
Video resolution and recording quality
Bear in mind that the recorded footage cannot be upscaled to insane levels like what you see on TV crime shows. Just make sure you get the highest resolution that you can afford.
In 2022, the minimum recommended resolution is Full HD (1080p), but if your budget allows for 4K resolution recordings, so much the better.
Since driving conditions vary, the recording quality should be decent enough to capture all kinds of weather. Also look into how well the dashcam performs at night or in low-light conditions.
There are plenty of recording samples you can view online, and it is highly recommended you check out samples from users instead of the manufacturer for a more accurate depiction of the dashcam’s performance under everyday conditions.
Audio-recording capability
An accident that happens on the outside would not necessarily require any audio recording, but once again, for added peace of mind, you might want your dashcam to capture audio within the cabin itself.
The ability to capture environmental sounds might come in handy in different situations. Additional protection is also afforded when it comes to conversation within the vehicle, especially for e-hailing drivers who might need to defend themselves if they are accused of making inappropriate comments during the ride.
Storage space and medium
The microSD memory card is the de-facto storage medium for most dashcams. Always purchase the largest capacity possible since you would want to be able to store footage for as long as possible.
The higher the video resolution, the more memory is required – do not be surprised to see a short 4K clip take up far more space than a Full HD equivalent.
Always ensure the memory card is from a reputable manufacturer – the “evidence” you need lies within, so you wouldn’t want it to be corrupted when you need it the most.
Different manufacturers offer different types of memory cards, some more capable of handling a wider operating temperature range with a faster writing speed. Remember, it gets hot in your vehicle if it’s parked in the sun!
Most modern dashcams will overwrite older recordings automatically to save you the trouble of manually reformatting the memory card.
Build quality
You would want to get something that lasts, considering how most people do not change their vehicle at the same rate with which they change smartphones.
Hence, make sure the build quality of your dashcam is able to handle being exposed to the sun and extreme temperatures for hours, and the recording mechanism able to endure long road trips without issue.
Before you dismiss the idea of installing a dashcam, remember that having video evidence comes in handy when you need to ascertain who is in the right after an accident happens. Police and insurance companies will also appreciate such digital testimony when filing a report.
And if you ever get involved in a hit-and-run scam where the “victim” rushes forward and jumps onto your vehicle, the dashcam is perfect for capturing such a blatant act to prove your innocence.
Edwin Kee dreamt of being a pro-gamer only to have circumstances mould him into a programmer in a past life. He has since moved on to write about consumer electronics and other topics. Check out his blog at manatau.com.