In car vehicle recorder Options

[Tom_kkh]

has been hunting around for one.

budget abt $250 any recommandation.

I wan those can run direct from car battery.

Checked around for three weeks cant decide. any advice?

[Picanto]

sg.carstore

[Maxoo]

I'm also looking for one. Really cant decide which one to get. some more all at $300 plus above for those good review.$300 plus can get a good camera such as canon to install on our car. The only things is its lacks some feature .

[Tom_kkh]

i have seen those above $300 ones, resolution also not very good lei.

Headache....... scare buy already than cannot even read the license plate of the front car, than waste $

[Parkingidiot]

"In car vehicle recorder"? I think you mean "In Car Camera Recorder" or "In Car Video Recorder" ...

This subject discussed many times already.

One of the things I have realised in my experience is that the inability to record the number plate of cars is more due to the vibration and movement experienced by the camera than the clarity of the lens. No matter how good the car cam is, once the car starts moving the camera is unable to compensate for the vibrations and record clearly. Thus most of the time the number plates will not be visible, unless t the car is very near, or both the vehicles have slowed down or stopped for traffic lights or parking, etc.

Other problems include: the width of the lens - ie. if you want to get as much of the front windscreen into the picture, then naturally the distance being recorded is proportionately shorter. If you want to zoom in, the field of view is smaller. It's achieving a reasonable balance that's important.

Thus the conclusion is that the perfect car cam system is either very expensive, or not invented yet. But in the meantime, it's better to get a lower quality video rather than NO video at all. So whilst the hunt for the cheapest and bestest solution is going on, at least mount any video cam; (even the mobile phone video cam is better than nothing), and record the trips.

An accident (touch wood) can happen anytime - and may not be your own fault, maybe some other kuku driver beating red light - and if you do not have a video at that time... well, good luck in making claims, esp as in Singapore very few passers-by will come forward to be witness.

[Kelpie]

Hi there,

It is so difficult to decide on one, probably due to the following reasons:

1. Too bulky. Imagine hanging an unsightly camera on your front windscreen. I'm looking for one that is hidden away but there isn't such a product in the market yet.

2. Wire. I wanted a hidden camera that It would start recording the moment I start my engine. No messy wire or the need to recharge the battery.

3. Design. Even if one is to accept a desktop or overhanging model, the size is still too big. All those on the market simply do not make the cut as far as style is concerned.

Guess, we're just too demanding . In the end, still have not fixed up one.

Regards,

[Parkingidiot]

exactly... the perfect device may be out there.. or not... in the meantime... better have a backup plan just in case.
I've personally gone thru several devices since a few years ago.

I first started with my normal DV video cam, but it was too bulky and needed recharging constantly - I did not have a car charger for it. And it uses tape - whilst ok, and can rotate the tapes - this was very cumbersome. The plus points were: it was very very clear! And with zoom and wide angle lens, can record a whole range of stuff. And with the LCD can actually see what you are recording. But without a proper mounting, it also suffered from vibration problems. And I did not want to leave it in the car too long under hot sun less it got damaged.

Another device I used was a mobile phone vid cam. The plus point - very convenient, as always carry it around. Very small so unobtrusive when mounted on the dashboard. And by then there were those ubiquitous windscreen mounting thingies, so quite easy to mount. But a major minus point was that when a call came in, the recording stopped! So it got too inconvenient and irritating to keep activating the video everytime after a call.

Another device I got was a small usb pen cam from one of the bros at MCF. This one cam with a car charger, very tiny and easy to mount. The plus points - it's got a 4MB flashdrive - which allows quite a bit of recording (i only have to erase after a few days). The minus points is that the quality is rather poor so not very good in too bright a light or too dark at night; need a computer to delete the recordings, as there is no built-in feature to do so, can't see what I am recording, so have to guess at the angle to mount (not really difficult); and the way I mounted, there is an ugly wire dangllng from it to the cigarrete lighter for charging. Can hide the wire, but too lazy at this time.

So.. I am still on the lookout for a better system... but in the meantime I have recorded several incidents - near misses esp when taxis cut into your lane without signalling, idiots who beat red light, people who cut across double white lines or chevrons into your lane, and monkey pedestrians who jump onto the road without checking for traffic. So far lucky no accident... but if do... these recordings may save me a lot of grief.

[Chrispie]

i dont think that the clarity of number plate is crucial. What is more impt is recording the situation just before the accident. With the cam recording the impact etc, dont think number plate matters. Both vehicles would have impact zones that match those on the video clip, and dont think anyone can stage the exact accident, especially when there's also time stamp on the video.


if video shows u traveling straight and a kuku car jz barged in and smash your side, that alone should do a lot for your claim on the other party. Even if your cam is super clear, you wont be able to get the license plate if its a side impact anyway. i fixed mine DIY with hidden wires etc for 125 niah... VGA quality.. not HD, but it does the job!

only complain are from the passengers coz of the blinking LED when its recording.. quite irritating to them, coz i mounted the cam on the passeger side, beside my rear view mirror.

This post has been edited by Chrispie: Jun 5 2010, 11:47 AM

[Shanhz]

i dont think that the clarity of number plate is crucial. What is more impt is recording the situation just before the accident. With the cam recording the impact etc, dont think number plate matters. Both vehicles would have impact zones that match those on the video clip, and dont think anyone can stage the exact accident, especially when there's also time stamp on the video.


if video shows u traveling straight and a kuku car jz barged in and smash your side, that alone should do a lot for your claim on the other party. Even if your cam is super clear, you wont be able to get the license plate if its a side impact anyway. i fixed mine DIY with hidden wires etc for 125 niah... VGA quality.. not HD, but it does the job!

only complain are from the passengers coz of the blinking LED when its recording.. quite irritating to them, coz i mounted the cam on the passeger side, beside my rear view mirror.

simple solution, just paste a black piece of paper or something over the lights

[Adrianli]

has been hunting around for one.

budget abt $250 any recommandation.

I wan those can run direct from car battery.

Checked around for three weeks cant decide. any advice?

I recommend this one : http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.35356

- High resolution of WXGA 1280*720 Pixels clearly recognize the faces or car plate
- View range: 120°wide-angle
- Video codec: H.264
- SD/MMC card slot, support up to 64GB
- Built-in 500mAh rechargeable battery
- Charged via USB, external power supply offers a non-stop recording
- Date and time simultaneous display on Video
- Port: Mini USB / HDMI / SD Card Slot


It cost only US$152 w/ free shipping. US$152 x 1.4(exchange rate) = S$212

I using it as my rear view car camera. Love the LCD screen which most car camera lacks.

[Eyke]

I recommend this one : http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.35356

also sold here: http://www.mycarforum.com/index.php?showto...p;#entry3190004

[Adrianli]

also sold here: http://www.mycarforum.com/index.php?showto...p;#entry3190004

Price a lot of difference. Look at TS budget.

[Mcf777]

anyone keen to organise a group buy?

[Osiris]

Hi Adrian,
Prior to the incident, how do you power the unit via the car charger or tap to somewhere?
quite ugly with a wire running down windscreen tapping to car charger

[Adrianli]

Wire is ran under the roof liner -> to the A pillar -> under steering column -> to the cig lighter.

Totally out of sight.

[Tom_kkh]

actually i don mind paying upto 350 for a good set. CCD lens will be great!

with or without monitor doesnt matter to me. no date and time stamping also no problem, so long it is clear enough to record the car plate no., day and night.

no need surveillance too. just plain driving. but must be connect ot the car battery for auto on and off....think for my budget not too tough la hor?

the set recommended got many complaints for not satisfactory night vision.

[Osiris]

Wire is ran under the roof liner -> to the A pillar -> under steering column -> to the cig lighter.

Totally out of sight.

Thanks for the wire routing info. will keep that in mind if decide to change

[Heartbreakkidz]

I recommend this one : http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.35356

- High resolution of WXGA 1280*720 Pixels clearly recognize the faces or car plate
- View range: 120°wide-angle
- Video codec: H.264
- SD/MMC card slot, support up to 64GB
- Built-in 500mAh rechargeable battery
- Charged via USB, external power supply offers a non-stop recording
- Date and time simultaneous display on Video
- Port: Mini USB / HDMI / SD Card Slot


It cost only US$152 w/ free shipping. US$152 x 1.4(exchange rate) = S$212

I using it as my rear view car camera. Love the LCD screen which most car camera lacks.

Is it easy to install? just plug and play? plug into the cig lighter hole,then press rec? and it will start rec? Need to press stop when we off the engine? or it will auto stop? soli and thx for the guidance :)

[Booboon]

the device will start recording once u on engine. It will stop recording once u off engine. Plug n play.

[Kenney]

Hi bros

Something to share.

Some recorders having that 3~4 seconds of data loss during file transfer. (meaning- when file is completed, device needs to create another file)

Do enquire before you make the purchase. I have come across an accident video clip that missed out the most crucial evidence. No joke!