Click to view our Accessibility Statement or contact us with accessibility-related questions
This looks like another great product from Massdrop. Amazon price is $100 delivered, so this is a great value as well. I got into dash cams a couple years ago after watching way too many dash-cam videos and deciding I 'needed' one. After owning a few, and currently using this same style/type, I realize now, I don't 'need' one. But I love it, and highly recommend them! This one uses the suction cups, this is much better than mine that used two sided super tape. The tape is really solid and works great, but doesn't let you move it. So you better know what you are doing when you place it the first time.
I paid about this much for my camera, this one seems to have the same menu, buttons and features, plus this one has hdmi and an even higher resolution (top end). Audio seems about the same. If I had it to do over, I'd buy this one. There are other designs that are even more discreet which is what I'm favoring. Also, one big problem many makers don't mention is that almost all of these cameras require a power cord, and if the power is stopped, say in a really bad crash - which is what it is designed to capture, it won't. Once the power stops, the camera does not have power to save the short video file it was saving at the instant of your crash. Get it? This is an important point.
So, I'd prefer a camera that is more discreet, like is able to be installed via suction along the edge of your window. One that has a built in capacitor for power (so no power cord or batteries needed). They also need to be able to use the highest capacity sD micro cards on the market today. Hopefully I'm not asking for too much. Audio is the least important feature; it could actually be a liability in some situations.
I don't have this cam, but like it a lot. It's not perfect, but it's better than any cam I've used so far, and I would recommend it, especially at this price!
BobWellington
12
Feb 20, 2017
ConsumerAdvocateMost dashcams do save the clip when they're removed from the power source. And capacitor models still need a power cord.
BobWellingtonThank you for your reply. I've tested the ones I own and none of them will save the video if the power is cut. I agree that the very few current models that have capacitors do require a power cord, but I'm hoping/encouraging developers to come up with a model that make a model that simply needs occasional recharging. See the 'Forever Flashlight' as an example.
BobWellington
12
Feb 21, 2017
ConsumerAdvocateThat's odd. Which ones do you have? And by cutting the power are you just unplugging them?
Liberty
345
Feb 21, 2017
ConsumerAdvocateMaybe you just do not understand how capacitors work. They are not battery replacements in any way. In comparison with batteries, capacitors are able to store very limited energy for some very limited period of time. If you want to get rid of power cable, you definitely need batteries. A capacitor would be enough to overcome a short power outage. It can supply enough power to sync/save your data to the SD card in the mentioned case of a major crash. On the other hand, you cannot run the dash cam just out of it.
Also I think it is way better to install the power cord once than to mess with batteries on a regular basis.
BobWellingtonHi! Yes. I also gave another example, like being in a severe car crash and losing power. If there is no internal battery (or super capacitor) to finish saving the file that was recording, it can't save the file. This is a very easy thing to test. Next time you are using your cam, simply turn it off, or unplug it. Then plug it back in and see if it saved that last file that it was recording. If it does, please let me know what model you are using. thx!
LibertyThanks, sounds like you are trying to be helpful, I appreciate that. Google variable rechargeable super capacitor, I think this will be as exciting news to you as when I first learned about it a few years ago. I have a couple 'forever lights' and these super capacitors work as advertised; hope to see them used more in small personal consumer electronics, like this dash cam. Would solve both the cord and issue with saving the last file.
Liberty
345
Feb 21, 2017
ConsumerAdvocateAre you aware of average capacitor capacity to consumed space ratio? Sorry, but this is not exciting nor news at all. That hype term you mentioned is, in fact, rather a low level hobby project. Just an old technology completely unsuitable for proposed purpose. A capacitor with capacity sufficient to run the camera for several hours will NOT fit in the camera. So you will end with a power cord again and probably a trunk full of capacitors as well. If you hate power cords, forget of capacitors, a rechargeable battery is what you need.
Liberty
search
“Never argue with an idiot. They will only bring you down to their level and beat you with experience.” George Carlin
Liberty
345
Feb 21, 2017
ConsumerAdvocateYou switched to personal attacks quickly just because you lack arguments, right? That does not make you look nice nor right. Have a nice day.
LibertyLOL. George Carlin is a comedian, sorry if you took that as a personal attack.
I'll try again. I posted in my comments that I would like to have a dash-cam that would use a capacitor to power the unit. That's it. There are personal devices that exist that are already using these variable capacitors I already own a couple flashlights that use them, they work great. I hope/believe they will someday be great for future devices like a dash-cam. I appreciate you trying to explain how batteries work, and that most units require cords; I get all that, if I had a 'wish list' I'd like a cordless, wireless, more discreet cam that uses variable super capacitors. I agree, I think we are done on this topic; but feel free to have the last word. :)
BobWellington
12
Feb 21, 2017
ConsumerAdvocateI use a G1W and it indeed saves the last clip when I disconnect the power cord.
BobWellingtonAwesome, thank you! Your model has an internal battery, many of the better dash-cams have them, which do generally allow a few minutes (some of the better models like yours maybe up to 20-30 minutes) for recording/storing recordings after loss of power. The G1W-C (C for capacitor) model will allow saving the recorded video; counted in seconds instead of minutes like the battery types. As you pointed out, all of these, and the many, many models that do not have internal batteries nor capacitors require a power cord. Again, sorry for any confusion, my even mentioning of a 'wish list' of features would be a different type of capacitor that would allow the dash-cam to run, record and store all using the super capacitor (to my knowledge, this does not exist -yet-).
This discussion has been really helpful for me, as it afforded me the opportunity to refresh on the latest devices and technology in general. Here's a really good review (if you haven't already seen it) of your excellent dash-cam and the model with the capacitor: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yqEmqkg-veI

search

Mikey1st
6
Feb 22, 2017
ConsumerAdvocateI have a Navman mivue 630 as well as a cheap random Chinese $30 dashcam off eBay. both of these will save the file in an instant loss of power situation, so given my garbage cheap one will do it im a bit confused about the dash cams you have been buying
notalek
92
Apr 24, 2017
ConsumerAdvocateYou don't know what you're talking about. Please stop spreading false and misleading information.
notalekI didn't know personal attacks were permitted in these discussion groups, I've never seen anyone so blatantly offensive. This is a community. If you have something to contribute to this discussion about this product please post it, do not attack members. If you have a specific intelligent question or comment, I encourage you to post it; otherwise raise your hand then place it over your mouth. ;-)
notalek
92
Apr 24, 2017
ConsumerAdvocatePersonal attack? No attack and nothing against you. It's just the things you are saying are untrue and it's clear you misunderstand much of what you're trying to explain.
notalekAh, I think I better understand you now.
Please let me know what exactly you disagree with.
If you read all my statements, I hope you will find that I am merely encouraging/hoping that in the future a radar detector will work without constant plug-in and with something else like maybe capacitors that will some day exist. I believe they exist now.
If you are a technical expert on these issues, I would appreciate communicating with you outside of these forums.
Thank you sir!
Sincerely, and very respectfully.