car/dash video camera

Tony Colhoun · Postby **Tony Colhoun** » Sat Dec 15, 2012 5:50 pm

Looking to purchase a quality 1080 Full HD dash cam. Want one to record the more interesting runs and for insurance back-up. Not interested in GoPro or Contour. What are people using in their MX5s apart from these two :?:

Lokiel · Postby **Lokiel** » Sat Dec 15, 2012 6:27 pm

"Not interested in GoPro or Contour." ???

You've just eliminated the top 2 camera choices preferred by most users. There's a reason why these cameras are so popular so what's your beef with them?

Check this thread out too: http://mx5cartalk.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=19&t=53529&hilit=real+world+opinions

Locutus · Postby **Locutus** » Sat Dec 15, 2012 9:42 pm

i'm interested as well. not sure about the contour, but i own a gopro and it is not suitable for a semi-permanently mounted dash cam. you want something that will auto start/sleep for every trip without requiring you to press any buttons, and optionally auto start/sleep based on movement while the car is parked to catch those pesky braille parkers.

there are a few options on ebay...

Magpie · Postby **Magpie** » Sat Dec 15, 2012 10:09 pm

You could consider a VBOX Lite. It will allow 2 cameras as well as log GPS etc. Plus it can be set to record only when you are moving etc. 1 hour per 2 GB on high quality. It can take a 32 GB card plus if the cable is purchased a USB stick. Does this fit the bill?

de Bounce · Postby **de Bounce** » Sun Dec 16, 2012 7:13 am

Do a search on ebay for "carcam hdmi"
Cheap with a good suction base and reasonable quality video.
Make sure you get to 1080P version with the HDMI connection, .

Couple of the guy's in Melbourne are using them.

Tony Colhoun · Postby **Tony Colhoun** » Sun Dec 16, 2012 6:36 pm

Lokiel wrote:"Not interested in GoPro or Contour." ???

You've just eliminated the top 2 camera choices preferred by most users. There's a reason why these cameras are so popular so what's your beef with them?

Check this thread out too: http://mx5cartalk.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=19&t=53529&hilit=real+world+opinions

These cameras are fantastic however they are primarily action cameras and not dedicated "in car" units. In the past, the GoPro cameras have been great multi-purpose cameras but not great dedicated dash cams for the following reasons:

1) No loop recording
2) Poor night video quality
3) Comparatively expensive
4) No auto start / auto off
5) the latest Gopro is a little larger than current dash cams so less discrete
6) No G-sensor for impact recording
7) No GPS

Latest alternatives GoPro or Contour:

Vico TF2, apparently this and the V747W are being regarded highly in Taiwan, both have very good night time recording.
http://www.vicovation.com/product.asp?IDno=9
http://www.flexmedia.com.tw/index.php/en/v747w

URIVE MD-8000P 8GB Full HD 2 CH
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P6VpOfzzRSA
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u1K1iUFM-OA

Navman MiVue range
http://www.gadgetguy.com.au/navman-watc ... hing-in-hd

GS5000 1080P Full HD Car Video Recorder
http://www.carcameradvr.com/gs5000-1080 ... -p-89.html

Tony Colhoun · Postby **Tony Colhoun** » Sun Dec 16, 2012 8:23 pm

HD GPS GS1000 Car DVR Camera Orange

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=69YPqUZoDUA

tony1952 · Postby **tony1952** » Tue Dec 18, 2012 2:18 pm

Surely someone has some experience with one of the cameras above or is GoPro and Contour cameras the only ones Mx5 owners will consider? Perhaps this is not the best forum to ask. http://dashcamtalk.com seems to be more dedicated this topic.

Lokiel · Postby **Lokiel** » Tue Dec 18, 2012 2:49 pm

I think that you answered the reason yourself in an earlier post: Most MX5 owners want Action cameras for track days so the GoPro and Contour cameras are perfect, especially given how small they are and their ease-of-mounting.

Arty · Postby **Arty** » Tue Dec 18, 2012 6:14 pm

Hey Tony, everyone's has got a different opinion on quality v price.
Here's my 2 bobs worth with the Carcam K2000 and after editing - cutting - shutting plus changing the format & bitrate and shrinking for uploading I'm happy with it so I bought another for the rear

and at $90 for the pair - delivered, well I don't think you can go wrong.
"GoPro" is a no no for me. :mrgreen:

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Hot-DVR-HDMI ... 2a25a99c0a

Tony Colhoun · Postby **Tony Colhoun** » Wed Dec 19, 2012 7:10 am

Lokiel wrote:I think that you answered the reason yourself in an earlier post: Most MX5 owners want Action cameras for track days so the GoPro and Contour cameras are perfect, especially given how small they are and their ease-of-mounting.

I'm sure they are ideal for racing however not every MX5 car owner is into track events. In fact in the club I belong to they are only a relatively small percentage. Myself and a number of other club members are looking for dash cams for recording some of the more interesting runs, insurance backup and to record special non-racing rallies. Out of the group of eight interested club members, only one has said he is specifically looking at getting a camera for track events.

vrmmmpshhh · Postby **vrmmmpshhh** » Wed Dec 19, 2012 7:25 am

For track/fun runs I run a proper Sony handy cam. More expensive but the quality is superb, it has anti shake technology, awesome low light recording and you can actually see what your recording. I also have a gopro2 but the quality sucked.

Tony Colhoun · Postby **Tony Colhoun** » Wed Dec 19, 2012 8:26 am

vrmmmpshhh wrote:For track/fun runs I run a proper Sony handy cam. More expensive but the quality is superb, it has anti shake technology, awesome low light recording and you can actually see what your recording. I also have a gopro2 but the quality sucked.

I've used a full HD Sony handy cam on a couple of runs as well and I agree the quality is great however I had a mate holding it each time so mounting it was an issue. A cam dedicated specifically to the car is, IMHO, better for a whole lot of reasons already mentioned. On runs that have special interest, I would prefer to have a dash cam that records the run(or part of it) and use my Sony Cam for when I get out of the car. We're planning a run to Tas. in Feb. So I'd like a dash cam to record some of the great drives down there but obviously a dash cam wouldn't be ideal for getting video for places you stop at.

vrmmmpshhh · Postby **vrmmmpshhh** » Wed Dec 19, 2012 8:53 am

i have a rollbar mount on mine and with the antishake it takes awesome videos. the go pro also records that annoying sound every time you touch it or hit a big bump.

tony1952 · Postby **tony1952** » Wed Dec 19, 2012 9:01 am

A combination of dash cam for the drive and and a quality full HD handy cam for when you arrive, with some creative editing could make a great video to record a trip to show the folks back home. Cams like the GoPro and Contour have no doubt, pioneered the use of cams in cars with track work and action events however dash cams for every day use are beginning to flood the market and clearly there is a lot of crap out there but they are likely to become as common as the GPS for your every day driver. I don't use a GPS every day in my car however I wouldn't go on a lengthy(interstate) trip without it now. Obviously the key is to sort out the crap ones from the quality units.