“Chaotic” Car Dash Cam: Harness the Power of Safety Recordings

Choosing the right dash camera

Mr. Nguyen Minh Quan (Thai Ha – Dong Da – Hanoi), an experienced car user, shared his thoughts on the chaotic traffic situation in Vietnam. He emphasized the importance of having a dash camera installed in his car to deal with unpredictable situations on the road. The dash camera serves as his “companion,” ensuring his innocence in unexpected incidents and providing evidence for quick resolution in case of collisions.

The Vietnamese market offers a wide variety of dash cameras, ranging from cheap Chinese options to higher-end cameras from Australia, South Korea, and Taiwan. However, choosing the right dash camera can be a challenging task for beginners.

According to Mr. Nguyen Duc Phuong (Thai Thinh – Dong Da – Hanoi), an expert in dash cameras, selecting a suitable dash camera is not difficult due to the availability of options. However, finding one that suits the specific conditions of each car owner and the traffic environment in Vietnam requires some knowledge.

Mr. Phuong suggests that a car dash camera should have the following minimum functions: overwriting memory card, minimum full HD 1080p resolution, clear night vision, and the ability to view the recorded speed.

The overwriting memory card function is essential as it automatically deletes the oldest clips and overwrites them with new ones when the card is full. Without this function, the dash camera cannot continue recording once the memory card is full. Many cheap Chinese dash cameras lack this feature.

The image quality plays a crucial role in determining the price of a dash camera. The chip’s resolution determines the image quality during the day, while the light sensor type affects the image quality at night.

Action cameras like GoPro, SJCAM, and smartphones have powerful chips capable of recording videos with high resolutions. However, their light sensors are only suitable for well-lit daytime conditions, making them unsuitable as dash cameras. Dash cameras from South Korea, Australia, and Taiwan, despite having a full HD 1080p resolution, offer excellent night vision. In contrast, cheaper dash cameras under two million VND have blurry night footage.

You can compare the image quality of two different dash camera types:

The traffic environment in Vietnam and the purpose of reviewing the footage differ from other places. Vietnamese users often need GPS and the ability to view footage on the spot, including recorded speed. Therefore, three trends exist when buying a dash camera:

– Drivers using Android phones can choose compact models that allow OTG cable connection to the phone’s screen. The Mini 0805 dash camera is a mid-range option, while the Street Guardian SG9665GC is a higher-end choice. iPhone users can connect the dash camera to the car’s DVD screen using an AV cable for a larger viewing experience.

Mini 0805 discreetly installed behind the rearview mirror

– Drivers using iPhones or iPads without memory card reading capabilities should opt for dash cameras with large 2.7-inch screens that display speed clearly during footage review. The G90 dash camera and Vietmap X9 dash camera are suitable options.

– Dash cameras with Wi-Fi can connect to any type of phone. However, they have drawbacks such as overheating and lower image quality compared to Korean models without Wi-Fi. High-end Korean models allow footage viewing directly on the phone, while Chinese Wi-Fi dash cameras require downloading the footage to the phone.

Differences between mid-range (2-4 million VND) and high-end (over 5 million VND) dash cameras lie in hardware, software completeness, and durability. High-end dash cameras have a longer lifespan and produce better images. Renowned brands such as Lukas, Thinkware (South Korea), Street Guardian (Australia), and Vicovation (Taiwan) offer durable and high-quality dash cameras.

Unboxing the Australian SG9665GC dash camera by Street Guardian

New Trend: Dash Cameras With Parking Mode

In addition to basic functions such as overwriting memory cards, some dash cameras come with advanced features rarely utilized, such as ADAS (Advanced Driving Assistance System) suitable for highway driving and G-sensors for locking files during accidents.

One useful function that has recently emerged is the parking mode, which allows dash cameras to record even when the car is turned off. Initially available only in high-end Korean dash cameras, parking mode is now also found in mid-range Chinese dash cameras.

Parking mode proves beneficial in scenarios where cars are parked for an extended period. It helps record incidents such as scratches, damaged windshield wipers, or side mirrors, providing evidence to identify the culprit. Three commonly used parking modes are:

– G-sensor parking mode: The dash camera’s G-sensor detects collisions. When the car is turned off, if a collision occurs – even when opening or closing doors – the camera automatically turns on, records for a period, and then turns off. This mode does not require continuous power supply, as the camera uses battery power for short recordings after a collision.

G-sensor parking mode of G90

– Timelapse parking mode: When the car is parked for a certain period, the dash camera switches to timelapse mode. In timelapse mode, the camera records fewer frames per second to conserve memory card space. This mode allows for quick review but may lack details in individual frames for use as evidence.

Timelapse parking mode of G90

– Motion detection parking mode: The camera starts recording when it detects motion in front of the lens. Chinese dash camera models initiate recording only when there is motion, while Korean and Taiwanese models start recording a few seconds before motion occurs. Korean and Taiwanese models also continue recording for a few seconds after the motion stops. Motion detection parking mode provides continuous footage, making it easier to view and understand. In very dark conditions, motion detection ability may be reduced, and in crowded areas, the camera may remain on constantly.

Motion detection parking mode of G90

Anh Duc (Trithucthoidai)
Image Source: pkvietnam.com

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