Dash Cam Reviewers

[mollydog]

I was thinking of putting my name forward,

 

[CheckYourLights]

I'd put one in for JazJon. I understand where jokiin is coming from.
JazJon has done some great work with the WF1 in both review and help getting issues ironed out and even visiting and talking with Vico at CES

 

[Samson]

So if a vendor is interested he can contact me via PM .

Currently in use: 2 x Finevu CR500 and a type of a i1000/F70 dual channel (only used the main cam as a rear cam).
I dont use a smartphone so I cant test any equipment with WiFi. And I dont intend to switch to a smartphone in near future , I love my old Nokia cell phone.

Regards

how old is that nokia.

 

[FSC830]

Not as old as it seems, it is a c5-00 with a 5mp cam (successor of the version with 3.2mp cams), but I love it because it is so small and not a brick . I am using it mostly for phone calls (> 95%), for receiving some monitoring SMS and as alarm clock.
I got it about 2 years ago. Sometimes (very few) I used the GPS as backup navigation. But I do not use it for internet access, the display is much to small. Anyhow I am not using internet when travelling, except when staying in a hotel or cottage during vacation. I do not need to be online 24/7 .

Regards

 

[sludgeguts]

When reviewing a cam, could the 'more tech savvy' reviewers maybe try to (initially) look at the cam from a numpty point of view?
As an old codger, I have come late to the world of tech. As a bloke, I don't do manuals.
For me, a camera should/needs to be plug, play, work.
Pull the card, plug into my computer, view file.

I'd also like to put myself forward - not for initial reviews (although I'd be happy to give an opinion from a numpty point of view :-D) but for giving the cam a thorough test.
I drive a bus all day long over some very rough roads so not only will the cam be running for 8 hours (2 x 4hour(approx) shifts), it'll also be subjected to some rigorous situations.

 

[kamkar]

When everything else fail,,,,,, read the manual

I am so there M8

 

[jginnane_]

Dashcamtalk is occasionally offered cameras for review.

1. Interested in the chance to contribute to the group's knowledge.

2. I no longer beta-test software -- at least, knowingly. (We're all beta testers, especially for Microsoft.) My work is essentially PC- and network focused. I was once a proponent of Olaf Soderblum's work on IBM Token Ring network topology, later subsumed by APPC and Logical Unit 6.2 layer formulations. (If anyone has any idea of WTF I just said, please explain for the rest of us. ) [Token Ring, as we all know, is as obsolete today as Arcnet or US Robotics HST modems.]

3. My dashcam biases have been documented in my comments published in this forum. I own the two "best" dashcams and a last-generation pair of GoPro Hero2's. Still looking for one more for one of our cars, plus I'd like to retire the GoPros when something better for car use comes along. So, IOW, I really want 3 cameras.

4. I'm also keen on multiple camera installations to get full 360-degree tracking (at least in parking mode).

5. Where I drive: New Jersey and New York City. All 3 cars have radar detectors: a Valentine One, a Beltronics RX65, and an Escort Redline. Two have built-in GPS and the 3rd has a TomTom.

6. Had two traffic incidents last year -- July 3rd, my Mazda CX5 was hit in the side, and November 6, our VW Sportwagen was rear-ended on the Garden State Parkway. Both were fenderbenders, but pointed to my need for more than just a front-facing dashcam unit. In NYC we've gotten lots of dings from parking, so we're extremely sensitive to the need for monitoring our cars when we're away.

7. Because any review would be versus a Panorama II, a Gx1, and GoPro, perhaps many vendors might not want to face such stiff competition. Alternately, I don't really want to look at models already reviewed here that are in the "me-too!" category. I'm really looking for something innovative, something that "breaks the mold", something I'd be happy to purchase.

 

[jokiin]

Hello,

We are an authorized reseller of Thinkware (iNavi - Made in Korea) dashcam in US. If you are interested in reviewing FXD-700 , please send me a message.

Thank you for your time!

Best bet would be send a sample to @Mtz or @niko (or both) for review, you can see from their existing reviews what's involved

 

[CYANICS]

@jokiin

Thank you for your assistance.

 

[jginnane]

@jokiin.

Hello Cyanics,

Thank you for offering an opportunity to review your FXD700. I have looked at the available reviews and downloaded your English-language manual. The FXD700 is a product with unique features, like a second channel and full GPS.

However, my interest in second channel operation requires HD mode, not 640x480 maximum. The lower resolution would not enable the camera to record details I feel necessary for unattended parking mode.

As far as the GPS, it is attractive all by itself. But essentially all of my driving is on familiar roadways. I do not need GPS for the camera function. However, I have GPS available in the car already via built-in nav, or a TomTom, or on one of our radar detectors (Escort Redline), or even via smartphone. It would be great if your enabled GPS could be linked to an Android app for my Nexus 7 tablet, Nexus 5 smartphone, or Moto G smartphone. Perhaps this will be available on a future product?

When you subtract these unique features, the FXD700 does not offer a compelling reason to change from my Panorama II or GW1. Any review I could write would not reflect the positioning you hope to establish in the US market. This is a great camera with 2013 technology, and the newer FXD900 with 720p for the back camera promises to be even better.

John Ginnane

 

[jokiin]

The GPS is tracking, not mapping

 

[jginnane_]

The GPS is tracking, not mapping

Hi Jokkin,

Perhaps I am misunderstanding this. The FXD700 does not have its own display. For real-time viewing in the car you can attach an external display device, like a tablet -- it's not clear exactly how. Or you can move the saved videos on the microSD card physically to a PC and run the PC Viewer program from the manufacturer. Then the GPS mapping function is enabled in a window, provided you have Internet access.

My understanding is that tracking simply records the GPS location. If you have a fleet of trucks, you want to see how long they spent in the overnight truck stop, or where one got hijacked (for example). However, in the context of normal dashcam use, a mapping program has to be provided to make the record useful.

Am I missing an important distinction? The governor of my state, New Jersey, was involved in a recent political scandal, and the latest story breaking today is that he flew his helicopter over the George Washington bridge to view the traffic debacle that his people deliberately caused. If this is proven, (and it would be provable via GPS tracking), he may not be in office long!

 

[jokiin]

The map data is pulled off the internet and is synced to the logged data to give a visual representation to go with the video

 

[Swordfish]

I'm throwing my hat in the ring. I'm using a Lukas LK-7900 (check my review here) in front and a Mobius at the back. If given a choice, I'd like to be able to review higher-end cameras, preferably with GPS. I'm thinking of buying an Eeyelog E750 for my third dashboard camera once it becomes available.

 

[chriscarcam]

I've tested over three dozen cams just in the last year, some good, some not so good, would be happy to write experienced review for any cam, as well as submit my cam to other's for HONEST review, I'm Chris from chriscarcam, and I stand behind any product I sell ! I feel it would be allright for anyone to post a review, and expected, as long as it was revealed to the reader that that reviewer is a retailer or manufacturer or developer of cam's and may have some bias. I would want unbiased reviews from people like jokinn, but they have to be un-biased and objective!! There should be a format developed for criteria, for a review that's worth anything, I would be happy to work with anyone who wished to adopt this format or wish to discuss the area's that all consumer's would need to know. You can't have people writing reviews like, "nice picture, really nice, I like it". We need to have a rating on all aspects, like, ease of use....picture quality.....degree lens....recording time..... and so on, things people would want to know! I'm all for educating the people that come to this site. But let's do it right, let all member's submit a review for each of the cams they own, pro's and con's. If anybody knows the drawback's of a cam, it's someone that own's it. If you all are serious, I have ton's of idea's, but you must be serious in advancing the education of the consumer in a fair and competitive format. I have ran successful business' for over 30 years. I'm Chris, from chriscarcam.....thank you for reading!

 

[jokiin]

I don't have any bias, I'll happily recommend cheap cameras that do the job and have done many times, we need to appreciate that not everyone has a big budget, that said though even though I don't show any bias I still wouldn't review someone else's camera as being a manufacturer people would just assume there was some type of bias involved anyway, likewise I have no intention of offering a review of our own cameras either as there are people that will just feel that the review was tainted

Read the reviews here already by @niko and @Mtz and you'll see they're very thorough and just call it as they see it

 

[chriscarcam]

I don't have any bias, I'll happily recommend cheap cameras that do the job and have done many times, we need to appreciate that not everyone has a big budget, that said though even though I don't show any bias I still wouldn't review someone else's camera as being a manufacturer people would just assume there was some type of bias involved anyway, likewise I have no intention of offering a review of our own cameras either as there are people that will just feel that the review was tainted

Read the reviews here already by @niko and @Mtz and you'll see they're very thorough and just call it as they see it

That's not fair, you should most definately be able to tout your own products, with your experience, it would be silly not to submit a review of your product. This could be done on a separate page , under reviews from manufacturer's, retailer's, etc. , keep separate from actual users reviews. For you NOT to review your product would just be wrong. Again, with a specified criteria for review, anyone would be able to honestly offer their review. Let's face it, we don't want mans and dealers fighting over dis-honest reviews. Maybe some of our member's here could share some imput as to what would make the review un-biased and fair for all, let's see.......I like where this is going jokiin, the more everyone get's involved, the better for all of us!

 

[jokiin]

I'll provide information sure, I don't offer any opinions or conclusions though, I'll leave that up to end users to decide for themselves

 

[chriscarcam]

I'll provide information sure, I don't offer any opinions or conclusions though, I'll leave that up to end users to decide for themselves

Who could ask for anything more!! Excellent....You got my "like" ! Peace

 

[tomroscoe]

I've had a review of the SJ1000 dash-cam published in Film and Video Magazine.
I was impressed ... and you can read the article here:
http://www.theiac.org.uk/news/Tom-Hardwick-review.pdf