Braking Bad & Dash Cameras

Researching dash cameras, primarily in response to another driver brake checking ahead of me last Friday evening during stop-and-go rush-hour traffic.

So. Dash cameras.

http://dashcamtalk.com/dash-cam-comparison/
http://www.carcamcentral.com/reviews/dash-car-camera-guide-buyers
http://thewirecutter.com/reviews/best-dash-cam/

Previously (this was before we purchased our new-to-us car)

THOUGHTS

• Infrared LEDs = gimmick (maybe not for internal cabin monitoring or for nighttime security)
• Motion detection: handy, since I park on the street
• Cameras work best within the windshield wiper sweep area
• GPS not a critical feature, for me
• Battery discharge prevention device: "Overall, they are a reasonable device to consider but not 100% necessary depending on your driving behavior and battery condition." (via)
• Footage of rear-end not a major benefit:
• Typically, not culpable
• If driver flees, let police worry about offender
• Use dashcam to prove innocence for front-end collisions
• Estore009 represents a historically-good vendor
• TheWireCutter recommends, as of this post, model  DVR207GS
• Pros: $66; HD; mini-screen; G-sensor: "slightest jostling of the car would set it to record until stillness returned for a few minutes" (via)
• Cons: Color occasionally overexposed and blown out while driving at dusk (via)
• DashCamTalk, recommends, as of this post, model G1W as a successor to the DVR 207 GS
• Pros: $52; HD; mini-screen; G-sensor; "When comparing to our previous best buy camera in this price range, the DVR-027, the G1W video quality is vastly superior." (via)
• Cons: Not all black; loose mini USB plug; light-weight build quality; some wavy noise in the background (via)
• CarCamCentral recommends, as of this post, model K6000 ($38), or, for a bit more, GS1000 ($120)

 Leaning toward the G1W, currently.

INSTALLATION

• Prius technical manual (PDF) of wiring to/from front center mirror
• Front: "The heavy slope on the front windshield gives a very strong reflection in nighttime video. I think maybe I should have mounted it at the bottom of the windshield instead, although hiding the wires would have been much harder." (via)
• Rear: "...my camera location, on that vertical glass, is not so good." (via)
• Head rest...via bungee cord (??? : o \) (via)
• "A screen is not necessary..." (via)
• Itronics ITB-100HD install (via)
• "For my dashcam I took power from the mirror (I have the auto-dimming one with garage opener). It's powered on in READY. There is a wire in the same bunch that is hot all the time." (via)
• Another install of a Itronics ITB-100HD, with pics (via)
• Regarding mounts behind the rear-view mirror: "It is also quite difficult to use the camera if you have to change settings etc. " (via)
• Might want to use a sun shade...which would bump the camera (?)
• Seems like a number of favorite mounting positions for the front windshield (via)
• Rear windshield (via)
• Mounting locations
• After a review, I am still undecided...behind the front RVW can look OK, but it can also look conspicuous
• Front
• Dash
• Behind rear-view mirror mount
• Sides of windshield
• Headrest
• Headliner
• Rear
• Top of rear windshield
• Bottom of rear windshield
• Sides of rear windshielf 
• Headrest
• Headliner