Kevin's Social Blog: 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:

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

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