Dash Cams – Page 2 – Car Repair Life

Having a dash cam is an important way to protect yourself and others. Having a camera like the Mobius dash cam recording the road ahead means you'll have solid video evidence of everything happening should anything go wrong.Comparison Table[amazon box="B00DP1WYD2,B00X528FNE,B01DLWBNY0,B01KZY0MOO" template="table"]Is a Dash Cam Necessary?If there's an accident, you'll be very happy you had a dash cam running. Your camcorder will allow the police to see what really happened rather than relying solely on eyewitness accounts if there are any. If you weren't at fault in an accident, it's important to have a recording. This could especially become important if someone tries to blame you for an accident or sue you in a civil court for something you didn't do.Another great reason to have a dash cam is the possibility of recording theft or damage to your car when you're not there. Many dash cams will come on when the car shakes or shudders, even if the car is off. They start recording in case anyone tries to break in or someone has hit your car while it's parked.What a Good Dash Cam Can DoThe best dash cams can not only record while you're driving, but also record when the car is parked if a jolt activates the sensor. They also can automatically record over old footage if there's no call for it after a while. A good dash cam will automatically protect footage from moments it senses could be dangerous, when an accident or other incident activates the camera's G-force sensors.A good dash cam can also record good footage at night and are compact (some states have some strict rules about how big things can be if they're on your windshield.) Some cams also have optional extras like battery backups, lane departure warnings and a choice of video qualities to record in.What Is a Mobius Dash Cam?The Mobius dash cam is made by a Chinese company and has been on the market for some years. It has become one of the top choices for dash cameras in America and delivers reasonably good service for minimal cost.Product Specs The Mobius dash cam features three recording modes at 1080p or 720p, in either 30 frames per second for the 1080p or both 60 frames per second or 30 frames per second for the 720p. You can easily set recording cycle times to five minutes, 10 minutes or 15 minutes. Once the time is up, the camera will record over that bit of video unless you protect it by pressing the loop record button.You can use the action camera to capture individual still photos at the following frames of the following resolutions of 2048×1536, 1920×1080 or 1280×720. The angle of the lens is excellent, incorporating a wide field of vision, allowing the cam to capture everything on the road ahead. The wide dynamic range feature allows for good pictures and video even in low light conditions and after dark. The Mobius dash cam also records audio.You can choose either an 820mAH battery or a 520mAH battery, depending on what you want to pay. The camera also features voltage protection and a reinforced lens module to protect it in rough and tumble situations.How It ComparesThe Mobius dash cam is one of several reasonably priced, popular dash cams that give good service without a huge price tag. If that's the kind of dash cam you're looking for, you can't go wrong with one of these cams. In addition to the Mobius, we also reviewed these similar products:Rexing V1 Car Dash CamOld Shark Dash CamPruveeo MX2 Dash CamMobius Action Camera 1080P HD Mini Sports Cam[amazon box="B00DP1WYD2"]This is a mid-range camera. You can buy a cheaper one, but you won't get the same reliability and features. You can get more expensive, but you may not need all the features the more expensive offerings have.Video QualityThe video quality is one of the best features of this small camera. For such a tiny cam, the Mobius dash cam delivers excellent, true high definition video quality in daylight and some of the best low-light night recording you can find for anything like this price.Audio QualityThe audio on this camera is excellent but you may not care about this feature much, especially if you live in a state where it's illegal to use your dash cam footage if audio is recorded (unless everyone being recorded is aware of the recording before it begins — tricky when someone breaks in to steal your car!) It is unclear whether there is a way to turn off the audio feature for those living in states with these rules, and since the Mobius dash cam doesn't come with a user manual, you're largely on your own with this.Battery Life This camera has decent battery life, especially for its class. Fortunately, you won't often need the camera if you've got it connected to your car's electrical system.Ease of Installation This camera is a real DIY product. There are very few instructions to help you figure it out. The buttons can be figured out with trial and error, but it will take a while to get there.ProsGreat video, especially for the priceAffordableGood audioWide angle viewLens cap is useful at timesLots of options once you figure out the buttonsConsNo image stabilizationNo user manualCannot record in direct sunlightNot durable in warm climatesRexing V1 Car Dash Cam[amazon box="B00X528FNE"]This is one of the more expensive cams, but it comes with a variety of features to take the sting out of its cost. This camera uses a completely different, and very discreet, design that many drivers love. It has an ultra wide-angle lens, loop recording and it features auto-detection of accidents. When the G-force sensor is activated, the video will lock and cannot be recorded. The camera also works well even in temperatures.This one is pricey, but it is largely considered worth the extra cost to get some of its wonderful featuresVideo QualityExpect crystal-clear video at 1080p with true HD recording. Night time video is less reliable, though, and considering the higher price tag with this camera, that's a disappointment.Audio QualityThe audio quality is decent, but nothing spectacular.Battery Life Battery life is one area where this product shines. The battery backup lasts long enough to reliably work when needed.Ease of Installation This is one of the easiest cameras to install. Instructions are clear and it's easy to figure out what the buttons are for or change features as needed. It is also small and easily blends in behind a rear-view mirror.ProsExcellent resolutionGood performance in extreme temperaturesEasy to install and useSmallAuto recording and video protectionAdjustable viewing angleConsScreen can be hard to see at the wrong angleNight recording is sub-standardNo WiFiMany users report unreliable recording after a few months of useOld Shark Dash Cam[amazon box="B01DLWBNY0"]Old Shark is one of the classic names in dash/action cameras,. It offers extremely wide-angle pictures with great video quality, automatic G-force sensor protection, image stabilization features for rough roads, and a 45-day, no-questions-asked, money-back guarantee on top of the 12-month warranty. The camera is designed to withstand temperatures as low as -15 and as high as 160.This camera is a great price for the features it offers, which is one reason it's one of the most popular dash cam choices out there.Video QualityExpect crystal-clear video at 1080p with true HD recording. Night time video is less reliable, though, and considering the higher price tag with this camera, that's a disappointment.Audio QualityNot only is it possible to capture great audio with this camera, but it's also possible to turn off audio recording with an intuitive touch of a button. For those who don't want their in-vehicle conversations recorded, or who live in states where audio dash cam recordings are illegal, this is a great option.Battery Life The battery on this camera is nothing special. Expect it to run out of power quickly with continuous use once it's been disconnected from a power source. Most of the time that won't be a problem, but it could be an issue if you park your car for a while and want to keep it protected, such as in an airport parking lot.Ease of Installation Depending on the laws of your state, you may find this camera tricky to install and may even have to get a special kit to do it effectively. It also can take work to get the cord to the cigarette lighter or other power socket.ProsGood video qualityDurable, especially for the priceGood, clear screenEasy to understand and useGood audio that's be easily muted if necessaryConsNight vision is only OKCan be tricky to installPulsing red and blue lights on camera can distract some driversPruveeo MX2 Dash Cam[amazon box="B01KZY0MOO"]The Pruveeo dash cam features a 320-degree rotating lens that takes the concept of wide angle to a whole new level. This is one of the most discreet cameras you can buy. Once installed, it really can't be seen from outside the car. The camera features interval recording so that old files are automatically overwritten if you don't need them. This is also the only camera we reviewed that offers you the ability to record video inside the car as well as outside.This is the cheapest model we reviewed. It lacks some of the features of the other models, but that's to be expected at budget pricing.Video QualityYou can't get recording better than 720p with this camera, which means you won't be able to read the license plate of a car in front of you even if you're still when the video is being taken. The night recording is mostly useless. The recording inside the car is only at 480p.Audio QualityThe audio available on this camera is poor and there's no way to adjust it.Battery Life The battery life is decent, especially considering the price. This isn't an expensive camera, but expect the battery to provide reasonably good service even after the car is turned off.Ease of Installation The camera itself is pretty intuitive both to install and use. The SD card can be tricky to place.ProsBudget pricingLow profileAbility to record within the vehicleReasonably good battery lifeConsAudio is not goodSD card difficult to placeRed and blue flashing lights can distract for some driversConclusionAll these dash cameras are popular and all can be expected to work reasonably well. There are some special features with the Rexing V1 that command a higher price, but in the end, we just didn't think it was worth it. The Pruveeo is priced well, but it's just not quite reliable enough nor does it have good video quality.The two best options are the Old Shark and the Mobius dash cam. You can't go wrong with either one. But, for our money, Old Shark is the winner. Future models may change things, but for now, Old Shark is easier to install, more reliable in the long run and comes with a better warranty and guarantee than the Mobius.