Best interior car cameras for surveillance?

[EB166]

Looking for cameras to put inside my car so that I can hold a party responsible if they hit/damage my car while it's parked. Let me know if you guys have any experience with this

[damageprone]

Are you referring to a dashcam? There are quite a few on the market but in my opinion, the best on the market are the Korean made ones (Blackvue, Thinkware, Lukas). They're pretty pricey, but the quality is up there.

[pokerface]

I’m using a two channel Thinkware. The Electronics subforum has some discussions on hardwiring.

[damageprone]

I forgot to mention I'm running a Blackvue DR650S-2CH. I like it, although it looks bulky, it hides behind the mirror well so I don't even see it. There is a newer version out, but I don't think it's any smaller.

If you go the hardwire route, there are many threads showing you which fuses to tap into. I don't remember which ones I did (160? 159? don't quote me on that), you will get a battery drain message. You may want to invest in a cellink B (or the newer egen neo) to protect your very expensive battery. I'm still stubborn and running without one. I have the camera running into a battery cutoff multi-safer device.

[nickl630]

Blackvue.

[hilld]

Waylens 360

[NPuter]

+1 on Blackvue. I have a DR500 and DR650-2CH in other cars.

I decided to try the Thinkware F770 when I got my F80, but I really didn't like it. I just swapped it out with a Blackvue DR750-2CH, and the Blackvue is miles better.

[damageprone]

Originally Posted by NPuter

+1 on Blackvue. I have a DR500 and DR650-2CH in other cars.

I decided to try the Thinkware F770 when I got my F80, but I really didn't like it. I just swapped it out with a Blackvue DR750-2CH, and the Blackvue is miles better.

Thanks for the reassurance on the Thinkware. I've been contemplating that one for awhile. It I couldn't pull the trigger because it just looked too bulky.

[NPuter]

Originally Posted by damageprone

Thanks for the reassurance on the Thinkware. I've been contemplating that one for awhile. It I couldn't pull the trigger because it just looked too bulky.

To be clear, I did not like the Thinkware F770.

Blackvue really is much better, and I really like the DR750 I just got.

Alo, FYI Massdrop.com frequently has group buy deals and blackvue cams.

[damageprone]

Originally Posted by NPuter

To be clear, I did not like the Thinkware F770.

Blackvue really is much better, and I really like the DR750 I just got.

Alo, FYI Massdrop.com frequently has group buy deals and blackvue cams.

Yes I gathered that. I’m glad I went with the blackvue as I was choosing between the two is what I meant.

[Alan l.]

Originally Posted by NPuter

+1 on Blackvue. I have a DR500 and DR650-2CH in other cars.

I decided to try the Thinkware F770 when I got my F80, but I really didn't like it. I just swapped it out with a Blackvue DR750-2CH, and the Blackvue is miles better.

Curious to know what didn't you like about the F770 and how is the blackvue better?

I have the F770 with the celllink battery B so that it records even while the car is parked. Seems to work great for me but curious to know if there are better options out there.

Alan

[NPuter]

Originally Posted by Alan l.

Curious to know what didn't you like about the F770 and how is the blackvue better?

I have the F770 with the celllink battery B so that it records even while the car is parked. Seems to work great for me but curious to know if there are better options out there.

Alan

Extensive list, mainly related to how limited the settings/configuration is on the Thinkware:

-Can't change recording resolution/fps on Thinkware (I don't need the rear cam recording in FHD taking up tons of storage)

-Can't configure what alerts are spoken over the speaker, you can only adjust the volume of the speaker and some alerts are spoken no matter what. i.e. the intermittent "format SD card for data integrity" promts which are maddening. On the blackvue, you can specifically select which alerts are spoken and which are silent. This is the biggest factor for me - I want my dash cam silent unless I specific interact with it.

-Can't disable the rear cam recording LED.

-Thinkware records audio in an unusual formant that many players do not support. Blackvue files are much more universal.

-Blackvue app/video player is MUCH better. Also, the Android Pie release made the Thinkware app completely non functional. Support said a fix won't come before the last week of October (Pie was released over 2 months ago and has been in beta for many more).

-Also, the Blackvue app gives you the option to watch low quality previews of recordings which is much quicker when trying to find a specific recording you're looking for. This is a GREAT feature.

-Thinkware stops recoding when wifi/app is being used. Not a big deal, but the Blackvue continues recording (probably means it's more powerful).

-Blackvue has a proximity sensor for manual recording whereas the Thinkware has a button that's placed with it's other buttons. Much easier waving my hand at the Blackvue to trigger manual recording than trying to find the button on the Thinkware.

-I generally like the form factor of the Blackvue better.

The DR750 is really much, much better than the F770. I think the only thing Thinkware has over it is built in hardwiring/battery drain protection, but I didn't use that.

Overall, I get a lot of these things are pretty trivial, but they all add up making the Blackvue the clear choice IMO.