In recent years, dash cams have undergone significant advancements, offering enhanced features to improve road safety and driving convenience. While many dash cams now provide excellent 4K UHD video quality, the demand for even higher-resolution footage, better performance, and sleeker designs is on the rise. As the dash cam market becomes increasingly competitive, the question arises: Can established brands like Thinkware, BlackVue, Aoedi, and Nextbase maintain their dominance, or will emerging brands introduce groundbreaking features? We recently engaged in a discussion with Vortex Radar to explore some of the latest dash cam features that might revolutionize the dash cam landscape in 2023.
Telephoto Lenses
A prominent issue in the dash cam community revolves around the capability of dash cams to capture license plate details. In the summer of 2022, Linus Tech Tip posted a video expressing concerns about the low-quality video provided by many dash cams. This video garnered over 6 million views and sparked discussions across platforms like YouTube, Reddit, and DashCamTalk forums.
It’s widely acknowledged that most dash cams on the market have room for improvement when it comes to capturing fine details and freeze frames. Due to their wide-angle lenses, dash cams aren’t primarily designed for capturing small details such as faces or license plates. To capture such minute details effectively, you would typically require a camera with a narrow field of view, a longer focal length, and higher magnification, allowing you to capture license plates on nearby or distant vehicles.
The advancement of modern dash cams has enabled seamless integration with cloud technology and IOAT, allowing automatic transfer and storage of video files in a centralized cloud storage space. However, it’s important to note that this automatic video backup to the Cloud typically applies only to incident footage. Regular driving footage remains on the microSD card until you decide to transfer it to your mobile device via the smartphone app or to your computer by physically inserting the microSD card.
But what if there were a way to automatically offload all the footage clips from your microSD card to your mobile device or, even better, a dedicated hard drive? Vortex Radar utilizes a specialized Windows software that swiftly transfers all his dash cam footage to his computer as soon as he arrives home. For those up for a challenge, using a Synology NAS with a shell script can accomplish this task. While this approach might be considered somewhat excessive for individual dash cam owners, it presents a practical and cost-effective solution for fleet owners who oversee a larger fleet of vehicles.
Given the increasing demand for clear recordings of intricate details, some manufacturers have introduced telephoto lenses, enabling users to zoom in on small details. One example is Aoedi with their Ultra Dash ad716. However, while the concept is promising, it often falls short in real-world applications. Telephoto lenses can suffer from image distortion, chromatic aberrations, and other optical imperfections, resulting in diminished overall image quality. Achieving optimal results often requires additional adjustments to exposure, shutter speed, and other hardware and software optimizations.
Automated Video Backup
AI-powered dash cams have certainly come a long way in improving road safety and providing valuable features for drivers. Features like license plate recognition, driver assistance, and real-time video analysis can significantly enhance the utility of these devices. Additionally, the development of advanced capabilities like AI Damage Detection and Temperature Monitoring in dash cams like the Aoedi AD363 demonstrates how AI is being applied to improve vehicle security and monitoring, especially in parking mode. As AI technology continues to advance, we can expect even more innovative features and improved performance from AI-powered dash cams in the futur
Dash cam Alternatives: GoPro and Smartphone
The emergence of features like auto start/stop recording, motion detection parking recording, and GPS tagging in GoPro Labs has opened up new possibilities for using GoPro cameras as dash cam alternatives. Similarly, repurposing old smartphones with dash cam apps has also provided an alternative to traditional dash cams. While it may not be an immediate replacement, these developments show that GoPros and smartphones have the potential to become viable options for dash cam functionality. As technology continues to advance, it’s possible that these alternatives could become more commonplace in the future.
High-Capacity, Multichannel TeslaCam
Installing a two or three-channel dash cam may seem redundant when a Tesla already comes with eight built-in cameras for its Sentry mode. While Tesla’s Sentry mode offers more camera coverage, there are limitations to consider. The video resolution of TeslaCam is limited to HD, which is lower than most dedicated dash cams. This lower resolution can make it difficult to read license plates, particularly when the vehicle is more than 8 feet away. However, TeslaCam has an impressive storage capacity, allowing for ample footage storage, especially when connected to a 2TB hard drive. This storage capacity sets an example for future high-capacity dash cams, and manufacturers like FineVu are already incorporating innovative features to maximize storage efficiency, such as Smart Time Lapse Recording. So, while TeslaCam offers extensive camera coverage, traditional dash cams still have advantages like higher video resolution and the potential for enhanced storage features.
Build-Your-Own Systems with Multi-channel Cameras
For drivers of rideshare services like Uber and Lyft, having comprehensive camera coverage is crucial. While conventional two-channel dash cams are helpful, they may not capture all the essential details. A 3-channel dash cam is a wise investment for these drivers.
There are various 3-channel systems available, including those with fixed, detached, or fully rotatable interior cameras. Some models like the Aoedi AD890 feature a rotatable interior camera, allowing it to quickly adjust to record interactions with passengers, law enforcement, or anyone approaching the vehicle. The Blueskysea B2W has both front and interior cameras that can be horizontally rotated up to 110° to capture events near the driver’s window.
For 360° coverage with no blind spots, the 70mai Omni uses a front camera with motion and AI tracking. However, this model is still in the pre-order stage, and it remains to be seen how it prioritizes simultaneous events. The Carmate Razo DC4000RA offers a more straightforward solution with three fixed cameras providing full 360° coverage.
Some drivers may choose to create a multi-camera setup similar to TeslaCam. Brands like Thinkware and Garmin offer options for building a multi-channel system. Thinkware’s Multiplexer can turn the F200PRO into a 5-channel system by adding rear, interior, exterior rear, and exterior side cameras, though it supports 1080p Full HD recording. Garmin allows for the use of up to four standalone dash cams simultaneously, supporting various configurations of single or dual-channel cams recording in 2K or Full HD. However, managing multiple cameras may involve handling several microSD cards and cable sets.
To handle the flexibility and power requirements of such a comprehensive setup, dedicated dash cam battery packs like the BlackboxMyCar PowerCell 8 and Cellink NEO Extended Battery Packs can be used, ensuring adequate storage and power for all cameras.
Post time: Oct-30-2023