What Features Should You Look for in a Dash Cam?

There is no denying that a dash cam is a smart investment in your protection. Whether you are a casual driver, use your car for your daily commute, or use your vehicle professionally in some capacity including ride share services, a dash cam gives you a perfect witness for any incidents both in and out of your vehicle. There are a lot of different cameras available and with them, options for various features that can be very important for your usage. Let’s go through some of the features you should look for in a dash cam to help you make the right decision when it comes time to buy.

AutoGuide.com thanks Vantrue for sponsoring this Dash Cam Buyer’s Guide Series

Talking About Resolution

Remember the first cellular phones to have a digital camera built in? Do you still have any of the photos from that time? How much detail can you make out? We’re betting not much. Digital cameras have come a long way when it comes to resolution and clarity. It wasn’t that long ago that higher resolutions like 1080p HD, or even 4K were so expensive in any form of camera that they weren’t practical for something like a dash cam. That is not that case anymore. Now the majority of dash cams are able to record in some form of high definition, and that is the first thing you should consider when buying one.

Why HD? That is a simple question to answer. You want the best clarity you can get because it makes identification much easier. If there are any letters or numbers in the video that need to be read, high-def makes it easier to read them. Faces are clearer and just details stand out better. And as we all know, it is all about the details. Higher definition cameras also do a MUCH better job with low-light conditions, where video can get grainy quickly. We whole-heartedly recommend getting the highest definition camera for your budget. And you likely won’t have to spend nearly as much as you might think for a high definition camera either.

Recording Platforms

There are three basic recording platforms for dash cameras these days, Each has aspects that make them appealing, so you have to decide upon which one works best for you.

1. Memory Cards

Like most digital cameras, dash cams often have, at minimum, some form of memory card to store recordings on. There used to be a lot of different types of memory cards, but the SD platform has basically won that battle, with most cameras recording on SD or MicroSD cards. MicroSD has certain benefits in that the latest versions are designed to hold a lot of recordings, and are specially formatted to record in high definition. The MicroSD cards are also quite economical these days, and the cameras that use them for their sole memory storage platform are often the least expensive version of dash cams.

The biggest downside to SD and MicroSD is that you only have so much memory space, and once you hit it, you aren’t recording anything anymore. Of course, it is easy to carry spare cards and swapping in a new one is often pretty easy to do. Another downside, and one we hope you never deal with is theft. If someone grabs your dash cam and runs away, you’ve lost your recordings.

2. WiFi/Phone Connection

Other cameras connect to your cell phone either by Bluetooth or from some form of WiFi connection. These cameras often have a MicroSD card for storage, but also send the files to your phone, allowing you to keep them intact. These types of cameras are often loaded with other features that make them appealing, and with most of us very attached to our phones these days, this makes for a very handy and logical platform for storing the recorded data from the camera.

The downside to a WiFi camera is that it relies on your phone. You would need to set everything up to have a path to store the videos on your phone. If it is just adding them to your phone's memory, it can quickly eat up available space. Plus, if something happens to your phone, like the battery dies, or you drop it, you’re not going to have anything recorded, at least nothing that is easily accessible.

3. Cloud Memory

Cloud-based storage for your dash cam gives you virtually unlimited amounts of space for stored video footage. These cameras work with a separate cellular-based transmitter that automatically uploads all video footage and information directly to your cloud server. The big benefit here is that you have all of your videos that you can access anywhere you can access your cloud. Plus you control what you do with the video, so if you need to text it to a coworker, friend, or police officer, it’s pretty easy to do.

Cloud cameras do have some extra things to consider. You will need to get a sim card from your cell phone provider and add the camera transmitter to your cellular plan. Plus, if you're in an area with no cellular reception, well, you get the idea.

Direction

Another feature you have to choose from in selecting a dash cam is camera direction. Some cameras only point outward from your car, recording only what happens in front of your vehicle. We recommend you get a dual camera dash cam that records in both directions. This covers you from outside the car, and inside the car. This is very important for rideshare drivers as a form of personal protection.

We are quite fond of a camera like the Vantrue Nexus 5. This camera gives you views from the front and rear outside of the car, as well as inside, covering both the front and back seat. It is WiFi enabled, has a MicroSD card and comes with a wireless remote control with positional cameras. It even has voice command capability to let you have hands-free control.

The Bottom Line

Pick the dash cam that gives you the best options for your budget. Be sure to have one that you can use and make sure you get to know it and have it all set up before you use it. We have enough things vying for attention when we’re driving. Trying to fiddle with a dash cam while behind the wheel shouldn’t be one of them.