Worth It?

[crofter]

Anyone use a windscreen mounted camera?

What are your thoughts on it,good thing or a five minute wonder?

What are the thoughts of members in general about these?

Anyone?

Del.

[MarsKy]

Got a Blackvue DR400G-HD (http://www.blackvuehd.co.uk/BlackVue_DR400G_HD_v2.php) a couple of weeks ago in a discounted Group Buy (might be still on £250 discounted to £190: http://www.disco3.co...hlight=blaCkvue)

The forum has a thread for videos from it, and you can see some scenarios where it might pay for itself should an insurance claim arise: http://www.disco3.co...hlight=blaCkvue

And so there's also a thread for Q&As: http://www.disco3.co...hlight=blaCkvue

There are optional extras, like a power controller (Battery monitor) so that it can remain on even when parked up and cuts off when the Battery voltage drops below a set level.

Comes with a very long cigar lighter power lead; but I'm going to hard wire mine with the power controller and piggyback cables once I get the courage to play about with the electrics.

I've bought a 32GB Class 10 card for longer recording and performance, but to be honest the supplied 16GB card is good enough (about 7 hrs sound & video at 1920x1280 resolution at 30 frames-per-second). I've set my unit to record in 3 minute chunks, and once the card is full, it overwrites the earliest file.

It comes with its own software to change settings and view files, but there is a better and free viewer/ video editor here: http://registratorvi...u/index_en.html

So the software will group files into journies, and you can click on a journey, and it shows up in a side window showing Google Maps or the better Open Maps (the unit has GPS). And so the journey on the map will be highlighted, and you can play the video of all the journey, or the video associated with a particular segment of the journey simply by clicking the place on the map.

The unit also has G-sensors so if there's an event like a crash, it will register and record a separate video for that event.

I'm happy with it, records well enough to read reg plates in the event of an incident, and otherwise is good for recording a video journal if you go somewhere interesting or scenic.

[Hoovie]

Is it worth it? In many ways bit like Insurance cover or extended warranty... If you have a situation where it proves you were in the right and without the camera you could not prove it, then yes.

I have a camera that records constantly when ignition is on and I have had a couple of occasions where someone could have gone into me after cutting a blind corner on country roads if I were 2 seconds further up the road (and it is that kind of situation which made me decide to get one)

Of course, could also be fun to watch your off-roading adventures as well :)

[MarsKy]

The flip-side is that your recorded evidence may well incriminate yourself too...

[igormus]

yes cacmera sometimes helps to prove you re not an idiot

[Hoovie]

The flip-side is that your recorded evidence may well incriminate yourself too...

But we are all great drivers so can't happen :)

Or at least maybe would have the sense to know when to provide the video evidence and when not to ;)

[crofter]

Got a Blackvue DR400G-HD (http://www.blackvueh...R400G_HD_v2.php) a couple of weeks ago in a discounted Group Buy (might be still on £250 discounted to £190: http://www.disco3.co...hlight=blaCkvue)

The forum has a thread for videos from it, and you can see some scenarios where it might pay for itself should an insurance claim arise: http://www.disco3.co...hlight=blaCkvue

And so there's also a thread for Q&As: http://www.disco3.co...hlight=blaCkvue

There are optional extras, like a power controller (battery monitor) so that it can remain on even when parked up and cuts off when the battery voltage drops below a set level.

Comes with a very long cigar lighter power lead; but I'm going to hard wire mine with the power controller and piggyback cables once I get the courage to play about with the electrics.

I've bought a 32GB Class 10 card for longer recording and performance, but to be honest the supplied 16GB card is good enough (about 7 hrs sound & video at 1920x1280 resolution at 30 frames-per-second). I've set my unit to record in 3 minute chunks, and once the card is full, it overwrites the earliest file.

It comes with its own software to change settings and view files, but there is a better and free viewer/ video editor here: http://registratorvi...u/index_en.html

So the software will group files into journies, and you can click on a journey, and it shows up in a side window showing Google Maps or the better Open Maps (the unit has GPS). And so the journey on the map will be highlighted, and you can play the video of all the journey, or the video associated with a particular segment of the journey simply by clicking the place on the map.

The unit also has G-sensors so if there's an event like a crash, it will register and record a separate video for that event.

I'm happy with it, records well enough to read reg plates in the event of an incident, and otherwise is good for recording a video journal if you go somewhere interesting or scenic.

Thanks Marksky for a interesting post but that is a bit over my now restricted budget.

I was looking to cap my limit to around £100 or so,so I will keep on looking what is available

Thanks also for the other replies posted,guys

Del

[Davrav]

If a camera/recorder is being used, does one have to display a sticker notifying other road users that video surveilance is in use on the vehicle?

Reason I ask is that I followed a lorry with just such a sticker on the tailgate just this morning.

I know householders are obliged to do this where cameras are used.

[Hoovie]

I don't think there are restrictions on filming on public property, which is why there does not need to be notices on every one of the millions of CCTV cameras around the pavements but there are notices about video surveillance in shopping centres.

The notice on the lorry is probably more meant as a deterrent then a mandatory notice I would expect.

[Davrav]

I don't think there are restrictions on filming on public property, which is why there does not need to be notices on every one of the millions of CCTV cameras around the pavements but there are notices about video surveillance in shopping centres.

The notice on the lorry is probably more meant as a deterrent then a mandatory notice I would expect.

In a domestic situation the householder is prohibited from viewing/recording beyond their own boundary. Big no no.

I agree that the sticker on the lorry acts as a deterrent but still wonder if it is also a requirement to display it?