To get around these annoying issues, some manufacturers offer a polarising filter either as standard on their cameras or as an optional extra. We think it’s worth having a polarising filter on your dash cam, especially if you havea vehicle with a large windscreen, which may pick up reflections.
Resolution/FPS
If you zoom in on a photo taken with an old phone, you’ll see that it starts to look blocky – this is because it’s a low-resolution file. The dash cams tested here have minimum of 1920 x 1080 pixels per frame and the best have 3840 x 2160, known as 4K. The extra clarity means you are more likely to make out crucial details such as registration numbers.
You will also need to bear in mind the Frames Per Second rate. Most cameras will use 30FPS, but a 60FPS video will be clearer, especially for footage captured at speed.
Two-channel
Having more than one camera gives you the best view of what’s happening. The most common upgrade is adding a second unit to record what’s happening at the rear – this is called a two-channel.
The rear camera will be smaller and usually record at a lower resolution, connected by a wire running the length of the car. Pro drivers may also need to have a camera facing into the cabin, called a three-channel. Note the main camera will need more processing power and memory storage for the extra views.
Voice activation
All the dash cams tested here have a built-in sensor that will detect an impact and will automatically protect the footage captured immediately before and after the incident.
But there will be times when you want to save footage that hasn’t involved an impact, maybe to share with someone else. The cameras have a button you can press to do this, but some models will also allow you to use voice activation to do the job. Having this feature is handy, because you don’t have to take your eyes off the road.
Did you know you can sell your car through Auto Express? We’ll help you get a great price and find a great deal on a new car, too.
