A car camera can be very useful, but it makes a difference which one you choose. There are a few parameters to consider.
The age of the car camera
Increasingly popular are the so-called car, on-board or in-car dashboard cameras (dashcam), which allow anyone to record what happens on the road at an affordable price, which can be crucial in the event of an accident or dispute. So it's not a fad that's only for people who want to be on YouTube, Facebook, build a career on social media platforms.
A rear display simplifies use.
Current experience shows that both insurers and the police accept such files, as it is easier for them to clear up individual cases when they have such material. However, it is also a fact that there is as yet no obligation for the courts to accept such records, i.e. the judge has discretion to decide on such matters. In any case, all in all, it can be said that such a tool is clearly useful, better to have video than not to have it.
A usable record can save hundreds of thousands, millions and even influence criminal cases.
We can only recommend every motorist to get one of these products, but of course it doesn't matter which model you choose. Nowadays there are many companies developing and manufacturing this type of device. Not surprisingly, Xiaomi is one of them, and has included on-board cameras in its range, alongside a number of other vehicle product lines.
In this article, we will look at what aspects to consider when buying such a product.
Manufacturer
We would definitely go for the branded devices. A Xiaomi A device manufactured by a company at level 1 is in itself a guarantee of reliable operation, so that the machine will not let its owner down.
Resolution
The megapixel value for the camera is irrelevant for moving images. Here, it is the video resolution that is important, and the minimum requirement is now 720p, or HD (1280×720 pixels), but it is recommended to opt for Full HD, which guarantees 1920×1080 pixels. The higher this value, the greater the detail, i.e. the more detail you can see in the picture. High resolution can be useful if you need to zoom in on content for some reason. The Xiaomi Mi Dash Cam 1S is one such Full HD resolution product, by the way.
Recorded value
The index given by the value "f" provides information about the quality of the material that a device captures in low light. It is good to know that the LOWER the value, the better the camera. The best phones today have an aperture of f/1.7 to f/1.8, so you can compare to that. In the case of the Xiaomi Mi Dash Cam 1S, it's f/1.8, which means it can capture high-quality, noise-free content even in the dark.
In addition to resolution, light sensitivity is also very important if you want to take decent pictures at night.
Some cameras have a special night mode backup. The Mi Dash Cam 1S, for example, is equipped with Sony's IMX307 STARVIS sensor, which is a back-illuminated pixel technology. It's used in CMOS image sensors and is used to enhance the low-light image taken by the on-board camera.
Angle of vision
The wider the angle of view, the shorter the focal length, so the more "everything" you can fit in one image. This may result in a very slight distortion, a fish-eye effect, but its usefulness on the road is much greater.
A good car camera will "see" what is happening in front of you at an angle of at least 130 degrees.
The 140-degree on-board camera of the Xiaomi Mi Dash Cam 1S can capture up to three lanes of traffic at the same time, which can be a key factor when analysing a dubious situation.
Good display
To operate the camera, it is a good idea to have a colour LCD display with a normal image quality.
Recording to memory card
It is essential that the product records the material on an easily removable SD or Micro SD memory card. This makes it easy to remove the storage device and avoids problems when it gets full.
Loop mode
The so-called Loop mode saves footage by automatically recording fresh video in place of existing, erasable footage. This eliminates the need for manual deletion, saving a lot of time and inconvenience. The Loop mode can of course be turned off, so if someone wants to record a journey of several hours or days in one go, they can do so.
Lock a crash file
There are cameras, such as the Mi Dash Cam 1S, that have a built-in gravity sensor with adjustable sensitivity that allows automatic accident detection. It puts these recordings in a separate storage, separated from loop recordings, ensuring that the right moments are captured.
Parking monitoring function
If the camera has this feature, if the on-board camera detects acceleration or vibration (i.e. potentially hitting a vehicle), it will automatically switch on and start recording the video to a separate storage. This prevents the other party pushing or scratching the parked car from getting away unnoticed. This feature really saves a lot of money.
Phones app
It's especially useful to have a mobile app that makes it easy to view the images stored on your camera. In Xiaomi's case, all you need to do is open the Mi Home app, connect to the car camera's WiFi and you can view or even download files in real time, all without using network traffic.
