Night time images aren’t noticeably clearer than older models, it has to be said, but the 512GW is still a front-runner in this department. The 512GW uses touch-sensitive buttons that are slightly less easy to locate without looking at the unit, but they respond well, and the menu system, while not especially pretty, is simple to navigate. Even the smartphone app is simple to use and responds quickly.
Importantly, it includes GPS, so it can show exactly where you had the accident, and a G sensor that will detect bumps and lock footage associated with it. An inbuilt battery last up to 30mins, which might be useful immediately after an accident. Records in full HD resolution, and the quality of the footage is exceptional in day and night conditions, displaying numberplates clearly. Overall quality of footage is really very good, particularly for this end of the market. It records in 2K resolution (2048 × 1080 pixels) at 30 frames per second or 1080p at 45fps, and the result is a smooth crisp picture in either mode. The 160-degree angle of vision is a bit wider than average. Footage appears clearer than average in low light conditions – TaoTonics says it has a 400W light sensor and 6-layer lens – but struggles a little in blinding light, when the sun is low in the sky.
The 112 records at 720p resolution, so not full HD, and the 120-degree viewing angle is average, but the quality is excellent for a budget camera and audio is captured clearly, too. Nextbase told us our model was an early one and the problem was identified and fixed, with all models sold after March 2017 using new components. Hopefully this also fixes another issue with the sucker coming unstuck, as it did on several occasions with our 112. Nextbase says it will replace faulty mounts free-of-charge. Bright light and high contrast at night also made numberplates a little hard to make out.
Exploring Details In Updating Drivers
To power the F770, you need to be in the car, so setting it up with a smartphone and while looking at the instruction manual can be a head-scratching affair. Nextbase video quality remains the gold standard for dash cams and you’ll struggle to find better on the more expensive models, while its products remain as easy to use as ever. The 512GW is loaded with features and insider suggestions that it may be possible to connect a rear-facing camera at a later date are intriguing.
Clarity at night is good, too, although the was a high contrast between the dark and light areas of the picture. As a plug-and-play dash cam, though, it’s a pretty simple package with a single power button underneath and easy link-up with the app. It’s a shame it take this site a while to download video files to the phone. As with the HDC100, power to the HDC200 goes directly to the suction mount and is fed to the camera via male and female connections on the two elements. This allows customers to remove the camera easily when they leave the car by sliding it off the mount. This is not exactly helpful when trying to establish the facts in an insurance claim or police report. While trying to set the time and date manually, we established that the five buttons on the HDC100 were for Menu, Down, Record start/stop, Up and Emergency record .
Changing light conditions, such as shadows from trees, would cause lens flare. It also struggled with reflections of the dashboard against inside of the windscreen. The camera records at 30 frames per second, but often it was difficult to read number plates of other vehicles.
While in the Menus, we worked out that the Record button also acts as the OK button. On the downside, you need to go into the setting and make sure the screen is set to time out. The 2in screen gives a clear view, to aid positioning, and the camera can be removed from the mount thanks to its magnetic connection, very similar to that offered by Nextbase.
But overall, good performance, and having the rear view (with a slightly wider field of vision – 144 degrees rather than 135 degrees for the front camera) is extremely beneficial. The MiVue 766 WiFi records in 1080p (1920 x 1080 pixels, ‘full HD’) at 30 frames per second, which is an average resolution these days, but it has marginally sharper images than the Thinkware F100 . Bright sunlight and night footage were a bit more of a struggle – numberplate were harder to make out – though no more than most. There’s also a front crash detection warning and lane departure warning, with either beep or voice alerts, but as the dash cam can’t also brake the car, they may end up more of an irritation than an aid. The touchscreen interface reacts quickly and the menus use large, clear icons, making it easy to find your way around. There’s also a slot to connect a rear-facing camera but we didn’t have one for our test. We were very impressive with the exceptionally clear daytime footage from the Halfords HDC400, and the 180-degree viewing angle provides a massive field of vision.
At night, the footage is decent overall – you get a sharp view of the road directly in front of the car – but signs at the side of the road are a bit too blurry to make out. Both cameras record in 1080p resolution although we’d describe the front-view picture in daylight as adequate rather than exception, as there’s a degree more fuzziness than some other products we’ve tried. In addition, the image isn’t as bright as other products on the market in daylight. It’s quite easy to angle the front camera in the mount, with just the right amount of tension in the ball joint, and the rear view lens rotates up and down fairly easily. The front camera has an especially wide-angle lens, giving a useful 170-degree field of vision. We’d give it two stars here but the rear view camera bumps the rating to three (even though the quality is poor – see below). But to record your speed and position you’ll need an external GPS module , which may make this a non-starter from some users.
The forward facing camera records in 1080p with High Definition, and its Sony image sensor is claimed to provide outstanding video quality in low-light conditions. Drivers can choose to activate audible alerts for safety cameras, a lane departure warning and a front collision warning , which sounds a chime accompanied by spoken alerts.
No-Hassle Driver Support Methods – The Options
Date and time are set over the airwaves, so this dash cam is ready to go and starts recording as soon as you connect the power. The 512GW uses Nextbase’s Click & Go mount, so you run the cable from the 12V socket, hiding it from sight under carpets and behind interior trim, and attach the mount to the windscreen via its sucker. But the camera itself can slide on and off this mount, receiving power via metal contacts. It’s a clever system that allows you to remove the camera quickly and easily when you leave the car, without disturbing the mount. A quick-start guide is included in the box to help guide you through the process.