(Last updated: February 2024)
Known more commonly by the abbreviation dash cam, dashboard cameras are an accessory that has been enjoying increasing success among motorists in recent years. Ready to attach securely to the windshield, these small cameras allow you to film everything that happens on the street and to save recordings to files that can be shared later on a smartphone or computer. Equipped with technical characteristics that allow you to obtain shots of remarkable quality both day and night, they adapt to a variety of uses, proving to be excellent travel companions for those who want a memory of a long ride “on the road” as well as a perfect “witness” in case of legal disputes arising from road accidents and acts of vandalism.
How to choose a dash cam
The dash cam market is quite vital, and offers a fair variety of models characterized by different technical solutions and peculiarities that make them more or less suitable to satisfy the needs of drivers. For this reason, before making a choice, it is necessary to evaluate some technical and functional aspects:
Number: the first element to take into consideration is how many dash cams do you want to mount inside your car. In fact, in addition to single-camera solutions, to be positioned on the dashboard, kits are available that include a second one, to be attached to the rear window to allow “front/back” recording of your movements. A further option is then represented by cameras equipped with two lenses, one facing outwards, the other towards the inside, to also film what happens in the passenger compartment.
Technical features: the quality of videos recorded with dash cams can vary significantly depending on the type of sensor and lens. It is important to rely on solutions that guarantee at least one full hd resolution, with a good amount of frames per second (at least 30) and a viewing angle capable of covering a good portion of the road. The file saving options should also be taken into serious consideration, usually entrusted to micro SD cardsand any integrations with app per smartphone, usable via bluetooth or wi-fi connection.
Mode: dash cams are not only useful when traveling, and can become a sort of invisible “guardian” even during stops. Some models have specific modes which, taking advantage of the presence of sensors that detect impacts and movements nearby, automatically activate recording to allow you to have evidence of any damage suffered while parking.
Our choices
Our selection of the best dash cams is all about ductility, with around twenty proposals designed to adapt to any type of need. From single to double chamber models, without forgetting those that allow recordings even inside the passenger compartment, we have not left out any type of option, always taking care to maintain an absolute quality/price ratio. Furthermore, as small variations on the theme, we have also included a couple of specifically designed models for two wheelswhich will also allow centaurs to have a record of their travels in case of need.
Staying on the subject of car accessories, those who want to combine a smartphone with a dash cam (to be used as a satellite navigator, for example), will be able to find useful suggestions in our round-ups dedicated to the best mobile phone holders: we have intercepted the best ones for air conditioning and for the CD player, the suction supports and those to be attached to the rear-view mirror or to be inserted into the cup holder compartment. Finally, anyone looking for a gadget designed specifically for the creation of travel videos to keep as a souvenir or to share on social media can turn to the best action cameras.