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MULTIPLICATION TABLE
Modern DVRs do not just stupidly record everything that falls into their lens - they are equipped with a number of options, each of which multiplies the price. Let's see how necessary these lotions are.
Let's start with the display. This, of course, is a convenient thing: it allows you to easily orient the device, control the recording process (goes or not), and immediately view the footage. At the same time, the screen size is not so important: you will look at the high-resolution movie in detail while sitting at your home computer. And small displays today practically do not increase the price of the device.
An additional camera is needed for those who want to shoot not only outside, but also inside the cabin. Of course, not a conversation with the extortionist in uniform - for her they are invited to an official car. But such a record can be useful to taxi drivers. In addition, the rear camera captures what is happening behind the side windows.
The microphone is no longer an option, today it is almost always in the database. Records conversations inside the car, it happens very handy.
Impact sensors (sometimes called accelerometers, G-sensors) protect the last file recorded before the collision. The fact is that registrars enter information “in a ring”, that is, having filled the entire USB flash drive, they begin to erase the first files, replacing them with new ones. Sometimes a person after an accident forgets to stop recording and then suddenly discovers that there is nothing to bring to court! The shock sensor supplies the last file before the collision with the read-only attribute, prohibiting erasure. This prohibition can be removed only when viewed on a computer.
The motion sensor is about the same as the automatic sound recording function in the recorder. The video recorder will sleep peacefully in the car parked in the parking lot, but will start recording as soon as moving objects appear in its field of vision. It will help to find out who offended your “horse” in the parking lot.
The GPS module allows you to bind a record not only to a point in time, but also to a place. At the same time, the coordinates are visible directly in the picture or appear when viewing records using a special program. In the latter case, you can usually see the speed of the car at every moment.
Any device needs a flash card, but we have included it in the list of options, since it is not bundled with every DVR. Commonly used are SD or micro SD cards. The former are more convenient because they are larger in size: they are not so easily dropped and lost in the passenger compartment. In addition, this, as a rule, can be inserted into the laptop slot without any adapters. As for memory, a big one is needed for those who keep a full video diary of their trips, and not just record incidents. In the latter case, 2 GB is quite enough.
WHAT THE NUMBERS WILL TELL
In addition to all the understandable numbers on the price tag, registrars have many technical characteristics; some are very important, while others can simply be noted. For example, the resolution and size of the built-in display are secondary: it is unlikely that you will closely study HD-quality recordings directly in the car. But the resolution of the video itself is another matter. To confidently distinguish between characters and vehicle numbers, you need a resolution of HD 720p and a frame rate of about thirty per second. Full HD resolution of 1080 pixels for the recorder is not very relevant, but it is, of course, more expensive and more demanding for the memory size.
Manufacturers usually do not report another very important characteristic. The thing is that between recorded videos there may be a gap of 2-3-4 seconds. And if, according to the law of meanness, something happens at that moment, you, alas, will not have pictures! There are devices that write overlapping, but to find out if a particular DVR is capable of such a device, it often succeeds only after purchasing it. From this point of view, devices with longer recordable fragments are more convenient: the probability of falling into a pause is less. So 3 minutes is definitely better than 30 seconds.
The viewing angle is extremely important for shooting conflict situations. If it is less than 120 °, only what happens right in front of the hood will get into the field of view. The wing strike will remain unfixed: no matter how hard the G-sensor tries to protect the desired file, nothing important will appear on it! The distortion of a wide-angle lens can be forgiven, here the facts are more important, and not the correct perspective. In this regard, we also mention the design of the holder: for some models it does not allow the recorder to be pulled close to the glass. As a result, the field of view narrows, interfering glare appears.
Another feature that affects usability is the file recording format. If it is standard, you can easily watch a movie on any computer, or even directly on TV. Special formats require software installation, and sometimes a native flash drive with one. By formatting it, you risk losing the ability to view records; this is always warned in the instructions, read carefully! The advantages of such programs usually include the convenience of taking pictures from the right frames, additional information about the speed of movement, etc.
Camera resolution is important for those who want to take pictures of the scene. Of course, there is no separate camera in the DVR, but in the photography mode it allows you to take pictures with a much higher resolution than when recording video. In any case, the quality of the photos will be worse than that of the camera, but better than the phone. For this mode, the capacity of the built-in battery will be important. After all, a wire reaching for the cigarette lighter will not allow, for example, to go around the car and photograph it from behind.
Finally, we did not evaluate the possibility of using the DVR as, for example, a video player or photo frame. For this, it is still better to use a separate gadget with a bright and large (inches by seven minimum) screen, but such DVRs do not.
IN ONE BOTTLE
There are a number of models on the market that combine a DVR, a radar detector, a navigator in any combination, or even all together. Is such a game worth the candle? On the one hand, you do not have to equip the windshield with several suction cup appliances. On the other hand, it is difficult to control such a complex unit and nuances appear. For example, in one of the devices we tested, the camera leaves much to be desired, the navigator cannot be turned with the screen toward you, because then the lens will also turn sideways. In general, the rule is almost always true: universal devices have worse characteristics than specialized ones.
DEVICES WHICH WE CHOOSE
We arranged the DVRs in ascending order of price. But to make the "choice of ZR" was not so simple: opinions were divided. Someone needs the opportunity to make a copy before compiling the protocol, another wants to have a decent camera on hand, the third does not have a heater in the car, and the fourth certainly wants navigation for the same or even less money. Therefore, we propose not to take our choice as a dogma, but carefully read the brief descriptions of the devices. Even better is to turn them around in the store before going to the cashier.
HELP THE JUDGE
In fact, video recording is not the strongest argument in court. She must have legal status! And therefore remember: the fact of the presence of video information and its removal from the scene of an accident should be reflected in the police report. For a judge, this means that the registrar owner could not change or redo the record. Otherwise, confidence in such information is much less.
The Federal Law of the Russian Federation “On the Mandatory Copy of Documents” does not provide for the division into “digital” and “analog” evidence. Politely, but persistently ask the inspector registering the accident to write down the recorder’s brand and model, its installation method and camera orientation, type of information carrier, etc. Example: “SD memory card is blue, with a scratch in the form of Z”. It is very important that the time on the recording made coincides with the real one, so make sure that the clock in the device is set correctly. Ideally, it is necessary that the removal of the carrier take place in the presence of witnesses. Before you give the flash card to the inspector, you should seal it (in the presence of the same witnesses) in a suitable envelope.
If the traffic police officer refuses to record the fact of the presence of the video, then be sure to refer to your DVR in the explanations! And, before signing the protocol on an administrative offense, make a note in it about the refusal of the inspector and your disagreement with this.
During the trial, one must be prepared to explain the operation of the “black box” and provide the court with technical devices (laptop with software or portable video player) for playing back the recording.
CAR DVR SHO-ME HD05-LCD, China
Estimated price - 2000 rubles
CAR DVR SHO-ME HD05-LCD
Despite the price from the category “yes it’s for nothing!”, The picture is no worse than that of the older brother. Moreover, even more pixels are declared: 1280 × 960. The screen is also larger - 2.8 inches. But that’s all: there is no TV access. For detailed viewing, you need a laptop or computer. The duration of the videos is from 2 to 15 minutes, and there is also a motion sensor. But recording by his signal lasts only 5 seconds, while usually half a minute. When switching from video to video, 3 seconds of time is lost. Viewing angle 120 °. The device is frost-resistant, works from -20 ° С. The micro-SD flash drive holds up to 32 GB.
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VARTA V-GPS53C PORTABLE NAVIGATION SYSTEM, China
Estimated price - 3000 rubles
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Ask what does the DVR have to do with it? And here is his eye, lurking on the back wall. This is a bright representative of the combined device. On it you can lay a route (Navitel), play audio and video files, read books … But back to the actual DVR. Its parameters are very modest: the camera viewing angle is only 70 °, its resolution is long forgotten 0.3 Mpx. Video clips of 3 minutes are recorded in the format of 640 × 480 pixels, and there is a digital zoom. Although why is it at such a viewing angle? I want to say something good about this device precisely as a recorder … Here: the device’s touch screen is large, with a diagonal of 5 inches - thanks to the navigator. But if you hope that the developers provided for the recording of coordinates in video files, then you will be mistaken: here both devices work completely independently of each other, sharing only a common monitor. But for such a price - and immediately two hares.
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LEXAND LR-3000 CAR REGISTRATION DEVICE
Estimated price - 4300 rubles
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The camera allows you to record video with a resolution of HD 720p and take pictures in 1.3 megapixels with a viewing angle of 120 °. The built-in battery (you can’t change it!) With a capacity of 800 mAh is enough for an hour or two of battery life. The duration of the videos is from 1 to 5 minutes, and they are overlapped, the transition from one to another occurs without loss of information. There are motion and shock sensors, a microphone. The display is small, two-inch, but provides an HDMI output to the TV. The automotive orientation of the device is emphasized by its ability to operate from -10 ° C, in contrast to the typical 0 ° C line: this is important for winter conditions. A micro-SD flash drive with a capacity of up to 32 GB. The holder bracket is inconvenient in that it does not allow the recorder to be moved to the glass. As a result, he writes a fair amount of the dash, while the view down in front of the hood is limited.
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CAR DVR SHO-ME HD08-LCD, China
Estimated price - 4800 rubles
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In our sample, this is the smallest device: its dimensions are only 63 × 48 × 25 mm. The camera writes video with a resolution of HD 720p and takes pictures in 1.3 Mpx at a viewing angle of 120 °. The battery is replaceable, with a capacity of 800 mAh. The duration of the clips is from 2 to 15 minutes, the break between them is three seconds. There is a motion sensor, a microphone. The display is small, two-inch, but provides an HDMI output to the TV. The device is very frost-resistant: it works already in a 20-degree frost. A micro-SD flash drive with a capacity of up to 32 GB.
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CAR DVR PARKCITY DVR 500, China
Estimated price - 5500 rubles
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A pretty silver case is a drawback: too noticeable. Otherwise, it’s a very worthy device that can record both regular video and Full HD, take photos with a weight of 5 megapixels, including with an LED flash. Viewing angle 120 °. The length of the roller can be changed from 1 to 15 minutes, there is a motion sensor. In addition to the picture, it writes sound in the cabin. The screen is small, only 2 inches, but it is possible to connect directly to a TV, normal or Full HD. There is a replaceable battery with a capacity of 1000 mAh. The recorder can be worn on a strap as a video camera and even mounted on a tripod. The memory card is a full-sized SDHC with a capacity of up to 32 GB. Management is quite simple, intuitive.
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CAR DVR DOD F500LHD, Taiwan
MYSTERY MDR-800HD, China
Estimated price - 6500 and 4700 rubles
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These two twins in our sample differ in price, name and origin. They record regular video and Full HD, take photos in 5 and 12 megapixels (the latter, of course, with extrapolation) and even with an LED flash. Viewing angle 120 °. The video lasts from 1 to 15 minutes, the motion sensor and microphone are not forgotten. 2-inch screen, you can connect a regular TV or Full HD. The replaceable battery is rated at 1000 mAh. Suitable as a wearable photo camera, including for shooting with a tripod. SDHC memory card with a capacity of up to 32 GB. Built-in software includes exposure and white balance correction for the camera. But the editor, like the backup function, is not provided. We mention this because the devices have very similar analogues - ASV Q2 and KAPKAM Q2.
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CAR DVRs ACV Q2, CARCAM Q2, China
Estimated price - 6400 and 5200 rubles
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Twin brothers, differing only in price and name, write both ordinary and Full HD video, take photos in 5 and 8 Mpx (the latter, however, with digital extrapolation), including LED flash. At night, you can remove the built-in IR filter to increase the sensitivity of the camera. Viewing angle 120 °. Built-in motion sensor; the duration of the video is optional: from 1 to 45 minutes; there is no break between the rollers. Together with the picture, he writes sound in the cabin. The screen is 2-inch, there are outputs for connecting to a TV, normal or Full HD. 1000 mAh replaceable battery. You can take the device with you like any video camera; if necessary, mount it on a tripod. The memory card is a full-sized SDHC with a capacity of up to 32 GB. Management is intuitive. The firmware includes camera settings such as exposure compensation and white balance. And for videos there is a video editor (!) That allows you to cut the desired fragment and copy it to the built-in memory. This is useful if the traffic police inspector takes the flash drive.
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