Undecided about best dash cam

[aaragon]

Hi guys, I am thinking in buying a dash cam for Black Friday, and after watching tons of videos and reviews on the internet, I short listed two options:

1. Thinkware U3000
2. Viofo A139 Pro

I found a video on YouTube that actually compares both of them:


Both dash cams are impressive. They both have the newest Sony Starvis 2 sensor so video quality is very good. The Thinkware is more expensive than the Viofo (substantially) and it seems to me the price difference boils down to the behavior in parking mode. The Thinkware uses some radar technology that draws no energy from the battery (almost). However, I found another video on YouTube where this camera was installed on the Mach E and the person mentions that radar doesn’t work in the Mach E due to the special meshed windshield, but gave no proof of it:



I am curious if anyone has experience with either dash cam, whether it’s true radar doesn’t work for the Thinkware, and what’s your recommended setup. Also, I actually have dark windows in the back so I’m curious about the rear camera’s behavior with this. Does anyone have experience with it?

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[Peyole]

I have had dash cams in my cars for about 10 years on various models after getting involved in two separate hit and runs within a week of each other with the driver fleeing. I have always been a fan of Thinkware and have a U1000 front and rear camera currently installed. When I get home today I will take some photos of my setup, install, and write a better impression and message them to you.

 

[21st Century Pony]

Hi guys, I am thinking in buying a dash cam for Black Friday, and after watching tons of videos and reviews on the internet, I short listed two options:

1. Thinkware U3000
2. Viofo A139 Pro

I found a video on YouTube that actually compares both of them:


Both dash cams are impressive. They both have the newest Sony Starvis 2 sensor so video quality is very good. The Thinkware is more expensive than the Viofo (substantially) and it seems to me the price difference boils down to the behavior in parking mode. The Thinkware uses some radar technology that draws no energy from the battery (almost). However, I found another video on YouTube where this camera was installed on the Mach E and the person mentions that radar doesn’t work in the Mach E due to the special meshed windshield, but gave no proof of it:



I am curious if anyone has experience with either dash cam, whether it’s true radar doesn’t work for the Thinkware, and what’s your recommended setup. Also, I actually have dark windows in the back so I’m curious about the rear camera’s behavior with this. Does anyone have experience with it?

I've had the Thinkware F70 (much cheaper model) in the car since June 2022. Works just fine. I added the GPS add-on / plug-in mushroom. Also works just fine.

HOWEVER, I made sure I glued the Thinkware's optional GPS mushroom on the small stippled (many black dots) center top part of the windshield. THAT part of the windshield is radar-transparent. All the clear parts of the windshield are not radar-transparent.

The windshield should have the IRR symbol in the lower corner next to an outline of a little windshield. That is proof you have the IR Reflective layer in your windshield. It keeps the IR stuff out and saves your interior plastics on the dash and keeps your car from heating up when in the sun. It also blocks radar as a side effect. See the attached pic.

Except for the stippled area around the rear center mirror, and also under that big black plastic trim behind the center mirror. Those areas will let radar thru... so if you go for a radar detector, now you know where to mount it.

My second pic shows my Thinkware GPS mushroom on the left, the Thinkware F70 dash cam in the center just in front of the rear view mirror, and the radar detector on the right. It also shows my white toll paying device (EZPass) all the way to the right... which also needs to be mounted on the stippled dots area or it will not pay highway and bridge tolls.

 

[AliRafiee]

This is so far my favorite. The only issue I have is the GPS lag. But same issue with others I’ve had.

70mai New 4K Dash Cam A810 with Sony Starvis 2 IMX678,Dual HDR Front and Rear Cam,Built in GPS,Night Owl Vision,Support 256GB Max,Smart Parking Guardian Mode,AI Motion Detection,Time-Lapse Recording https://a.co/d/3gJbJTS

 

[Peyole]

Funny how that happens after I post in a thread about dash cams. A family member that also has a Mach-E got rear-ended this evening on the freeway. Quite a hard hit from a full-size van. I was told a cop arrived on scene within a few minutes though. The frame is punched through the bumper and the panels above the tires are also bent so I have a feeling it is going to be quite pricey for the other driver's insurance.

 

[aaragon]

This is so far my favorite. The only issue I have is the GPS lag. But same issue with others I’ve had.

70mai New 4K Dash Cam A810 with Sony Starvis 2 IMX678,Dual HDR Front and Rear Cam,Built in GPS,Night Owl Vision,Support 256GB Max,Smart Parking Guardian Mode,AI Motion Detection,Time-Lapse Recording https://a.co/d/3gJbJTS

I discarded the 70mai because it didn’t have a good quality for the rear camera and it seems that parking mode was also subpar.

 

[AliRafiee]

I discarded the 70mai because it didn’t have a good quality for the rear camera and it seems that parking mode was also subpar.

Yes, the rear camera sucks.

 

[The Electric Duo]

We had a Viofo A139 and then switched to and A139 Pro. We just got an A229 Pro to review that I hope to install this week.

We've tested some others including Fitcamx and Blackvue, but I think Viofo had better quality. I also like how think the cables are so they are easier to hide. We are also scheduled to test the Thinkware and a couple others soon.

BTW, here's our A139 Pro video and if you buy through Amazon, Viofo created a coupon code for an additional 5% off - MEV139PRO :

 

[Ghost Ryder]

I have the viofo and it works well. The dash cam is not really there to capture a hit and run, although that can help the police catch the perpetrators It's more to prove that it wasn't your fault when an accident happens. In cases of "he said/she said," if you have a dashcam evidence that the other car didn't stop for the red light, then the insurance will waive your deductible. In short you just need one that works, don't necessary need the latest and greatest 4k etc. Just make sure you get one with a capacitor and not a battery.

 

[AliRafiee]

I have the viofo and it works well. The dash cam is not really there to capture a hit and run, although that can help the police catch the perpetrators It's more to prove that it wasn't your fault when an accident happens. In cases of "he said/she said," if you have a dashcam evidence that the other car didn't stop for the red light, then the insurance will waive your deductible. In short you just need one that works, don't necessary need the latest and greatest 4k etc. Just make sure you get one with a capacitor and not a battery.

The first time used my footage for insurance was when a guy ran a red light and crashed into me.
He told the insurance company he had a green light. When in fact his light was red for 8 seconds before the crash. ?

 

[aaragon]

We had a Viofo A139 and then switched to and A139 Pro. We just got an A229 Pro to review that I hope to install this week.

We've tested some others including Fitcamx and Blackvue, but I think Viofo had better quality. I also like how think the cables are so they are easier to hide. We are also scheduled to test the Thinkware and a couple others soon.

BTW, here's our A139 Pro video and if you buy through Amazon, Viofo created a coupon code for an additional 5% off - MEV139PRO :

Thanks a lot for sharing your video, very nice. Did you manage to test the A229? I’m curious to hear your thoughts.

 

[aaragon]

In addition to recording while I’m driving, to me it’s also very important that parking mode. I live in the Netherlands and in many areas space for parking is very limited (and also very tight). Someone broke the grill of my previous car while being parked. That’s the reason I was thinking in the Thinkware, because of the very long parking mode. But I still don’t know whether the grid in the windshield will prevent the radar from working.

 

[Alutacon]

In addition to recording while I’m driving, to me it’s also very important that parking mode. I live in the Netherlands and in many areas space for parking is very limited (and also very tight). Someone broke the grill of my previous car while being parked. That’s the reason I was thinking in the Thinkware, because of the very long parking mode. But I still don’t know whether the grid in the windshield will prevent the radar from working.

Someone answered your radar question above.

 

[aaragon]

Someone answered your radar question above.

Not really, if you’re referring to the answer of @21st Century Pony it’s a different model. In the Thinkware U3000 the radar is integrated with the cam in both front and rear cameras.

 

[21st Century Pony]

Not really, if you’re referring to the answer of @21st Century Pony it’s a different model. In the Thinkware U3000 the radar is integrated with the cam in both front and rear cameras.

...and therefore, because the camera has to look through the clear (not stippled) part of the windshield, its integrated radar will be blocked. ...unless your car does not have the IRR symbol on its windshield's lower corner (see attached picture in my post above).

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