Everything you need to know about buying a DVR

SINGAPORE — You’ve probably seen shared footage of scary traffic incidents online, and now you fancy yourself a bit of an amateur Steven Spielberg. If so, it’s time to get a dashboard camera or digital video recorder (DVR).

But part from wanting to alert the Internet to the kind of idiocy you witness on the roads here, there’s an important reason for installing one: If anything unfortunate happens, the footage can be used to provide evidence of the truth.

That’s particularly useful if you happen to be involved in an accident with someone who’s so adept at fibbing they make Pinocchio look like George Washington.

Feature filming

A basic vehicle DVR should have automatic power-on and recording. This ensures that you won’t have to remember to press “record” at the start of every journey.

Loop recording is also vital. It lets the DVR overwrite new files onto the oldest ones to make sure that recording isn’t interrupted when the memory card is full.

Basic cameras will cost less than S$100, but if you have S$300 to spend, you can expect more frills, like GPS (Global Positioning System) data recording. It records speed and position with the video, allowing you to prove your adherence to speed limits if need be.

Several DVRs also offer accelerometers (commonly known as “G sensors”) that measure the forces applied to the device. That enables one desirable feature: Any sudden movement registered on the G sensors (like the kinds caused by a crash) will trigger the camera to save the video file.

For more than S$300, DVRs come with premium features like Wi-Fi connectivity. It allows for wireless file transfer and video viewing through a smartphone (via a companion app).

Two-channel recording is another common feature for high-end cameras, letting you record footage from more than one source. These systems usually consist of a main camera body with an extra, rear-pointing camera connected by a cable.

Make a clear choice

Grainy footage might not help in a dispute (and won’t do much for your filmmaker cred), so make sure you get a DVR that records at a resolution of 480p at the very least.

Mid-range models will mostly feature high-definition (1,280 x 720) 720p recording while the best cameras feature 1080p full high-definition (1,920 x 1,080) video capability.

HD videos will pack in more visual detail, so licence plates, road signs and traffic lights will be more legible. But resolution isn’t everything. Just as important is the recording frame rate, measured in frames per second (fps). Entry-level DVRs max out at 24-25fps, while mid- to high-end DVRs usually boast 30fps.

The higher the FPS rating, the smoother the motion, and greater detail can be captured.

That said, the camera’s sensor and optics play the biggest role in determining in image quality, especially at night. The best cameras now have 2.4-megapixel CMOS sensors for crystal-clear footage.

Installation art

Almost every consumer vehicle DVR is powered by a 12-volt accessory socket, so setting one up can be as easy as installing a phone charger.

But if you think that wires are unsightly, the cleaner option is to have it professionally done, usually by the DVR dealer. They can tap the vehicle’s fusebox for a power source.

One option to consider: Add a “power box” or external battery pack. That allows the DVR to continuously record after the vehicle’s engine has been switched off without draining the car’s battery.

It lets the DVR keep recording in the carpark, where hit-and-run incidents often happen. You may not be able to keep an eye on your car all the time, but at least now there is a gadget that can.