You can save a lot of stress if you have a dashcam in your vehicle. These devices are crucial in road mishaps by providing objective video evidence for accident claims, helping determine fault, deterring fraud like staged accidents, and speeding up insurance processes. They also discourage road rage; knowing they might be on camera can make other drivers less aggressive. No longer an accessory, these are now as common as infotainment touchscreens or parking sensors in your car.
If you’re thinking of buying one, the Pioneer VREC-H520DC can be a good choice. Though expensive at 18k, it is worth the investment. This is a dual-channel dash camera that records both front (2K resolution) and rear (HD) views. It is durable and feature-rich, having built-in GPS, Wi-Fi, G-sensor, Super Night Vision (Sony STARVIS sensor), HDR, and advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) for collision/lane departure warnings. It provides a comprehensive driving safety and evidence recording solution with parking mode and app connectivity via Pioneer’s ZenVue app.
The dashcam has a 3-inch IPS screen and it supports upto 512GB MicroSD, sufficient to avoid running out of space. Its parking mode records while the vehicle is parked (though it requires a separate hardwire kit). While the GPS logger records speed & location (viewable in app), the G-sensor detects impacts/sudden movements and locks the video file, preventing deletion.
A lesser priced yet feature-rich device is TWM (Track What Matters) Dash Cam from Roadcast. Available for 14k, this is a compact device that is easy to install. It has a 3-inch LCD screen, wide-angle lens and dual channel recording – 4K Ultra HD front camera and 1080p Full HD back rear camera. You can control the dash camera with the Roadcam app. The 150-degrees wide-angle view ensures comprehensive coverage of the road, capturing every detail with minimal blind spots.
The TWM Dash Cam offers simple installation with a user-friendly plug-and-play setup, making it hassle-free to get started right away. There is 24-hour parking surveillance too, detecting impacts or motion to record events automatically. Plus, there is 1TB high storage capacity.
I checked both the models in daylight and nighttime conditions, at a range of speeds and over the course of a few weeks. One, there isn’t a lot of wiring to do when it comes to installing them. Getting started is relatively easy. Two, there is good video quality. The main camera is able to capture fine details at speed, while the rear-facing camera is a big bonus with decent 2K footage. Having crisp and clear video can make all the difference in the event of an incident. Three, both the dashcams offer copious amounts of storage and files can be quickly uploaded to the app.
Overall, nicely designed and well-made, these dashcams can indeed provide peace of mind.
KEY FEATURES
Pioneer VREC-H520DC
3-inch IPS screen
2K recording, 360 degrees rotation
GPS-enabled, ADAS, Parking Mode
512GB MicroSD
Estimated street price: Rs 18,499
TWM Dash Cam
3-inch LCD screen
Dual channel recording
Wide-angle lens
G-sensor protection
1TB storage
Compact Design
Estimated street price: Rs 13,999
