Category: BlackVue

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BlackVue Dash Cam Review

BlackVue-DR75S-2Ch premium dash cam reviewBlackVue entered the dashboard camera market in 2008 and have been growing their product range since. They have become a key player in the premium dash cam space and always provide cameras packed with the latest features.

From Parking Mode to the BlackVue Cloud, and even Stealth Mode, they cover everything.

The BlackVue price range drastically varies from £149.99 up to £499.99, and everything in between, all with their own pros and cons.

Our best selling BlackVue dash cam is the DR750S-2CH without a doubt. This is the camera which will be primarily featured in the BlackVue dash cam review below.

What’s Great About BlackVue Dash Cams?

There is no denying the quality, design, and features of the BlackVue DR750S-2CH. The recognisable design paired with features unique to BlackVue gives the feel and performance of a premium product.

cloud connected

The DR750S and the DR900S are both cloud-connected camera systems. With access to the BlackVue Cloud, you will be able to easily store important footage at any time – without having to worry about SD Card, phone, or computer storage.

This also means that you are able to retrieve the important video evidence at any time, regardless of where you are.

This is a huge convenience to the user and is, therefore, a highly desirable feature of the BlackVue cameras.

Click here to learn more about the BlackVue Cloud.

WiFi & GPS

Built-in WiFi and GPS are standard across the whole BlackVue car camera range. For many people, these features are non-negotiable when it comes to choosing the best camera for them, so it is reassuring to know that all BlackVue options have this covered.

The benefit of built-in WiFi & GPS is that you are able to connect your smartphone to the camera – just like you would with a router at home.

From here, you are able to review or download footage directly onto your phone. This ensures that your important video footage is safe, and clears up SD Card space on the camera.

The GPS information provides you with accurate location details alongside the video footage. This can become vitally important if ever in a car cloning situation where you need to prove the whereabouts of your vehicle at a certain time and date.

Recording Quality

Recording quality is a standout area for BlackVue cameras, with arguably the best footage of any camera.

All cameras have a minimum of 1080p HD recording from both the front and rear which is already impressive. However, if this isn’t enough for you, take a look at the DR900S. This camera records in 4K Ultra HD from the front camera, making it one of the highest quality dashboard cameras on the market.

The DR750S features 1080p Full HD from both the front and rear, with 60fps and 30fps respectively. A Sony STARVIS Image Sensor is used for drastic improvements in low-light video quality, allowing for a more accurate account of any incident.

BlackVue Hardwire options battery pack reviewParking Mode

Parking mode is another feature where BlackVue has made some serious improvement.

This mode allows the camera to take power from the battery of the vehicle while parked. Movement and impact will then be picked up and recorded by the camera, meaning you can capture any damage done to your vehicle without being anywhere near it.

However, due to the power consumption draining the battery, this mode will cut off once the battery reaches 12V – generally providing 2-3 hours of parking mode recording.

The BlackVue DR750S improves on this by producing less heat and having a lower power consumption. This will increase the parking mode recording time, keeping your vehicle protected for longer.

Furthermore, the motion detection used for parking mode is superior to many other cameras. BlackVue have improved theirs in order to reduce the amount of “false positives” such as trees or people passing in the distance.

Motion detection can also be completely disabled so that only impact is recorded.

With parking mode being such a vital feature for many people, it is good to know that BlackVue prioritises its performance. They even have an additional battery pack which can be installed in order to increase the duration of parking mode by up to 12 hours.

The way Motion detection works in Parking Mode has been improved to reduce the amount of “false positives” such as trees or people passing in the distance. You can also disable motion detection so the DR750S will only record when an impact is detected.

Design

BlackVue have always made sure to have beautifully designed products which you would be proud to have in your car. Alongside this, being discreet and functional is always a priority.

BlackVue DR490L Dash Cam ReviewThe classic cylindrical shape can be seen on every model – other than the 490L which features a 3.5″ LCD screen. This allows the camera to be discreetly installed behind the rearview mirror. No distraction is caused to the driver, along with eliminating visible wiring coming from the camera.

Their status LEDs allow the driver to clearly see if the camera is on and recording when it should be.

stealth

The DR750S’ stealth mode is definitely a feature which allows them to stand out from the rest. This combats dash cam owners being concerned that the camera increases their risk of vehicle theft.

It achieves this by allowing you to turn off all LED indicators, even when in parking mode. This means that when paired with the small, discreet design, your system will go completely undetected to those outside of the vehicle.

What’s Not Great?

At Dash Witness, we love BlackVue car cameras. However, there are a few things where they fall short to some of the other brands. Whether or not these are detrimental will depend on your individual needs and preferences.

Time Lapse Mode

Many other vehicle cameras have a time-lapse parking mode. This enables constant recording in 1 frame per second.  Which uses less power and memory than traditional motion detection. These allow a longer parking mode.

BlackVue cameras do not have this feature. However, with the reduced parking mode power consumption of the DR750S models and up, it is debatable whether the time lapse mode would be necessary.

Driver Safety Warnings

Another feature which the BlackVue cameras lack compared to other brands is advanced driver safety alerts.

Other premium options such as the Thinkware Q800 PRO feature multiple safety alerts including speed camera warnings, front collision and lane departure alerts, and more.

These can be very useful for many drivers who want improved awareness on the road.

However, these features are optional and are sometimes seen as intrusive due to the audible and visible alerts. Because of this, many drivers will disable them. This means that the lack of these on BlackVue cameras is not an issue for the majority of buyers.

Price

Being a premium car camera brand, BlackVue cameras can cost you a considerable amount.

This is potentially off-putting for us dash cam users. However, BlackVue truly justifies the price of their cameras.

The level of features and camera quality improves as you go through their range. You have full control of getting a basic camera system which gets the job done, or a high spec dash cam rivalling a photographers camera.

What isn’t compromised throughout their range is high quality and reliable systems.

With dash cameras, you get what you pay for. When you are dependant on something for safety and evidence in many situations, you don’t want something that isn’t high quality and reliable.

 

If you are looking for a discreet and reliable dashboard camera system with premium features, we highly recommend BlackVue.

Click here to view our range of BlackVue Cameras.

If you would like to speak to one of our dash camera experts, please use the contact form below.

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BlackVue DR750S Improvements

BlackVue DR750S improvements

With the DR750S replacing the most successful BlackVue camera yet, the DR650S, there is a lot of pressure for this camera to have a significant increase in performance.  Here we have rounded up the 15 most important changes that make the BlackVue DR750S the best camera in their line up.

  1.  Full HD rear camera:
    This is a major step forward for BlackVue, with the rear camera finally being updated to record in Full HD @ 30FPS, ensuring the rear camera video recordings are as clear as possible.
  2. Sony STARVIS image sensor:
    The low-light video quality and dynamic range video improvements are a result of the new sensor. This means that both the bright and dark areas of the video are shown in more detail than ever before, reproducing an accurate account of any incident.
  3. Faster Processor:
    The increased processing power results in the entire camera’s performance being improved, with everything from the time it takes to boot up to downloading footage over Wi-Fi being quicker.
  4. Better video encoding:
    At comparable bit rate, you will probably notice fewer artefacts (blocking). Note that this might be hard to compare on YouTube, which reprocesses the videos and usually causes areas with lots of details like trees to exhibit artefacts anyway. This can happen even if the original footage is clear of artefacts.
  5. 60FPS Recording:
    The rear camera is not the only camera that has had an improvement, the front camera now records in 60FPS. This will increase the fluidity of the video and is most noticeable when turning or going past fast moving objects.
  6. Improved GPS performance:
    The GPS module has been improved so the location will be locked onto quicker and the signal will be maintained.
  7. Event File Overwrite Protection:
    The DR750S can protect up to 50 Event files. After 50 event files, the following event files are saved in the regular partition and can be overwritten. You can also choose to always keep the latest 50 Event files (so Event files loop into their own partition).
  8. Reduced power consumption:
    The dash cam itself produces less heat and has lower power consumption. This means the DR750S will have increased parking mode recording times, keeping your vehicle protected for longer.
  9. Better file management:
    To improve the expected lifespan of the Micro SD card the BlackVue DR750s has an adaptive format-free file management system. This improves the stability of the camera performance and reduces the frequency that you need to format the SD card.
  10. Higher heat endurance:
    The BlackVue DR750S is guaranteed to run with no problems in temperatures up to 70°C and will cut off at around 80° C. However, in testing the DR750S has managed to stay on at even higher temperatures.
  11. Scheduled reboot:
    As cliche as it is, restarting your device from time to time can aid stability. With scheduled reboot, you can choose a time suitable for you that the camera will reboot.
  12. Improved motion detection:
    The way Motion detection works in Parking Mode has been improved to reduce the amount of “false positives” such as trees or people passing in the distance. You can also disable motion detection so the DR750S will only record when an impact is detected.
  13. Maintaining camera settings:
    To make the upgrade of firmware as painless as possible the BlackVue DR750S will keep your settings when upgrading the firmware. This saves you the time and stress of going through the menus to set up everything again after performing a firmware upgrade.
  14. Improved security:
    In a move to improve security, the DR750S has introduced unique Wi-Fi passwords. The password to your camera is included in the box and printed on the inner label of the camera, which can be discovered by removing the dash cam from its mount.
  15. Improved Stealth:
    The BlackVue DR750S allows you to turn off all LED indicators of the dash cam, even when in parking mode. This means your system can go completely undetected to those outside of the vehicle.

As a result of these 15 improvements, the BlackVue DR750S is the highest quality camera that BlackVue has ever produced and will help it make a claim for the best camera system available on the market.

 

Shop for the BlackVue DR750S

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Coming Soon: BlackVue DR750S UK

Coming Soon- BlackVue DR750S

The BlackVue DR750S UK version is being released on October 6th. This is the successor to their best selling DR650S dash camera. With the BlackVue DR750S, every aspect of the previous model has been improved, making it one of the best cameras on the market.

BlackVue DR750S Features:

The major improvement for the DR750 is that of the video quality. The front camera’s sensor has been improved to produce even clearer video evidence. The front camera records in 1080P Full HD @ 60 FPS, with the rear camera recording at 1080P Full HD @ 30FPS. This makes it the first dash camera that records simultaneously in 60 and 30 FPS.
BlackVue DR750S front camera
The BlackVue DR750S now features format free technology, meaning you no longer have to worry about formatting the SD card regularly. This technology also makes file corruption less likely. By including this feature it allows you to forget about the camera once it is installed, with the knowledge it will be recording if an accident does occur.

The reduced power consumption of this camera allows it to stay in parking mode for even longer, providing you with further peace of mind when you are away from your vehicle.

The processor has been significantly improved, with everything from the time it takes boot up, to downloading footage and the GPS locking on. It is estimated that the DR750S is twice as fast as its predecessor, the DR650S.

Cloud functionality is still one of BlackVue’s highest priorities, which is why the DR750S is ready for use with a mobile internet source. When connected to BlackVue Over the Cloud, you can access features such as remote live view, mobile push notifications and the ability to back up important videos to the Cloud.

Use the form below to be the first to know about new information regarding the BlackVue DR750S UK:

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New Release: The BlackVue DR490L-2Ch

BlackVue DR490L-2Ch

BlackVue recently discontinued their DR750LW-2Ch dash cam, which was their first camera that incorporated a screen. Now however they have released the DR490L-2Ch. This camera has again strayed from their flagship cylindrical design and instead opted for the squared shape as per the previous 750LW.

The display is a 3.5″ LCD touch screen that allows you to watch previously recorded footage and change the camera settings. The navigation has been designed to be simple and intuitive to give you the best user experience. Using the screen allows you to set up the brand new feature, Lane Departure Warning System (LDWS), which when enabled will emit an audible alert when your vehicle is close to or crossing a line on the road.BlackVue DR490L-2Ch

Alongside the improved discreetness of this camera, the power magic pro is not needed for parking mode. This is because the camera has an in-built voltage cut-off device, meaning you simply need the hard-wire lead that comes with the camera for the use of parking mode. Alternatively,  you can have the camera plugged into your cigarette socket as a cigarette power cable is also included. It is worth noting that the cameras parking mode feature will not function if you do not have it hard-wired.

Another impressive feature of the DR490 is 1080P full HD front and rear camera recording quality. In other BlackVue models only the front camera is 1080P, with the rear camera recording in 720P. This ensures you get the highest quality recording possible for even clearer video evidence. The DR490 also has night vision, meaning your night time recording clearly shows what is happening.

There is one feature missing from the BlackVue DR490, Wi-Fi. However, this feature is not needed as you can playback footage or amend settings by using the LCD touch screen.

Overall the BlackVue DR490 has a wide variety of features that make it an impressive system, it is also very discreet which is a requirement for many people when searching for a camera. For those of you who want a camera with a screen, this is definitely one of the best options on the market.

Buy the BlackVue DR490L today