UPDATE: September 12, 2019 We have new recommendations for premium cameras including the Thinkware F800 Pro. See our review here: th-cam.com/video/_KqLAJa8ZGM/w-d-xo.html
I have never seen any reviewer go to the level of detail as to use a volt & ammeter, very impressive. You just made the sale for this company's product - and they should give you a commission :-) From a professional geek and EE, thank you!
Haha, thanks Joey. Took a lot of time to figure out what a good test would be to objectively compare energy efficiency. I wonder how accurate everything is as the second voltmeter was the best on paper of it's price range but it's no fluke. There's a lot more I want to do in terms of hardware level analysis but I may need an actual engineer.
among all the dodgy market that dashcams live in, this channel certainly provides a much better picture of view when you deciding where to start and what to buy. wish more ppl can see your video. but i guess ppl just dont care about dashcam that much. normal ppl just buy one from whatever was on sale or recommended by store staff and only realize it wasnt the right one when the incidents happen.
Thanks Liangshi! Most people don't which is why I make the Top ___ guides. The single dash camera reviews just help me with the testing process and gives some legitimacy when I declare something is "the best".
I absolutely love your work. Such attention to detail and you go about testing for things/situations that consumers really want to know about. I'll be getting this Thinkware F770 2CH soon. Your review has helped solidify why this camera should be at the top of my list of options.
Your review is very extensive and shows how much time you put into your reviews. I bought the 770 on thanksgiving day in the US and before I saw this video. Blackbox had a special Black Friday bundle. I had my eye on this camera for front, rear video quality and parking mode. I feel even better on the purchase after watching your review. If this camera lives up to my expectation, I will buy another one (front only) from your link. You deserve the support! Thanks.
Thanks DRN, really appreciate the support! It definitely takes a while to do especially when I'm adding in new ways to test each time. Hopefully I'm getting to the point where I can roll out the quantity and improve the presentation with better animations and video quality.
You do the most comprehensive dash cam reviews I've seen, well done! After a bunch of research, I picked up a F770 a month ago, and I can confirm your observations and conclusions. It is picky about which microSD card it will work with, but otherwise IMO this is a great dash cam, it totally rocks for my needs and I've been completely satisfied.
I have watched a few of your videos in the last 24 hours and I have to say that you have a great reviewing technique and present yourself well on camera. Thanks for your efforts. They've helped me become better educated with current technologies available and work closer to understanding what I want out a dash camera system.
Andrew, Thank you again for another stellar review. Your commentary style i.e. voice, eye contact, verbiage and knowledge of the products you review, are second to none! Thanks again!!
Thanks again Mosko for commenting and noticing. It's a lot of work to constantly improve how I do reviews. Hopefully I'm getting to the point where I can stick with a formula and roll out the reviews.
Really glad this channel exists. My mother and I are both looking into getting a two channel system for both of our cars. My mom drives over 100 miles a day to get to and from work and she would feel a lot safer with a recording of anything fishy that may go on in her drive. We have been trying to find a good camera but it is hard when employees at most places have no idea about dash cams. So thanks for helping us out!
I'm happy with the A119, inexpensive and fairly discreet, as well as easily removable. Specially with the GPS mount, just click it off the mount, no need to worry about cables. Planning to get another one for the rear, but was thinking to wait for the A119S to see if it's a better pick. Already sold 2 of my friends on it as well, one of which will be buying several as he has 3 or 4 cars in the household. I should ask Viofo for a commission. hahaha. Personally, I honestly don't think dual camera solutions are worth the extra money, specially this 400 dollar one. Two A119 would be easier to install, since you don't have to run a cable all the way to the front, and you have the added benefit from two completely independent cameras with separate SD cards, making it more difficult to loose all evidence. And for the price of one F770, you can buy 4 A119 and still have some change left, so you can cover pretty much all the angles around the car if you wish for that amount.. :)
I agree. But don't forget the cost of the (good) memory cards, F770 requires only one. Also there's one subtle feature that makes F770-type rear camera better - the ability to rotate it to record inside of the car (i.e. when you drop it off at valet). One thing I'd consider F770 over A119 though is its parking mode with internal battery protection (power cut-off).
Of course, a good memory card comes on top. The parking mode is a nice feature, but you can get a similar feature on the A119 by using a hardwire kit with built in battery drain protection. The only problem is that the A119 doesn't automatically go into parking mode, so motion detection is basically the only thing you get. I don't think parking mode is worth the extra 300 bucks though (or 200 if you take a dual cam setup into account) :)
Skauber That depends on how often you park outside with no other video surveillance available. Somebody might leave your car with some nasty damage way over $300 and take off.
True, depends on your local conditions I guess. That's not a big risk in my current area, so for those who really needs timelapse, the A119 isn't for them obviously. The only thing that may provide is motion detection, which isn't always the most reliable in any cam.. :)
If you aren't looking for parked recording these cameras aren't really a great value for many users. Some people like the convenience as everything comes out of the box and tech like dual save is actually really useful. The A119 is a great camera if you buy two for dual channel non-parked recording. Some people do think parked recording is worth a lot of money as they've had problems with vandalism or hit and runs. However getting two separate dash cameras for parked recording is much harder. Haven't found a really good solution that doesn't cost a lot of money. I haven't been looking that hard but I will be doing more research for a future video.
Highly impressed with your level of detail and it is making my continued research of dash cams much easier and informed. If only my camaro didn't have basically a periscope size rear window!
I know I came across as an azz in a previous comment and questions, for that I apologize. Your extensive attention to virtually every detail is providing quite a lot of help in making my decision with which unit I choose for my 2020 vehicle. Thank you!
I personally don't find WiFi to be a necessity in dash cams. In fact, they are more of a problem than a solution/good feature. The features I look for (not necessarily in order) are: battery backup to power during parking mode, night vision, 360 degree rotation, a rear cam, G-sense, loop recording, extreme weather tolerant/resistant (hot AND cold temperatures), spacious MicroSD card and microphone and speaker. I don't want it to drain my car battery, so having it's own battery would be best - even if it's a battery pack.
Great review, thanks! I found one of these new in box and figured it was so old, it’d be worth buying the latest and greatest. However, given this review video, as long as it works when I install it, I think I’m going to be happy with it. We’ll see. Liked and subscribed. Thanks again!
Thank you for your detailed review. I just bought this unit from Amazon on a lightning deal, so I am eager to try it out. Based on your feedback I think I will be very happy with it.
Thanks for this informative, well-done review. Looks like it took a lot of effort and time to be so thorough and professional! Thanks! This will definitely help me decide.
Thanks Bass! These definitely take a while especially when I have to do new things such as comparing dual channel systems on film and measuring energy usage.
very professional review , congratulations. I always follow your advice and I have several models that you've recommended. my camera for daily use is a119, yet still waiting for the opia2 I hope arrive soon, the a118c, A118C Upgrade, dome 201, Xiaomi Yi, a261 and the M10 are in my collection too, Greetings from México City.
Sweet, thanks Guillermo. I'll do my best to continue earning your trust. Are there any major questions you are hoping would be answered in the dash camera space?
misamisatv ... Well it's that time of year. I'm sure Mr. Car Cam Central will make a video about that before the end of this year. He's the best Dash Cam Reviewer on TH-cam. He'll make it happen. 😆✌
Sorry about the lack of a video. It was going to be done for Christmas but I had a family member review the script and it was put back on the editing board to improve its clarity.
Thanks for a great video review. I am in the UK and had been looking at different dashcams etc. most over here have large LCD screen suction mount dashcams, which I personally don't like. So found your review and the review from blackboxmycar and these convinced me to go for the Thinkware F770. Having the system installed today. So thank you for the great reviews really helped in making an informed choice of which system would be best. keep up the good work.
You recommend the Lexar 633x 64GB Micro SD card... what about a 128GB, any concerns about, or recommendations related to using a 128GB card? Btw, thanks for the comprehensive and well composed reviews... after scrolling many other reviews (and Top Picks) and then coming to you various videos, I'm sold on the Thinkware F770, and bought one, just now, from Amazon. I went the extra bucks because the few extra dollars might make the difference as court/police/insurance evidence. Having that said, this past week, I was the victim of "road rage" wherein a driver didn't like that I changed lanes into their lane, so they drove into oncoming lanes (empty at the time), drove up to the side of my car, slammed their car into mine (like a hockey body-check) then drove forward, parked, called the police, and told the police I hit them... no tickets issued because no witnesses, and our insurance companies are now having to deal with it, thus I had to make a claim on my insurance policy... though might be overturned if any witnesses turn up, but doubtful. Oh, and did I mention my mother and my little daughter were in the back seat at the time (even the police understood that there's no way I'd hit another vehicle while my daughter & mom are in the car, but they said they just don't have any evidence to allow them extra measures. With a dashcam, that other driver would be in jail right now for assault with a deadly weapon... and the deductible I'm having to pay would have paid for this dashcam. Lesson learned... the hard way.
No concerns I've used on successfully and a major manufacturer regularly sells that size card. Yup, a camera can save people a LOT of hassle. Sorry that happened to you but at least you'll be protected in the future. At the end of the day, no one got hurt. One thing to be thankful about, some road rage incidents go horribly wrong.
Hey Johnno, we'll be doing a video on budget dual dash cams after we finish off all our taxi camera reviews. Those record inside and outside your vehicle vs front and behind your vehicle. Here's the review if you're interested: th-cam.com/video/0oYqnqb6Agc/w-d-xo.html The budget dual channel review will be out in a month. Sorry about the long wait, we like to do a lot of research and testing before releasing our recommendations. -Andrew
The video quality is great BUT if you don't need lane departure warning NEVER turn that option on,cause u can it off. I've had this camera for 6 months and I put lane departure on and it dinged even going dead straight. I contacted manufacturer, they gave suggestions BUT it STILL Dings,dings and dings AND dings. Even though the car is dead center of the road.
Hey bellysis. Yes, these features are "gimmicky" right now and just distract you from driving. Sensors are ridiculously sensitive which in the end result gives out a lot of false warnings. -Rolands
First I liked to say Thanks so much for the very In-depth review.I can definitely see you have put much work into your Reviews.I don't know if this would work for my Vehicle because of the Window's and I have a definite blind spot and the shape of my car would not work so I see why you said this is for larger Vehicles.I am also stickler when it comes to anything in the way of my Vision.I am going to check out the site you mentioned or some other Videos.I have a Truck as well wish I would have seen this earlier because I just picked up a Dual Camera for the Truck.Awesome Videos really enjoyed but I would definitely need something a little smaller but tired of the Cheap one's that I have already made mistakes on.Keep up the Great Video's Love your work.👍Deb
Sorry for the late reply. Thanks for the kind words! I missed a bunch of comments. I wouldn't say it's only for larger vehicles. If you can position it behind your rear view mirror you wouldn't know it was there. I am glad you found a solution that works. -Andrew
This seems useful for accidents mostly. But what if you wanted to catch a thief? Seems to me he could approach from the side of the vehicle, break the window and never get recorded doing that or entering the vehicle and taking something.
As always, excellent. I still think using two A119 is better for anyone who knows what they want. Still waiting for some sort of 'safe' battery pack for dedicated parking mode.
Definitely on video quality on value, not so much for parking mode. You'll be paying at least $300 USD once you buy all the parts you need. I need to do a lot more testing for this first. Cellink B is probably your best bet. It uses a Lithium Iron Phosphate which is far better under hot weather.
Thanks Les! I preordered the F800 and I'm waiting for whenever it comes in. I tend to make preliminary notes weeks before I release the full review on Facebook: facebook.com/CarCamCentral/ -Andrew
Hi will you be reviewing the f800 anytime in the near future. As I went to best buy to buy a dash cam and the f800 says it will be coming soon. I think that I want to wait till that comes out before I purchase a dash cam. I really enjoyed your review and the way you give such detail about the camera you do a better job then the salesman at best buy lol.
excellent F770 review !! thanks for posting a link to the raw day & night video clips. If you disable all the road safety warning system options plus g-sensor does this increase the max bit rate over 10Mbps? Does the recorded bit rate change when in 1 channel or 2 channel mode? If you leave the wifi on does this reduce the max bit rate in recording like the DR650GW? Is there a CPL filter available anywhere for the R770 ? In your opinion if the camera is removed from the mount frequently each day & everyday will the mount fail over the long run? Is the mount designed to be a quick release? I plan to make a short microUSB extension for easier power re-connection since won't be using the parking feature this year. wow that's a lot of questions for you so just one more.... Any rumors on the new replacement for the F770?
Thanks! Disabling road safety warnings or g-sensor stuff will not affect the bitrate. Wifi will also not reduce bit rate, at the same time you can't record while your phone is connected. There is a CPL: www.edr-auto.fr/shop/fr/thinkware/168-polarizer-filter-thinkware-f770.html I have no idea about the mount failing but you could always buy another one. The mount is technically not a quick release design but it's easy to remove. No rumours yet but in Korea the next generation of Thinkware/iNavi cameras has been released with an Ambarella A12 chip and a Sony Starvis sensor. It's a bulky LCD model which don't sell well overseas. www.inavi.com/Products/BlackBox/Gate?target=_QUANTUM
I just received my f770 with additional IR camera. I have opia2 as my main front camera so I will be using this f770 as my rear camera and IR unit will be keeping eye on the interior of the car,. My setup will be kind of three channel setup. The IR camera, I will try to hide it somewhere in the dash so it does not catch the eye, it is basically for break-ins and evidence purposes. In the event of any unfortunate event, with thinkware's awesome parking mode, I am expecting some good results. AND if the main DVR unit of f770 will be in the rear of the vehicle then I am hoping that the thief will not notice it that easily or won't bother or will not have enough time to break rear glass windows just to take it in rush. WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT MY SETUP?
I think it is an awesome setup assuming you drive well most of the time. An interior camera will capture if you are tired, distracted, and an innocent looking video can be used against you. Otherwise good choices, I might add a car-safe battery like the Cellink-B so you don’t damage your battery. The F770 is stealthy and most thieves don’t even know what a dash camera is so they will often miss taking it.
Hey Jono. Currently we recommend Transcend's High Endurance line of SD cards. Our alternatives are Sandisk's High Endurance line and the Transcend 400x. Please check our detailed guide on SD cards we recommend here: www.carcamcentral.com/guide/recommended-sd-cards-avoid-sandisk-ultra-cards -Rolands
Hey Andrew excellent, as usual. Thanks for so much hard work. Question: How difficult do you anticipate it might be to install the rear cam of the Thinkware F770 onto the front windshield, instead (for in-cabin recording)? I'm anticipating cable management would be the biggest challenge. More and more ride-share drivers are beginning to see the need for such a setup, for safety purposes.
There's actually an IR model with a shorter 1 foot cable to make cable management a lot easier. It has infrared lights to make it useful at night. My next video will be on that topic, comparing a bunch of cameras: Falcon F360, Thinkware/Blackvue IR systems, Janus V2, Transcend 520. Transcend won the cheap category. Thinkware won the premium/easy category. Janus is hardest but I think provides the best protection with a separate backup, bright IR lights but is the hardest to install and setup.
I like that the blackvue can be detached from the car. If it is hot like in arizona i can detach the camera and put a lens protector which it comes with and throw it in my backpack
I liked the review, and while I agree with your statement regarding this being a better camera than the Blackvue 650S, I still prefer the packaging of the Blackvue better to the point where I would still opt for the Blackvue 650S despite it being the lesser overall dashcam. I'm hoping that Blackvue significantly improves the 650S in it's next iteration and then I'll get that model, whatever it might be called, and then move my current 650S to my truck and the new model into one of my other vehicles. Thank you for the excellent review, nice job!
well for the high price tag I'd still opt towards the 118, there seems to be alot if ill thought-out ideas, impracticality with this cameras set up. dunno about anyone else but if I'd a 400 quid dash can I'd prefer it not to be stuck to the windscreen ready to be nabbed... I mean why don't they just have a lens stuck to the screen (much smaller, harder to see) with a hidden system & memory, again the same for the rear camera, after all someone damaging ur car or anything else could easily see this & then aim to steal it from your car.. anyway nice review, potty the camera could di with abit more work
The A119 not good for parking mode as it doesn't have one. I've been researching to find two separate cameras you can use for front/back dual channel parked recording and I haven't been able to find one. For non-parked recording two cameras for most people is the better value but installation is harder. I didn't find it very impractical, I mean it's not perfect but nothing with the setup or installation that was actually bad or interferes with how it operates. Most thieves don't know about dash cameras so especially with the F770 they may think it's a transponder. Here's one thief being recorded on video with nothing happening: th-cam.com/video/iknugKfZvQE/w-d-xo.html
Do you have a review for the top 5 Two Channel Dash Cams? Like what would be the next one down from this, but easy to use? I two need to run in an SUV like you did.
Coming early next year DarkLord. Literally moving as much as possible working 10am to MIdnight. I just need to purchase more dash cameras, test them and release that guide. I'm doing it ASAP. Have to release a new top dash camera video first to update the video from May.
Thanks for answering me so fast, I love your style of videos, so I'll keep watching. I was just wondering your personal opinion on your next one down then that still did front and rear for less then $300. If you were going to go on a road trip in the next 15days. If you got nothing, I'll wait for your next review.
I do have something for you with front and rear. Super exciting for me right now $279 QVIA AR790. Ambarella A12, not stupidly large like some QVIA cameras. shop.lukasdirect.com/ar790wd Haven't seen the video quality yet.
No, I don't think it falls into what I'm reviewing right now. I think it's too track focused for most drivers to see the benefits of. It's expensive at $300 and uses lithium ion batteries which as great an option for long term reliability. I think the Automatic Wireless OBD would have better functionality for most drivers: www.automatic.com/
What are the watt hour current draws on cameras like this? It seems that 24 hours on a car battery would not be an issue. I want always on for traffic stops. Wired right into the wiring harness. Would be nice if they it would record for say 4 hours when the car stops moving and ask it it should shut down. No response it shuts down. That way you only get a 4 hour drain on your battery and it would cover a 4 hour traffic stop and even more if your were able to reply to it.
Hello hornetluca. It depends on what you want to get from your dash camera. Hardwiring your camera to your car will take some time, resources and knowledge. Using cigarette lighter is fine for regular recording, but if you want to set up your camera for parked recording, hardwiring it is a must. Rolands - Community Support
I have installed a Thinkware F770 front and back camera , and two blackvue dash cam,s left side of the car and the right side of the car. so I get a 360 degree view. I am using Blackvue DR650S 1 CH in a Lexus SC430 . with out going into lots of details the Blackvue DR650 is a far better product than Thinkware F770. 1: Blackvue has a much better build quality. 2: I can check video from inside the house to the car outside using my cell phone. Also the wireless connection is far better and easy to use on a Blackvue dash cam. The Thinkware F770 has a extremely temperamental wireless connection very unstable. I only found one thing better on the Thinkware F770 the sound recording is clearer. I also think the video quality is better on the Blackvue DR650. I dont get paid from any one! but i do think the Blackvue products are high quality and would get my business : )
Thanks for sharing your opinion Colin. I do like the Blackvue's build better. Cloud link can be useful if you end up using it. The video quality though is without a doubt better on the F770. Most noticeable on the rear camera. Front camera is closer but the F770 has a big edge in dynamic range.
I use Two Blackvue DR650S 1 CH, using this type of configuration this means the quality is the same. plus the Thinkware 770 front and rear will upload a video soon, then you can see the full picture. I have had 3 accidents and i was not even in the car.( all hit and run) so I end up paying the excess on the insurance claims. I think the parking mode is super important and side camera,s a must if want the full picture. or buy a super armed tank then you dont need a Dash cam any more.
Ah, that's why you find it better. That is a better configuration for video quality but it costs a lot more and it uses up more energy during parking mode. I don't think it's a fair comparison though.
Great video, two question can the rear cam be used as a backup camera (I mean the real time video has some lag?) Or is there other possibility to see on a screen (AV or HDMI output)?
In yor video you recommend the Lexar SD Card U3 but the link in the description leads to the cheaper U1. Which SD card should I pick? Fantastic review!
Shoot, I keep using the wrong image. There's no longer a U3 633x card, it's all U1 on the market right now. The Lexar 633x U1 is more than enough as the camera is at max writing at 2-3 MEGAbytes a second. The minimum writing speed of the U1 card is 10 megabytes a second.
Gosh this was a great video! Very informative and well presented! But hey quick question Do you have problems with the rear camera getting footage with rear window tinting? Especially during night time? Or do you think I should be fine with rear recordings even with dark rear tint? Thanks!
I haven't had a problem even with my windshield tinted. If you have a 10% tint well that's going to be a lot harder for any camera. On the F770 you can independently raise the brightness of the rear camera which can be helpful.
Hi, thanks for the thorough reviews. I'm in the market now for front & rear, wondering if you think it's a good idea to pick up the F770 now or maybe wait for the F800 in June? I'm guessing probably better to wait and see what the F800 gets us as there doesn't seem to be a lot of details at the moment. Thanks!
Hey bstock! F800 is more of a smart camera. It will use an Ambarella A12 chip so the quality should be improved, it`s just not the main focus. It uses an updated Sony Starvis and not Exmor sensor which will also boost low light quality. So it is a smarter camera with better video quality (hopefully) but it`s not 100%.
Great review! I got this camera because of this video. Are there any "side" view dash cams that you could recommend to go along with this one? Maybe a two set camera that can point toward the left and right doors? Hoping to not cover my car mirror.
Hey Mark, glad we helped you out! I don't have any recommendations as it's not something we've looked into. There are solutions like using a second dual-channel camera attached to your door frame but it's not something we advocate. -Andrew
Um when you were showing the night vids on the thinkware and Blackvue the black view had a crisper picture and you def could make out more of the plates with the blackvue
The Blackvue's crispness doesn't translate to better license plate details. I thought that too originally when I first looked at the videos. I spent a lot of time analyzing videos plus putting up raws on my website, everything I've seen leads me to concluding the F770 has better video quality. -Andrew
I had the same idea. Ah by the way, the (sorry I'm drunk right now) polarisation-lense thing (at least an unofficial one I think) for the Viofo has been released. So far, my Viofo (thx again for the review, bought it because of that!) does a great job here and I haven't noticed a single weakness compared to my previous dashcam which was horrible [Rollei DVR 110]. Cheers!
For a lot of people that'll probably be the better buy. Some might really want the dual save, convenience and likely the better reliability from Thinkware. If you want parking mode hands down the Thinkware F770 is the far superior pick.
Blue Ocean hello with the a119 dash cam will it record while in park mode just in case some one hits your car while left alone at a parking lol? thanks
Firstly, thanks for the best dash cam reviews on the internet. Now that's out of the way I have a strange question... I want to get a dual dash cam setup fitted into my Land Rover Defender and would like to ask my garage to do it as they are doing some work with it shortly, however some of the work they are doing in my Utility type vehicle *Utility has 5 seats but then a storage section in the rear akin to a van) is to have them blank the front off from the back with plywood. I could do with buying the device for them to fit before this happens but with it being so close to the holidays I'm a little short funds wise... so to get to my question, what cable connects the two devices? Could I obtain my own, get them to run the cable through the headlining etc and then connect the devices up myself? TIA!
Thanks Chris! It's a 21' USB cable which links both cameras. It's a very unusual cable as none run that long nor do they have the same mini connection on both ends. It's included with the rear camera so you don't have to run out and get one. It's rather robust but you should be able to sneak the cable through one of the panels to link the two devices.
I was looking at the LG innotek camera but the distribution seems to be waning around the world. I think the Lukas AR790 would likely be the better camera.
What prevents the deployment of a low power infrared proximity sensors waking up the camera, in the parking mode, to conserve battery power, I wonder. Secondly why not wire up vibration sensors on bumpers and doors, rather than generating tonnes of tiresome false alerts.
Hey. It is. They have upgraded video hardware - processor and sensor which will result in a better quality video. I would wait for the F800 Pro though because of cloud functions and darker housing. -Rolands
Thanks for this review! Would you say that these cameras are ok to use when your car has tinted windows? Or would tinted windows diminish the quality of the video, particularly at night?
Hello Michelle. People use them with tinted windows. During the it won't compromise video quality at all. At night however, tints do tend to restrict how much light gets through to the sensor thus there will be less detail picked up by the camera. Rolands - Community Support
Almost, this is exactly what I'm looking for, but I'm holding off till they offer the 4k 60 fps version or better. The camera will be in my brand new car for at least 6 years and anything less than 4k 60 fps will not do. please ask them to push the 4k Model fast.
You're going to be waiting a long time. 4K is really not needed especially as they haven't even tackled the problems of motion blur at night. Higher pixel density will make that even harder.
Car Cam Central, man that's sad news to read. But this seems to explain why I've been looking for so long. The detail at 4k 60 is so sharp and clear that it makes for excellent clarity for reading license plate reading or even using for road trip videos.
The description in the SD card video has the latest guidance. Basically Transcend High Endurance is #1. Lexar High Endurance is the alternative. Lexar 633X is my value pick but not the best. Also is one of the few good choices for 128GB unless you are OK with potentially having no warranty if you use Transcend or Samsung.
Hi. I purchased A119 in January based on your recommendation and I am very satisfied. can you now suggest a budget two channel dash cam , F770 is out of my budget.
Hello Irfan. There are no known good choices for budget two channel systems. The Blackvue DR490L is very interesting - $200 for front/back 1080P recording, but we haven't taken a closer look at it yet. Rolands - Community Support
Don't know if it's worth creating a separate video for that, he already has a review for each. Pretty sure A119 beats front F770 by the resolution and the price tag. The night quality in F770 is probably slightly better, plus it has a superb parking mode if hardwired. But that's about it? (WiFi feature is pretty useless, unless you use it to monitor your card remotely like with DR650).
Yup, you can download a video where the F770, A118, and A119 are directly compared on my website. The A119 beats the crap out of the F770 on video quality. Yup, main benefits are with parking mode, convenience plus the dual save features. I think many people wouldn't consider it an amazing value for just regular recording. WiFi is pretty useful to transfer files after an accident if you don't want the other party to know you have a dash camera. Alternatively to secure your files in case your camera is seized.
Thanks for your immediate reply but i have ordered A119 before seeing this video therefore can A119 replace the F770 since i want a dash cam for parking mode. Do you recommend me to use A119 for parking mode or should i buy the new F770 and is it the best parking mode dash cam?!
That's coming soon but it'll be on the DR650 IR. I'm comparing the Thinwkare/Blackvue IR systems, Transcend 520, Falcon F360 and the Januscam V2. What are you interested in learning about the IR system?
Actually I like to about the reliable, quality and easy to use with the iPhone. Now I kinda liked the thinkware f770 after seeing your review. But some reviews saying that the f770 wifi isn't that good compared to the dr650s ir. What do think? Thanks
Car Cam Central. I didn't finished the video the time I watched the video. I finished the second time. I realize it that you got everything or very much cover that I needed to know. I the opia 2 to but I decided to go with a Thinkware F770 instead because of the 2 channels. I should be getting on Thursday 03/22/2017. Can't wait 😊. Thanks Andrew. You're doing a great 👍 job.
Yeah, thanks, transparency is super important for me. I'm getting to the place where I can buy all my cameras. I end up keeping most of them as end up as comparison cameras for future videos.
Hi, Is there a more affordable model(s) you would recommend with Park Mode, but still great Video, etc? I am debating about getting the Viofo A119 from your previous review but debating about getting a Cam that has Park Mode as well. Thanks
$100 for the Thinkware F50 or the Goluk T3 are two choices. The T3 is more general purpose, the Thinkware has a better brand, availability and energy efficiency.
UPDATE: September 12, 2019
We have new recommendations for premium cameras including the Thinkware F800 Pro. See our review here: th-cam.com/video/_KqLAJa8ZGM/w-d-xo.html
I don't think Thinkware want repeat sales as the F770 rear cam will not fit F800 front cam. Stupid decision on their part as I was going to upgrade.
I'm about 4 Years late... but you do realise Red Light cameras only WORK in one direction right? (The side of the road they are on)
I have never seen any reviewer go to the level of detail as to use a volt & ammeter, very impressive. You just made the sale for this company's product - and they should give you a commission :-) From a professional geek and EE, thank you!
Haha, thanks Joey. Took a lot of time to figure out what a good test would be to objectively compare energy efficiency. I wonder how accurate everything is as the second voltmeter was the best on paper of it's price range but it's no fluke.
There's a lot more I want to do in terms of hardware level analysis but I may need an actual engineer.
among all the dodgy market that dashcams live in, this channel certainly provides a much better picture of view when you deciding where to start and what to buy.
wish more ppl can see your video.
but i guess ppl just dont care about dashcam that much. normal ppl just buy one from whatever was on sale or recommended by store staff and only realize it wasnt the right one when the incidents happen.
Thanks Liangshi! Most people don't which is why I make the Top ___ guides. The single dash camera reviews just help me with the testing process and gives some legitimacy when I declare something is "the best".
Its very nice to have these detailed videos to refer to after watching a "Top_ guides" when I wanted more information about a particular camera.
I absolutely love your work. Such attention to detail and you go about testing for things/situations that consumers really want to know about. I'll be getting this Thinkware F770 2CH soon. Your review has helped solidify why this camera should be at the top of my list of options.
Thanks gmannym3, it's comments like these that make the testing go by easier. I'll keep doing my best.
Your review is very extensive and shows how much time you put into your reviews. I bought the 770 on thanksgiving day in the US and before I saw this video. Blackbox had a special Black Friday bundle. I had my eye on this camera for front, rear video quality and parking mode. I feel even better on the purchase after watching your review. If this camera lives up to my expectation, I will buy another one (front only) from your link. You deserve the support! Thanks.
Thanks DRN, really appreciate the support! It definitely takes a while to do especially when I'm adding in new ways to test each time. Hopefully I'm getting to the point where I can roll out the quantity and improve the presentation with better animations and video quality.
Dude your reivew is so detailed I actually think you are raising the standard of what can really be a review
Thanks for the kind words Filip.
-Rolands
You do the most comprehensive dash cam reviews I've seen, well done! After a bunch of research, I picked up a F770 a month ago, and I can confirm your observations and conclusions. It is picky about which microSD card it will work with, but otherwise IMO this is a great dash cam, it totally rocks for my needs and I've been completely satisfied.
Thanks Thuddster! Nice to know some of observations have been validated!
Thanks for all of your thorough reviews and for updating the video description about the Lexar cards!
Thank you for noticing and making a comment! Glad it was helpful.
-Andrew
I have watched a few of your videos in the last 24 hours and I have to say that you have a great reviewing technique and present yourself well on camera. Thanks for your efforts. They've helped me become better educated with current technologies available and work closer to understanding what I want out a dash camera system.
Thanks Observer, glad I can help and I try my best to make things clear and simple. It's hard work, nice to know it's appreciated.
Andrew,
Thank you again for another stellar review. Your commentary style i.e. voice, eye contact, verbiage and knowledge of the products you review, are second to none! Thanks again!!
Thanks for the kind words! We'll try to get even better.
-Rolands
Damm Andrew. Stepping up the game. Nice lowdown. Especially liking the voltage part for hardwiring and parking mode.
Thanks again Mosko for commenting and noticing. It's a lot of work to constantly improve how I do reviews. Hopefully I'm getting to the point where I can stick with a formula and roll out the reviews.
Really glad this channel exists. My mother and I are both looking into getting a two channel system for both of our cars. My mom drives over 100 miles a day to get to and from work and she would feel a lot safer with a recording of anything fishy that may go on in her drive. We have been trying to find a good camera but it is hard when employees at most places have no idea about dash cams. So thanks for helping us out!
Thank you Lanibear! We are very happy to help you!
Rolands - Community Help
I'm happy with the A119, inexpensive and fairly discreet, as well as easily removable. Specially with the GPS mount, just click it off the mount, no need to worry about cables. Planning to get another one for the rear, but was thinking to wait for the A119S to see if it's a better pick. Already sold 2 of my friends on it as well, one of which will be buying several as he has 3 or 4 cars in the household. I should ask Viofo for a commission. hahaha.
Personally, I honestly don't think dual camera solutions are worth the extra money, specially this 400 dollar one. Two A119 would be easier to install, since you don't have to run a cable all the way to the front, and you have the added benefit from two completely independent cameras with separate SD cards, making it more difficult to loose all evidence. And for the price of one F770, you can buy 4 A119 and still have some change left, so you can cover pretty much all the angles around the car if you wish for that amount.. :)
I agree. But don't forget the cost of the (good) memory cards, F770 requires only one. Also there's one subtle feature that makes F770-type rear camera better - the ability to rotate it to record inside of the car (i.e. when you drop it off at valet). One thing I'd consider F770 over A119 though is its parking mode with internal battery protection (power cut-off).
Of course, a good memory card comes on top. The parking mode is a nice feature, but you can get a similar feature on the A119 by using a hardwire kit with built in battery drain protection. The only problem is that the A119 doesn't automatically go into parking mode, so motion detection is basically the only thing you get. I don't think parking mode is worth the extra 300 bucks though (or 200 if you take a dual cam setup into account) :)
Skauber That depends on how often you park outside with no other video surveillance available. Somebody might leave your car with some nasty damage way over $300 and take off.
True, depends on your local conditions I guess. That's not a big risk in my current area, so for those who really needs timelapse, the A119 isn't for them obviously. The only thing that may provide is motion detection, which isn't always the most reliable in any cam.. :)
If you aren't looking for parked recording these cameras aren't really a great value for many users. Some people like the convenience as everything comes out of the box and tech like dual save is actually really useful.
The A119 is a great camera if you buy two for dual channel non-parked recording. Some people do think parked recording is worth a lot of money as they've had problems with vandalism or hit and runs.
However getting two separate dash cameras for parked recording is much harder. Haven't found a really good solution that doesn't cost a lot of money. I haven't been looking that hard but I will be doing more research for a future video.
Highly impressed with your level of detail and it is making my continued research of dash cams much easier and informed.
If only my camaro didn't have basically a periscope size rear window!
Thanks! Is that a first world problem I'm detecting!?
Absolutely. Next will be my animate complaint about how my coffee took more than 3 minutes for them to prepare.
I know I came across as an azz in a previous comment and questions, for that I apologize. Your extensive attention to virtually every detail is providing quite a lot of help in making my decision with which unit I choose for my 2020 vehicle. Thank you!
I don't remember the comment if you did. Glad you enjoyed my content and that it helped TImber!
great comprehensive review. The F770 are starting to find their way into discount stores so worth that bit extra search
Hey. Thanks for the words. It is a great camera and well worth the search for a better price.
-Rolands
your reviews are incredibly thorough and well thought out. great work!!
Thank you hvf26!
Rolands - Community Support
I personally don't find WiFi to be a necessity in dash cams. In fact, they are more of a problem than a solution/good feature. The features I look for (not necessarily in order) are: battery backup to power during parking mode, night vision, 360 degree rotation, a rear cam, G-sense, loop recording, extreme weather tolerant/resistant (hot AND cold temperatures), spacious MicroSD card and microphone and speaker. I don't want it to drain my car battery, so having it's own battery would be best - even if it's a battery pack.
this guy really puts high effort in his reviews. Good job!!
Thanks 300! I try my best.
Really detailed review of dash cam. Thank you for making this available for consumers keep the good work up.
Hey. Thanks for the kind words!
-Rolands
Great review, thanks! I found one of these new in box and figured it was so old, it’d be worth buying the latest and greatest. However, given this review video, as long as it works when I install it, I think I’m going to be happy with it. We’ll see. Liked and subscribed. Thanks again!
Thank you for your detailed review. I just bought this unit from Amazon on a lightning deal, so I am eager to try it out. Based on your feedback I think I will be very happy with it.
Glad to help green! Update the firmware as well!
-Andrew
We need more of these two channel camera video
Hey, Ken. It's in the works. Stay patient and stay tuned. We will try to not disappoint.
-Rolands
Awesome review!!! Gonna get one for myself, I love the comparison to the 407 transponder too as that's something that I use daily too 😂😂
Thanks Jeertz. It might be worth to get the F800 Pro though which has better hardware, video quality and cloud functionality.
-Rolands
What a fantastically detailed review (as usual). Best on the tube ATM for this type of gear. Well done.
Thanks Marco! I try my best.
Thanks for this informative, well-done review. Looks like it took a lot of effort and time to be so thorough and professional! Thanks! This will definitely help me decide.
Thanks Bass! These definitely take a while especially when I have to do new things such as comparing dual channel systems on film and measuring energy usage.
very professional review , congratulations. I always follow your advice and I have several models that you've recommended. my camera for daily use is a119, yet still waiting for the opia2 I hope arrive soon, the a118c, A118C Upgrade, dome 201, Xiaomi Yi, a261 and the M10 are in my collection too, Greetings from México City.
Sweet, thanks Guillermo. I'll do my best to continue earning your trust. Are there any major questions you are hoping would be answered in the dash camera space?
Solid review thanks for the detailed and professional review
You're welcome Edward!
-Andrew
Oh yea!!! Another review!! Awesome. Happy Turkey Day.
Hey again Vinny! Thanks for always being within the first few people to watch this video and commenting. Happy Turkey Day to you too.
I'm trying to shop for Black Friday and for Christmas so I hope we can see a "Top Dash Cams for 2016 - December Edition" video sometime!
misamisatv ... Well it's that time of year. I'm sure Mr. Car Cam Central will make a video about that before the end of this year. He's the best Dash Cam Reviewer on TH-cam. He'll make it happen. 😆✌
One will definitely be coming out soon!
Sorry about the lack of a video. It was going to be done for Christmas but I had a family member review the script and it was put back on the editing board to improve its clarity.
Thanks for a great video review. I am in the UK and had been looking at different dashcams etc. most over here have large LCD screen suction mount dashcams, which I personally don't like. So found your review and the review from blackboxmycar and these convinced me to go for the Thinkware F770. Having the system installed today. So thank you for the great reviews really helped in making an informed choice of which system would be best. keep up the good work.
Awesome stuff Gazza, the big LCD cameras have definitely been a turn off for a lot of people. Glad I was able to help and enjoy your new setup.
You recommend the Lexar 633x 64GB Micro SD card... what about a 128GB, any concerns about, or recommendations related to using a 128GB card? Btw, thanks for the comprehensive and well composed reviews... after scrolling many other reviews (and Top Picks) and then coming to you various videos, I'm sold on the Thinkware F770, and bought one, just now, from Amazon. I went the extra bucks because the few extra dollars might make the difference as court/police/insurance evidence. Having that said, this past week, I was the victim of "road rage" wherein a driver didn't like that I changed lanes into their lane, so they drove into oncoming lanes (empty at the time), drove up to the side of my car, slammed their car into mine (like a hockey body-check) then drove forward, parked, called the police, and told the police I hit them... no tickets issued because no witnesses, and our insurance companies are now having to deal with it, thus I had to make a claim on my insurance policy... though might be overturned if any witnesses turn up, but doubtful. Oh, and did I mention my mother and my little daughter were in the back seat at the time (even the police understood that there's no way I'd hit another vehicle while my daughter & mom are in the car, but they said they just don't have any evidence to allow them extra measures. With a dashcam, that other driver would be in jail right now for assault with a deadly weapon... and the deductible I'm having to pay would have paid for this dashcam. Lesson learned... the hard way.
No concerns I've used on successfully and a major manufacturer regularly sells that size card.
Yup, a camera can save people a LOT of hassle. Sorry that happened to you but at least you'll be protected in the future. At the end of the day, no one got hurt. One thing to be thankful about, some road rage incidents go horribly wrong.
Watched a few of your clips and they have all been very good...subscribed.
Thanks Dave!
Great videos, very informative! Any chance you will be doing a video on the best budget two channel (dual lens) dash cams?
Hey Johnno, we'll be doing a video on budget dual dash cams after we finish off all our taxi camera reviews. Those record inside and outside your vehicle vs front and behind your vehicle. Here's the review if you're interested: th-cam.com/video/0oYqnqb6Agc/w-d-xo.html The budget dual channel review will be out in a month. Sorry about the long wait, we like to do a lot of research and testing before releasing our recommendations.
-Andrew
The video quality is great BUT if you don't need lane departure warning NEVER turn that option on,cause u can it off. I've had this camera for 6 months and I put lane departure on and it dinged even going dead straight. I contacted manufacturer, they gave suggestions BUT it STILL Dings,dings and dings AND dings. Even though the car is dead center of the road.
Hey bellysis. Yes, these features are "gimmicky" right now and just distract you from driving. Sensors are ridiculously sensitive which in the end result gives out a lot of false warnings.
-Rolands
bellyisis ...just wandering,,,.i m thinking of getting this one,.. The ding ding and ding can be shut off or not ?
First I liked to say Thanks so much for the very In-depth review.I can definitely see you have put much work into your Reviews.I don't know if this would work for my Vehicle because of the Window's and I have a definite blind spot and the shape of my car would not work so I see why you said this is for larger Vehicles.I am also stickler when it comes to anything in the way of my Vision.I am going to check out the site you mentioned or some other Videos.I have a Truck as well wish I would have seen this earlier because I just picked up a Dual Camera for the Truck.Awesome Videos really enjoyed but I would definitely need something a little smaller but tired of the Cheap one's that I have already made mistakes on.Keep up the Great Video's Love your work.👍Deb
Sorry for the late reply. Thanks for the kind words! I missed a bunch of comments. I wouldn't say it's only for larger vehicles. If you can position it behind your rear view mirror you wouldn't know it was there. I am glad you found a solution that works.
-Andrew
As always, excellent review of the dash cam.
Thanks!
This seems useful for accidents mostly. But what if you wanted to catch a thief? Seems to me he could approach from the side of the vehicle, break the window and never get recorded doing that or entering the vehicle and taking something.
Phew! for once a review channel that actually thinks about what information is relevant - good stuff!
Thank you Nicholas! We hope to deliver much more in 2019!
-Rolands
As always, excellent.
I still think using two A119 is better for anyone who knows what they want.
Still waiting for some sort of 'safe' battery pack for dedicated parking mode.
Definitely on video quality on value, not so much for parking mode. You'll be paying at least $300 USD once you buy all the parts you need. I need to do a lot more testing for this first.
Cellink B is probably your best bet. It uses a Lithium Iron Phosphate which is far better under hot weather.
Thanks again for commenting xxgg.
Hi, just found your channel. I am a new sub and gave you a thumbs up. I can not wait for your review of the Thinkware F800.
Thanks Les! I preordered the F800 and I'm waiting for whenever it comes in. I tend to make preliminary notes weeks before I release the full review on Facebook: facebook.com/CarCamCentral/
-Andrew
thinkware f800 is out and available at all bestbuy stores in USA but it's not on bestbuy website yet.
and i am waiting for review.
thanks in advance
Hi will you be reviewing the f800 anytime in the near future. As I went to best buy to buy a dash cam and the f800 says it will be coming soon. I think that I want to wait till that comes out before I purchase a dash cam. I really enjoyed your review and the way you give such detail about the camera you do a better job then the salesman at best buy lol.
Hello Lyubov I. It's in our schedule. Finishing up on other projects right now.
-Rolands
excellent F770 review !! thanks for posting a link to the raw day & night video clips.
If you disable all the road safety warning system options plus g-sensor does this increase the max bit rate over 10Mbps? Does the recorded bit rate change when in 1 channel or 2 channel mode?
If you leave the wifi on does this reduce the max bit rate in recording like the DR650GW?
Is there a CPL filter available anywhere for the R770 ?
In your opinion if the camera is removed from the mount frequently each day & everyday will the mount fail over the long run? Is the mount designed to be a quick release? I plan to make a short microUSB extension for easier power re-connection since won't be using the parking feature this year.
wow that's a lot of questions for you so just one more.... Any rumors on the new replacement for the F770?
Thanks! Disabling road safety warnings or g-sensor stuff will not affect the bitrate. Wifi will also not reduce bit rate, at the same time you can't record while your phone is connected.
There is a CPL: www.edr-auto.fr/shop/fr/thinkware/168-polarizer-filter-thinkware-f770.html
I have no idea about the mount failing but you could always buy another one. The mount is technically not a quick release design but it's easy to remove.
No rumours yet but in Korea the next generation of Thinkware/iNavi cameras has been released with an Ambarella A12 chip and a Sony Starvis sensor. It's a bulky LCD model which don't sell well overseas. www.inavi.com/Products/BlackBox/Gate?target=_QUANTUM
I just received my f770 with additional IR camera.
I have opia2 as my main front camera so I will be using this f770 as my rear camera and IR unit will be keeping eye on the interior of the car,.
My setup will be kind of three channel setup. The IR camera, I will try to hide it somewhere in the dash so it does not catch the eye, it is basically for break-ins and evidence purposes. In the event of any unfortunate event, with thinkware's awesome parking mode, I am expecting some good results. AND if the main DVR unit of f770 will be in the rear of the vehicle then I am hoping that the thief will not notice it that easily or won't bother or will not have enough time to break rear glass windows just to take it in rush.
WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT MY SETUP?
I think it is an awesome setup assuming you drive well most of the time. An interior camera will capture if you are tired, distracted, and an innocent looking video can be used against you. Otherwise good choices, I might add a car-safe battery like the Cellink-B so you don’t damage your battery. The F770 is stealthy and most thieves don’t even know what a dash camera is so they will often miss taking it.
I love how it goes back n forth like Knight Rider to tell criminals to backoff
It was a fun feature, gone on the newer models though.
Great detailed review 👍
What sd card do you recommend?
Hey Jono. Currently we recommend Transcend's High Endurance line of SD cards. Our alternatives are Sandisk's High Endurance line and the Transcend 400x. Please check our detailed guide on SD cards we recommend here:
www.carcamcentral.com/guide/recommended-sd-cards-avoid-sandisk-ultra-cards
-Rolands
Hey Andrew excellent, as usual. Thanks for so much hard work. Question: How difficult do you anticipate it might be to install the rear cam of the Thinkware F770 onto the front windshield, instead (for in-cabin recording)? I'm anticipating cable management would be the biggest challenge. More and more ride-share drivers are beginning to see the need for such a setup, for safety purposes.
There's actually an IR model with a shorter 1 foot cable to make cable management a lot easier. It has infrared lights to make it useful at night.
My next video will be on that topic, comparing a bunch of cameras: Falcon F360, Thinkware/Blackvue IR systems, Janus V2, Transcend 520.
Transcend won the cheap category. Thinkware won the premium/easy category. Janus is hardest but I think provides the best protection with a separate backup, bright IR lights but is the hardest to install and setup.
Thanks, great info - think I'll hold off purchase until I see that vid... much appreciated.
great review
Thanks 8elhaj!
Just brought this. Really looking forward to getting this up and running
Great stuff Gravy, hope you got it running!
-Andrew
Hi Andrew. I did, but running into issues. My parking recording only lasts for like 2 hours and stops. You know any reason why?
Urgh, bought!! You did not go to a shop and bruy it.
Fantastic and in depth review.
Thank you very much.
-Rolands
Great level of review. Thanks 👍👍👍
Thanks Jimmy!
Normally because red light/speed cam only work one way (my tomtom norm only alerts me on the direction is facing to captor you)
Very thorough, thanks for the review!
Thanks Taylor!
I like that the blackvue can be detached from the car. If it is hot like in arizona i can detach the camera and put a lens protector which it comes with and throw it in my backpack
I liked the review, and while I agree with your statement regarding this being a better camera than the Blackvue 650S, I still prefer the packaging of the Blackvue better to the point where I would still opt for the Blackvue 650S despite it being the lesser overall dashcam.
I'm hoping that Blackvue significantly improves the 650S in it's next iteration and then I'll get that model, whatever it might be called, and then move my current 650S to my truck and the new model into one of my other vehicles.
Thank you for the excellent review, nice job!
Thanks MJK! I'm looking forward to the next version of the 650S as well.
Any insight as to when or what (outside of embargos)
Nope, I have no idea when the next product is coming in, but it's definitely due.
well for the high price tag I'd still opt towards the 118, there seems to be alot if ill thought-out ideas, impracticality with this cameras set up.
dunno about anyone else but if I'd a 400 quid dash can I'd prefer it not to be stuck to the windscreen ready to be nabbed... I mean why don't they just have a lens stuck to the screen (much smaller, harder to see) with a hidden system & memory, again the same for the rear camera, after all someone damaging ur car or anything else could easily see this & then aim to steal it from your car..
anyway nice review, potty the camera could di with abit more work
why not the a119 instead of the 118?
Sushi Yeh simple typo I mistaken the model names etc... thx for pointing that out😁
The A119 not good for parking mode as it doesn't have one. I've been researching to find two separate cameras you can use for front/back dual channel parked recording and I haven't been able to find one. For non-parked recording two cameras for most people is the better value but installation is harder.
I didn't find it very impractical, I mean it's not perfect but nothing with the setup or installation that was actually bad or interferes with how it operates.
Most thieves don't know about dash cameras so especially with the F770 they may think it's a transponder. Here's one thief being recorded on video with nothing happening: th-cam.com/video/iknugKfZvQE/w-d-xo.html
Do you have a review for the top 5 Two Channel Dash Cams? Like what would be the next one down from this, but easy to use? I two need to run in an SUV like you did.
Coming early next year DarkLord. Literally moving as much as possible working 10am to MIdnight. I just need to purchase more dash cameras, test them and release that guide. I'm doing it ASAP. Have to release a new top dash camera video first to update the video from May.
Thanks for answering me so fast, I love your style of videos, so I'll keep watching.
I was just wondering your personal opinion on your next one down then that still did front and rear for less then $300. If you were going to go on a road trip in the next 15days.
If you got nothing, I'll wait for your next review.
I do have something for you with front and rear. Super exciting for me right now $279 QVIA AR790. Ambarella A12, not stupidly large like some QVIA cameras. shop.lukasdirect.com/ar790wd
Haven't seen the video quality yet.
I'm confused, you said it works with a 128gb card, but the Thinkware website only says 64gb
It works, just not officially mentioned as they may not have tested every brand with it. It's an easy CYA.
Thank you for your videos. Are you planning to do one on the waylens kickstarter performance obd linked camera?
No, I don't think it falls into what I'm reviewing right now. I think it's too track focused for most drivers to see the benefits of. It's expensive at $300 and uses lithium ion batteries which as great an option for long term reliability.
I think the Automatic Wireless OBD would have better functionality for most drivers: www.automatic.com/
What are the watt hour current draws on cameras like this? It seems that 24 hours on a car battery would not be an issue.
I want always on for traffic stops. Wired right into the wiring harness. Would be nice if they it would record for say 4 hours when the car stops moving and ask it it should shut down. No response it shuts down. That way you only get a 4 hour drain on your battery and it would cover a 4 hour traffic stop and even more if your were able to reply to it.
I think in US it should be base requirement for car to have 360 24/7 dash cam at customers choice
Is it better to hardwire the dashcam or to use it via the car cigarette lighter ?
What are the pros and cons?
Hello hornetluca. It depends on what you want to get from your dash camera. Hardwiring your camera to your car will take some time, resources and knowledge. Using cigarette lighter is fine for regular recording, but if you want to set up your camera for parked recording, hardwiring it is a must.
Rolands - Community Support
cual es el precio y si tres camaras
I have installed a Thinkware F770 front and back camera , and two blackvue dash cam,s left side of the car and the right side of the car. so I get a 360 degree view. I am using Blackvue DR650S 1 CH in a Lexus SC430 . with out going into lots of details the Blackvue DR650 is a far better product than Thinkware F770.
1: Blackvue has a much better build quality.
2: I can check video from inside the house to the car outside using my cell phone.
Also the wireless connection is far better and easy to use on a Blackvue dash cam.
The Thinkware F770 has a extremely temperamental wireless connection very unstable.
I only found one thing better on the Thinkware F770 the sound recording is clearer. I also think the video quality is better on the Blackvue DR650. I dont get paid from any one!
but i do think the Blackvue products are high quality and would get my business : )
Thanks for sharing your opinion Colin. I do like the Blackvue's build better. Cloud link can be useful if you end up using it.
The video quality though is without a doubt better on the F770. Most noticeable on the rear camera. Front camera is closer but the F770 has a big edge in dynamic range.
I use Two Blackvue DR650S 1 CH, using this type of configuration this means
the quality is the same. plus the Thinkware 770 front and rear will upload a video soon, then you can see the full picture. I have had 3 accidents and i was not even in the car.( all hit and run) so I end up paying the excess on the insurance claims. I think the parking mode is super important and side camera,s a must if want the full picture. or buy a super armed tank then you dont need a Dash cam any more.
Ah, that's why you find it better. That is a better configuration for video quality but it costs a lot more and it uses up more energy during parking mode. I don't think it's a fair comparison though.
Clear and concise .. Thanks for your post.
Happy you liked it!
Rolands - Community Help
Great video, two question can the rear cam be used as a backup camera (I mean the real time video has some lag?) Or is there other possibility to see on a screen (AV or HDMI output)?
In yor video you recommend the Lexar SD Card U3 but the link in the description leads to the cheaper U1.
Which SD card should I pick? Fantastic review!
Shoot, I keep using the wrong image. There's no longer a U3 633x card, it's all U1 on the market right now. The Lexar 633x U1 is more than enough as the camera is at max writing at 2-3 MEGAbytes a second. The minimum writing speed of the U1 card is 10 megabytes a second.
Thank you very much for your help and quick reply :)
Gosh this was a great video! Very informative and well presented! But hey quick question
Do you have problems with the rear camera getting footage with rear window tinting? Especially during night time? Or do you think I should be fine with rear recordings even with dark rear tint? Thanks!
I haven't had a problem even with my windshield tinted. If you have a 10% tint well that's going to be a lot harder for any camera. On the F770 you can independently raise the brightness of the rear camera which can be helpful.
Hi, thanks for the thorough reviews. I'm in the market now for front & rear, wondering if you think it's a good idea to pick up the F770 now or maybe wait for the F800 in June? I'm guessing probably better to wait and see what the F800 gets us as there doesn't seem to be a lot of details at the moment.
Thanks!
Hey bstock! F800 is more of a smart camera. It will use an Ambarella A12 chip so the quality should be improved, it`s just not the main focus. It uses an updated Sony Starvis and not Exmor sensor which will also boost low light quality. So it is a smarter camera with better video quality (hopefully) but it`s not 100%.
Great review. Subscribed. What is the bit rate for the front and rear cameras?
Thanks! It's 10 for the front, 8 for the back.
Hey Andrew, I was wondering if you’re going to do a review/overview of the F800/f800pro?
Hello Tommy. It's in the works. Still need to do some research, but the camera is already bought and ready to be tested.
-Rolands
Why are the Top dash cam maker from Korea? Thinkware / Blackvue.
Great review! I got this camera because of this video.
Are there any "side" view dash cams that you could recommend to go along with this one?
Maybe a two set camera that can point toward the left and right doors? Hoping to not cover my car mirror.
Hey Mark, glad we helped you out! I don't have any recommendations as it's not something we've looked into. There are solutions like using a second dual-channel camera attached to your door frame but it's not something we advocate.
-Andrew
+Car Cam Central Can you please do a comparison on the F770 and the BlackVue DR750S-2CH?
I have the F750, is it worth it to trade in the F770 ?
By the way thanks for the great review.
Thanks Fido! Nope, they use the same hardware, just the F770 has a stealthier body. Keep the F750.
Um when you were showing the night vids on the thinkware and Blackvue the black view had a crisper picture and you def could make out more of the plates with the blackvue
The Blackvue's crispness doesn't translate to better license plate details. I thought that too originally when I first looked at the videos. I spent a lot of time analyzing videos plus putting up raws on my website, everything I've seen leads me to concluding the F770 has better video quality.
-Andrew
It't my personal cam now, I like the blackvue dr650 2ch a lot still but this one has a few features that finally got me to switch.
Hey hey! Yeah, Blackvue has fallen behind after they invested a lot into their cloud tech. Are you still running your four channel system?
Car Cam Central I have blackvue dashcams and they can't take the heat so they crash slot in summer time. How is Thinkware with heat?
Car Cam Central would you still recommend Blackvue today?
Brilliant review 👍
isn't it better to have two Viofo A119 for better price and similar quality instead of these?!
I had the same idea.
Ah by the way, the (sorry I'm drunk right now) polarisation-lense thing (at least an unofficial one I think) for the Viofo has been released.
So far, my Viofo (thx again for the review, bought it because of that!) does a great job here and I haven't noticed a single weakness compared to my previous dashcam which was horrible [Rollei DVR 110].
Cheers!
For a lot of people that'll probably be the better buy. Some might really want the dual save, convenience and likely the better reliability from Thinkware.
If you want parking mode hands down the Thinkware F770 is the far superior pick.
Blue Ocean hello with the a119 dash cam will it record while in park mode just in case some one hits your car while left alone at a parking lol? thanks
Eric woods, Here is a discussion in a forum
dashcamtalk.com/forum/forums/a119.193/
dashcamtalk.com/forum/search/5206972/?q=F770&o=date
Firstly, thanks for the best dash cam reviews on the internet.
Now that's out of the way I have a strange question...
I want to get a dual dash cam setup fitted into my Land Rover Defender and would like to ask my garage to do it as they are doing some work with it shortly, however some of the work they are doing in my Utility type vehicle *Utility has 5 seats but then a storage section in the rear akin to a van) is to have them blank the front off from the back with plywood. I could do with buying the device for them to fit before this happens but with it being so close to the holidays I'm a little short funds wise... so to get to my question, what cable connects the two devices? Could I obtain my own, get them to run the cable through the headlining etc and then connect the devices up myself?
TIA!
Thanks Chris!
It's a 21' USB cable which links both cameras. It's a very unusual cable as none run that long nor do they have the same mini connection on both ends. It's included with the rear camera so you don't have to run out and get one.
It's rather robust but you should be able to sneak the cable through one of the panels to link the two devices.
Car Cam Central Is it mini or micro at both ends? Kinda hard to make out... thanks for your reply.
It's a micro at both ends, more specifically it's a male-male micro USB cable which I've never seen before.
I'm beginning to wonder if this channel only promotes and reviews cams produced overseas....
In the future I also hope to review American made televisions.
Derpadoo.
I have been using F750 for over year and I find the lane change and collision detection feature very slow to detect.
I just bought this for my parents over Xmas. Did you hear of the LG Innotek LGD521? looks pretty good. Would you review that?
I was looking at the LG innotek camera but the distribution seems to be waning around the world. I think the Lukas AR790 would likely be the better camera.
What prevents the deployment of a low power infrared proximity sensors waking up the camera, in the parking mode, to conserve battery power, I wonder.
Secondly why not wire up vibration sensors on bumpers and doors, rather than generating tonnes of tiresome false alerts.
How about the F800 is that better than the F770? I drive mostly at night for work so I need superior night vision.
Hey. It is. They have upgraded video hardware - processor and sensor which will result in a better quality video. I would wait for the F800 Pro though because of cloud functions and darker housing.
-Rolands
Thanks for this review! Would you say that these cameras are ok to use when your car has tinted windows? Or would tinted windows diminish the quality of the video, particularly at night?
Hello Michelle. People use them with tinted windows. During the it won't compromise video quality at all. At night however, tints do tend to restrict how much light gets through to the sensor thus there will be less detail picked up by the camera.
Rolands - Community Support
Car Cam Central thanks so much for your reply! This helps a lot.
Almost, this is exactly what I'm looking for, but I'm holding off till they offer the 4k 60 fps version or better. The camera will be in my brand new car for at least 6 years and anything less than 4k 60 fps will not do. please ask them to push the 4k Model fast.
You're going to be waiting a long time. 4K is really not needed especially as they haven't even tackled the problems of motion blur at night. Higher pixel density will make that even harder.
Car Cam Central, man that's sad news to read. But this seems to explain why I've been looking for so long. The detail at 4k 60 is so sharp and clear that it makes for excellent clarity for reading license plate reading or even using for road trip videos.
When does THINKWARE DASH CAM F800 review coming out ?
Hello Dariusz. It' s in the future project list for sure. Let's wait for the camera to come out first.
-Rolands
Reminds me of an old lan line voice message box
Another great video!
Thanks Wash!
Washington State Dashcam b
Also, you've given somewhat conflicting advice on SD card model preferences, can you clarify which is truly your number one pick please?
The description in the SD card video has the latest guidance. Basically Transcend High Endurance is #1. Lexar High Endurance is the alternative. Lexar 633X is my value pick but not the best. Also is one of the few good choices for 128GB unless you are OK with potentially having no warranty if you use Transcend or Samsung.
Hi. I purchased A119 in January based on your recommendation and I am very satisfied. can you now suggest a budget two channel dash cam , F770 is out of my budget.
Hello Irfan. There are no known good choices for budget two channel systems. The Blackvue DR490L is very interesting - $200 for front/back 1080P recording, but we haven't taken a closer look at it yet.
Rolands - Community Support
Car Cam Central well in that case I may get another A119 for my other car
this is tricky, I want to get a dash cam as a gift but don't know which one!
Viofo A119, it's my #1 goto for most drivers. It's not the best or the right fit for everyone but it should meet the needs of most users.
I like the F770 but can we have compared A119 with F770 alone since I ordered A119 because, thanks to your reviews about A119
Don't know if it's worth creating a separate video for that, he already has a review for each. Pretty sure A119 beats front F770 by the resolution and the price tag. The night quality in F770 is probably slightly better, plus it has a superb parking mode if hardwired. But that's about it? (WiFi feature is pretty useless, unless you use it to monitor your card remotely like with DR650).
Yup, you can download a video where the F770, A118, and A119 are directly compared on my website. The A119 beats the crap out of the F770 on video quality.
Yup, main benefits are with parking mode, convenience plus the dual save features. I think many people wouldn't consider it an amazing value for just regular recording.
WiFi is pretty useful to transfer files after an accident if you don't want the other party to know you have a dash camera. Alternatively to secure your files in case your camera is seized.
***** Which video is this? Am I searching in the right section? www.carcamcentral.com/review
Thanks for your immediate reply but i have ordered A119 before seeing this video therefore can A119 replace the F770 since i want a dash cam for parking mode. Do you recommend me to use A119 for parking mode or should i buy the new F770 and is it the best parking mode dash cam?!
I need to update that section Stan.
Is this still decent in Apr 2021?
Car salesman’s wanting to include this model with my new car purchase
Awesome review! Very thorough.
Thank you Carlos!
Rolands - Community Help
Thanks for your review car cam central. Can you do a review on blackvue dr650s ir 2ch. Thanks. Keep up the good work.. you got another subscriber.
That's coming soon but it'll be on the DR650 IR. I'm comparing the Thinwkare/Blackvue IR systems, Transcend 520, Falcon F360 and the Januscam V2. What are you interested in learning about the IR system?
Actually I like to about the reliable, quality and easy to use with the iPhone. Now I kinda liked the thinkware f770 after seeing your review. But some reviews saying that the f770 wifi isn't that good compared to the dr650s ir. What do think? Thanks
I'd say the video quality is about even between the two for IR.
Car Cam Central. I didn't finished the video the time I watched the video. I finished the second time. I realize it that you got everything or very much cover that I needed to know. I the opia 2 to but I decided to go with a Thinkware F770 instead because of the 2 channels. I should be getting on Thursday 03/22/2017. Can't wait 😊. Thanks Andrew. You're doing a great 👍 job.
Thanks!
U have a gift. Well done. Thanks.
Thank you for practical information.
No probs Tim.
I am actually going for this one now when I have all my other radar goodies installed in my X6M.
Like how you just came out and said I got these for free too many youtubers don't
Yeah, thanks, transparency is super important for me. I'm getting to the place where I can buy all my cameras. I end up keeping most of them as end up as comparison cameras for future videos.
Can you do a dashcam video on semi trucks where are the best ones
Hi,
Is there a more affordable model(s) you would recommend with Park Mode, but still great Video, etc?
I am debating about getting the Viofo A119 from your previous review but debating about getting a Cam that has Park Mode as well.
Thanks
$100 for the Thinkware F50 or the Goluk T3 are two choices. The T3 is more general purpose, the Thinkware has a better brand, availability and energy efficiency.