Why most of us should use dashcams

I see that camera popping up under different brand names (don't worry, that is normal.)

I also see it (and many others) using the words "night vision."

If you have that camera, can you perhaps at some point (when convenient) maybe post a true nighttime video (i.e. not in town - on the open highway with nothing but headlights?)

Always curious about that as a developer when I see "night vision." Thanks!

 

The db4 that I have really only shows to the limit of the head lights at night. It also gets blinded by the oncoming lights same as the driver.

 

Lights shining at a lens is normal at night. Every chipset has to try to adjust for dramatic changes in light bandwidth. Same thing when you go through a tunnel. You will see it adjust quickly (if you are watching it at the time) adjust between dark and light as you go in and out of a tunnel. The speed and effectiveness of rapid light adjustment, or of shining lights into a lens is a factor of the internal chipset.

Many cameras do not even show the area being lit by the headlights much because they do not operate well in "low lux" conditions. The Zoran chipset used in the DB4 does pretty well at night in recording anything that does have any light on it. Tweaking the EV value for sure-bright day, or super-dark night is a good way to optimize that ability as well.

It always makes me curious about night-related questions. What else would it record except what has light on it, like headlights?

IR beams don't work behind glass. So that's not going to do it. Putting a weather-proof, forward-looking IR camera outside facing forward DOES work, but gets covered with bugs and dirt quickly, so that won't do it... There is a reason that you don't see much true night video on YouTube.

The best solution I have come up with after years of testing is to use a camera with no IR that has decent low lux to record what is in any kind of light glow (street lights, headlights, etc.) We have found other ways (using a DVR and a starlight camera / Flir military grade cameras, etc) but drivers tend to not like the $1000 - $2000 price tag on such systems.

IN the mean time, the EV adjustment on the right side of a DB4 combined with the inside chipset is the best way I have found in existence to at least record what is in front of the truck at night (in pitch black) or include the surrounds also when in town too, for under $100.

I am testing a "starlight" style super-low lux camera now, but it still doesn't exist as a self-contained recorder box - needs to connect to a 12-volt "black box" DVR. But I will not give up the search regardless...

 

I am not disappointed by the night time. After all, I have reduced abilities as well.

 

Nope, not anymore. Ambulances are not allowed to speed, run lights blindly or drive recklessly. They are 1/4 million dollar mobile hospitals so they frown on drivers trying to race them. Quite frankly the guy suffering from a stroke is very low on the cost/risk analysis.

Emergency vehicles can proceed though reds but only if the way is clear. Actually considering that the "camera guy" came in at full speed from the far lane, it would be hard for the van driver to see him either. When he referred to "the light" he might have meant the lights on the top of his vehicle.

I keep watching the video, even knowing what's going to happen and it took me about 5-6 times before I actually saw the van, lights on, waiting to make the turn. The vehicles in the left lane reacted, but camera guy is "captain oblivious" (I like his music though). The reaction time is seconds though, and I don't think either vehicle reacted until impact.

I do love crash analysis though, I wish the entire field was taken seriously instead of "biggest insurance policy pays, everyone gets a ticket".
See who made the mistake and when. And what could actually be done to prevent it from happening in the future.