John_F Loc: Minneapolis, MN

A friend sent me a link to what is tempting. It is a Uniden CAM250 Full HD Dash Camera now for $39.99 from $79.99. Even for $80 can one expect much. The link is to electronics.woot.com. Opinions?

bsprague Loc: Lacey, WA, USA

Here is a sample of what it shoots: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1qrc0amnsXA

And a review: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NmUMiR2RToM

It seems to me that a dash cam can have few purposes. One is to record any future wrecks you get in to prove it was not your fault. A problem is that a dash cam is looking in only one direction, usually forward. What happens if you get "rear ended"?

Another purpose might be to record travel video for a travel log project. I think most dash cams "recycle" meaning you only get to keep the most recent 10 minutes or so. For travel video, It might be better to find a dash mount for any video shooting camera you already have.

A third is to have records of exciting street events you inadvertently see while driving. Maybe you can sell footage to the news media!

brucewells Loc: Central Kentucky

These things have gotten cheap. My personal desire was to write GPS coordinates to the recording so I'd know exactly where any issue occurred. I chose the HP 520g, which cost me $140. It was the third unit I bought before I got what I wanted. So, buyer beware.

Now, having said that, if you simply want a video recording only, I think any of the units have merit. That technology is rather stable and doesn't require much 'quality workmanship' to work.

Although the GPS functionality didn't work the way I wanted it to, I was very impressed with the quality of the first unit I bought, a Cobra. The same people who make other fine communication electronics.

Review available features, and choose the ones you can't live without, then shop the products that provide them.

Good luck!

jclayjim Loc: Near the Great Lakes

With so few megapixels most of them have, don't go looking for super performance in enlarging. They do serve a purpose as mentioned above and are fun to use. I mounted mine (SJ4000/wifi) on a remote controlled car and a boat. I get loads of off-the-wall views. Occasionally I can sneak up on unsuspecting wildlife.

zigipha Loc: north nj

some dashcams have forward and backwards facing cameras so you can record passengers and the drivers behind you

John_F Loc: Minneapolis, MN

Thanks for all the helpful replies. My brother and law went ahead and bought one anyway. If he tells anything important, I will update here.

Phreedom Loc: Kitchener, Ontario, Canada

Google the Uniden Cam250 on Youtube for videos reviewing it and other dash cams.
Techmoan, a British site, http://www.techmoan.com/ also reviews various dash cams he personally tests in his own cars.
Dashcam Talk, http://dashcamtalk.com/ has reviews on a ton of dash cams and a busy Forum where dash cams are critiqued by their owners.
You should really research what is available and what to look for before you buy.

My personal choice was a Street Guardian SG9665GC. I've had it for year, very discreet, the HD video and GPS are great.
Some cams come with a second camera for mounting in the rear window and that will be my next choice. Cams with a second lens looking back into the car are only handy for watching your passengers and pretty well useless for recording rear traffic.

Peterff Loc: O'er The Hills and Far Away, in Themyscira.

The most important thing is probably what purpose it serves. Essentially it is just a mobile surveillance camera, and can be useful as described by other posters for insurance or news video or youtube video fodder. If the device is well made then there is no reason why the quality can't be acceptable - they typically seem to be 1080p HD video quality - and we'll probably see some expensive 4K video ones eventually, so no reason to call them junk unless they are poorly made.

As a photography tool I'm not too convinced of their value unless your are a war correspondent, tornado chaser, or something similar. Mostly what people seem to capture are bad things like this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lksDISvCmNI

Although interesting from a news report perspective we are also watching seven people die, not a fictional movie rendition. Personally I find it quite disturbing. Watch at your own discretion.

carl hervol Loc: jacksonville florida

These cameras are only ment to record an accident or prove you did not go through a red light on so forth it not a 36 meg dslr.

John_F Loc: Minneapolis, MN

I have toying with a dash cam for our summer trip up the Norshor of Lake Superior. We frequently mosey up some of the northy roads, like the Sawbill, the Cascade, the Gunflint - and you never know when you'll come across a moose, blackbear, or legendary man-eating-giant-fish. By the time you get the camera whipped out, the thrill becomes history.