Edit.....I just read it for the umteenth time and still have no idea what the hell he is talking about.

 

Every back up cam I have ever seen, and I have seen many. They only work with the transmission in REVERSE. I have never seen a back up camera display anything while in any other gear selector position no matter where the display is mounted.

Any time I've heard anyone refer to a "dashcam" it meant they had a camera mounted on or near the dash "recording" out the windscreen ie "windshield".

I've never seen an advertisment talking about, or referring to "driving" and watching a camera screen no matter what direction the camera was pointed, front, back, or at the moon. Maybe I need to watch more TV.

Who the hell is watching dashboard video's? Why the hell would anyone watch a video of a dashboard. Maybe I could mount a camera between the seats to record a video of the camera that's recording a video of the dashboard. Hell and to top that off....I could mount a camera on the rear package shelf .... it could record the other two cameras while they record things.

I could mount a big screen on my deck lid, play movies for those that are behind me.....what the hell Unc?

 

I find the recent ads featuring either the Infiniti or the lexus personally offensive in concept as they show some "Lid" driving the car down the road with his mind obviously not on driving but some personal matter or another while the car applies it's own brakes or alerts him as to not staying in the lane or another version backing out of a drive way while not paying attention to the action of driving and again the camera screen shows on coming traffic that is being ignored as the scene is depicted by the advertising camera panning on to a driver visible screen of what is going on that is being ignored by the driver. The implication that electronics can substitute for not only the most important part of driving a car but also not taking any responsibility at all for your own actions.
So drive while ignoring basic principles of the action and watch the obviously featured dash board video rather than LOOKING to see what the hell is going on and dealing with it.
Cars specifically now are being sold as an appliance of which the owner no longer has to demonstrate any awareness of being responsible for his own actions, he can be entertained by it up to and including a cruise control that will sense and keep the thing in it's lane and apply it's own brakes and even park itself
I don't know about you, but I find the entire attitude that is prevailing at the moment that you can have the largest and most visible dashboard screen, but who cares about what the thing is, or how to be responsible for it. Even the salesmen trying to influence me to buy a new Belchfire turbo charged V6 starts out with how great the screen is and you passengers can watch there CD's or how wonderful OnStar is as it can call for help automatically when you let it drive itself into a tree, or a Volkswagon commercial features a load of 5 or 6 people half asleep and talking on their phones as the driver drifts off to never never land and the thing senses it and alerts them.
The whole concept of the hell with it, go play with electronics rather than pay attention to the car and the responsibility of driving it as an atmosphere that implies "Buy Me" I will be responsible a very scary and incredibly stupid approach.
Like it or not, that is what the hell I am talking about. Derfs Got it.
And apparently with your toys? You don't!

 

Unc....maybe that would be a good reason to mount a camera in your car. Not to watch while driving, or while at a red light. But to record what's going on around you. As already stated it is better to have video proof rather than he said she said.

Tech in cars is great if and when it is used for support, not when it is relied upon. Example, would it be better to back off the car in front of you......or depend on ABS stopping you in time when the driver has to slam on the brakes.

Still I have no idea what your rant has to do with a dash cam.

 

I'll say I have one. I use the KODAK Zx3 I bought off of ebay a couple years ago. I also got my hands on a Zx5, Ze1, and a Zi10. All work well for a dashcam except the Zi10 which is a touch screen. Not easy to operate while driving. Well at least for me. I was on ebay looking at things, and you can still get the Zx3, and Ze1 for under $70 bucks. Not many Zx5's listed.

I keep the Zx5 close at hand as back up and just to have a cam around. My wife keeps the Zi10 in her purse.

I will admit I have had three (Zx5,Zx3,Ze1) setup in the ION all at the same time. Did that to find the best spot to mount them looking to the rear and the sides.

I bought them to have a video record in case someone causes a problem for me or others in the camera's view. Turn them on when I'm driving, and clear them when I get home. Have had some stupid things happen in view of the camera, but deleted it. Maybe I'll start downloading those things and post them in here. If nothing else it could be a laugh for everyone.

 

You are definitely making me think now about a cam system for cars that will record eight channels of video with outside views of front/back/sides and with interior views of each passenger seat including a view out of the respective window for each seat. Rear seat cameras would have to be set up down low in the B pillar covers and fronts would have to be set up higher in the A pillar, but it can work...leave it with me.

J.R.

 

dude I'm not riding with you if you are gonna film me sitting in the back seat.

That's just creepy.

 

He is getting a bit kinky. Keep an eye on this one.

 

Nothing freaky I promise. I work in tv/film production and I was trying to relate the dash cam idea to the way we would rig a car to have full video coverage in a show.


J.R.

 

p o r n, right?