Dash cams

[hotinhawaii]

A quick google search brought up this list of dash-specific cams. Most are under $150. http://dashcamtalk.com/dash-cam-comparison/

[pahoated]

You can get 720p and 1080p dashcams with LCD display, suction and other mounts off Amazon, starting around $20. You usually have to buy your own memory card. This one has an IR LED for night use:
http://www.amazon.com/Dashboard-Camera-Accident-degree-Vision/dp/B00567H67C/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1358444964&sr=8-3&keywords=dash+cam

"It was a majority decision to descend into the Dark Ages. Don't worry, be happy, bang on da drum all day!"

[kalakoa]

As far as "legality", the Supreme Court has decreed that filming "in public" is perfectly okay, even when it includes law enforcement.

The police do not like being filmed and will make up reasons to take your camera; they use the official term "confiscate", but it's really just plain "theft", and your electronics will be damaged and/or missing the footage (if you get it back at all). There are smartphone apps that stream live video "into the cloud" where it's beyond the reach of local law enforcement.

Most recent example: a witness who filmed an incident which happened to include an ambulance was told that the footage "violates HIPAA" (not true), and when the camera was eventually returned, all the video was "missing".

[rainyjim]

I was going to bring up what Kalakoa said, if you see a law enforcement type I'd put the camera away less their insecurity get the better of you!

Cheers

rainyjim

[rainshadow]

I've used the GoPro's to shoot the Kona IM; they work really great. Sports Authority carries them, I believe.

-- rainshadow

[TomK]

Thanks once again everyone for your valuable suggestions and advice! As some of you know I'm a keen amateur photographer so am very familiar with the law and a citizen's rights pertaining to that, but reading some of Carey's links it does seem recording audio without the other party's permission is a no-no here, so the microphone will definitely stay switched off. I also have a friend and colleague who is married to a police officer on the west side of the island and she's going to get his opinion on this as well - would be very useful to get a local cop's point of view I think.

Anyway, I've ordered this - http://dashcamtalk.com/dod-f500lhd/ - $90 plus shipping so well within the budget and does seem to be well regarded.

Tom
http://apacificview.blogspot.com/

[ericlp]

too bad you purchased one already. I have a pro camera dash mount I just pulled out of storage not too long ago. You could have borrowed it. Didn't see the post till now tho.

[rainyjim]

$90 is a great deal Tom, and let us know what you find about about the local cops opinion - thanks!

quote:

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Originally posted by Ken

This coming from one of Punaweb's biggest verified troll!!

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quote:

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Originally posted by Ken

ole rainy !

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[TomK]

ericlp - no problem, don't worry and appreciate the offer even if it's too late now! What I really wanted was the camera more than the mount - using a point-and-shoot is OK but you don't get the loop recording, the wide field of view and the motion detector this thing comes with which might prove to be quite useful, so am happy I've ordered a proper dash cam, and not a bad price either (the mount is included).

Will let everyone know what the local cop's opinion is and, once I've got this thing installed (late next week maybe) will let you know what I think of it.

Tom
http://apacificview.blogspot.com/

[TomK]

All - just to let you know my friend/colleague's husband, the police officer on the west side, saw no problem at all using a dash cam and didn't think recording audio would be a problem either - he thought it might actually be useful if I caught someone threatening me (but suspect he was thinking more of the neighbour with the vicious dog than the more general case). In any case, I'll think about recording audio but maybe turning it off when my common sense tells me that's what I ought to do.

The proper dash cam arrives tomorrow. I've been playing around with the point-and-shoot camera on the dash and have a really nice movie of a drive on the Red Road today but it's not quite right for dash use!

Tom
http://apacificview.blogspot.com/