Dash Cam?

I do not have a dash cam in my Porsche . Unfortunately, given the realities of modern driving I’m starting to think that maybe I should get one, what do you guys think about that? Do any of you have dash cams? What brands do you recommend that fit nicely in a Porsche ? What features of a dash cam do you think are the most important? Thanks in advance for your participation .

My wife got me a Garmin Mini2... it's tiny because it has no screen (your phone has one, so why have another?). It works great, and just has an LED indicator. Mine is installed in the top left corner of the windshield. The issue with dashcams is that there's still a question of who owns the footage. If you're doing "bad" things, it could be used against you, so you want to be aware of that... and whatever laws you have in your state. So, be careful with that... I like the idea of having one, and I do now. But I am worried about what happens in a "situation". I would likely pull it off and hide it... this one is tiny so it's easy enough, I figure... but hopefully I don't have to deal with that ever!

I bought a Thinkware F800 Front and Rear cameras for my 06 Cayman S . No screen but micro SD card can be read with the free viewer as well as with the Thinkware app. Recording will overwrite itself if needed but a larger Micro SD can obviate that possibility. Typically I get 2-3 weeks before overwriting (driving most every other day). It has multiple recording modes - continuous, event, manual and parking. Audio is also recorded but does not play back well with the engine noise. Also records GPS and speed. I don't use the parking mode since it is powered only when the ignition is on. All files are mp4 and can be seen easily using Windows but without GPS or speed. Good resolution and a small footprint. I have used this to record several road rage incidents around me including one where a LEO caught the guy brake checking me - instant karma. Reasonable price but I think this particular model has been superceded. It can use cloud storage but I do not care to pay for this service. Overall a great model - I've had it for several years without any concerning incidents.

Thanks for the responses. It has to be simple, small and easy to learn, I’m being surpassed by technology. Three years ago, without warning, an oncoming car pulled a U without regard to my position on the road. Was no accident but it was too close to one, sometimes I guess people think our cars can do things that defy physics. How much money did you guys throw at it? Right now I’m looking at a cobra that’s around 100 bucks that looks pretty correct.

I’ve been rear ended twice in recent years. Once I was simply sitting at a light. The other time I was on an interstate going 65 in a line of cars. The second was a drunk driver who didn’t stopped. I got pictures of his license plate with my phone but unfortunately they were not clear enough to read the license plate. As Schwinn says though, can the data from your own dashcam ever be used against you? It looks like it can. Even if you weren’t at fault, it’s possible that you were speeding at the time. Can Dash Cam Footage Be Used Against You in Court? Dash cam footage can be used in court to prove fault, traffic violations, or crimes. It can help or harm you, so understand legal risks and protect your rights. matrackinc.com

At least you have the evidence to make that call with, If the Porsche driver is at fault in an obvious way, he’s gonna leave there with a ducket in his pocket anyway from the officer at the scene. I’m glad you were not severely injured in those incidents.

I like Viofo cams. Th A119 Mini 2 is inexpensive, tiny, and fits behind the rearview mirror so well, you'll never see it from the driver's seat (unless you want to!) I hardwired mine, that's easy as well. Just go down the left side A pillar which leads directly to the fuse box.

For my 2 cents, now worth 1/2 a penny, I like the Garmin Mini 2. I now have three of them. Set it and forget it. Uses voice commands if you want to snap a picture or save a video, but even that is not necessary since it is recording all the time. It has a collision sensor, so in case of an accident, it automatically saves 20 or 30 seconds before the collision and after it that can not be overwritten. Tiny, don’t even see it behind the rear view mirror. And with an opti parking cable, it will record when parked, but has voltage sensing technology which will shut it down if the battery starts to run low. Depending on the size of the Micro SD card , it will record for weeks before overwriting.

I just looked it up, and the Mini2 is superseded by the Mini3. Quick review reading says the big difference is a polarized lens, and maybe some other smaller things. Mini3 is $149 per their website. Hey, another Mini-fan. Cool... but, to highlight what WTFChuck said, the voice commands (I never used them) and the collision sensor are great features. Granted, I haven't gotten into a crash (knock on wood!) but when I have hit a pothole hard, or had to brake hard, the camera acknowledged it and did an auto recording. Pretty cool. I have used the button to record as well - basically, tap the button and it records a video at that time. You can then view that, but you can also just use that as a reference within the continuous recording, so it's like putting down a "marker".

Regarding your tap of the button to record a video. You can also just say: ‘OK, Garmin, take a picture’ or OK, Garmin, save video’. You will hear a tone letting you know the action occurred. And if I recall, you can make up your own ’wake-up word’ for those actions if you don’t relish saying ‘OK, Garmin’. Found this:

Very cool indeed, but I often have the stereo blasting, so I doubt it would hear me. A button push is easy enough in that situation. But good to know, thank you!

Another Garmin DC Mini 2 user here. Small, simple, and inexpensive. Worth its weight in gold if you ever get into an accident...

I have the A229 Pro in all cars. Did you use the hardwire kit and if so, is parking mode really working? I've read conflicting reports here and there that the hardwire kit doesn't last long, and sometimes drains the battery because it doesn't cut it off. I read also, that the parking mode (depending on the car battery , size and state of charge) should only work for a few hours? Can you say something about this, should you use it?

Looks like we’re in the same boat. I do use the hardwire kit, but I connected both wires to ignition power (directly at the fuse box, using a new fuse).

I have one in each car. The Cayenne has front and rear cameras. I ran the wiring for the rear camera along the passenger side, sort of tucking it behind the door trim. Not great but that's a utility car. I have a front only in the Boxster since there is no place to mount a rear camera (unless I somehow fastened it to the plastic wind shield between the roll-bars..) and the Genesis got a front only. It already has a bunch of cameras that I bet are recording whenever the car is moving (since they're used for lane-change, lane centering, emergency braking, the overhead parking display, etc.. I know of 6, and there may be more. It's REALLY cool to go through a carwash with the parking display on showing the 360 view, and the view ahead and to the rear. You see the whirling brushes about to attack the car, the flood of soapy stuff, it's great fun, but I digress..) So the Genny gets 1 camera. None of them cost more than $40, and two of them were in the $20-30 range. They are all from one manufacturer (Chinese, but stocked and sold here in the US). Here is the 1 camera one - $29.95 - https://a.co/d/e80KH83 Amazon. I imagine the price may be going up. Tariffs. It works fine. The Amazon writeup will tell you everything it does. You connect to it via a WiFi based app (for Android, I assume they have an Apple Phone version), and the program is very simple to use and check operation. All of my cameras are connected to switched power - I didn't want the drain for parking mode. I needed a replacement mount piece for one of the cameras I bought from them (I think a $19.95 one), I emailed their support, they contacted me almost immediately, I told them what I needed and they said it would be in the mail the same day. I broke the piece, but they covered it anyway. It arrived about 2 days later. Exceptional service. YMMV... but probably not.

Another Great Thread! I've been rear-ended 4 times, only once seriously and luckily I was in my Tundra, none have occurred while driving the Cayman . Everyone is on their phone these days, crazy/scary! Installing cameras has been on my to-do list for awhile. I want a small device, front & back view, acceptable quality for day and night, continuous recording, set it and forget it. Reviewed Consumer Reports a while back and never acted on it. I will now. Thanks to all contributors!

We have three with two hardwired for parking monitoring. All are forward looking only although I have rear facing but haven't installed them. We have footage of my Mrs running after a driver who rear ended her in the Macan and trying to drive off. Fortunately the traffic was stopped and the Mrs ran up and pounded on the driver's window till she pulled over. I know there could have been a bad scene, but she / we were lucky. I was a bit annoyed, the police who saw the video and didn't charge the other driver with fleeing the accident, but I don't think anyone would have gained anything considering the appearance of the driver.

So sad that the police did not do their job. Happening much more often it seems. Very disapppointing, as the vast majority of police personnel I worked with for nearly 30 years had a different mindset and would not be reticent about pursuing appropriate charges. Glad it all worked out for you. Dash cams are a must these days.

If you are referring to the CHP / Police / Sheriff seeing it, Forget it; they have seen all of the body moves that indicate someone ditching something in their vehicle. It is a daily occurrence for them, and they of course have dash cams also.

Why would you need to hide a dash cam ? Radar Detector maybe, but how could recording what is out you windows be illegal? 1st Amendment Right. Probably your 4th Amendment Right if they try to take it.

This is on my to do list for my RAM, the reviews are wonderful. Maybe your model year is available. FITCAMX Dash Cam for Porsche fitcamx dash cam fitcamx.com

I ordered the Fitcamx for my 2021 Macan S . I report on it when I get it.

I have the fitcamx on my 981 . Works well. Nice thing is I forget I have it since you really do t see it. Connects to phone and the rear camera is nice.

Another vote for Fitcamx . I have it in my 981CS as well, front and rear and looks OEM.

I'm partial to Viofo cams because they are small but still use the industry best Sony Starvis 2 sensors. Plus they're pretty inexpensive.

As some have noted, it can be used against you. Even if youve done nothing wrong, or your sin was the lessor than another driver, you may not have the choice to select whether or not you want to use the video.

I bought this one for less then 14 bucks and very happy with it. Bought also one for our other cars. hd 1080p dash cam met 170° breedhoek, nachtzicht, , loopopname en bewegingsdetectie voor auto's - auto en motor - Temu . I have mounted it on the windscreen behind the chairs so it captures both the front- and the backview.