I've been thinking of upgrading my current dashcam (a prestigio roadrunner 330 - got as a Xmas present ~4years ago) since the backup battery doesn't seem to be holding a charge anymore & the time/date keeps resetting - to something a bit smaller & (hopefully) better model

Since I'm not fussed about having a screen, GPS features or 'Parking mode collision', I've been looking at the Garwin Mini Dash Cam (https://buy.garmin.com/en-GB/GB/p/621281)
It's 'cheap', from a well known manufacturer, got fairly 'good' reviews, small & I also like the idea that at a later date I could buy a 2nd one & fit it as a rear camera (The mobile app allows 4 cameras to be connected through phone) - I know the resolution of this & my present dashcam are the same but I'm hoping the refresh rate/ camera sensor etc has improved over the years

I'm currently NOT planning to have it connected to a permanent supply (as I said - not fussed about 'parking collision') & instead just running the cables to the centre consoles cigar.. I mean.. 'Accessory Socket' for now & later on I may plan to connect it to the fuse board, but since my 2018 C-Max has keyless entry & push-button engine start.. the only 'switched' fuses I can find in passenger fuse box become 'live' when the Internal courtesy lights comes on (as when doors are unlocking) 

I believe I can 'just' fit the dashcam behind the rearview mirror (passenger side) low enough so that the windscreen wiper clears the screen.

(On the c-max I have a large plastic cover roughly the width of the mirror that covers all the sensors behind the rearview mirror making it difficult to place camera more 'central' without obstructing my view by having it too low & the passenger wiper is shorter than driver side so I can't have the camera too high up behind the mirror otherwise it'll just record raindrops when it rains)

Anyway, back on subject.
Before I make the commitment I have a couple of questions

Q: In sample videos I've seen (youtube) the footage has time/date stamps.. yet the Garwin cam doesn't have a backup battery (it has a capacitor) so curious on HOW it remembers/gets  the time/date

Does the cam forget it when it turns off, & if so how does it get the time/date ?

For example: when the dashcam is powered up, does it connect to your phone & get the time/date that way or do I HAVE to have the dashcam permanently 'ON' so it remembers it
If it syncs with phone.. Does it do it automatically with phone 'locked' or would I have to unlock phone & start up the app then 'connect' to cam each time ?
It's one of the reason I'm replacing my current cam.. every video's date/time stamp is default factory time/year/month

Q: When I eventually fit cam to fuse box.. since all fuses are 'live' when I open the door (when internal light relay come on) - is it 'safe' to pull the 'switched live' fuse out to 'piggyback' the cable while powered up..

...I can't think of a way to 'turn off' these fuses - since I can't 'turn the ignition key off' to make sure they are 'dead' and safe & I don't fancy pulling the car battery off just to connect a single wire

(p.s. I've not actually looked at passenger fuse box yet to see if any of the 'switched fuses' actually have fuses in them.. if I find an empty switched fuse slot then I guess I can just plug in the dashcam cable supply cable into that even when 'live')

Oh.. one last thing - anyone actually using this dashcam ??
What's your opinion of it ??
- I've been reading reviews .. More 'professional' reviews (eg Which) give fair to good results but some 'personal' reviews (ie amazon customer) seems to show it's a bit hit-&-miss

Any help/advice appreciated



 

38 minutes ago, Cannon said:

Q: In sample videos I've seen (youtube) the footage has time/date stamps.. yet the Garwin cam doesn't have a backup battery (it has a capacitor) so curious on HOW it remembers/gets  the time/date

Most decent dash cams operate using a capacitor rather than small battery. They all still keep track of time as it really doesn't require a lot of power at all (small button cell is all that's needed). It doesn't do any of that fancy stuff you said about connecting to your phone etc.

42 minutes ago, Cannon said:

Q: When I eventually fit cam to fuse box.. since all fuses are 'live' when I open the door (when internal light relay come on) - is it 'safe' to pull the 'switched live' fuse out to 'piggyback' the cable while powered up.

Yes. Although the rear wiper is an ignition live fuse so should be fine.

43 minutes ago, Cannon said:

Oh.. one last thing - anyone actually using this dashcam ??
What's your opinion of it ??

I've tried a few dash cams out in my time, and have always preferred the A118/A119s cameras. They're a wedge type so blend in very well (just look like some sort of factory fitted sensor in the windscreen). The picture quality is also considerably better than the one you posted. The Viofo a119 is the same price as the Garmin you posted, but shoots in a higher resolution and packs a lot more features.

I've a Cmax and can't get a dash cam to fit centrally without it obscuring my view mines sits on the passenger side in the swept area of the screen close to the screen pillar, not in the way at all I would take a picture but it's pitch black outside. Wires tucked in behind the trim down to the fuse box, no trim was removed in fitting.

19 hours ago, Luke4efc said:

Most decent dash cams operate using a capacitor rather than small battery. They all still keep track of time as it really doesn't require a lot of power at all (small button cell is all that's needed). It doesn't do any of that fancy stuff you said about connecting to your phone etc.

Yes. Although the rear wiper is an ignition live fuse so should be fine.

I've tried a few dash cams out in my time, and have always preferred the A118/A119s cameras. They're a wedge type so blend in very well (just look like some sort of factory fitted sensor in the windscreen). The picture quality is also considerably better than the one you posted. The Viofo a119 is the same price as the Garmin you posted, but shoots in a higher resolution and packs a lot more features.

Thanks for the advice.

As for your Dashcam - I did look at that type & despite it's higher resolution I didn't like the way you would need to keep removing the SDcard..
I quite like the idea of sitting in car & transferring to phone instead of:-  taking card out/going indoors/switch on PC/ transfer files to PC/Attach phone/transfer files to phone/put card back into dashcam next time I get in car (& b4 someone say.. 'but you can transfer the card to phone straight away using a OTG cardreader' - it still means taking the card out of the dashcam)

If it fits in the place I want behind the Rearview mirror/passenger side  (It's ~twice the size of the Garmin - but that's due to the screen I guess) then I think it would be sticking down under the edge of the mirror slightly - what with the wiper/rain problem I mentioned earlier it'll have to be placed lower than I'd like - & I personally don't want ANYTHING to obstruct my view, even by a little bit

- FYI I'm pretty tall so my eye line is approx level (if not slightly higher) with rearview mirror - if I was smaller & I had to look 'up' to into rearview mirror then this really wouldn't be a problem but because of my height anything sticking below the rear mirror would give me a slight blind spot over by passenger side of car

Unfortunately there's does not seem to be many Dashcams that have a Wifi/Bluetooth to transfer files direct to phone (bluetooth I understand is 'OK' but Sloooooww) & those that do are usually ~twice/3x the price of the Garmin. A higher resolution camera would be nice (the Garmin has same as my existing camera while your suggesting is higher) 
 

The idea is that your dashcam is there for emergencies only, unless you like to recap you're journey by checking the footage everyday lol. I can't ever see the need to transfer footage off it unless I have a crash in which case I wouldn't mind the slightest bit of inconvenience. Most people generally consider wireless transfer a bit useless for that reason so manufacturers don't bother spending the money to implement it when it can be spent on better quality lenses.

You must be over 7ft to be nearly hitting the ceiling in a C-Max lol.