For many of us, driving is a big part of our everyday experience. And that means our vehicles play a lot of roles: they can be our workplace, a safe way to get our families from Point A to Point B, or a means to help us simply enjoy the pleasure of driving.
It’s no wonder, then, that dashcams are becoming an increasingly popular way to help drivers feel safer on the road, and off, and give them peace of mind.
In fact, the dashcam industry is bigger than you might expect—and it continues to grow. In 2017, it represented a market of $2.74 billion (USD), and that’s expected to nearly double by 2023.
What role does technology play?
This rising popularity in dashcam technology is partly thanks to new and exciting innovations. These days, dashboard cameras can capture crystal clear renderings of the world around us like never before—all contained in easy-to-use devices that are no bigger than, in some cases, a tube of lipstick.
When paired with smartphone capabilities, we can easily control the cameras and store footage.
And we can do this all with very little investment.
Why do people need dashcams?
Our customers tell us they purchase dashboard-mounted recording devices for a number of different reasons. Some need them to satisfy work requirements—maybe they’re police officers or professional drivers whose jobs rely on a clean driving record. Sometimes, users need a camera for insurance purposes. Other vehicle-owners are looking for a better sense of security—a neutral observer of other drivers during a busy commute, or to help monitor their vehicle when it is parked.
Interestingly, many drivers are also looking to dashboard recorders to help them make driving videos to share with their friends, just for the fun of it.
What makes one dashcam different from another?
At RSC, we’re here to bring you a second set of eyes on the road. Our cameras are made for drivers who don’t want to miss a moment of their on-the-road experience. So, we’ve developed purpose-built products customized for different goals.
Our dashcams have plenty in common: they’re sophisticated, easy to use, and reliable. They also give you quality innovation at a price point that fits your budget.
But each one offers subtle differences from another, allowing you to find the right level of technology to suit your needs. Here’s how to make that choice.
Narrow down your preferences
First, ask yourself what role driving plays in your life. Do you drive mostly for work? For leisure? A little of both? What benefits could recordings bring to your life on or off the road?
Next, consider the following scenarios to fine-tune your preferences. Do your answers align with our products? See which one is right for you!
What is your daily drive like? Do you…
- Have a heavy, congested daily commute?
- Worry about dangerous drivers on the road?
- Love driving skillfully and want to share your expertise with your friends?
What’s your driving behaviour? Do you…
- Drive long hours?
- Drive at night?
- Require a record of your driving for work?
- Empty your car of all valuables when you’re not using it?
- Leave your car for short or long periods in a parkade or lot?
What kind of storage are you looking for? Do you…
- Require recordings of only a few hours?
- Require recordings of up to 24 hours?
What kind of information might you need to record?
- Accurate date/time stamping?
- Detailed location tracking? (Such as longitude, latitude, etc.)
- Night-vision footage?
What part of the road or vehicle do you want to capture?
- A certain radius in front of the car?
- A radius at the back of the car?
- Do you need a record of the driver while he or she is operating the vehicle?
What’s your own comfort level with technology?
- Would you prefer a device that’s small and unobtrusive?
- Are you comfortable using onboard controls?
- Are you looking for live feedback in real-time?
- Do you like lots of features for full control or prefer fewer settings to play with?
- Are you comfortable using apps on your smartphone?
With those answers in mind, take a look at this RSC product table, and learn more about the details of each camera below.
|
Camera |
Size | Footage | App control | On-board control | LCD Viewfinder | Night Vision | Location Tracking | Rear-View Footage |
|
Nano |
46 x 50 x 34 mm |
8 hours | Yes | No | No | No | No |
No |
|
Tama |
82 x 30 x 40 mm | 24 hours | Yes | No | No | No | No |
No |
|
Tonto |
55 x 66 x 31 mm |
24 hours | No | Yes | Yes | 2.0” | Yes |
No |
|
Ichigo |
90 x 51 x 34 mm |
24 hours | No | Yes | Yes | 2.7” | Yes |
No |
| DuDuo E1 | 88 x 53 x 33 mm | 24 hours | No | Yes | Yes | 3.0” | No |
Yes |
NANO: Subtle, low key, highly effective
This is an ultra-small model that operates with the press of just a single button. Its controls and settings are all managed through an app on your smartphone, as are playback and storage. It’s sleek and high-tech but not difficult to use. The Nano offers a 160-degree wide-angle view from your dashboard and can record up to eight hours of drive time in one go.
This is perfect if you don’t quite need a big device and want something that’s out of the way without compromising video quality.
TAMA: Small, straightforward, plenty of storage
If you’re looking to record longer stretches while on the road (or while parked), the Tama offers ultra-small, single-button operation and 160-degree wide-angle view, just like the Nano. Its settings and controls are also operated through an app on your smartphone. The difference is, the Tama offers up to 24 hours of recording time before you need to transfer your footage to storage (or loop over with new footage, if you no longer need the old).
This one looks great and is small enough to be barely noticeable on your windshield or dashboard.
TONTO: Unobtrusive, with all the extras
The Tonto is the smallest in our line of cams with LCD viewfinders. Although it’s fairly small in stature, it offers more sophisticated add-ons than our mini cams. You get a 140-degree wide-angle view, a two-inch screen to watch the live recording, and onboard controls so you adjust the camera settings and angle from the front seat (when parked, of course!).
It also offers a night-vision mode for high-quality recordings after dark, along with location tracking, so you can accurately capture your geographic locale. And, with up to 24 hours’ drive time, you can record for a whole day before you need to start thinking about storage or looping.
ICHIGO: Bigger screen, full onboard control
If you’re looking for a bigger in-vehicle screen, our Ichigo comes with a 2.7-inch LCD viewfinder. This is perfect for those who want a generous view of the camera’s live feedback. Like our other LCD models, it gives a 140-degree view, offers night-vision mode, and features onboard location tracking. With the Ichigo, you can capture up to 24 hours of footage at once.
DuDUO E1: Full visibility, ultimate front-to-back coverage
This model gives you twice the visual coverage of your vehicle’s surroundings, thanks to a three-inch LCD viewfinder (our biggest available) and both front and back 140-degree wide-angle camera views. This fully loaded product offers you night-vision mode, full, dual-channel HD, and 24 hours of recording.
Choose this model if you need a more comprehensive line of sight to the world around you. It’s especially helpful if you need to record both the driver and the road in front of him or her.
For example, parents of new drivers might want to keep an eye out for their children while they’re behind the wheel, or your work may ask you to record yourself while you drive.
Capture the world around you
At RSC, our cameras are made for drivers who don’t want to miss a moment of their experiences. Drivers like you. Our products are practical, highly functional and we pay careful attention to what our users are looking for. What goals will an RSC camera help you achieve?
Click here to learn more about our different dashcam models.