Power connector
The type of connector used in the recorder to power it. First of all, you should pay attention to this item if you plan to change the registrar with ready-made wiring for one or another type of connector (
miniUSB,
microUSB,
USB-C,
DC 12V). Thus, the replacement of the registrar rests simply on installing a new one without re-changing the cable.
Screen type
The sensor is a key element of any digital camera; it is from it and from signal processing technologies that the quality of the resulting image primarily depends. In this case, the type refers rather to the brand or brand of the matrix; it is usually indicated if the recorder is equipped with a high-quality sensor that is noticeably superior to most solutions on the market.
One of the most popular such options is
Sony. The specific characteristics of the matrices (
IMX179,
IMX222,
IMX291,
IMX307,
IMX317,
IMX322,
IMX323,
IMX326,
IMX335,
IMX415) may vary, but anyway, such a sensor is a sign of a high-end DVR.
In addition, there are models equipped with matrices from other manufacturers —
Aptina,
OmniVision,
Samsung(GalaxyCore),
Sandvik. Such solutions are generally considered to be simpler and more democratic than Sony — both in terms of price and functionality. Nevertheless, Samsung has a lot of developments in the field of electronics, and even such r
...elatively “simple” sensors are usually more advanced and of higher quality than “know-names”.
Another manufacturer that produces fairly high-quality matrices is Panasonic. Such sensors are not as widespread as those described above, but they are still found in video recorders, including pretty advanced.Processor
Model of the processor used in the dashcam
The term "video chip" is used mainly for devices with classic capabilities, "processor" — for advanced models with an abundance of non-standard functions. However, anyway, we are talking about the same component — the main computing unit, the characteristics of which directly affect the capabilities of the recorder as a whole. Knowing the model of the processor, you can find detailed data on it and evaluate how satisfied you are with a device based on such electronics. Of the most advanced modern chips, one can name, in particular,
Ambarella A7L,
Ambarella A12,
Novatek NTK96655,
Novatek NTK96660 and
HiSilicon Hi3516.
Field of view
The viewing angle provided by the main camera of the DVR. As a rule, it is indicated along the diagonal of the frame, less often - horizontally, because of this, models with the same numbers in the characteristics may differ somewhat in the actual field of view. So if you have doubts about this, when choosing, it does not hurt to find and watch video samples from different models.
Other things being equal, a wider viewing angle allows you to cover more space, but individual details in the frame are smaller. In addition, wide-angle lenses give geometric distortions of the image (however, DEWARP can be provided to eliminate them, see "Functions"). As for specific figures, viewing angles
up to 120° inclusive are considered relatively small for modern registrars, values of
121 - 140 ° can be called average,
141 - 160 ° are above average, and the most wide-angle models are able to cover a space
of more than 160 °.
External camera
One or more remote cameras in the standard equipment of the registrar, used for video recording of the traffic situation behind the car. In the vast majority of cases, the remote camera is attached to the DVR in
one copy. It covers the rear "stern" of the car and is simultaneously used as an assistant when reversing parking — the picture from the camera can be displayed on the DVR screen in real time. There can be
several remote cameras, which provides a wider coverage of the DVR's field of view.
Video resolution
The maximum video resolution supported by the optional DVR camera. Depending on the design and configuration, we can talk about both a remote camera and a camera for filming the interior (see above for both); this nuance should be clarified separately.
The higher the resolution, the more detailed the image from the camera will be, the more small details will be normally visible on it. On the other hand, high detailing affects the volume of materials to be filmed and the requirements for the “hardware” of the registrar (and, accordingly, affects the cost).
In general, additional cameras of modern recorders can be divided into the following categories:
— SD. "Standard" resolution (as opposed to HD — "high resolution"). A rather modest frame size, which at the same time allows you to significantly save memory for video recording and is suitable even for low-cost recorders. Specific resolution options include, but are not limited to, 628x582, 640x480, and 720x480.
— HD 720p. The traditional, most popular resolution for this video recording standard is 1280x720. In addition to it, registrars also found 960x720 (aspect ratio 4:3) and reduced in height 1280x480. HD is the most modest of today's high-definition standards, but still provides pretty decent detail.
— Full HD 1080p. The "classic of the genre" for this standard is the resolution of 1920x1080, however, there are other values in registrars, including very speci...fic ones — such as 1440x1080 (4:3 aspect ratio) and 1920x540 (halved vertical resolution). This is a fairly solid indicator even for the main camera of the registrar, and there is no need to talk about additional ones.
— Super HD. Not a particularly popular standard in video technology, which, nevertheless, has found application in video recorders. Most often provides a resolution of 2304x1296, which provides even more
Frame frequency
Maximum video frame rate supported by the optional DVR camera. Depending on the design and configuration, we can talk about both a remote camera and a camera for filming the interior (see above for both); this nuance should be clarified separately. Anyway, it is with this frequency that the shooting is carried out by default.
The higher the frame rate, the clearer the moving objects will be on the video, the less they will be blurred and the less “jerky” the video itself will be. It is believed that the most comfortable for the human eye is a speed of 24 to 60 frames per second; a lower frequency is already perceived as a “slideshow”, and a higher one only increases the amount of material being shot, without giving a visible increase in quality. At the same time, registrar cameras can also provide higher filming speeds than 60 fps — this provides good visibility of individual moving parts in slow motion or frame-by-frame playback.
Angle of view
The angle of view of the additional camera of the DVR. Depending on the design and configuration, we can talk about both a remote camera and a camera for filming the interior (see above for both); this nuance should be clarified separately. And the viewing angle can be indicated both horizontally and diagonally, which is why models with the same numbers in the characteristics may differ somewhat in the actual field of view. However, in this case, this difference is not critical.
In theory, a wider field of view allows you to cover more space, but individual details in the frame are smaller. In addition, wide-angle lenses give geometric distortion at the edges of the picture; and the DEWARP technology (see "Features") used to eliminate them is not usually used in additional cameras.
Screen size
The diagonal of the display installed in the DVR.
A large display, on the one hand, provides additional convenience, on the other hand, it affects the dimensions and price of the entire device. Therefore, manufacturers choose a diagonal in such a way that the device can be used normally and at the same time it is not too expensive and bulky. So, for a classic registrar that does not have additional functions, a small display is enough —
2 – 2.5",
1.5 – 2", or even
less : it completely allows you to manage the settings and control what exactly gets into the frame, and to fully view the footage, you still need a computer, TV or other large screen. A size of
2.5 – 3 " by the standards of such devices can already be called average, and screens of
3" or more are typical mainly for fairly advanced models, often with an abundance of additional functions.
Also note that there are models that
do not have a display at all. To control the operation parameters and check the position of the frame, such a recorder is connected to an external device — for example, to a smartphone via Wi-Fi.
