Comparison ParkCity DVR HD 475 vs RS DVR-213WF

Glass mount provided in the model with the corresponding type of installation (see above).

Note that in many models, not the recorder itself is attached to the glass, but the bracket, on which, in turn, the device is installed. To learn how to fix the recorder on the bracket, see "Mounting the recorder". And the options for attaching to glass can be as follows:

— Sucker. The traditional suction cup, which works due to the reduced pressure between the mount and the glass — as a result, the force of the pressure of the outside air and holds the structure in place. One of the main advantages of this option is “reusability”: the suction cup can be repeatedly stuck and detached at the request of the user, and after removal it leaves practically no traces. However this type of fastening is considered somewhat less reliable than stickers; however, the suction cups used in video recorders are usually of a special design that provides sufficient reliability for practical use. Therefore, this type of mount is extremely popular in modern registrars.

— Sticker. A plate with a layer of special glue, due to which the entire structure is held on the glass. Such mounts are considered more reliable than suction cups, they are less prone to wear and do not lose effectiveness even with minor damage such as cracks and chips. On the other hand, the sticker is usually installed "once and for all..." and does not provide the ability to quickly remove the bracket. And although dismantling by itself is possible, however, it will not work to reuse the sticker, and the glass will most likely have to be cleaned from traces of glue. So installing a recorder with such a mount requires special care and attention.

Note that some models of DVRs are supplied immediately with both types of mounts described above in the kit. This allows the user to choose the option of their choice — including changing the suction cup to a sticker, if the need arises.

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.

The maximum resolution and frame rate of video taken by the recorder in the Super HD standard.

Super HD is a rather specific standard that exceeds Full HD in resolution, but falls short of Quad HD. The traditional frame size for this format is 2304x1296, but there are models with a lower horizontal resolution — 1728x1296. Anyway, Super HD is quite popular among DVRs: it provides good detail and does not require particularly powerful hardware.

As for the frame rate, the higher it is, the smoother and less blurry the video will be, the better the details on moving objects will be visible, and also the more space the footage will take up. However, in Super HD models this figure usually ranges from 25 to 30 fps, and this difference is hardly fundamental.

Among the photo and video functions used in the dashcam, we can distinguish G-sensor, rotating lens, live, HDR< /a>, WDR, polarizing filter, DEWARP and Time Lapse. More about them:

— G-sensor (video saving). A sensor that monitors shocks and vibrations acting on the DVR. The main function of this sensor is to ensure the safety of video materials in the event of an accident: in the event of a strong impact, characteristic of a collision or fall, the recorder with a G-sensor automatically saves the previously recorded video to a non-volatile memory protected from overwriting. Thus, materials about an emergency are not only guaranteed to be saved, but with a high probability remain intact even if the recorder itself is damaged. In addition, the G-sensor is used in parking mode — see "Functions" for details.

— Swivel lens. The ability to rotate the lens of the registrar horizontally or vertically, and in some cases — on both planes. This feature allows you to adjust the camera's field of view.

— Sound recording. Ability to record sound with a video recorder. First of all, we are talking about recording conversations in the cabin, which can become an add...itional argument in disputable situations — for example, they will allow you to determine whether the driver was talking on a mobile phone at the time of an accident, whether he noticed the situation on the road, how he assessed it, etc.

— Live broadcast. Allows you to remotely connect to the DVR and monitor what is happening from the camera in real time. It is very important if there is an additional camera in the cabin, when you can track the situation, for example, in taxi services, courier delivery, etc. This function will also become important and useful when a car is stolen, when you can not only see the hijacker from the video from the camera, but also track the route of his movement.

— HDR (high dynamic range). A function that increases the dynamic range of the recorder. Dynamic range is the maximum difference between the brightest and darkest area achievable within a single frame. Initially, this range for digital matrices is small, so an image with large brightness differences (for example, a road against a sunset sky) turns out to be either strongly overexposed in bright areas or very dim in dark areas. HDR addresses this shortcoming and also improves the overall colour quality. This is implemented as follows: the camera takes several frames with different settings and from them forms the finished image. At the same time, this technology is simpler and cheaper to implement than WDR, which is similar in purpose (see below). The main disadvantage of HDR is that this type of shooting increases the blurring of fast moving objects in the frame somewhat.

— WDR (Wide Dynamic Range). A function similar in purpose to HDR described above: it is used to improve the quality of a “picture” that has strong differences in brightness. The key difference between these technologies is that WDR works at the hardware level — due to high-end matrices. This allows you to achieve the required dynamic range within a single frame and do without gluing several frames — as a result, WDR, unlike HDR, does not give a blurring effect and does not worsen the detail of moving objects in the frame. The downside of this quality is the high price.

— Polarizing filter. The presence of a polarizing filter in the main camera of the DVR. Such a filter reduces the brightness of glare arising from strong light on glass, water and other similar surfaces. This greatly improves image quality, especially when shooting in sunny weather.

— DEWARP. A technology used to correct the "picture" obtained using a wide-angle lens. Such lenses are often used in DVRs; one of their drawbacks is their propensity for the fish-eye effect, the characteristic distortion when straight lines in the frame turn into rounded ones. The DEWARP function eliminates this shortcoming — it "bends back" curved lines, correcting the geometry of objects in the frame. Note that such a correction does not always work 100% accurately, however, the picture processed by DEWARP is anyway more reliable than without this technology.

— Time Lapse. A special mode of operation in which video recording is carried out at a slow frequency, which in practice is mainly used for shooting slow processes. Thus, for example, a long journey or a long sunset can fit into a 3-minute video.

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.

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

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.

HDMI port is an output that allows you to use the recorder as an external player — namely, to broadcast video and audio from it to a TV, monitor or other video equipment that has the appropriate input. The HDMI standard is specially designed for high-definition content, it allows you to transfer even the highest quality video (up to and including UltraHD 4K); and inputs of this type are available in almost all video devices that support HD standards — in particular, in the vast majority of modern TVs. Note that a smaller version of the HDMI connector is usually installed in the recorder, and the appropriate cable is supplied in the kit, but the presence of the latter needs to be specified separately.

AV output is an analogue output used to broadcast captured audio and video to an external display such as a TV. In registrars, such an output usually has the form of a mini-Jack connector, and a special cable is required for connection (often supplied in the kit, but there are exceptions). This interface does not allow working with HD resolutions, however, it does not require powerful hardware and can be provided even in the simplest and most inexpensive devices. Another advantage is that AV inputs (usually called composite) are found not only in modern, but also in frankly outdated video equipment like CRT TVs.