Do Dash Cams Need Dual Lenses?
2 Answers
Dash cams do not require dual lenses as they feature motion-activated recording. The working principle of a dash cam involves digitally recording and cyclically updating road conditions in front of or around the vehicle, while also capturing data such as in-car audio, vehicle acceleration, steering, and braking information. A dash cam consists of a microprocessor, data storage, real-time clock, display screen, lens module, operation buttons, printer, and data communication interface. Its functions include: video recording, photo capture, preview mode, AVOUT function, screen display switching, screensaver, motion detection, and infrared night vision capabilities.
For daily commuters, a single-lens dash cam is generally sufficient. The front lens capturing clear license plates and road conditions can handle 90% of traffic incidents. Dual-lens setups require extra wiring for the rear camera installation, which can be quite troublesome for regular sedans. Unless you frequently drive on night routes with many trucks or are concerned about rear-end collisions where liability is hard to determine. Like my colleague who installed a dual-lens system but only ended up using the rear camera for a minor parking lot scrape. For everyday city driving, a single-lens dash cam offers better value for money—saving the extra cost to upgrade to a larger memory card is more practical. After all, rear cameras have limited shooting angles, and their effectiveness drops in rainy or foggy conditions.