Taxi Driver Online

These readings come from a cheap Light Meter and were taken in an Peugeot E7 Expert after dark.

Street Lights only: 3 to 5 Lux.

Internal Passenger Compartment Lights on: 27 to 30 Lux.

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Don't dream it ~ Be it.

Cerberus, nice find.

Mark (Carcams) after watching the youtube of the K2000 I notice it uses white light LEDs for night vision - this is no good to me as I don't want bright lights shining in my eyes at night. Do any of your cameras use infra-red night vision, I notice they all just say 'bright LED night vision' ? If not I'm sorry to say I'm not interested in any of them, I'm sure you'll agree blindingly bright lights inside a vehicle at night are not good for either driver or passenger and could be seen as a contributory factor should an accident occur, it would be like driving with a car coming at you with full beam on. I do like the size of the K2000 though.

For my choice I put the priority on internal view recording over external view, as I'm concerned about recording what happens in side for my safety/backing up what happens inside the car.

Features I would look for :
. Internal view camera (Necessity),
. Night recording must be via IR light not visible lights
. External Front view recording (Would be nice to help if in an accident, but not a necessity)
. Not bothered about HD quality as long as image quality is good.
. Instant recording on power up
. Can be powered via wiring into a switched live feed, already to many things having to connect via cigarette point.
. Built in monitor, that way passengers know that there is definitely a camera in the car. If not must have video out capability so can connect to a small screen.
. Small size
. Date/Time & GPS data recording

From having a look around, the best overall I can see would be one of the Roadhawks
The DC-1 seems a nice unit but is only a single camera (external view). Would be nice if they did that in an internal view version.
RH-2 or the RH-2 Pro are dual cameras (internal and external) and the internal is IR lights for night recording. I also like the idea with the Pro version where you have an external box where you can plug in a USB pen to record to. That way if someone was to attack/rob you, them nicking the camera would still leave you with the video. The Pro can also be connected up to a display for playback/live display of the video.

Youtube video of a night time recording on a RH-2 : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qRrJsTErbyA

The only problem being the cost of them.


Just found a youtube video of the BlackVue DR400G (that the OP sells) facing inwards at night. Good quality, but don't think it would show much of rear seat passengers if little street lighting around as it dowsn't appear to provide its own lighting (visible or IR).
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wCZs8TRIMEY

Relying on street lighting around here is a non starter. Most of them are turned off at midnight to save money.

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Grandad,

So nearly a week passes and the OP hasn't been back to answer my questions. I'd like to take up his offer of a camera to test on behalf of everyone on here, but not until I know the unit I get would be suitable.

Remember what I said about being the first to criticise advertisers - a slagging may be forthcoming

"I'm sorry to say I'm not interested in any of them"
Sasha - the cams will definately not meet your needs - as you said already. They are LED as you know - not IR. There may be cams out there which are IR but not these.

I came here not to advertise - but to see if it would be worth my while advertising to taxi companies around the country and the EU. It would really appear not - I generally do not see a use of a car cam for a taxi company. Hmm - on reflection I do - but from on here - I think the requirements differ from person to person and IR is not something I do at this time.

One additional worry for me which I was not aware of was recording passengers and the laws regarding this. General road users like myself do not have this worry as we have no paying passengers - that is probably where the market is for these as opposed to taxi firms.

I think overall - it is fair to say that they dont meet the needs - but I am certain there are other types out there - maybe specialist taxi cameras made for the purpose of hardwiring, IR, front and rear view etc. I will have a poke around the net.

But your forward facing Cams have some merit, If not for Insurance purposes they could still be of Interest to Off Roaders or anyone that might be interested in recording their Holiday drive etc..the Image quality is good and the price reasonable. I'm sure they're still a very sellable commodity.

Bloodnock thanks. I'll investigate other areas - i've done the site now so ive got to do something with it!!!!

Thank-you Mark for (finally!) replying.

Your cameras do have a place for some taxi drivers, they are about the right price and size. Unfortunately the lack of IR night recording is the big let down, if you ever manage to source a similar camera that has this function do come back as I'd certainly be interested.

Thanks once again for the offer of a camera to test but the lack of IR means none would be suitable for me to eventually purchase so I'll graciously decline.

Yes Sasha - I will keep an eye out and see whats what. I think the hardest part is trying to get the features - but staying within a certain price range - thats the trick with everything really. Having thought about this today - it would certainly do me no harm to build the camera range (given the site name especially) and I have seen wrist watches with built in IR video cameras (yes you read that correctly - wrist watches!!!!) so the technology is out there it is just a matter of - as I say - trying to get the pricing right to appeal to people.

I'd like to say thanks to everyone here for joining in - it has definately been an eye opener from my perspective. So Thanks!

Mark

They do have IR on their Roadhawk range...Its just more of a premium priced unit.