Basic dash cam?

If and it's a big if I were to be looking for a simple but high quality optics dash cam so one with HD or 4k picture but without GPS speed, location and suchlike where is a good start point? Oh and budget friendly. And stealth installation so as low profile as possible. Finally is behind the interior mirror really the best place to put them or can they go at the bottom of the windscreen just as successfully or are there self cleaning grill mounted options?

Thanks in advance.

Mine was very cheap on ebay and not sure if 4K was on my budget at the time or if it was even invented yet.
But it is mounted to the rear mirror and covers it completely. Front facing camera, screen for rear backup camera, both goes into the memory card. I like the screen up there for backing up to a trailer as i can see the hitch.
Screen can be switched off for normal mirror use.


But i like the backup camera and the rest does not bother me.

The thing is, when you mount a camera nothing more exciting stuff ever happens in front of your car.

ebay item no: 404353190746 is a similar thing to mine. next time I would buy something a bit less cheap.

We have Nextbase dashcams in all three of our vehicles, they are about 5 or 6 years old and have always work well. All are mounted behind the the rear view mirror, they get a good view and are ‘fit and forget’. The suction cup mount on two broke, Nextbase did send me the spare part, but that didn’t last long so they are mounted on the plate and double sided sticky pad that comes in the kit. I also use it for recording green lane and BigJimny events, you can see the view in any of my videos.

They probably don’t fit your spec as they have GPS and are not the cheapest around, if you are worried about the video recording speed and location you can turn these off from the video.

Robin

The lack of GPS is really just to bring the price down and it seems pointless duplicating the tracking system. I'll have a look at the eBay ones and maybe when Harrogate is back to normal I will have a look at what Halfords offer.

Location...

As the camera is moved higher, the field of view changes - if the camera is down close to the bottom of the windscreen, the bonnet will block more of the view.

Crouch down in the car so your eyes are on the level you're considering for the camera, can you see what is directly in front of the car? Now slowly raise yourself and see how the view changes.

My preference is up behind the mirror, and that has the advantage of making the camera less noticeable.

GPS ...

Things may be different where you are, but for me it's not tracking so much as recorded speed - it's not unusual here to get stopped for speeding when you're not, so a video of me being stopped that shows the speed I was travelling at is an asset, and is the audio recording of the conversation between the driver and the traffic officer conducting the stop.

I still use the Motorola mdc 150 
nearly 5 yrs old now 
 
this is my mount right up out the way 
 
with camera fitted 

I've had quite a few from cheap to expensive. All my current vehicles have them, even my motorcycles. The best I would by again is this (later model than mine)

DDpai

You can't see it from drivers side, so a peek from the passenger siide.

 

I can send you a link to some video files / pictures, real easy to get at via the app on your phone, works well and I hate apps!