A dash camera is a digital video camera that mounts to the dashboard and records your journey whenever the car is turned on and moving. In today’s social climate, dash cameras are being installed at an unprecedented rate and are no longer exclusively found in law enforcement vehicles. Dash cameras are also being provided by a growing number of insurance companies after a recent climb in “crash for cash” scams.
Choosing A Memory Card For Your Dash Cam
The first question you’ll undoubtedly have is SD vs MicroSD Cards? With all things becoming more compact, it’s no surprise that very few dash cameras are equipped to accept SD card format which is merely a larger version of its kin, the MicroSD card. So when it comes to shopping for dashcam memory, you’ll want to exclusively check out MicroSD cards. You’ll find that the best MicroSD cards can help keep your dashcam running properly and you’ll run into less corrupted video files – if any.
The High Capacity Advantage
Often we tend to purchase the smallest, most capable card for our memory needs. When using your memory card for raw images or other textual data this is often a great strategy because after uploading your images/information to a computer you can reformat your card and continue to load more images with a much slower impact to your card. The process of writing video (especially HD & 4K) however; onto your memory card is somewhat different.
As your video files are overwritten, memory cards become damaged. Some models are more durable and prevent your data from being corrupted too quickly. When dash cams overwrite older video files, that process permanently damages the memory card. So while there is no method to eliminate the damage that will incur on your memory card, there are options to elongate the life of your flash memory and save you money long term. The smaller the capacity of your memory card, the quicker complete overwriting will occur. This leaves the possibility of corrupt files that can even leave your dashcam with defects.
Why Does It Matter If My Files Corrupt?
Having a dashcam in your vehicle can add a great deal of security and peace of mind. If you have the misfortune of needing the footage analyzed for a more serious matter, the last thing you want is for your video footage to become corrupt.
It is suggested that users pair a MicroSD card with a capacity between 32GB and 128GB although being able to record a full day of footage is a minimum requirement. It’s also important to note that some dashcams don’t accept card capacities higher than 64GB, so it’s a good idea to check the allowance in your manufacturer’s guide.
Besides capacity, read/write speeds should also be taken into consideration as a high capacity card with inadequate read/write speeds is just as prone to corruption as any random 8GB card attempting to record video files.
Why Bother With Smaller Capacity Cards?
There are dozens of opinions on which cards are best with just as many preferences and uses for them. In the case of dashcam use, we suggest using what will keep your information and equipment in optimal shape. However; there are so many uses and practices that while not relevant to dashcam use, do make smaller capacity cards optimal. We sell a plethora of options for every type of user of flash memory and the many needs our customers have. Our advice, purchase the card that is best for how you intend on using it and know that we are here if you ever need anything different.
Spending More Can Sometimes Save You Money
Sometimes spending a small amount more upfront for a higher quality product can save money on the possibility of repurchasing an item if it’s lifespan and quality is lower. If you spend a large amount of time in your vehicle and plan to run your dashcam the entire time, consider buying a higher capacity card with a higher price point equipped with peace of mind.
Budget-Friendly Solutions
There are also some budget-friendly options that stand well against the wear and tear of dashcam daily use with a pretty sweet price point. We’ve gathered a few of those options for your convenience. For MicroSD cards from 32GB+ on a budget, the Samsung Evo Plus, SanDisk Extreme & Extreme Pro and SanDisk Ultra A1 cards are all good choices. Keeping in mind that our bulk pricing will add additional savings, a great solution to even out pricing is to buy any of these high capacity cards in bulk and give yourself the peace of mind you should have from using a dash camera.