Transcend Dash Cam: A Detailed Analysis of its Cameras, Design, and Software

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Posted Nov 7, 2024

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Man in Black Suit Inside Car
Credit: pexels.com, Man in Black Suit Inside Car

The Transcend Dash Cam is a popular choice among drivers, and for good reason. It features a 1080p resolution camera that provides clear and sharp video footage.

One of the standout features of the Transcend Dash Cam is its compact design. Measuring just 2.5 inches in width and 1.5 inches in height, it's small enough to fit discreetly on your windshield.

The Transcend Dash Cam also features Wi-Fi connectivity, allowing you to transfer files directly to your smartphone or tablet. This makes it easy to share footage with insurance companies or law enforcement if needed.

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Test Results

The Transcend DrivePro 620 is a top-notch dash cam that impressed us in the test. It's a bundle for the front and rear windshield and has a very comprehensive delivery package.

The Transcend DrivePro 620 has a very good test result, with a score of 1.2 out of 1.2. It also scored well in terms of image quality, with a note of 1.0 out of 1.0.

Credit: youtube.com, Setup and review of the Transcend DrivePro 250 dash cam 2023- model (1440p)

The Transcend DrivePro 620 has a very good safety feature, with a note of 1.5 out of 1.5. It also has a very good user interface and equipment, with a note of 1.0 out of 1.0.

Here's a summary of the test results:

The Transcend DrivePro 620 has a high-quality image, even in low-light conditions, making it perfect for capturing events on the road.

Camera Features

The Transcend DrivePro 520's interior camera is a horizontally rotating unit that provides excellent coverage of the driver and rear seats, swiveling 180 degrees for added front coverage. However, it's not ideal for monitoring rear traffic due to its distance from the rear windshield, resulting in glare.

The DrivePro 520 Pro features a 3MP Aptina AR0330 sensor in the front-facing camera, capturing 1080p video at a 130-degree field of view. In contrast, the rear-facing camera has a 1MP sensor with a 110-degree field of view.

Credit: youtube.com, How to use Transcend DrivePro App

The DrivePro 200, on the other hand, boasts a 160° viewing angle with Full HD 1080p recording at 30fps, making it an excellent choice for capturing a wide perspective. This dash cam also features a motion G-sensor to detect impact events and auto-protect the recording.

The DrivePro 620's cameras are equipped with STARVIS high-sensitivity image sensors, allowing for high-resolution images in superb, rich color even in low light. This is particularly useful for capturing clear footage in challenging lighting conditions.

Starvis Image Sensors

The DrivePro 620's cameras feature STARVIS image sensors, which are known for capturing high-resolution images in rich color even in low light.

These image sensors support 1080P Full HD recording at 60fps, resulting in smooth footage and crisp still images.

The STARVIS image sensor technology is a trademark of Sony Corporation, a well-respected name in the camera industry.

With STARVIS image sensors, you can expect clear and detailed recordings even in challenging lighting conditions.

Features

Credit: youtube.com, 3 Modern Digital Camera Features That Are Actually Game-Changing

The Transcend DrivePro 200 has a 160° viewing angle for an extra wide perspective.

This feature is especially useful when you need to capture a broad view of the road or surrounding area.

The DrivePro 520 Pro utilizes an Aptina AR0330 3MP (1080p) sensor in the front-facing camera, and a 1MP (720p) sensor in the rear-facing camera.

The front camera has a 130-degree field of view, while the rear-facing camera has a 110-degree field of view.

The Transcend DrivePro 200 features WiFi support with an app for smartphone connectivity to let you stream, download, and share videos.

This allows you to easily access and manage your footage from anywhere.

The DrivePro 620 features STARVIS high-sensitivity image sensors in both the front and rear cameras, capturing high-resolution images in superb, rich color even in low light.

This results in smooth footage and crisp still images.

Here's a comparison of the field of view for different dash cameras:

Design and Performance

Credit: youtube.com, Transcend DrivePro 250 dashcam - Built for life.

The Transcend DrivePro 520's design is sleek and unobtrusive, making it a great addition to any vehicle.

The camera's resolution is impressive, capturing good video even before removing the protective film covering the front lens. Rich color and sharp details make for excellent video quality.

However, some instances of oversaturated color may occur, but details remain sharp. Daytime video is excellent, with only slight moire in detailed areas.

At night, the interior camera's four LED sensors adjust to capture interior images, producing a "night vision" monochrome look. But the outside nighttime video shows good detail and color, handling changing ambient light conditions well.

Design (Flaws)

The Transcend DrivePro 200's design has some notable flaws, particularly in its size. It measures 67mm x 72mm x 35mm, which is not the most compact dash cam on the market.

The dash cam's size isn't too big to obstruct your view, but its visibility when left in the car is more obvious. This could be a concern for some owners.

Check this out: Dash X

Close-up of an illuminated car interior featuring dashboard gauges and steering wheel.
Credit: pexels.com, Close-up of an illuminated car interior featuring dashboard gauges and steering wheel.

The body of the dash cam has a nice matte black texture, but the bright chrome finish around the bezel stands out like a sore thumb. This shiny finish, along with the WiFi logo and 1080p text around the lens, makes the product more noticeable than it needs to be.

For a lazy person like me, the Transcend DrivePro 200 may attract too much unwanted attention, making it a less desirable option.

Built-in Battery

The DrivePro dashcam's built-in battery is a game-changer in case of a power outage. It can temporarily supply power to the device until the files being recorded are safely stored, preventing crucial images from being lost due to file damage.

One of the most impressive features of this battery is its ability to keep the dashcam running during a power outage. This is especially useful when you're driving in areas with frequent power outages.

The built-in battery is a Li-Polymer battery, which is a type of rechargeable battery known for its reliability and long lifespan.

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African woman posing with a DSLR camera and car outdoors.
Credit: pexels.com, African woman posing with a DSLR camera and car outdoors.

Here are some of the features that make the built-in battery so useful:

  • Emergency recording – prevents overwriting of the file being recorded at the time when the G-sensor detects an impact.
  • Format-free technology – reduces memory card errors, obviating the need for frequent formatting.

These features work together to ensure that you don't lose any important footage, even in the event of a power outage.

USB Car Lighter Adapter

The USB Car Lighter Adapter is a thoughtful addition to the DrivePro 620's design. It allows you to power multiple dashcams at once.

One of the key features of the adapter is that it includes a car charger with dual USB ports. This means you can charge two devices simultaneously, which is super convenient.

The adapter also comes with two cables: an 8m cable and a 4m cable. This gives you flexibility in terms of how you choose to set up your dashcams.

Broaden your view: Mini Dash Camera for Car

Software and Value

Transcend offers free software, DrivePro Toolbox, which is a game-changer for users.

This software features video sorting function, smooth video playback, video editing, screenshot, and map view, making it a one-stop-shop for all your dashcam needs.

Credit: youtube.com, How to use Dashcam DrivePro App in Mobile | How to use Dashcam DrivePro App in Laptop | Transcend

Users can synchronize the front and rear footage to carry out these operations, creating a more convenient experience for DrivePro users.

The DrivePro App is specifically designed for use with DrivePro dashcam models featuring Wi-Fi connectivity, allowing for quick and easy streaming and downloading of recorded files to mobile devices.

Preisalternative: 32 GB

The Transcend DrivePro 230Q Data Privacy is a great alternative for 32 GB of storage. It's a dashcam that's specifically designed for Germany, adhering to the country's data protection laws.

The dashcam has a very good test rating of 1.3 out of 5, indicating its high quality. It also scores well in terms of security, with a rating of 1.0 out of 5.

Here are some key features of the Transcend DrivePro 230Q Data Privacy:

  • Testurteil: Sehr gut (1,3)
  • Note Sicherheit: Sehr gut (1,0)
  • Note Bildqualität: Sehr gut (1,2)
  • Note Ausstattung & Bedienung: Gut (2,0)

The dashcam is designed to delete unnecessary recordings, unless an accident is detected or the driver manually records an event. This feature is particularly useful for those who value their data privacy.

Price and Mounting Madness

A Person Placing a Box of Donuts on the Car Dashboard
Credit: pexels.com, A Person Placing a Box of Donuts on the Car Dashboard

The DrivePro 520's pricing can be a bit confusing. The camera's price includes a 32GB SDHC card and either a suction mount or a sticky mount.

You'll pay $190 for the camera with a suction mount, but be aware that the first mount I received had a deformed cup. Transcend sent a replacement, but I recommend the sticky version for added security.

The suction mount can be purchased as an optional accessory for $10 on Amazon. Adding this would allow you to use the cameras in other cars.

Value-Added Software

Transcend offers free software, DrivePro Toolbox, which features a video sorting function and smooth video playback.

This software also includes a video editing feature, allowing users to edit their footage with ease.

The DrivePro Toolbox allows users to synchronize the front and rear footage, making it easier to manage their recordings.

Transcend’s DrivePro App is designed specifically for use with DrivePro dashcam models featuring Wi-Fi connectivity, enabling users to stream and download recorded files to their mobile devices quickly and conveniently.

Pros and Cons

Credit: youtube.com, Transcend Drive Pro 230 (Dash Cam) - Hands On Review

The Transcend dash cam has some excellent features. The bundle includes a 32 GByte Micro-SD card for each camera, which is a great starting point.

The cameras are well-equipped with USB cables for the car's power outlet. The front camera has a 2-inch display that allows you to adjust recording and assistance settings, while the rest is handled through a smartphone app.

The video quality is impressive, with the front camera recording in Full HD and the rear camera in 1440p. The cameras perform well in various lighting conditions, including daylight, and can even capture license plates clearly.

One potential drawback is the lack of automatic deletion of unnecessary recordings, which could be a concern for those worried about data protection.

Testfazit

The Transcend DrivePro 620 bundle is a solid choice for anyone looking for a reliable dashcam setup. It includes two cameras, a 32 GByte Micro-SD card for each, and a USB cable for the car's power adapter.

Road in modern city street with lights through car window in rainy weather
Credit: pexels.com, Road in modern city street with lights through car window in rainy weather

The cameras are easy to set up, with the front camera featuring a 2-inch display for adjusting settings and accessing the smartphone app. The app allows you to customize recording and assistance settings, making it convenient to use the dashcams.

The video quality is impressive, with the front camera capturing full HD footage and the rear camera capturing 1440p footage. This results in clear and natural-looking footage, even in daylight conditions.

One thing to note is that the dashcams can handle varying light conditions, including low-light and mixed lighting scenarios. However, they don't automatically delete unnecessary recordings, which could be a concern for those worried about data protection.

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Pros and Cons

The pros and cons of dash cams are worth considering. Some models, like the Transcend DrivePro 620, come with excellent accessories, including a 32 GByte Micro-SD card and USB cable for the car's power adapter.

The DrivePro 520 is a notable model with good-quality day and night video. It also has an integrated rear-facing interior camera.

Credit: youtube.com, Pros and Cons

However, not all dash cams are created equal. The Transcend DrivePro 250 is a good example, with a 2-inch display that allows you to adjust settings and a smartphone app for further customization.

One of the main concerns with dash cams is their reliability in recording important events, especially in the case of an accident. Fortunately, some models, like the Transcend DrivePro 250, can recognize faulty microSD cards and alert you via a signal tone or display message.

The Transcend DrivePro 620's bundle includes two cameras: the Transcend DrivePro 250 for the front windshield and the Transcend DrivePro 10 for the rear windshield. This setup provides excellent video quality, even in low-light conditions.

However, not all dash cams are perfect. The DrivePro 520's integrated interior camera can't track behind the vehicle, and getting both sticky and suction mounts costs extra.

Here's a summary of the pros and cons:

  • Good-quality day and night video
  • Integrated rear-facing interior camera
  • Excellent video quality, even in low-light conditions
  • Automatic or manual video recording of important events
  • Recognition of faulty microSD cards
  • Integrated display for adjusting settings
  • Smartphone app for further customization

And here are the cons:

  • Integrated interior camera can’t track behind the vehicle
  • Getting both sticky and suction mounts costs extra

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I reset my transcend dash cam?

To reset your Transcend dash cam, download and launch the DrivePro Body Toolbox, then navigate to the "Tools" section and select "Reset All Settings" or "Erase All Contents and Settings". This will restore your dash cam to its factory settings.

How can I see my car camera footage?

To view your car camera footage, you'll need a media player that supports the file format used by your dash cam, such as MP4 or AVI. Popular options include VLC, Windows Media Player, and QuickTime.

Jeanette Venturi

Senior Writer

Jeanette Venturi is a seasoned writer with several years of experience in the blogosphere. Her writing style is reflective, insightful and engaging; which has helped establish her as a trusted voice on various topics. She is passionate about empowering people with knowledge that can help them make informed decisions about their lives.

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