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What are the main characteristics you should check for when buying a car dashcam? Most of the time, the camera you select will depend on your unique needs. Choose a single or dual dash cam device depending on the direction you wish to record in. You have a few more things to think about after looking at all the various brands and cameras before you finalize your choice. People mostly search for features like loop recording, GPS capability, impact detection, event tagging, and more. Resolution and frame rate are two significant features that don’t appear to be discussed as much. Frame rate and resolution? You probably noticed the numbers for both of these listed on a car dashcam box but were unsure of their importance. Most dash cams are 4K@30fps, and 2K@60fps but what do these numbers actually mean? 

Understanding Resolution and Frame Rate

Resolution and frame rate are two words that are frequently used when discussing picture quality. In digital imaging, the resolution is equivalent to pixel count. For example, when it comes to televisions, the majority of us hear the term “4K,” but do you know what that actually means? The term “4K” describes the number of pixels on a horizontal display (4,000). The number of images displayed per second is known as the frame rate and is represented by the symbol fps (frames per second). Ever flip through the drawings you drew in the bottom corner of your notebook to make them move? Frame rate functions in this manner. The quality of the graphic will increase with more frames per second. Hence, if you observe 30 frames per second, it signifies that 30 separate frame photos were taken in a second.

Does Resolution Matter While Recording on a Car Dashcam?

While compiling dash cam recordings, the resolution does matter. Due to the higher pixel density of a 4K image compared to a 2K image, it is significantly clearer. Particularly in low-light situations, the clarity of 4K is ideal for parking mode. The greater the quality, the more likely you are to recognize suspicious characters or extract finer details from the video.

30fps or 60fps —which is better?

It’s not always the case that a higher frame rate results in better video quality. With the same output quality, it doesn’t matter whether your video has 30 or 60 frames per second. It gives you smoother video playback when you have a larger number of frames per second. 30FPS – The most popular frame rate for video on the web, TV, and in the news is 30 frames per second. Many smartphone recording apps, like Instagram, use 30 frames per second. 60FPS – Many high-end HDTVs and particularly some games use the 60 fps format since it offers smoother motion. For a seamless slow-motion effect, a video that was originally shot at 60 frames per second is typically slowed down to 24 or 30 in post-production. Generally speaking, higher frame rates appear smoother, and lower frame rates look more choppy. A 60fps video is more likely than a 30fps video. The ability to slow down the video while maintaining a higher level of slow motion is another advantage of selecting 60 frames per second video speed. 

What to Think About While Selecting Resolution and Frame Rate

As long as you choose based on your needs, there is no right or wrong choice for resolution or frame rate. As we just mentioned, the most typical car dashcam configurations are 4K@30fps and 2K@60fps, however, bear in mind: Resolution: More quality is achieved with higher resolution and more pixels. –  FPS: While video quality improves with frame rate, file size also increases. The actual concern is whether you prefer a crisper image with a large file or more pixels. Before you dig in and select your recording quality, there are some specific questions you need to ask yourself.

1. What Do You Want to Record?

Have you thought of a use for your car dashcam yet? Sadly, many people wait to get a dash cam until they have a reason to have one, such as vandalism, auto accidents, etc. The choice, therefore, becomes which resolution—4K@30fps or 2K@60fps—offers the best coverage for the specified purpose. The higher contrast and color range of 4K resolution makes it ideal for parking mode. It performs better in low-quality illumination and allows for zooming in without losing resolution.

2. How Much Motion Can You Expect?

If your video will have a lot of motion, choosing 30fps to 60fps might be advantageous. This is because a faster frame rate enables you to slow down your movie without sacrificing crispness if you need to do so in order to highlight the point of impact or fine detail that the human eye cannot notice at full speed. Low light conditions are one exception to this. Under these circumstances, higher frame rates don’t offer any improved quality.

3. Delivery and Playback of the Video

The resolution and frame rate of your car dashcam footage affects how it will be delivered and played back. The device playing the video back will also affect how well it plays back. Higher resolutions or frame rates are not supported by all devices or screens. They are then scaled down such that the device or display can manage them. Although there is always a chance of quality loss when converting videos, this rarely happens.

Why is Vezo 360 the best option for you?

The Vezo 360 car dash camera front and rear 4K resolution and 30 frames per second (fps) frame rate offer several benefits for capturing high-quality 360-degree footage: Improved Image Quality: 4K resolution provides four times the amount of pixels compared to Full HD, resulting in sharper and more detailed footage. This increased resolution is especially important when capturing 360-degree footage, as the video needs to be stretched across the entire field of view. Enhanced Clarity and Detail: 30 fps allows for smooth and detailed motion in the footage. It ensures that the camera captures enough frames per second to avoid choppy or blurry footage, which is essential for creating an immersive and engaging experience. Better Low: Light Performance: 4K resolution combined with 30 fps can provide better low-light performance than lower resolution and frame rate cameras. The camera’s sensors can capture more light, resulting in clearer and less grainy footage, even in low-light conditions. Future-Proofing: 4K resolution and 30 fps are becoming increasingly standard for high-quality video production. By investing in a camera that offers these specifications, you’re future-proofing your content to remain relevant and high-quality for years to come. Overall, the Vezo 360 camera’s 4K resolution and 30 fps frame rate provide a high-quality and immersive 360-degree footage-capturing experience.

Bottom Line on Resolution and Frame Rate

Before you buy anything, you must determine what you need when selecting your dash cam and the video quality. Are you a frequent nighttime driver? Or perhaps you intend to use your car dashcam mostly in parking mode? For auto enthusiasts, Vezo 4K 360 cameras with 30fps is a superior option.