Rexing V1 Car 1080p Dash Cam w/ 2.4" LCD

(See updates at bottom of original review) How many times have you bought a product online after extensive research only to find when it's delivered it doesn't live up to the hype? I'm naturally suspicious reviews that are not verified purchasers or revised who are given free or discounted merchandise to provide a "free and unbiased review" are shills for the manufacturer or retail seller. Well, none of these app!y here. And, my review is unaffiliated with the seller or manufacturer. This item is everything users claim. I have tested on one long drive and the resulting video and audio were of excellent quality, the field of view was satisfactory, the automatic iris adjusted for varying light levels from bright sunlight overhead to low ambient light at sundown. I'm very fastidious about video quality as a 40-year veteran of audio-visual enterprises. I won't attempt a technical review as most potential buyers are interested in key features and whether the device works reliably and has any downside or limitations. Surprisingly small, it is relatively easy to set up once you've installed a micro-SD class 10 card. 32gb is best because any video file is big, and these are hi-definition. Throw away the small, inadequate instruction booklet included in the box, and go to the rexingv1.com site and download and print the more detailed, comprehensive update. It's well worth it. Can't comment on reliability until I've used it more over time, but it seems well-built yet I worry exposure to the notorious Florida high ultraviolet light content in unremitting sunlight might take a toll. Another tip. I installed my unit using Velcro tabs until I'm sure of the device and it proves reliable. Just DON'T fail to use alcohol on a microfiber towel to clean the installation area (behind the mirror) before attaching the 3M tab supplied or Velcro. This will better assure the adhesive won't come loose from high windshield temperatures. You won't be disappointed by the high quality images. They are standard .mov files. I haven't tested the parking feature or motion detection features and because they require accessing the menu selections, I expect few will use them, except in cases where theft and damage incidents in their communities warrant their use. The limitations I found included the power cord, while long, required some compromise because it isn't quite long enough for the run from mirror to lighter plug-in on my Honda Odyssey. Another added foot would have been perfect. The 3M adhesive pad is permanent and will be destroyed if you attempt to remove it. Two pads included for this price are not ideal if you plan to use the device in multiple cars or you make a poisoning mistake on first try, as I did. I mounted it to be unobtrusive, hidden mostly by the mirror. But, windshields reflections from attached GPS unit or cellphone cast shadows in the Rexing unit's camera's field of view. In summary, this dashcam is the best I found after review and research of more than a dozen I seriously iinvestigated from a long list of Amazon offers. It is easy to install, set-up and operate, complete with a tilt-adjustable lens for the perfect balance of panorama and horizon, produces high quality images and audio, and is lightweight. 4 1/2 stars. UPDATE: 12/15/2015 Measure a seller not just the product but also by the after-sales support. I bought two of these dashcams, and installed one. The other is a Christmas gift and we'll soon know if my experience will be repeated. So far, this little device has performed superbly. If you want to move it to other cars you own, you need additional strips of adhesive and the attachment plate. As other customers have noted, Velco tabs CAN be used, but only until the heat builds on the windshield and you find the dashcam hanging by the power cord. One email to Rexing did the trick and my request was met with quick dispatch of extra adhesive strips via first-class mail. This is the way to stand behind a great product. Let's hope Rexing continues that winning philosophy because if/when the item experiences a problem, and is out of Amazon 30--day warranty, buyers still influence potential buyers based on their experience, called "back-end sales". Already, I've recommended this product to friends and family. I'll update this when the second unit is installed. ( My only improvement recommendation is to add another plate and 3M adhesive strip to the product package and lengthen the power cord by a foot. And, a tip to future buyers. Clean the installation area on the windshield glass with alcohol beforehand) Update: 2/22/2016. I liked the quality..and customer service of the first well, so well, l decided to buy another and it functions as well as the first. As a backup, I just requested Rexing supply me with extra adhesive tabs. The tabs that came with the unit are about as sticky as any but, they are destroyed by extreme heat because Florida sun has a high UV content and you want to have extras on hand. I had positioned my first tab to high on the windshield and could not remove the unit without major effort. In so doing, If you are lucky enough not to destroy the tab, it can't really be reapplied. I tried it and it lasted until the cloudy winter weather turned to sunshine and higher near 85 degree temperatures. Then, the unit fell off, caught only by the power cord. Glad I had extras on hand. I've suggested to Rexing that offering extra adhesive tabs for a modest cost would a good idea because buyers sooner or later will need to replace the original ones for their V1. Tip of the cap, Rexing. Keep up the good customer support. Consequently, I've upped my rating to 5-stars as a satisfied and verified buyer. UPDATE: 6/7/2016 After the allure fades, some electronics develop issue or problems due to inherent flaws or use. Here is my experience after 7 months of use for one V1, and 6 month for the other. Again, as a reminder, the high UV content and heat of the Florida sun will zap, degrade, deteriorate almost anything over enough time. Anything exposed to sun, form PVC, plastic pool liners, car dashboards, paint, home siding, you name it. Some, when I bought these V1 models, I knew to be skeptical that they would last, as consumer electronics are not built to fully withstand direct sun exposure on windshields or interior heat build-up when you park your car. Surprise. Neither show any problems. The video and audio still function as new, and the cameras and housings look factory-new, with no plastic curdling or dimpling from heat or direct sunlight. In fact, a review of video files of my wife's month long trip from Florida to Tennessee and on to South Carolina to see her mom, and a stop to see our grandchildren were a perfect record of her daily travel. One downside, however, which I have addressed to Rexing. The adhesive tabs don't hold up to the heat and UV I described. Yet, when applied, the 3M tape is very sticky and adheres well. Just try talking it off, and you'll understand. But, in time, they seem to dry out and become less tacky, and the weight of the V1 - although slight - causes it to come loose, and you find the V1 dangling by its power cord. So far, this effect seems to only result from abnormally hot summers and mostly in Southern states, and could be a factor when a buyer is looking at competing models. To its credit, Rexing has willingly, quickly replaced the tabs with new ones. If this experience continues to occur ever 4 months, it could become a tedium. My cost-benefit analysis tells me the performance of the V1 far outweighs the small aggravation of replacement of the tabs, and buyers affected are not all in Florida. This all depends on the goodwill of Rexing, until a better 3M adhesive can be found. UPDATE 5/21/2017 Well, the good folks at Rexing have taken my suggestion (and I'm not alone) to heart and added a windshield mount that we hope will solve the only real liability I complained about regarding my first purchase, which is the adhesive tape mount won't hold up in hot climate, high UV sun states such as Florida.). Rexing, listening to customers pays off as I just bought my third V1 and tried it out with the windshield suction mount during a central Florida to Baltimore and return 2,000 mile trip. Result? Perfect performance for both. That's saying a lot due to the unbelievable potholes, unpacked rough pavements of Baltimore streets, the pothole kingdom. (If I was forced to live and work in Baltimore, I'd start a wheel alignment business. Baltimore streets are a series of potholes with just enough surrounding asphalt for aesthetics). The windshield mount never came loose from the bumps or tire shock. And the V1 performed like the others. Clearly, if you purchase the V1, buy the economically-priced windshield mount. For those unsure which grand to buy, let me save you time. I was determined to find the best on the market in this price range and spent hours reading reviews of the boiled-down list I compiled of devices with compelling features. I read almost all the reviews. There were downsides and reliability and resolution issues with them all. Those with crisp resolution in daylight couldn't match it in low ambient light levels. Some were balky in recording files to the storage card, others quit working after a short period. I wanted a new purchase that would swivel 180 degrees, but even the best were had class. So, I gave up looking. For my basic purpose, I knew from experience I couldn't do better than the Rexing V1. Experience and sustained performance of my two others clinched my decision. And, the new mount made it all the more a great choice. Unplanned to get two new mounts for the other devices. By the way, I didn't have time to check on a firmware update, and I'm in no hurry given the V1 performance out-of-the-way. UPDATE 11/27/2017: What you buy when you purchase from Rexing: Peace of Mind that they will stand behind their products. One of my V1 dash-cams failed. The battery became defective, as it turned out, and would cycle on then off, crashing the device and eventually corrupting the micro-sd card and not allowing the camera to show any video even when connected to power. When powered on, only black appeared in the display screen. I removed the card and reformatted it in one of my other V1s, which rehabilitated use of the card. When connected to power through a PC, I tried upgrading the firmware in case that was a solution. Now, the defective V1 showed video using the built-in camera, but the low battery icon showed a red "X", and a message, "low battery" although I had followed Rexing's instructions to try to charge it for at least 3 hours. But, the battery icon still showed the red X and when the V1 was disconnected from my PC to operate on battery power, it displayed the "Red X", and crashed from low battery. Not to worry. I would not be stuck with a defective unit. After contacting Rexing, they requested I attempt the long charge, and if the unit still failed to operate, they promised a replacement wold be immediately mailed to me. Good to their word, it arrived and it works perfectly. Rexing even supplied a postage-paid label to return the defective unit. After recently checking to see if there is another brand device which produces better video and still is as unobtrusive on the windshield as the V1, I'm happy to report, the V1 is still superior. In those cases with so much competition, positive reviews are crucial to help potential buyers make the best choice and Rexing knows it. So, bottom line? Rexing sells the dash-cam with the best resolution and has probably the best reviews because not only is the unit superior, but so is its customer support. And, after purchase, that becomes the biggest factor associated with your purchase, reliability and support in those cases when things go wrong. (By the way, the touble-shooting on the Rexing website is very helpful)