Dashboard Cameras
 

Any recommendations, opinions, horror stories. I'd like to start using one (for street, not track) but there are so many to choose from and such a range of prices.

Features I think I'd want would be SD card, IR for night time (if that works) and a rechargeable LI battery, and a frame rate of 30 fps.

You can't go wrong with GoPro HD Hero or Hero2. The camera can take 1080p vids and nice photos as well. As far as your IR night requirement, GoPro can be configured with an IR lens for night vision (with IR light that is). You can google GoPro IR lens and you should find some for purchase or contact the GoPro lens manufacturer, RageCams, directly. GoPro ranges from $199 to over $300, and there are lots of sample vids on the net.

Disclaimer - I'm not associated in any way with GoPro or their affiliates.

Purpose= Driving camera? Security camera? Other? Do you really need true IR or just low light?
This one is compact, has HD, 30fps, mini SD card, lithium batt, and is good down to 1 lux (very low light). $42
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Motion-Detection-High-Resolution-Mini-DV-DVR-Camera-Cam-/120618472296?_trksid=p3284.m263&_trkparms=algo%3DS IC%26its%3DI%26itu%3DUCI%252BIA%252BUA%252BFICS%25 2BUFI%26otn%3D21%26pmod%3D310379524236%26ps%3D54#h t_4489wt_1188

Primary purpose is to be my witness for collisions, undeserved tickets and the like, with a secondary purpose of recording quick runs through the twisties. That one looks like it should do the job just fine.

The thing is though, there are a lot of cameras on ebay in the $40 to $100 range but my problem is figuring out how to pick one without ending up with a POS. The online reviews are all over the map so I figure feedback from fellow forum members who own one is my best bet of getting a good one without breaking the bank.

I know the GoPro price is a bit high for your need, but FYI to the board, here's a pan view from GoPro mounted on my rollbar:

http://i39.tinypic.com/2133bc3.jpg

camera takes both 30fps and 60 fps for super slowmo...great for the track and other purposes, and can take 32Gb SD cards.

You can run video/pict mode while charging for those long trips...pretty cool camera, but it is expensive; that's the major downfall for this camera.

3 good choices:

super discrete keyfob camera:
KC-DVR COPS Portable Key Chain Camera DVR with Audio - YouTube
lots of track vids recorded with these. Cheap, very small, limited features.

MD90- more features, better low light, sound/motion activation, small and light weight:
MD90 - High Resolution Mini DV Camera w/ 2GB Micro SD Card - Home Security Store - YouTube

GoPro- more features, bigger, more $$:
Wingsuit Basejumping - The Need 4 Speed: The Art of Flight - YouTube

Gopro is the way to go. I got mine from Woot for $120. It is the hero. They have deals every now and then. I bought it 2 months ago and tried it out yesterday for the first time. amazing!
GOPR0006 - YouTube

Here is a $6 Keychain camera vid:
08222010 AX lap1.WMV - YouTube

$6 Keychain camera with Harry's lap timer overlay:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Jhon6smlcI

This ultra-cheap video solution is definitely not high resolution due to a very simple lens and CCD but it works well as a security camera or for driving analysis that doesn't require "Spielburg" quality. Sometimes simple and small are desired features. If it breaks, throw it away!

That's pretty impressive for a $6 keychain camera. No viewscreen tho. The Gopro is probably much more camera than I need.

I'm looking at something like this and hoping it will be the Goldilocks solution:

http://www.ebay.ca/itm/310381310655?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p398 4.m1423.l2649

Bought my son a GoPro HD Hero2 for Xmas with the headgear. He uses it snowboarding. He's been making
all kinds of great videos with it at college. We're gonna hook it up to our jetski this summer and maybe
use it for waterskiing IF we buy a boat. He loves it.

You can find thousands of horror stories on youtube, generally all dashcams record in SD card or TF card today, but IR LEDs on dashcams are always not powerful enough to enhance the imaging quality in the dark, unless u have a budget of a few hundred, then go for those recommended by the other bros. Lots of additional functions etc.
Else, if limited budget, can look for those with motion detection & internal battery..
PS. Perhaps this link may offer the dashcam you are looking for: http://www.szswill.com/car-camera.html