In our list of Best dash cams is a mini camera from Garmin, the Garmin Dash 55. It is a compact, immaculate dash camera with superior video quality. It's a small-scale camera just like a matchbox. Don’t be fooled by the size of Garmin Dash Cam 55 as it is not a cheap one. The asking price is high but is justified by The number of features packed in this camera along with amazing footage quality and minimal unique design quietly justifies its price. If you are looking forward to buying Garmin Dash Cam 55 then you should go through our Garmin Dash Cam 55 Review. We have reviewed it thoroughly and covered almost everything which will help you decide.
Garmin Dash Cam Specifications The Garmin dash cam 55 specs are given in the table below: MANUFACTURER VIDEO QUALITY SCREEN FIELD OF VIEW GPS STORAGE WEIGHT
Garmin 2560 x 1440 YES (2-Inches LCD) 122 Degrees YES Micro SD Card 59.5gm
Garmin Dash Cam 55 Review: Design The first thing I noticed in our Garmin Dash Cam 55 Review is the mini and compact size of this dashboard camera, the Garmin Dash Cam 55 is ultra-compact. I cannot say that Garmin Dash Cam 55 does not look beautiful in its small size. From a design perspective, being so small is the best feature of this dash cam and makes it special remarkably. As I have seen many other cameras in the market but they are not like this specific model. The Gamin 55 dash cam has an immense number of amazing features, we cannot compare its features with its tiny size. This dash cam is just like a matchbox and can be easily fixed in your pocket. This cam has an appropriate mounting system. It consists of a segmented arm that is attached to the camera.
The mounting system that comes with the dash cam There is a metal disc of size 20p which attached to the 3M adhesive to the windscreen. Then this adhesive magnetically binds to a mounting arm that is attached to the camera. The camera is easily adjustable like a ball and socket joint. No matter your screen is exact on the position. The Garmin Dash cam can be placed to get a flawless view of the road toward the front. You can also leave the camera in a place where you park your vehicle. Just to tell how easy it is to mount and unmount this dash cam Though there is also a downside to its compact size. It is powered by an internal chargeable battery. In our review and test, while recording at 1440p, the Gamin 55 dash cam lasted around an average of 30 mins. So if you need it for longer period of recording session then you need to keep it plugged in.
Garmin Dash Cam 55 Review: Video Quality This camera records videos at 1440p resolution at 30 frames per second, 1080p at 60 frames per second and 1080p at 30 frames per second with HDR (High Dynamic Range) is enabled. We can also record audio from this camera. You just need to change the settings from video to audio.
The video quality in broad daylight turns out to be quite good. You can expect a great sharp image quality when recording at 1440p Resolution. Also, in our nighttime test, the Garmin dash cam did pretty well. For the best image quality, I suggest using the 1440p recording resolution. The level of this cam is the same as the NextBase 512GW. As it can automatically record the incidents. You will not get any other camera like this with low cost. It is not best in recording videos at night but it still works well. Hence we can say that video quality is best.
Garmin Dash Cam 55 Review: Menu Options When you first start the camera, there are a few questions which you have to answer. Whether you want to place the camera on the left, right or center of the screen. You can even choose whether you are fixing this camera in car or a taller vehicle like a truck. You do not have to set the date and time as this will be done by the GPS signal.
When you are going through the setup, you would control the menu by the four buttons on the side of the device and indications are also given on the back side of the device. The menu is easy
to use. Don’t need to worry about it. There are icons for the main functions and also a text-based option. You are doing all these setting in just a 2 inches screen. You can also control this device via your voice. Simply say “ok Garmin” and then save a video to any folder, where ever you want to save it. The voice-controlled system works properly in Garmin Dash Cam 55 as compared to other Garmin devices. It works perfectly when there is no noise. Maybe it cannot work properly when your background is too noisy.
Garmin Dash Cam 55 Review: Features This little device has all the amazing features. Once you have the Dash Cam 55 organized, powered and ready to go then it is very simple to use. Now turn on your camera and start using it. Once you have been agreed to a safety message, the recording will automatically start. If the camera detects any collision, the footage before, during and after the incident will automatically be saved to the micro SD card. The camera has four buttons. In order to save a video at any time just press any of the four buttons. It will manually save your recording. You can also navigate with voice commands. Just say that “hi Garmin” then the camera will show all the instructions on its small screen. In this way, you can easily start and stop the videos, take pictures or start and stop what the Garmin dash cam calls a travelapse. The travelapse feature provides a simple and easy way to record videos and share your adventures. As you can control this dash camera manually. So you can do whatever you want to.
The engrossing feature of the Garmin Dash Cam 55 that it contains GPS. The camera synchronizes the data to your recording, along with your driving speed, you’re traveling direction, time and the date. All the details will be shown on your camera. It can be switched on or off as you want to do. So these are the Dash cam driver’s safety features includes onward collision and a lane violation. This camera will also let you know when you’re not paying attention while driving and your car moves forward in traffic then this camera will show an alert message. You can also switch off these features as these features can become irritating for you. But don’t worry, those who want to
use these features can use it and those who do not want these type of features, they have an option and switched off them.
Garmin Dash Cam 55 Review: Software You can view the recordings on your smartphones by connecting to the Wi-Fi and booting up the app named “virb”. This app helps you in taking still pictures at the same time when you are recording the videos. You just have to touch the button. But this is not attractive and quite limited. Only saved videos will be viewed, even you cannot change the settings through this app, which is so embarrassing. We were a little confused that, what four buttons do? After that, we got to know that these buttons are used for navigating through the menus. A touch screen of the camera help here, but after you have done the settings when you drive each time just leave the camera. Garmin Dash Cam will not disappoint you, once you have powered this device into the socket then you don’t need to be worried. It has an immense number of features and this is the best point. It can be controlled manually. Its design is superb and it is best in capturing videos. The quality of the video is good during the day time and at night too. The menu system of this camera is that much perfect, it does not work properly. The features of a smartphone app is limited.
User-Friendly Voice Control Garmin Dash Cam 55 is user-friendly. As you can control it manually. You can control this camera by voice control. This dash cam has four lateral buttons which are used for navigating the menus. In order to control the voice, you do not need to use those buttons. The only drawback of Garmin Dash Cam is that some operations are based on buttons. And that is the thing which some people do not like. But it’s okay. It’s not a big problem.
Safety features This device also includes some additional safety features. There is a built-in GPS system which is used to capture location. There is a G-sensor which is used to detect the incidents. Once this G-sensor has detected some incident it automatically starts recording the videos and it will save the videos to a different location so it cannot overwrite other video recordings. When the storage is full it automatically saves the video to another location. When you are coming too close to the car, it will give you a warning message as there is a forward collision warning system. If you are driving a car on the motorway, this device will also let you know if you are drifting away from your lane. Also when you are in a stationary condition like you are waiting on a signal and getting bored and you are not concentrating, this device will give you go alert signal.
Verdict When it comes to finding the best dash cam, the Garmin Dash Cam 55 is definitely one of those names that you'll find in every list. It is a compact size mini camera which is packed with tons of amazing features. The design is simple yet attractive and the mounting system is pretty great and user-friendly. The video quality is great during the day time and at night it is above average but not that great. The safety features are really useful if you are not one of those people who get annoyed. The manual menu system isn't that great but the smartphone app fills up the hole. Yes, it is not a cheap camera but comparing the price with the set of features that this dashboard camera offers you'll have no second thoughts spending and buying the Garmin Dash Cam 55. PROS:
Great Design and Build Quality
Superior Video Quality
Multiple Recording Resolutions
Useful Safety Features
Easy to mount and remove
Wide viewing angle
CONS:
Hefty Price Tag
Small Screen makes it difficult to view settings.
The button response is not good
The smartphone app provides limited functionalities