How to choose a dashcam: resolution, night mode and memory card

When choosing a dashcam (a car video recorder), three things decide it: footage in which a number plate is readable even at night (at least Full HD, a good sensor and WDR/HDR), a power supply that survives summer heat, and a memory card built for continuous recording. A rear camera, parking mode, GPS and Wi-Fi are added as needed. The sensor's name and a real night-time sample matter more than "4K" printed on the box.

Short answer: as of 22 September 2026, Prayk's Dash cameras section has 53 listings; the median price is 50 AZN (half fall between 25 and 130 AZN). Models with "arxa" (rear) in the title — front-and-rear or mirror-type units — number 9 (18–150 AZN), and 4K models 2 (140 and 199 AZN). The 19 microSD card listings in the Memory cards section have a median price of 26 AZN.

Resolution: 1080p, 2K or 4K?

Resolution tells you how many dots (pixels) make up the image. But whether a plate is readable depends not only on that but also on the sensor, the lens and the bitrate (the amount of data recorded per second): a "4K" camera with a weak sensor can produce worse footage than a Full HD one with a good sensor.

Ask the seller for the sensor model in the specifications. If no sensor is named and the price is suspiciously low, "4K" may be marketing only.

What does night footage depend on?

• Sensor: sensors designed for low light produce less "grain" (noise) at night.
• Aperture: the smaller the lens's f-number (for example f/1.6), the more light it lets in.
• WDR/HDR: balances oncoming headlight glare and dark areas, so a plate doesn't turn into a white blob.
• Infrared LEDs: useful only on a camera facing the cabin (for example in a taxi); on a road-facing camera they reflect off the glass and are useless.

The most reliable check is to ask the seller for a real, unedited clip shot with the same model at night on a city road. A promotional video is no use for this.

Parking mode and summer heat

Parking mode starts recording when the parked car is hit or detects motion. For this the camera needs power after the ignition is off — usually via a dedicated cable to the fuse box (a hardwire kit). Such a cable must include protection that switches the camera off when the battery voltage drops to a set threshold; otherwise the car may not start in the morning. There are three main kinds of parking mode: recording triggered by impact or motion, continuous low-frame-rate recording (time-lapse), and buffered recording that also keeps a few seconds before the event.

In a Baku summer the dashboard and windscreen get very hot. Cameras with a lithium battery fail sooner in heat and can swell; supercapacitor models cope better with high temperatures. So check the power-cell type in the specifications and don't leave a battery model in the sun for long.

Memory card: capacity, class and lifespan

• Loop recording: when the card is full, the oldest file is deleted. The G-sensor (impact sensor) locks the file of a crash; locked files take up space, so clear them from time to time.
• Speed class: 2K and 4K need a card marked U3/V30, Full HD at least U1/V10 — check the exact requirement in the camera manual. Cards made for continuous recording ("High Endurance" type) last longer than ordinary ones.
• Capacity: don't exceed the maximum the camera supports. A rough calculation: GB per hour ≈ bitrate (Mbit/s) × 0.45. For example, at 12 Mbit/s one hour takes about 5.4 GB, so a 64 GB card holds roughly 11 hours of driving. A rear camera doubles the consumption.
• Maintenance: format the card once a month from the camera's own menu and check that files open — a faulty card can silently stop recording.
• Fake capacity: an unusually cheap "large" card may actually be small; after buying, test its real capacity with a verification program.

The dashcam market on Prayk

30 of the 53 listings are from Baku, 6 from Mingachevir and 5 from Masazir. Note: searching the whole catalogue for "videoregistrator" returns 32 results, 16 of which are recorders for surveillance cameras (building and office systems), not car cameras. If you want a model for a car, start not with the keyword but directly with the Dash cameras section; cards are in Memory cards. Cameras that help when reversing are separate, in Parking cameras.

Which extra features do you need?

• Rear camera: useful for rear-end impacts and parking disputes; especially needed by taxi drivers and high-mileage drivers.
• GPS: writes speed and coordinates into the video. Remember that a speed stamp can count for you or against you in a dispute.
• Wi-Fi and app: let you move video to your phone without removing the card.
• Mirror-type model: fits over the rear-view mirror and has a large screen, but its brightness can be distracting at night.
• Cabin camera: for taxis and passenger transport; with infrared LEDs it records the cabin at night too.

Installation and usage rules

1. Mount the camera behind the rear-view mirror, within the area cleared by the wipers, so it does not block your view.
2. Run the cable along the edge of the headliner and the front pillar; if the pillar houses a curtain airbag, don't route the cable across its deployment path.
3. Set the date and time accurately (GPS models do it automatically) — footage with the wrong time loses value in a dispute.
4. After an incident, lock the file at once and keep it unaltered in its original form. Footage can be submitted as evidence in a dispute or insurance claim; whether it is accepted is decided by the competent authority or the insurer.
5. Before sharing footage online, it is advisable to blur other people's faces and number plates.

If you have shortlisted several models on Prayk, put them side by side with listing comparison; if the model you want isn't listed yet, save the search and you'll be alerted when a new listing appears. On why post-accident insurance is getting more expensive: why comprehensive cover is getting more expensive.

Frequently asked questions

Is 1080p enough for a dashcam?

For everyday use, a Full HD (1080p) camera with a good sensor and WDR/HDR is enough in most cases. If you want to read plates more reliably at a distance and at night, choose 2K (1440p); 4K gives more detail but needs more storage and runs hotter.

How much does a dashcam cost on Prayk?

As of 22 September 2026, the Dash cameras section has 53 listings; the median price is 50 AZN, with half between 25 and 130 AZN. Front-and-rear or mirror-type models are offered at 18–150 AZN, and two 4K models at 140 and 199 AZN.

Which memory card does a dashcam need?

At least U1/V10 for Full HD and U3/V30 for 2K and 4K, ideally a card made for continuous recording ("High Endurance" type), with a capacity no larger than the camera's supported maximum. The median price of microSD cards on Prayk is 26 AZN (19 listings, 22 September 2026).

Does parking mode drain the car battery?

Parking mode draws power from the battery after the ignition is off, so a long stay parked carries a risk of a flat battery. A hardwire kit that switches the camera off automatically when the voltage drops, with a correctly set threshold, removes this risk.

The picture is good by day but poor at night — why?

The usual causes are a weak sensor, a lens with a high f-number and no WDR/HDR. A dirty windscreen and a camera mounted outside the wiper area also spoil night footage. Before buying, ask the seller for a real night-time clip.

Is it worth buying a used dashcam?

It can be, but before buying review files the camera recorded by day and at night, and check the card slot, the power socket and the mount. On a model with a lithium battery, make sure the battery has not swollen.

Sources and methodology

Prayk figures were taken from the public catalogue API on 22 September 2026: all listings in the Dash cameras section, title searches for "arxa" and "4k" within that section, a search for "microsd" in the Memory cards section and a search for "videoregistrator" across the whole catalogue. Medians and ranges (p25–p75) use AZN prices only; no median is given for selections under 15 listings. The storage estimate (1 Mbit/s × 3,600 seconds ÷ 8 ≈ 0.45 GB) is approximate; actual consumption depends on the camera's bitrate. Resolution pixel dimensions and microSD speed classes (U1, U3, V10, V30) are based on industry standards.