Do Teslas Have Built-in Dash Cams: Is an Additional One Worth It?

Yes. Tesla vehicles come with a built-in dash cam system that uses the car's Autopilot cameras. While it can offer some recording capabilities, it has its own limitations which you can address by using an additional dash cam. There are many things that aren’t possible to do with the built-in Tesla dash cam which can be done with external dash cam.

• Insufficient Recording Time
  
  Tesla have built-in dash cam that only operate in a loop recording mode which is saving and overwriting the last hour of footage all the time. An additional dash cam can provide you options like longer recording durations or continuous recording and recording videos for a wider timeframe of events.
  
  
• Poor Video Clarity and Narrow Field of View
  
  The Tesla system relies on existing Autopilot cameras which are not made for dash cam purposes. They have lower resolution and the field of view is also narrower as compared to a dedicated dash cam.
  
  
• Lack of Audio Recording Function
  
  You cannot record audio with the built-in dash cam of Tesla. It is very important to have audio to record the full context of an event like conversations or surrounding noises. You can use an additional dash cam for audio recording.
  
  
• Lack of Relevant Driving Data
  
  Tesla's main focus is on video recording for its autopilot. But if you have an additional dash cam, you can also use features like recording speed, G-force readings or GPS location data. This can give your valuable evidence in case of accident.
  
  
• Limited File Saving Options
  
  If you want to download Tesla's footage, you have to do it manually using a USB drive. But if you have an additional dash cam, you can use features like Wi-Fi connectivity or app integration to easily transfer file and manage them.
  
  
• Dependence on Car's Power
  
  Tesla's built-in dash cam can only work when the car is powered on. But an additional dash cam can be wired directly to the car's battery. By doing this, you can use features like parking mode for continuous recording even when the car is parked.

• With Redtiger dash cams, you can get resolutions up to 4K, which will record clear videos. This high resolution can help you see important details like license plates and street signs even in low light.
  
  
• Tesla’s built-in system uses the Autopilot cameras of the car that are not specifically designed for dash cam recording. Because of this, the video quality is not as good.

• You can use MicroSD Cards in Redtiger dash cams as they can support larger capacity cards. This means that you can record much more footage. This is very helpful if you want to record long drives or if you want to keep footage for a longer time.
  
  
• Built-in system of Tesla only records the last hour of driving in a loop and you have to manually save the footage to a USB drive if you want to keep it.

• Redtiger dash cams have many useful features that will help you when you're driving or even when your car is parked. They have features like parking mode that can record when your car is parked and detects motion or impacts.
  
  
• They also often include G-sensors that can automatically save video if the camera detects a collision.
  
  

• Redtiger dash cams are usually much more affordable than getting Tesla's Sentry Mode features. You can buy a Redtiger dash cam for a one-time cost and you don't have to pay a monthly fee.
  
  
• Tesla's Sentry Mode is part of a paid subscription that will cost you more money over time.

• Redtiger dash cams can record audio inside your car. This can be important for capturing conversations or other sounds that might be relevant to an incident.
  
  
• Tesla’s built-in system can not record audio.

• Some Redtiger dash cams can also record data like your speed and GPS location. You can use this data in case of an accident to show exactly what happened.
  
  
• Tesla's system can not record this kind of data.

• Redtiger dash cams also have Wi-Fi connectivity or app integration. With this feature, you can easily transfer videos to your phone or computer.
  
  
• With Tesla’s system, you have to manually download the videos to a USB drive.

• Redtiger dash cams can be powered in different ways. You can plug them into your car's power outlet or you can hardwire them to your car's battery for parking mode.
  
  
• Tesla’s built-in system only works when the car is on.

You can easily install a Redtiger dash cam in your Tesla.

• 1. Prepare the Materials: 
  
  Get your Redtiger dash cam, a power cable, optional tools like a trim removal tool and a microSD card (formatted) for the dash cam.
  
  
• 2. Conceal the Power Cable: 
  
  Tesla vehicles have trim pieces that let you route cable without it sticking out. You can also consult your Redtiger dash cam's user manual for specific instructions on hiding the cable along the headliner and A-pillar.
  
  
• 3. Mount the Dash Cam: 
  
  You should choose a location on the windshield that will provide a clear view of the road ahead. You should use the provided adhesive mount to securely attach the dash cam in place.
  
  
• 4. Connect the Power Cable: 
  
  You can now plug the power cable into the dash cam and connect it to the car's 12V power outlet (cigarette lighter socket) or use the optional hardwiring kit for a more permanent connection.
  
  
• 5. Format the SD Card (if not pre-formatted)
  
  You can now insert the microSD card into the dash cam and format it using the dash cam's menu settings.
  
  
• 6. Adjust the Camera Angle: 
  
  You can now turn on the dash cam and adjust the lens angle to make sure it is recording the field of view needed. You should be able see as much of the road ahead as possible with the edges of the hood.
  
  
• 7. Configure the Settings: 
  
  You can now use the dash cam's menu to configure settings like loop recording duration, video resolution, G-sensor sensitivity, parking mode (if applicable), etc. You can refer to your Redtiger dash cam’s user manual for detailed instructions on each setting.
  
  
• 8. Test the Recording: 
  
  Now that it is installed, you can take a short test drive to make sure that the dash cam is recording correctly. You can check the video to see the video quality and viewing angle.

1. What are the capabilities of the built-in dash cam on Tesla vehicles?

Tesla's built-in dash cam uses the car's existing Autopilot cameras to record footage. It operates in a loop recording mode and only saves the most recent hour of driving. Videos can only be saved manually to a USB drive.

2. How does Tesla's Sentry Mode compare to traditional dash cams?

Sentry Mode is a security feature that uses the Tesla cameras to monitor the car's surroundings when it is parked. It can record events when it is triggered by nearby movement or impacts. It is similar to parking mode on a dash cam, but Sentry Mode is part of a larger security system. You will need a paid subscription to use it.

3. Can you manually adjust the settings of the Tesla dash cam or is it automatic?

Settings on Tesla's dash cam are very basic. You can choose to save recent clips and also enable or disable the feature. There are limited manual adjustments for video quality or recording parameters that you can make.

4. What is the resolution and quality of the footage captured by Tesla's dash cam?

The resolution and quality of Tesla's dash cam footage is low as compared to dedicated dash cams like RedTiger. It uses the existing Autopilot cameras that are not made for dashcam recording.

5. Is there a need for an additional dash cam if your Tesla already has one built-in?

Yes. You can use additional dash cam like a Redtiger model that can offer a lot more advantages. These can be higher video quality, longer recording times, audio recording, parking mode and many more features that are not available on the Tesla system.

6. How can you view and manage the footage recorded by the Tesla dash cam?

You can save Tesla dash cam footage to a USB drive by inserting it into the car. You can then view the video on a computer by accessing the USB drive's files.