4K Video Resolution or 60FPS: Which is More Important in a Dash Cam?

Talking about dash cam’s video quality, there are two major factors that need to be considered: video resolution and frame rate. In the latest dash cams we carry, the maximum capabilities for video resolution is 4K UHD, and 60 FPS for frame rate. Unfortunately at this moment in time, there’s yet to be a perfect camera that offers both, with the maximum resolution being offered for 60fps being 2K QHD. Now, which is more important between the two? Let’s find out.

Videos are made up of thousands of still images played in sequence. These are applicable in all types of videos including films, gaming, and of course, dash cam footage.

Individually, resolution refers to the amount of detail present in a single frame. It is also the equivalent to pixel count in digital imaging. The higher the resolution, the more precise the details of the visuals are.

On the other hand, frame rate refers to how quickly those visuals are cycled through, or how many stills are packed into each second. Have you ever drawn pictures on the bottom corner of your notebook and flip through them to animate them? That is how frame rate works. The more frames per second, the smoother the graphic will be. So, when you say 30fps, that means that in one second, 30 individual images were shown, giving the appearance of movement.

Yes, 60 FPS is definitely better than 30 FPS.

Having lower frame rates appear choppier, whereas higher frame rates appear smoother. A 60fps movie is more likely to capture twice as much underlying data as a 30fps video since it has more frames per second.

Another advantage of using a 60fps video frame rate is that you can slow down the video while maintaining a greater quality of slow motion. You could even be able to capture something too rapid for the human eye, such as racing or drifting – and this feature is what BlackVue has been sporting on their Full HD dash cams. Many times at lower framerates, if you pause the video, you might even notice some video tearing or blurring. This normally happens

Although the resolution is not as crisp as 4K dash cams, BlackVue’s full HD dash cams like the DR770X-1CH, DR770X-2CH and DR770X Box are all equipped with front cameras that capture 1080P @ 60 frames per second, providing smoother fluid videos that can capture road signs, even when the car is driving away or in motion.

Balancing Image Quality, Video Resolution, and Frame Rate

Let’s talk about the fine line between image quality, video resolution and frame rate. Did you know that while most 4K dash cams capture 4K @ 30 frames per second, there are also some models that do capture 4K – and can also capture 2K instead. And yes, we’re talking about the front camera.

Thinkware has developed its 4K dash cams with a feature that enables you to downgrade your 4K @ 30 FPS quality to 2K @ 60 FPS quality. With these, you get quality resolution and frame rate at the same time. Curious about how this works? Check out the Thinkware U1000 and the new Thinkware U3000 dash cams.

For low light situations, 4K dash cams also capture clearer details compared to full HD with 60 fps. 4K dash cams like the VIOFO A139 Pro and the new Thinkware U3000 are highly recommended especially in night drives. Aside from their Super Night Vision features, these two dash cams are also the first ones to get the Sony STARVIS 2 image technology.

Recently launched by Sony, the STARVIS 2 technology boasts a larger pixel size, allowing the 4K dash cam to capture more light and produce clearer, more detailed footage in dark conditions. It's also known for its improved low-light performance, high clarity, and lower power consumption in parking mode.

Through this IMX678 image sensor, 4K dash cams with Sony STARVIS 2 also highlight advanced noise reduction technology and support an on-chip lens (OCL) and phase detection autofocus (PDAF) for better focus performance.

Moreover, the Sony STARVIS 2 image sensor also supports digital overlap, high dynamic range and clear HDR. This means you can use it for your security cameras or your car's dashboard camera to monitor traffic without blur or distortion.

When it comes to handling increased frame rates and resolution, the speed and capacity of your SD card is also important.

SD cards are classified according to their speed, and the speed of the card impacts how quickly you can write data to your dash cam. A UHS 3 rating is appropriate for higher frame rates, although they are more expensive. You'll want to use an SD card with plenty of space, especially if you're shooting at 4K resolution or 60 frames per second. Again, the higher the resolution, the bigger the file size will be.

Among all the 4K dash cams we have, the VIOFO A139 Pro (which is also equipped with Sony STARVIS 2) has the highest storage capacity. While others on its line only have 256 GB, the A139 Pro is capable of storing up to 512 GB of data. VIOFO did come prepared with the A139 Pro, didn’t they?

Moreover, playback and delivery of your dash cam footage are also dependent upon the resolution and frame rate. The playback quality of the video will also be determined by the device playing it back.

But not all devices and displays are capable of playing higher resolutions or frame rates. These are then converted down to a smaller size for the device or display to manage. With video conversions, there is always the potential to lose quality, but you won’t notice in many circumstances.