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Transcend DrivePro 520
The Transcend DrivePro 520 is a dual lens dash cam that provides drivers and passengers with optimum protection. Featuring a 130° viewing angle, a large ƒ/1.8 aperture, and 6 glass lenses, the front lens captures crystal-clear Full HD 1080P (30fps) videos, while the 180° rotatable rear lens is equipped with four Infrared LEDs, allowing you to record sharp in-car videos at night or in low-light conditions. Easy to install and operate, the DrivePro 520’s wireless connectivity lets you stream, download, and share videos whenever needed on your mobile devices. This dual view dash cam may be considered a high-end model.
(Video courtesy of Transcend)
Transcend DrivePro 520 Dash Cam
Video Quality 
Ease Of Use
Features 
Price 
Over-all Rating 3.9
PROS
+Front and rear cameras
+Custom adjustments to multiple features
+Auto-activation
+Distraction-free driving
+Mic can be switched on/off
+Effortless setup
+Includes 32GB memory cardCONS
-Rear camera designed for in-vehicle recording
-Narrow viewing angle
-Live video is sub-par
-Short battery run time
-Quite large
MAIN FEATURES:
Dual Lens Camera
The Transcend DrivePro 520 has dual cameras, one front-facing and a rear camera that you can swivel around 180 degrees. Both cameras record what is happening on the road and inside your vehicle. The video it produces is very sharp and clear. Both cameras employ six glass lenses and a CMOS sensor and delivers remarkable clarity, especially during daytime driving. The front camera has a wide 130° viewing angle, not really the widest but is pretty much what you need. It comes with an ƒ/1.8 aperture, which is very important because at night you want to let in as much light into the camera and it automatically adjusts to changing light conditions. This camera records in Full HD, 1080p at 30fps at any time of day. The rear camera is intended for the interior of the car. This camera has an ƒ/2.8 aperture, 110° field of view and records in HD, or 720p at 30fps. It employs four IR LEDs, boosting the camera’s ability to record in virtually no light, recording details of passengers and their actions. These two cameras ensure that both your trip and in-car situations are fully recorded.
Infrared LEDs
Infrared LEDs record in virtually no light. The Transcend DrivePro 520 Dash Cam does not include night vision but the rear camera has four infrared LEDs that surround the rear-lens camera which allows ultra-clear in-car recording in low-light conditions and at night. The recorded IR footage is in grayscale. The IR LEDs automatically turn on when the camera detects that there is not enough light to effectively record, offering you and passengers a higher level of in-car safety.
Emergency Recording & Emergency Button
In the event of a collision, the DrivePro 520’s motion G-Sensor will detect the impact and instantly trigger emergency recording mode. This prevents overwriting of the recording made of the critical moments leading up to the accident. Footage recorded is saved as an overwrite protected file. The G-sensor’s sensitivity levels can be adjusted in the menu settings, particularly convenient for those with bumpy roads as a regular part of their drive. This feature may be manually activated by pressing the red “Emergency Button” on the side of the unit. The emergency button records either video or photos. Files manually recorded by pressing the emergency button are saved as a locked, overwrite protected file.
Wi-Fi Enabled
Wi-Fi allows drivers to instantly upload, download and share recorded footage, using the Transcend’s DrivePro™ New App. The app is compatible with Android and iOS smartphones and tablets only.
GPS
GPS functionality is built into the dash cam. Within 15-20 seconds, the GPS detects the location and automatically sets the date/time stamp to log travel activity. The GPS receiver can log GPS coordinates, date, and time into recorded video footage.The GPS system stores current and past travel routes. The GPS also displays maps for navigation. When used with Transcend’s DrivePro Toolbox on a PC, you can see the driving paths of your entire journey along with such information as GPS coordinates, speeds, date, and time.
Handy snapshot button
The convenient snapshot feature allows you to take photos while recording video. During an incident, you can also remove the DrivePro 520 from the vehicle to make a record of collision damage.
Loop Recording
Loop Recording ensures continuous, uninterrupted recording of travels. Once the memory card is full, Loop Recording kicks in, overwriting files starting with the oldest footage first. Footage recorded from Emergency Recording mode, whether automatically or manually triggered, remain locked as overwrite protected files.
Auto Power ON/OFF
The dash cam instantly powers on or off once it detects the vehicle’s power source.
LED Screen
The Transcend DrivePro 520 Dash Cam has a large 6 cm display screen. Brightness and clarity of the LED screen is excellent and reduces eye strain. You can select between front camera, rear camera or a split screen. The screen can be blacked out after one, three or five minutes of inactivity for distraction-free driving.
The Transcend DrivePro 520 Dash Cam is a high quality product guaranteed to perform reliably. It is best suited for those driving professionally as the 180° rear rotating camera is ideal for recording in-cabin activity. The DrivePro 520 is one of the high-end dash cams but the investment is worth it.
(Video courtesy of Transcend)
Average Customer Reviews: (4.1 out of 5 Stars)
Read more reviews HERE.
What is in the package?
- Transcend DrivePro 520 Dash Cam
- In-vehicle suction/adhesive mount*
- 12 VDC/miniUSB power adapter
- 32GB Transcend microSDHC memory card, Class 10
- Quick start guide
- ManualWarranty card (2-year limited)
*Depending on selection
Recommended Accesories:
Spy Tec Dash Camera Vehicle Hard Wire Kit – This hard wiring kit allows you to connect any mini USB dash camera to a car battery source to achieve 24 hours uninterrupted power supply allow for car parking surveillance.
ORICO 3-Port Car Cigarette Lighter Charger with 4-port USB Charging – Ideal if you do not wish to hardwire your dash cam. This is a 3-Port Car Cigarette Lighter Charger with 4-port USB Charging hub. Simple, small and elegant design. Environmental ABS material, super-compact.
In-Car Camera Recording Stickers-CCTV Signs
Transcend DrivePro 520 Specifications
| Dimensions | 96.2 mm × 64.5mm x 43.9 mm (3.79" x 2.54" x 1.73") |
| Weight | 108g (3.81oz) |
| Display Type and Size | 2.4" color LCD |
| Image Sensor | Low-light sensitivity CMOS Front: 3 mega-pixel Rear: 1 mega-pixel |
| Lens | Front: F/1.8, 130° wide angle Rear: F/2.8, 110° angle |
| G-Sensor | 3-axis |
| Microphone | Built-in |
| Speaker | Built-in |
| Resolution/Frame Rate | Front lens: 1920 x 1080P (30fps) Max. Rear lens: 1280 x 720P (30fps) |
| Video Formats | H.264 (MOV: up to 1920x1080 30fps) |
Verdict:
For those very concerned with safety on the road, the Transcend DrivePro 520 is an ideal dual lens dash camera that provides drivers and passengers with optimum protection. Featuring a 130° viewing angle, a large ƒ/1.8 aperture, and 6 glass lenses, the front lens captures crystal-clear Full HD 1080P (30fps) videos, while the 180° rotatable rear lens is equipped with four Infrared LEDs, allowing you to record sharp in-car videos at night or in low-light conditions. Easy to install and operate, the DrivePro 520’s wireless connectivity lets you stream, download, and share videos whenever needed on your mobile devices.
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