Product review: BlackVue 2 channel driving recorder

We have used BlackVue dash cams on Automoblog many times, and for good reason-we believe in the safety provided by dashboard cameras, and we also believe in the innovations Pittasoft brings to the market with its BlackVue series.

Pittasoft’s most recent offering, the BlackVue DR550GW-2CH, is no exception. This latest camera takes everything we have come to love about the DR500GW-HD model (which you can read about here and here) including: Full HD Video, Wi-Fi connectivity, the iPhone/Android app and a sleek design, and adds to it the next logical advancement: a second, rearward facing camera.

I’ve been testing the 2-channel BlackVue for a while now and it is indeed a perfect upgrade to the DR500. The BlackVue DR550GW-2CH’s primary camera offers all of the same features I have come to love about my DR500, including 1080p Full HD video.

The rearward facing 720p HD camera is slightly smaller than the primary camera, which allows for a discreet mount to your rear window with the included 3M double-sided tape. There is a single connecting point for power and video to the primary camera, and Pittasoft includes plenty of cable to run along your roof or floor boards. With my car’s convertible top, I have both cameras mounted to the car’s center bulkhead – which may be a good solution for those of you who also use a dash cam to monitor hand position and shift points during your local track day or autocross. However, I will be moving my primary camera to the front window as soon as the weather gets nice.

The included BlackVue Viewer software is a simple upgrade to the DR500’s application which also offers rearward camera output. It’s very elegant in its design and I still love being able to select playback via the date selector. The GPS locator works very well and lets you know your map position on Google Maps – a fantastic feature – as well as exact GPS coordinates, driving speed and G-sensor readout.

I just can’t offer enough positive feedback about this dash cam. It’s stylish, sleek, intuitive, and easy to use and the added rearward facing camera lets you capture events as they unfold behind you. You literally just set the DR550GW-2CH up and forget about it until you either need to use it for its intended purpose or you simply want to show off a truly excellent driving experience to your family, friends or the entirety of the Internet.

With a MSRP of $499, the BlackVue DR550GW-2CH isn’t exactly cheap, but it is the most technically advanced and most discreet “black-box” automotive recording device available. And truthfully, you can’t put a price on the added safety and peace of mind this dash cam offers.

Update: You can get a cheaper and better solution-BlackVue HD DR590W is much cheaper here on Amazon.