The Breakdown
Dash cams are one of those gadgets that seem unnecessary—until they aren’t. Whether it’s a sudden lane merge gone wrong or a fender bender in a parking lot, having a visual record of what actually happened can turn a stressful situation into a resolved one. And while high-end dash cams with AI-driven alerts and multi-camera setups exist, most drivers just want a reliable, easy-to-use system that captures good video without making installation a headache. That’s what the Ombar DC42 aims to deliver.
It’s a front-and-rear camera system that keeps things simple, with 4K UHD video up front, 1080p in the rear, built-in GPS, and 5GHz Wi-Fi for seamless smartphone access. It even comes with a 64GB SD card right in the box.
So, does it do the job? More importantly, does it justify its sub-$120 price tag? Let’s dive in.
What’s in the Box?
Let’s start with what you’re actually getting here. The Ombar DC42 package includes:
- The front-facing camera (main unit)
- Rear-facing camera with attached cable
- Power cable (cigarette-lighter to micro-USB)
- Extension cable to connect the rear camera to the front
- A 64GB microSD card (pre-installed)
- Cable clips for clean routing
- Electrostatic mounting stickers
- Adhesive pads
- A trim pry tool (surprisingly useful)
That SD card, by the way, is a small but important detail. Too many dash cams make you go out and buy one separately. It’s a little thing, but it shows that Ombar is thinking through the ownership experience.
Design & Build: Slim, Simple, Smart
The main camera body is sleek, low-profile, and barely noticeable once mounted behind the rearview mirror. It won’t obstruct your field of view. Its 1.1 x 5.9 x 2.3-inch dimensions make it compact, but the real win is that it doesn’t look cheap. The design feels thought-out, like it belongs in a modern vehicle—not like something you picked up from a bin at a truck stop.
The rear camera is equally compact, and includes a generous 19-foot cable, which should be enough for anything short of a full-size van.
There’s no touchscreen here, just simple buttons and LED indicators. That’s fine. Most of your interaction will be through the Kacam mobile app, which is refreshingly stable and fast to connect over the camera’s built-in 5GHz Wi-Fi.
Installation: Easier Than You Think
Admittedly, I was dragging my feet on installing a dash cam. The idea of tucking cables, figuring out power sources, and fiddling with adhesive mounts wasn’t appealing. But once I got started, it went surprisingly fast.
I installed the DC42 in my car, which has plenty of trim space to hide wires. Thanks to the included plastic pry tool, I had everything cleanly routed and mounted in under 45 minutes.
One tip: the electrostatic stickers—which go between your windshield and the adhesive mounts—are a great inclusion. They make removal easy and prevent sticky residue. But you may want to trim them down a bit. The front one, in particular, is large enough that its edges can appear in the recorded video. It’s clear, so it’s not a huge problem, but it’s worth noting.
Performance: Does the Video Hold Up?
This is where the rubber meets the road. After all, what’s the point of a dash cam if it can’t clearly capture what’s happening?
The front camera records in 4K (3840×2160) at a 170° wide angle, and the rear in 1080p with a 150° field of view. During daylight driving, the image quality is genuinely impressive. It’s sharp, colorful, and stable. You’ll easily identify vehicles, surroundings, and road conditions. License plates? Sometimes legible, depending on angle and lighting—but that’s fairly typical even for pricier units.
At night, performance dips a bit. The front camera still produces bright and useful footage, though darker areas can introduce grain. Headlights, unsurprisingly, can cause overexposure in certain frames. That said, the HDR processing does a decent job of keeping things balanced.
The rear camera, while not stellar, is serviceable. It’s really best viewed as a context camera: you’ll get a solid look at what’s behind you, though finer details like plates may blur in low light.
Features: More Than You Might Expect
The DC42 isn’t overloaded with gimmicks, but it covers all the essentials—and a few extras that often show up only in higher-end models.
GPS Tracking
Built-in GPS tags your videos with speed and coordinates. It’s useful for reviewing incidents, especially if location and speed are in question.
Emergency Recording
The onboard G-sensor detects impacts and automatically locks the current footage to prevent it from being overwritten. You can also press a button manually if you want to save something mid-drive.
24/7 Parking Monitoring
If you opt for the hardwire kit, you’ll unlock parking mode, which monitors the car even when it’s turned off. It’s not always active by default, so read the instructions carefully when setting this up.
App Experience
The Kacam app, available for iOS and Android, lets you access video files, adjust settings, and get live views. It’s not flashy, but it works. Pairing was smooth, and downloading footage took seconds—not minutes.
Ombar DC42 Dash Cam Pros & Cons
What I Liked:
- Installation was fast, clean, and surprisingly painless
- Image quality is solid for this price range
- Includes a 64GB SD card (and supports larger if you want to upgrade)
- Slim, subtle design that doesn’t clutter your windshield
- The app is refreshingly functional
What Could Be Better:
- Nighttime detail, especially on the rear cam, could be sharper
- No touchscreen (though this may be a plus for simplicity)
- GPS data isn’t overlayed on the footage itself, only via the app
Ombar DC42 Dash Cam review: The Bottom Line
You probably won’t think much about the Ombar DC42 Dash Cam once you install it—and that’s exactly the point. It does its job quietly, records consistently, and gives you peace of mind for under $120. It may not rival $300 units in every spec, but it absolutely earns its place in the midrange category. And when you factor in the ease of setup, the included accessories, and the performance of the front camera, it becomes one of the better deals on the market.
It won’t win any awards for luxury, but in the real world, it’s more than good enough. And sometimes, that’s exactly what you need.
