CONCLUSION

   Although on paper the new XHD (or Super HD as some called it) 1296p resolution looks very promising judging by the end result i can say that it still needs work. That's not to say that it's not good but it's not that much different to the 1080p mode of the Marcus 3 and if we take into account the 1080p output of let's say the DR550GW-2CH the Marcus 3 even lags back a bit. Of course that also means that VicoVation may not be using the best possible lens so they should be able to further improve their 1296p products although that would probably mean increased costs. Regardless the Marcus 3 comes with a plethora of very useful features including a 2 inch TFT screen, GPS compatibility and several advanced settings thanks to the Ambarella A7 image processor. The compact body of the Marcus 3 is very sturdy although i have to admit that not everyone may like its "vertical" design. However my two main concerns with the Marcus 3 have to do with the lack of a built-in GPS system since that's something we see a lot lately by most car dash camera manufacturers. The external GPS allows for a much better placement of the unit (and a larger antenna) but it's certainly not as convenient so i do hope that VicoVation addresses that issue.

   Although the Marcus 3 XHD car dash camera by VicoVation is one of the very first ones in the market to feature the latest "standard" in video recording still it's quite affordable since it currently retails for USD260 inside the USA (Amazon.com) and 215Euros inside the EU (Amazon.co.uk). Needless to say that if you're not into gadgets and you just want a typical car dash camera then you can find many 1080p capable ones for roughly half of what VicoVation asks for their Marcus 3 (the Marcus 1 for example which we will be reviewing soon). Still we do feel that the future lies in much higher resolutions than just 1080p and although 1296p is not just there yet it does offer a glimpse to the future and since the Marcus 3 is a solid and feature-rich car dash camera it gets our Golden Award.

PROS

- Build Quality
- Size
- 1296p30/1080p60 Recording
- Image Quality (Sharpness/Color Reproduction)
- Audio Quality
- Built-In G-Sensor
- Driver Assistance Features (Speed Warning/LDWS/FCWS/Radar Warning)
- 2" TFT Screen
- 52mm CPL Mount
- Price (For Some)

CONS

- No Built-In GPS & WiFi (For Some)
- Digital Noise (@1296p)