The FOV is the measure of the observable environment that the dash cam can capture at any given moment. An ideal dash cam should have a wide enough FOV to encompass the necessary surroundings, allowing it to capture comprehensive views of incidents, including side accidents and pedestrian interactions.

However, it's important to note that an excessively wide FOV can result in certain trade-offs. For instance, a very wide FOV can make objects in the footage appear smaller and farther away, which may make it challenging to identify important details like license plate numbers or faces. In addition, an extremely wide FOV may introduce a 'fish-eye' effect, distorting the footage especially at the edges.

For a balance between coverage and image quality, a FOV in the range of about 140 to 160 degrees is often recommended for dash cams. This range typically provides sufficient coverage of the surroundings without significant distortion or loss of detail.