How to choose a rear view camera for your car

Life in a modern metropolis, despite all its many advantages, is fraught with a series of challenges and difficulties. In order to keep pace with the frantic urban rhythm, you cannot do without a car now. And it is the universal motorization that significantly complicates the movement in the yards crowded with cars. In this situation, rear-view cameras come to the rescue, dramatically simplifying maneuvering in tight urban environments. Modern rear-view cameras are easy to install and extremely unpretentious in operation, they allow you to park where there is no way to do it using the mirrors. Of course, only if the camera is selected and installed in compliance with all the rules and technology.

The best manufacturers. Which rear view camera should you choose?

Currently, there are a huge number of rear view cameras on the market – from budget models from unnamed Chinese manufacturers to professional cameras produced by well-known European concerns. Their variety is so great that the price tag between seemingly similar models can differ by 3-5 times. However, experienced auto electricians unanimously say that it is not worth saving on devices of this class, and preference should be given to devices from well-known manufacturers:

1. AVIS

2. Bigson

3. Rolsen

4. Hitachi

5. Zeiss

6. Rolsen

Before giving preference to products of a particular brand, you should familiarize yourself with the range of products presented in the catalogs, study the characteristics, and also familiarize yourself with the reviews of those who managed to test the devices in practice. Not only positive, but also negative reviews should be taken into account, paying attention to their criticality in specific operating conditions.

Types of cameras for the car and the principle of their operation

Modern reversing cameras are compact and portable devices designed to facilitate parking, turning and other maneuvers in confined spaces. These devices are integrated into the car's standard multimedia system and automatically turn on when the reverse gear is engaged. The information that is supplied from the camera is processed using the control unit and can be displayed either on the screen of the standard multimedia system of the car GPS-navigator. Depending on the version and functionality, the following types of rear-view cameras are currently distinguished.

Universal rear view cameras

Compact and miniature devices that can be installed almost anywhere in the car. In addition to the camera module itself, the kit includes the wiring necessary for installing and integrating the device into the system, as well as a special digital block designed to process information from the camera. Depending on the type of camera, the kit may also include a monitor for displaying a picture, or it may not be there if the camera is designed to be connected to the standard car multimedia system.

Advantages

• Compact dimensions;

• They give a high-quality picture with marks of the distance to the obstacle;

• Low cost;

disadvantages

• High complexity of installation. Sometimes, in order to lay the wiring, it is necessary to disassemble half of the cabin;

• Not every trunk lid makes it possible to accurately install the device and not disturb the appearance of the car;

• The camera lens often gets dirty in wet weather, ceasing to perform its functions;

Rear view camera mounted in the license plate frame

A versatile device popular with buyers. Extremely easy to install – all that is needed for installation is to install the frame in the regular license plate mounting points. Provides decent functionality at a very affordable cost of the device.

Advantages

• Low cost;

• Compact dimensions;

• Easy to install and convenient to operate;

disadvantages

• Budget models provide low picture quality;

OEM rear view cameras

Devices developed directly by car manufacturers and intended for installation in standard mounting points. In fact, such models can come as a basic configuration and be installed directly at the dealer, or go as an additional option and be sold separately. Buying such a product, you get the maximum functionality developed by the engineers of the car manufacturer.

Advantages

• Compact dimensions;

• Full compatibility with the standard multimedia system;

• Ease of installation and wiring;

• Possibility of installation in standard mounting points;

disadvantages

• High price;

• Not all types of cars provide for the installation of such an option;

Rear view camera selection options

Having decided on the type of a specific device, as well as on the key features of its installation, it's time to consider the characteristics that have the most direct impact on the functionality of the rear view camera.

1. Connection method. There are wired and wireless cameras. The former require partial disassembly of the cabin during installation, however, they differ in a lower price and stability of the transmitted image. The latter are extremely simple and easy to install, but they are much more expensive. They also have one more drawback – such cameras are very often stolen;

2. Lens viewing angle. The dependence here is simple: the higher the viewing angle, the wider and more complete the picture is displayed on the monitor in the car interior. Almost all rear-view cameras on sale have a viewing angle of 100, 120 or 170 degrees (the so-called fish-eye). The higher the angle of view, the more expensive the camera is;

3. Resolution of the matrix. As with mobile phone cameras, resolution plays a decisive role in the image quality. However, the situation here is somewhat different – the quality of the displayed picture is almost always limited by the capabilities of the monitor installed in the car. For example, there is no point in a FullHD camera matrix when the monitor is physically unable to display an image higher than VGA. It is for this reason that most devices provide VGA or QVGA images, and only a few branded models are able to shoot HD video;

4. The sensor's light sensitivity plays an extremely important role in night-time operation. The higher the light sensitivity, the better and more detailed the picture displayed on the monitor in the dark. To some extent, the low light sensitivity of the matrix can be neutralized by the car's reverse lights, which light up when the reverse gear is turned on, but in complete darkness they are not always enough. Well, of course, the higher the light sensitivity of the lens, the more expensive such a camera is;

5. Backlighting. As noted above, the aperture of the camera lens is not always sufficient, and the reversing lights are also not able to correct the situation. In order not to install an expensive lens with maximum aperture in the camera, many manufacturers equip the camera module with a backlight system. It works when you engage reverse gear and provides a clear and clear picture in any situation. The most commonly used conventional LED backlight, however, the most expensive models are equipped with infrared backlight, capable of providing ideal image quality regardless of external conditions.

6. Display of the parking grid. Most modern rear-view cameras can display parking lines and a grid showing the distance to the nearest obstacle. When the steering wheel is ever turned, these lines change direction and indicate in which direction the car will move. The lines are marked with different colors, each of which represents a certain distance to the obstacle, which greatly simplifies maneuvering and allows you to park close to the obstacle.

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In the next article we will reveal all the secrets of choosing the right acoustics for a car.

Attention! This material is the subjective opinion of the authors of the project and is not a purchase guide.