2010 Prius Backup Camera Night Performance better than expected

Discussion in 'Gen III 2010+ Prius Main Forum' started by HTMLSpinnr, Jun 1, 2009.

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    HTMLSpinnr Gen III Forums Moderator

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    Using the backup camera in the 2010 at night - I was pleasantly surprised at how the camera handled relatively low light situations.

    See attached pic that I took w/ my cell phone after I had backed out of a parking space. Even after the reverse lights had turned off (the camera takes about 1 second to turn off after, but not captured in the photo), the view was completely usable in an area poorly lit by adjacent street lights.

    [IMG]

    For those w/ the backup camera in the 2006-2009 Prius, did it work this well @ night?

    Attached Files:

    HTMLSpinnr, Jun 1, 2009
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    carz89 I study nuclear science...

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    It looks about equal to my 2006 backup camera display, but it's hard to judge. To be fair, you would have to judge side-by-side under same conditions.

    My display is usually grainy in low light. Looks like yours is too, or maybe that's just your cellphone camera? (cellphone cameras are notorious for grainy low-light pictures).

    The important part is that you're happy with it and that it is a useful safety feature.
    carz89, Jun 1, 2009
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    Paradox Prius Enthusiast / Moderator

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    Yeah, looks similar to my 2006, maybe a tad brighter but hard to tell. I do remember being shocked when I first got it how good the low light images were as well.
    Paradox, Jun 1, 2009
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    Husker4theSpurs New Member

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    Agree with being surprised at how well I'm able to see with my backup camera at night in my 2008.
    Husker4theSpurs, Jun 1, 2009
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    Boo Boola Boola Member

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    Yes, I think the Gen II's backup camera is good in low light too.

    Besides enabling one to see things that would otherwise be within the car's rear view blindspot, I've always thought the camera's night vision was another big plus of the camera.

    The move of the back up camera from a low # option package in the Gen II to a high priced option package in the Gen III, is my biggest complaint about the Gen III Prius. I hated seeing a safety feature being made less affordable.
    Boo, Jun 1, 2009
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    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North

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    Question. Doesn't the camera lens get dirty quite often?
    Tideland Prius, Jun 1, 2009
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    Husker4theSpurs New Member

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    Yeah ... if you don't wash your car very often, it requires a quick clean.
    Husker4theSpurs, Jun 2, 2009
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    Boo Boola Boola Member

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    I guess it gets dirty. But I never clean it except when I wash my car, which isn't very often. I haven't ever noticed a significant impairment of the view. But I've only driven the car on paved roads.
    Boo, Jun 2, 2009
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    HTMLSpinnr Gen III Forums Moderator

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    Mine "arrived" w/ a dirt spot on it, had to go wipe it off.

    The image was grainy, but that's expected when using high gain w/ a CCD camera.
    HTMLSpinnr, Jun 2, 2009
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    Gadgetdad New Member

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    :) My '07 backup camera was amazing as well. I almost did the mod to be able to switch it on at any time! Rain was a problem and would seriously distort the image. My '10 camera seems to be the same as the '07.

    Lee:cool:
    Gadgetdad, Jun 2, 2009
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    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North

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    To all 3:

    well I guess the concern is that the back of the car is usually the first to get dirty and given that the camera is exposed, I thought it'd get dirty quickly and thus be useless but it seems that it'll just be slightly blurred or grainy if there's some dirt on it.

    Given that Toyota went to a solid emblem, it would've been cool if they put the camera behind a motorised emblem. Yes it'll add cost over a fixed camera but it keeps the camera clean!
    Tideland Prius, Jun 2, 2009
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    shrink13 New Member

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    Does anyone else notice wavey lines on their backup 2010 camera screen? They are barely noticeable on the above picture. I don't remember the lines on my 2006 Prius screen. Thank you.
    shrink13, Nov 11, 2009
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