Backup Camera View

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(linothin @ Jun 12 2006, 08:30 AM) [snapback]269926[/snapback]</div>

Sounds correct to me. It is *extreme* wide-angle. Only good for a few feet, really. And that's all you need for backing/parking. The wide angle gives you a view of both edges of your car. Look closely and you'll see it is wide-angle enough to even see the license plate of your own car!

 

Darell has it right. The camera is very wide angle, which is perfect for parking and backing. When I first got mine, I practiced in an empty parking lot where I could back up and look at the lines. It works very well, and you can see almost straight down past the rear bumper (within about 6").

Tom

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(qbee42 @ Jun 12 2006, 01:16 PM) [snapback]269986[/snapback]</div>

All I need now is a front view camera so I cen tell when I'm about to hit the curb with my front spoiler... :blink:

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Erik Tkal @ Jun 12 2006, 01:28 PM) [snapback]269998[/snapback]</div>

I'm actually working on that mod.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(theforce @ Jun 12 2006, 01:25 PM) [snapback]270031[/snapback]</div>

Definitely doable since most of the 2006 MFD displays are composite video.

Just have to have the guts to add a video switch and find a similar camera as the rear with a good mounting scheme.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(glenk @ Jun 12 2006, 03:33 PM) [snapback]270070[/snapback]</div>

I have a special button on order. I cant find a switch that does what I need it to do with the button I want to use so I will have to build one. :angry: and as for the camera I've been thinking about buying the OEM camera thats on the car but I need to figure out a way to bypass the reverse encoding or re encode the reverse dignal to a regular view. I still have a lot of work to do.

As for the original post I say just get used to it. I did and I actually like it.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Erik Tkal @ Jun 12 2006, 01:28 PM) [snapback]269998[/snapback]</div>

My wife said exactly the same thing tonight when I mentioned this post to her. We can have an array of MFD displays, like the security room in a casino.

Tom

 

Linothin noticed a difference between a rental and his new car. Could be a memory glitch (mine doesn't work so good anymore) or a real difference. Can somebody post a photo of the camera view so us old-timers can see what we're missing and also so others can see what is a "normal" view?

Maybe a couple of shots, one with just open parking lot, one with a recognizable object nearby, and one with the object farther away ...

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(linothin @ Jun 13 2006, 10:54 AM) [snapback]270483[/snapback]</div>

I find it very useful. I know that the bottom of the image is basically showing me what is directly below the edge of my bumper.

Yesterday, I discovered a new use for it. In a large parking lot, I pulled through a space into the facing space. I went into reverse to confirm that I had pulled forward enough to be past the line separating the spaces. (Of course, this was in a far part of the parking lot, away from other cars. Still protecting my Seaside Pearl celebrating its one-month birthday today.)

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(NoVaSnow @ Jun 13 2006, 11:13 AM) [snapback]270540[/snapback]</div>

Exactly, the same here. I back into a tight garage space and you can accurately stop <4" inches from any
object in the back once you're familiar with the camera view. Don't have to hang the string from the ceiling anymore.

Where the camera comes in real handy is backing up at night and double that when the rear hatch window is covered with water droplets from rain. The first time I used the rear camera for parallel parking were those exact two conditions and it was sweet.

 

If you are parked in a perpendicular parking "stall" with large vehicles next to you, the camera is your best friend. Normally when you start to back out, you have NO way of knowing if somebody is coming down your alley until you hit them or they honk or slam on the brakes. With the camers, just poke your butt an inch beyond the huge cars next to you, and you can see up and down the alley pretty well!

 

count_on_mike and I spent a Saturday afternoon testing and documenting the range of the camera.

I attempted to take pictures, but they didn't turn out well.

Oh well, expect a post with diagrams in the near future.


Also, I find that I almost never use the backup camera except when parallel parking (which is rare.)

 

Things are closer than they appear. I hate it when a T-Rex fogs up the camera lens! I am thinking about tipping my add on down a bit so I can just see the edge of the bumper. What do people think? My other thought is adding a small wire that "marks" the bumper edge?

 

The rear camera image is kind of neat. It's a shame we can't view it othertimes as well.

Or can we?

Anyone know any way to see rear camera while in forward motion? I have a silver 2006.

 

I just got my new Prius about 10 days ago and I agree with the original poster about the everything looking much further away than it actually is and find it confusing rather than helpful. I don't feel that it has a wide enough angle. For example, if I am trying to back directly into a space between two parked cars, I don't see either car at all in the camera. Are you supposed to be able to?

It seems easier (and safer) to just turn around and look, like I've always done. I think by just looking in the camera, a pedestrian could come from the side and I wouldn't see him/her until they're directly behind me and maybe it would be too late!

Like anything though, I suppose it's a matter of practicing and getting used to a using the tool. I can practice backing up into my driveway, which is fairly narrow. I'll put some trashcans there and try and park between them.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Flashbulb @ Jun 24 2006, 10:05 AM) [snapback]276353[/snapback]</div>

You can modify the system to be able to see the camera on demand.

Check this thread out:

http://priuschat.com/index.php?s=&showtopi...ndpost&p=201484

 

I also find difficulties with cars right behind me. I only noticed this yesterday. I usually don't park that close to anyone, but in this case, I was trying to back into the only legal space around, on a 99 degree day--otherwise I might have driven further. I was getting into a space that was just behind a red zone, and the driver was in the car just behind me. It really did look, in the camera, that the car was about 4 spaces behind me, but looking back with MY eyes, it was RIGHT THERE, just like Gary Larson & Steven Spielberg's T-Rexi(?).
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Other times, when I have been backing into a closed back space, it seems fine. My brain just doesn't get the perspective. Or maybe I was just weirded out because of the driver being in that other car...And I'd love to do the mod to engage the rear camera whenever, but I had to get my husband to deprogram the backup beep, so I don't guess it'll happen any time soon. The main reason I thought I'd like that mod is that I seem to have difficulties getting an accurate view in my rear-view mirror when I am passing cars on the freeway. My drivers' ed teacher told us to not pull back in front of a car you're passing until you can see its headlights in the rearview mirror. I have always done this (for 30 years of driving), but, with the config of the back windows and various strangenesses with the shape of the car (because of the airbag pillars?), I don't see them until I am way further past than I have been used to. I really do believe that how you perceive the image in the camera view depends on how YOUR brain is wired, not how the camera works. Does that help anyone? No. But hey, it's the best I can do... :blink:

And NOW someone has to help me find the Larson cartoon that Spielberg swiped from! Google has not helped...

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(PriusRos @ Jun 25 2006, 08:45 AM) [snapback]276426[/snapback]</div>

I don't think anybody is advocating using only the rear camera. I still use my mirrors and turn around to look. I just find the camera to be a very helpful addition to my arsenal of backup tools.