Backup cameras and perspective

[belfert]

I am having an issue with my backup camera and perspective.  On the road, vehicles look like they are way behind me on the screen, but my mirrors show them as being pretty close.  The lane stripes also look like they are two or three times longer than normal.

My camera is about 10 feet up.  Do I need to lower it?  Any suggestions?

[RJ]

I am having an issue with my backup camera and perspective.  On the road, vehicles look like they are way behind me on the screen, but my mirrors show them as being pretty close.  The lane stripes also look like they are two or three times longer than normal.  My camera is about 10 feet up.  Do I need to lower it?  Any suggestions?

OK, this comes from a former professional driver and driver trainer, and is the KISS answer:

Turn off the camera and use your mirrors.  (Make sure they're adjusted properly!)

Only use the camera when you need to back up w/o a spotter.

FWIW & HTH. . .

[belfert]

The rear view camera is used to monitor whatever I am towing so I'm not going to turn it off.  I use the mirrors all the time when driving.  No other way to really know what is happening around you.

I just happened to notice vehicles that looked to be fairly close in the mirrors look to be a long ways away on the rearview camera.  If the perspective is all screwed up what good does it do me to have a camera when backing?

[Sean]

I'm having a hard time imagining how you'd see any vehicles in your backup camera, while driving, if it is adjusted properly.

In order to be useful for close-quarter maneuvering, the camera should be as high as possible, and aimed down toward the ground so that you can just barely make out your rear bumper at the bottom of the image.  For most cameras, that would mean the top of the image would be the road surface perhaps 20' behind you.  If you can see a car there (other than your own toad), it's tailgating.

The only time I use the rear monitor while driving forward is to double-check that I have completely passed someone/something and it is safe to move over to the next lane -- at that distance, the mirrors don't tell the whole story.

There are some systems on the market involving a motorized mount so that the camera is aimed as I described above when the transmission is in reverse, and is aimed somewhat higher for a more traditional "rear view mirror" view out the back when driving forward at speed.

-Sean
http://OurOdyssey.BlogSpot.com

[Dreamscape]

I think the way the lens is ground is the key. The picture on ours is pretty realistic and doesn't look distorted.

Our rear cap has a slight angle, there is no way I could see the rear bumper when tilted as far as it is allowed. I have it adjusted so I can see a toad, which we don't have yet. I like to be able to see what is behind me. If I can't see well enough when backing, I have my wife back there giving me directions, it has a mic so I can hear her screaming at me to STOP! It is also adjusted so I can see her giving me hand signals. I don't use the camera much, although I do leave it on so I can see what/who is behind me.

Adjust the camera to view what you want.

BTW, it's a very low cost B/W I bought from RV Cams, great unit with night vision.

Paul

[belfert]

It looks like basically I should twist the camera so it points closer to the hitch/bumper.  I talked to the vendor and the objects looking far away is normal because if the wide angle lens.  He said that aiming the camera to see the hitch helps.

I do like Sean and will check the rearview camera if I can't tell for sure from the mirrors if I have cleared a vehicle.

[John316]

We have the voyager setup. Of course, we always use the mirrors, before changing lanes, but the side cameras are another blind spot check before the lane change. Usually there are people behind the driver that are watching the camera (not the driver as much ).

Our rear camera is adjusted so we can see a car behind us, if it is going to pass.

God bless,

John

[cody]

We bought the voyager system but it's not installed yet, I'm anxious to see how well it does, it's set up for 4 cameras and has pan and tilt so I'm really hoping it works as well as they claim, so far we've got the rear camera and the right side camera, I plan to get the left side camera to for it but am having a hard time figuring out the forth camera, I'm thinking shower cam but libby said nope.

[John316]

Cody,

We just have three, right now. The fourth will go on the trailer. I think that you will be pleased with the performance. BTW, don't expect too much of the tilt/pan. We were told (but I don't have experience), that it doesn't do too much.

God bless,

John

[Ed Hackenbruch]

I also have a voyager, just one camera, could add one or two more but don't really need to. Love the setup. no more guessing if the toad is still there and no more blind spot behind me.

[cody]

The thing I'm hoping the setup will do for me is let me know if someone is beside me on the curb side, it's hard for me to see along that side and I'm always concerned about onramp traffic, I had one idiot once try to squeeze me over when I had a semi right beside me and couldn't go anywhere, that guy hit the shoulder when he ran out of ramp, that memory is vivid in my mind still and I'm hoping the extra cameras will aleviate some of that for me.  Mine isn't mounted yet and not wanting to hijack the thread but is there a recommnended height for the rear camera from the ground?

[John316]

Cody,

I will measure our side cameras. I think that there was a method to the madness when we mounted ours. I will let you know. They have worked very well.

God bless,

John

[cody]

The back camera is the one I'm concerned about, my side camera pretty much has to go under the air horns, not much choice in that one.  I was told that each company seems to grind their lenses differently and you almost have to look at how they show to see if thats the one you want, we got ours from trina in Elkhart and she had one set up on the counter, I liked the clarity of it and how it seemed to show in 'real time' rather than distorting the distances, I mainly use my mirrors but I'm also trying to eliminate as many blind spots as I can for safety sake.

[John316]

I will measure our backup camera. It has worked well for us.

God bless,

John

[Dreamscape]

Ours is mounted in a camera pod approx. 9' from the ground.

Paul