I've just finished reading all the posts I could find about the reverse wire & backup camera.. lots of great tips and information about how to hook them up and what options there are.

I couldn't find anything though that really explained, the "why" of it -- is the backup camera better than the rear-view mirror? Or the good old 'shoulder check'?

Those of you that have a backup camera, do you find it is better than the mirrors? Or is it something you use in conjunction with the mirrors, i.e. it doesn't replace the traditional methods, but augments them?

Thanks!

I have this installed. I have an FJ Cruiser which has a very small rear window that is partially blocked by the spare tire. The backup camera gives me a wide field of view (130 degrees) when backing out of my garage. I can actually see the entire 3 car wide driveway as well as the ground directly behind my SUV. Objects in the camera are closer than they seem, but it is a great safety feature if anything ( kids, dogs, toys,etc.) are below or outside your normal rear view mirror field of vision.

It does take about 10-15 seconds after starting the car to boot up, so if you are the type that starts the car and backs out immediately, you might not get as much benefit from it. you can also use it while driving forward if you hook the rca input into your avic.

Yes, using the backup cam gives you a more unobstructed view of what is behind your car. But the downside to it is you don't get the level of "orientation" you do when you're actually turned around and looking at it with your own eyes. I could just never feel confident in what I was doing using it when I had one in my old car.

It must feel a little bit weird too. You've spent a great deal of time looking over your shoulder, or looking up to your mirror, and now your looking downward towards a screen. I'd be a little skeptical of its usefulness until I warmed up to it

I can't imagine driving without my Pioneer backup camera. Its image is reversed, so it's just like looking in a large rear-view mirror. I drive a pickup; the camera is absolutely invaluable when parallel parking. (Or just backing out of a regular parking spot, for that matter.) I also use it when parking in the garage - when going forward into the garage and I see that I've just passed the concrete seam marking the transition from driveway to garage, I know I've pulled in just far enough so the garage door will close but I've still got room to walk in front of the truck.

Thanks for the feedback - I think I'll put a backup camera on my todo list.

Cheers!

i have a backup camera on my car an di love it. my car isn't large by any means ( i have a 2002 IS300) but i have th ecamera angled down at my bumper (its a tag frame camera) an di can get a centimeter from whats behind me w/o tappin it. which is most useful because i live in downtown baltimore

I also like using it to parallel park, as well as backing into a space at a parking lot. It's easy to see the white lines without opening the door and looking down to see where you are!

I have one installed in by Tacoma pickup and find it invaluable. Not so much to try and drive in reverse looking at it but more because I can see a "ground level" view behind my truck. For example, I have seen my dog laying on the driveway behind my truck before backing up.

If you have a truck, SUV or a large car, it is absolutely worth it!

I have a backup cam on my car and it saved me from running over a baby. No shit, about two weeks ago no doubt. I was even going to post it here but just didn't wont to relive the situation until you inquired about this. I was at a local Starbucks. I got into my car, cranked it up, put it in reverse, and just as I was lifting my foot off the brake I see a baby crawling on the pavement right behind my car. I would have killed this child. I just sat there for what seemed like minutes just thinking to myself, "you've got to be kidding me, what the hell is this baby doing behind my car" Then I see the mother frantically grab the baby from behind my car just as another female was running out of the Starbucks behind me screaming to stop. She had seen what was about to happen from inside. It still took me about ten seconds to gather myself to get out of the car and reflect. This is the most relieved of anything I have ever felt in my life and I have been to war and narrowly escaped death several times myself. I dont know how I could of gone on if I would have run over a baby. That on my continence for the rest of my life would have been unbearable. I could have looked over my shoulder all day and still would have killed a baby. It still breaks my heart to even contemplate the thought to write this about what almost happened. Apparently, the mother got distracted while she was loading the trunk of her car parked next to mine. She had the baby on the right side of her car in a hand carried carrier. While she had her head buried in the trunk the baby got out and crawled right passed her and behind my car. So I say, YES!! They are useful. I wouldn't ever say that they replace the tools you have used your whole life to drive in reverse but they certainly augment your safety. As far as Im concerned now, they should be standard equipment on all cars just as airbags are.

Does the reverse cam come on quickly, or does it take 15 minutes like everything else the F series does?

Sometimes right away, sometimes about five to ten seconds.

Never takes more than 5-10 seconds. Certainly not as long as boot up. You just have to have a few seconds of patience.

Now as for the patience required to sit through an entire boot up....

So. if i sit in my car, put it in reverse. I need to wait 1:30 minutes so i can see through the camera? Tell me one more time why the F90 is better than the kenwood? don't get my wrong, i am one click away from buying the pioneer. i alreay bought all the other needed components.

Read the post above again, it doesn't take anywhere near a minute to see the reverse cam picture.

I have a camera installed on my pickup and enjoy it for all of the above reasons. But the single reason I installed it was that I do a lot of towing and hooking up to trailers with no spotter. I have a perfect view of my trailer ball and can hook up perfectly with no help and no bumper dings. Would not trade it for anything.

I did read that my friend. But didnt understand it clearly.

Bc if the system is windows and is booting up.i dont understand how it cna show image of the backup camera so quickly

thanks for you answer

PS: Btw. Wich camera would you guys recomend?

Boyo...

I think the model I have is the VTL420

Alex,

The system activates the AV ports within a few seconds so when you put your car in reverse, the system displays the camera (while other functions are still starting up). It removes all the startup messages and works exactly the same as if it were fully booted.

I have this camera and love it. It is a 150 degree wide angle with a great picture. I got it from Amazon.com:

Boyo VTL250 License Plate Camera "Zinc Metal Chrome" with True 150° Wide Angle View

I have an Avalanche, and with the combo of the short rear window and the tall rear end, it makes it difficult to judge how close you really are to items such as cars, mailboxes, bushes, and people.

I have a small 2.5" LCD on my dash now, but plan to hook up my backup system thru the AVIC once I get her installed. So, in short, YES, very useful!!

 

It does take about 10-15 seconds after starting the car to boot up, so if you are the type that starts the car and backs out immediately, you might not get as much benefit from it. you can also use it while driving forward if you hook the rca input into your avic.

Z3 FTW! The backup camera turns on instantly in the Z3 when you turn the ignition on and put it in reverse.

My rearview camera isn't working if it were it would have shown the car directly behind me that I backed into.My truck rearglass is tinted, there was no light, the car was black, it was raining and 11:00 at night. I looked out my rearview mirror and side mirror and I swear I didn't see him.That was my 2nd accident in 3 yrs. so StateFarm upped my premium by 154.00 more per 6 mos. The damage was very minimum to the other car and my rear gate has a minor dent that I will get knocked out.So, "YES" the rearveiw camera can be very useful at times.

I just got the F90BT installed in my FJ Cruiser and the blindspot in the rear is ridiculous enough to warrant me purchasing the ND-BC2 RVC from Pioneer. It even provides decent visibility at night with my reverse lights. The wide angle view really helps me see everything I need to see in order to prevent hitting anything directly behind me. Of course you will still need to look out the sides for oncoming traffic which is just common sense. It is definitely worth the purchase. It is usually ready about 10 seconds after turning on my car which doesn't bother me at all.

Since I just got my car broken into two nights ago, security is now an even bigger issue to me. With that being said, is the camera mounted in a way that would prevent someone from easily stealing it? I have never seen one installed, thus the question. I just don't want anything to attract a$$es to my car, like a camera on the back of my vehicle, that is, if it can be seen easily.

I miss my camera when Im driving a car that doesnt have one

For me its very useful when parking.

As far as the previous post about security...

My camera has bolts that go into slots where you have to remove the nuts from the back (inside the car) to get the cam off (Dont know if they all do)

You'd have to break the camera to get it off