Best Backup Cameras For Cars (Review & Buying Guide) in 2018

Things to Consider When Buying Backup Cameras for Cars

Buying the best backup camera for your car can be very rewarding especially if you did a good job in looking for the most appropriate system for your car. To help you zero-in on your dream system, here are some variables you need to consider.

• Sensor

There are two image sensors currently used in rear view camera systems today. CCD sensors provide the best image quality even in low light conditions.

The downside is that they are naturally more expensive. On the other hand, CMOS sensors can still provide good quality videos if they have adequate LED lighting built-in.

• Parking lines

These are virtual grid lines found on the LCD monitor and help guide the driver in the reverse driving process. These provide an idea of the distance of your vehicle relative to other structures and objects at the back. It also shows the direction of the maneuver so that the driver can make the necessary corrections.

• Viewing angle

The NHTSA requires that all vehicles should have a rearview imaging technology that can show a 10x20-foot area in the rear of the vehicle. As such, the viewing angle of the camera system is a very important consideration. You should always go for a higher viewing angle such as 150 to 170 degrees.

• Low light visibility

Backing up in low light conditions can be nerve-wracking simply because the reduced visibility increases the risk of hitting something while driving in reverse. This is where low light visibility technologies can come in. As much as possible, infrared light mechanisms should be built into the system to allow for greater clarity of images even at night, although CCD sensors can do exceptionally well.

• Mounting

This actually spells ease of installation. Some can be easily mounted onto the frame of license plates while others require a few small holes to be drilled to mount a bracket. Others can also be clipped onto the lip of the license plate.

• Waterproof rating

Most car backup systems come with a rating of IP68 which means it can withstand up to 1.5 meters of submersion in addition to dirt, dust, and sand resistance. IP69K-rated devices are the best since the rating is highly specific to heavy-duty applications.

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Benefits of Using Backup Cameras for Cars

The NHTSA says that reverse backup cameras can help reduce accidents by up to 57%. This more than summarizes the many benefits of using such systems in our vehicles. Here are a few more.

• Eliminates blind spots

Most systems provide at least a 120-degree field of view of the rear of our vehicles. Some systems even come with 170 degrees. Traditional rearview mirrors can only show so much of the rear that you’ll even need to turn your head all the way backwards to help you drive in reverse. With camera backup systems, you no longer have to turn your body backwards as everything is already in your monitor. Plus, there are parking grid lines to guide you in your driving backwards.

• Facilitates safe parking in reverse

As we already mentioned car backup camera systems already come with parking guides so it is all a matter of maneuvering your car to follow these virtual lines. There are also specific zones in the grid that tell you if you’re already too close to a particular structure.

• Allows for fine-tuning reverses in heavy traffic

Getting stuck in traffic is never pleasant. Sometimes you just want to drive in the other lane just to get out of the gridlock. Unfortunately, backing up to mere inches from the front bumper of another vehicle can be nerve-wracking. This is never a problem with a reverse camera system onboard.

• Keeps vehicle occupants safe

Existing literature point to the usefulness of rear view camera systems in avoiding unnecessary collisions emanating from driving in reverse. This can help protect the occupants of the vehicle whether it is your family, your kids, or even your pets in the passenger seat.

Types of Backup Cameras for Cars

One of the considerations you’ll have to make when choosing a backup camera for your car is the type of unit you want to install. Here are the 3 fundamental types of backup cameras for cars.

• Surface-mounted

These are typically found in larger vehicles like trucks, trailers, RVs, and 5^th wheel, among others. These can be easily mounted high to provide a commanding view of the rear and beyond while also giving exceptional depth perception.

• Flush-mounted

These are perfect for car owners who would like to install relatively discreet reverse camera systems in their vehicles. A hole is drilled in the rear panel of the car’s body and only the lens and its bezel are clearly visible on the outside. It provides a really nice clean look. The problem is that the camera is often in level with the ground surface so depth perception is not really that great.

• License-mounted

These are the easiest to install as they can be easily mounted onto the rear license plate. Depth perception depends on the location of the plate. If it is closer to the road surface, then you have less depth perception. If it is located high up in the trunk, then you’ll have a better view of the rear.

FAQ

Q:  How does a backup camera work?

A:  Backup camera systems are not really new. In fact, the very first car reverse camera was introduced in the 1956 concept car Buick Centurion. The setup was simple. A television camera was installed in the rear of the Centurion and then wired to a television screen on a panel in the dashboard. The Centurion didn’t have rearview mirrors and instead used the camera system to allow the driver to back the vehicle up.

Today, the same principle underscores the fundamental process upon which reverse camera systems operate. A camera is installed at the rear of the vehicle. The video is sent to a monitor on the driver’s section of the vehicle. The video is sent either by wires or by radio signals. The video camera is typically connected to the reverse light of the car. As soon as the shift lever is placed into the reverse position, it instantly activates the camera to present the video on the monitor up front.

Q:  How to install a backup camera?

A:  Installing a backup camera is quite easy as manufacturers already come with their own documentation on how you can install such units into your vehicle.

Wireless systems offer exceptional ease of installation as there are no wires to run across the length of your car from the rear to the dashboard. One simply needs to mount the rear view camera, usually on the rear license plate of your vehicle. You may have to drill a hole on the mounting area to run the camera’s video and power cords through. Connect the camera power connector to the reverse light wires of your car. The wireless transmitter will also have to be connected. Once you’re done, you can easily mount the monitor either on your rearview mirror, your dashboard, or even your windshield. The monitor comes with a transceiver that communicates with the wireless transmitter.

If your system is wired or corded, then you will have to run the video wire all the way from the rear to the dashboard. You have to be creative where you want to hide the wire since it really isn’t pleasant to look at. You then connect this to the monitor up front.

Q:  Can I use it as a race car camera to see other cars behind me at high speeds?

A:  Technically, you can use a backup camera in a race car. However, it doesn’t necessarily mean you should. In-car camera systems have been in select NASCAR race cars since 1983, offering the public a view of the track from inside the car. Sadly, the images made spectators dizzy. And while tremendous improvements in video quality have been made since then, the high-speed nature of racing also means you have plenty of road vibrations to think about. These vibrations can still lead to choppy and dizzying video feed from the rear camera. As race car drivers need to focus on the racetrack ahead of them, they only glance at their rearview mirrors in a split second. Even if you have the most sophisticated rearview camera, you wouldn’t really use it very often.

Q:  Can I turn off the screen while driving?

A:  Car backup camera systems automatically turn on when it senses that the reverse lights have been activated. Some rearview camera systems continue rolling even while the vehicle is moving. Many devices today come with a switch on the monitor that turns off the screen if you don’t really need it.

Q:  Are backup cameras compatible with any vehicle?

A:  The good thing about today’s car backup camera systems is that you can install it on any vehicle especially those built before 2014. This is because starting 2018 all car manufacturers should already have these systems built into every car that rolls out of the assembly line. As long as your car has a reverse or backup light, then you could easily install an aftermarket backup camera.

Q:  Can I hook up to my screen that’s already built in my car?

A:  It depends on whether the system you’re using is the plug-and-play type or one that requires tapping into your car’s original circuitry. You need to check if your car’s existing video platform supports the video coming from the camera system. You may also need to determine if you have to program the camera to be accepted by your car. Technically, it is possible to hook up an aftermarket backup camera to your current video screen provided the two devices are compatible.

Our Top Pick

It may be priced higher than most systems we’ve viewed, but given the fact that the ZEROXCLUB Digital Wireless Backup Camera System comes with a 7-inch LCD monitor, an intelligent CMOS sensor, and remarkable wireless signal stability that ensures the best reception from the rear view camera it simply is our runaway pick for the best backup cameras for cars plum.

Sure, the quality of the video is not HD, but if you can get a much better view of your vehicle’s rear and everything else that is going on in the back you’d definitely want the ZEROXCLUB for your vehicle, too. Its IP69K rating is many times better than IP67 or IP68 rated systems, meaning it doesn’t matter if it gets blasted by a spray of water frequently as its rating is for heavy-duty applications. Now, top that!

Backup cameras for cars can help ensure safety while driving in reverse. And as federal regulations dictate that all cars manufactured beginning 2018 should already have built-in reverse camera systems, you don’t have to punish yourself if your car still doesn’t have such a technology in place. You can start by choosing any of the best backup cameras for cars we’ve listed here and you’ll be on your way to a safer driving experience.

Sources

1. 8 Things You Need to Know about Back-up Cameras, Edmunds
2. Backup Camera Display Compatibility, Camera Source
3. The Rise of the Backup Camera, Fix