Page 1 of 3

Backup Camera choices.

Posted: Wed Sep 19, 2012 4:11 pm
by sixbennetts
Hey guys.

A quick ebay search turns up this:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/7-TFT-LCD-Car-R ... 3cca71214c

Or is wireless better?

http://www.ebay.com/itm/7-TFT-LCD-Rearv ... 2ec1639616

Not crazy about the huge camera hanging off the back, ready to get snagged on a branch. I like how the 1st one is 24vdc, so I can save my inverter for the coffee maker!

:-)

I'd like input from everyone on their experiences with backup cameras in both Pinzes and Volvos, and why you chose what you chose.

Thanks

Re: Backup Camera choices.

Posted: Wed Sep 19, 2012 4:23 pm
by totaljoint
I've been looking at these things too.
Don't know what the benefit is of wireless, you still have to run a power wire to the camera, might as well add the coax cable to that routed wire. Not like it's hard to run wires in the Pinz.
Also huge difference in prices of the cameras on ebay. I suppose it's the quality of the image that determines the price?
Let us know what you decide, and how it works.

Re: Backup Camera choices.

Posted: Wed Sep 19, 2012 8:57 pm
by 4x4Pinz
thought about them at one time. What I was told by one of the guys who installs them is the all the metal on the pinz was going to effect the quality of the picture, don't know never tried one. I ended up deciding not to go with one as the pinz has that nasty habit of putting dust and mud all over anything on the rear of the pinz. I suppose if it was mounted high enough to get out of the backwash the pinz creates it would be fine. I don't wash my truck on a regular basis like some, prefer to get out and keep it dirty rather than spend my time washing it. :lol:

Re: Backup Camera choices.

Posted: Wed Sep 19, 2012 9:18 pm
by TechMOGogy
GoPro camera, GoPro APP + SMARTPHONE OR TABLET
"Use your Smartphone or Tablet as a live video remote control
Enjoy convenient live video + photo preview and playback"
You can mount the goPro anywhere and use it for other things too - just use a smartphone as you viewfinder for truck
Or rig this up and the be able to launch it from the truck :)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rqkklVI7 ... ata_player

Re: Backup Camera choices.

Posted: Wed Sep 19, 2012 10:02 pm
by sixbennetts
Um, yeah, 'cause nobody'd steal a GoPro off the back of the truck.

4x4Pinz, were they talking wireless?

Re: Backup Camera choices.

Posted: Wed Sep 19, 2012 10:42 pm
by 4x4Pinz
sorry, yeah they were talking about the wireless units.

Re: Backup Camera choices.

Posted: Wed Sep 19, 2012 11:01 pm
by sixbennetts
That's what I figured. I'm going wired, anyways. Totaljoint made a good point above, it's easy enough running wires in both the Pinz and Volvo so might as well.

As much as I hate the idea of having a big camera hanging off the back, this method would only require a couple small holes in the body, preserving it for the next guy. I'd love to have just the lense sticking out, but that means a hole the size of a quarter. Plus, the bigger cameras have the IR bulbs for night vision.

Image

Re: Backup Camera choices.

Posted: Wed Sep 19, 2012 11:12 pm
by 4x4Pinz
looking forward (or backwards) for your results.

Re: Backup Camera choices.

Posted: Thu Sep 20, 2012 12:07 am
by sixbennetts
Any more input from other members who've used them, even on other trucks maybe?

Re: Backup Camera choices.

Posted: Thu Sep 20, 2012 6:35 am
by berger
I know people who have installed these smaller, license plate attached cameras on their minivans and seem to like them.....not as big as those other cameras, but only 12v.

Image

Image

Re: Backup Camera choices.

Posted: Thu Sep 20, 2012 7:24 am
by TechMOGogy
sixbennetts wrote:Um, yeah, 'cause nobody'd steal a GoPro off the back of the truck.

4x4Pinz, were they talking wireless?
They don't steal it off my 404 Mog but like I said you can move it so I don't obviously leave it there overnight.
It was just another option and I went that way as it becomes multi use and I already had the droid tablet
Good luck with the setup you go with

Re: Backup Camera choices.

Posted: Thu Sep 20, 2012 9:21 am
by sixbennetts
Damn, I just now realized I forgot the smiley face in that post, TechMOGogy. REALLY sorry. That came off as kinda snarky, and I'm not. :(

My apologies, buddy.

:oops: :D

Berger, those look perfect. Mounted way up high near the roofline, should be good. One thing I have found out is that CCD is the preferred type of camera for clarity of picture. CMOS is not.

I wonder what type of screen is best for the monitor? LCD?

Re: Backup Camera choices.

Posted: Thu Sep 20, 2012 1:54 pm
by PinzHound
I notice that first camera you mentioned has 24 VDC as the top of it's range. Someone else may know the numbers, but I'm sure the Pinz's 24 Volts goes much higher when charging. The unit may run hot and have a short life.

A backup camera is high on my wish list. Since I've added an extended rear bumper(Thanks Tim@SWPA) it's easy to back into things. (p.s. 4x4Pinz; I never heard from that truck with the Mexican plates)

Please let me know when you purchase and I'll do the same. Thanks for starting this thread.

Re: Backup Camera choices.

Posted: Thu Sep 20, 2012 5:34 pm
by Jimm391730
One thing I have found out is that CCD is the preferred type of camera for clarity of picture. CMOS is not.
Anything can be done badly, but from a high end consumer and professional perspective CMOS has supassed CCD for performance. The new optical detectors at Palomar Observatory are all CMOS (I have met some of the eqipment designers there).

So don't dismiss CMOS out of hand -- cheap is cheap and images can be poor no matter what imager is used.

Re: Backup Camera choices.

Posted: Thu Sep 20, 2012 8:01 pm
by sixbennetts
Cool, thanks for that. You seem to know a bit about this stuff. Can you help guide us a bit?

1. I don't want to spend more than around $100 or so.

2. I'd rather have a 24 VDC system.

3. More IR leds mean a better picture at night?

4. Monitor size of 7" won't be too big.

5. Wired instead of Wireless.

What camera and monitor properties should we be looking for, or staying away from. What old technologies would be selling cheap now, but would maybe still good enough?