Aftermarket Rearview Camera

[russ_watters]

So I bought a Stinger Premium AWD a few weeks ago (yay!). My main complaint so far is the poor visibility out the rear window through the rearview mirror. So I bought a 10" Toguard backup camera/dashcam, and it works great...

...in theory.

I strapped the backup camera to the center-rear headrest and the display goes over the oem rearview mirror. It gives more than twice the field of view width, without the cutoff above that I get in the oem mirror.

The problem is that it and all others I've seen advertise that they work like a regular mirror when switched off. Sure, but why?! The result is that even when on it makes a better mirror than a display and really isn't usable in the daytime. It's really not usable.

So my question is; does anyone know of a similar product that doesn't have the "feature" of a reflective screen or know of a way to modify the screen to eliminate whatever makes it reflective?

Thanks.

 

[russ_watters]

...so I actually may have solved this satisfactorily myself; I installed an anti-glare screen protector over the mirror and that seems to have eliminated most of the reflection. The screen still doesn't have as high contrast as a TV or cell phone, but it is much improved.

 

[brancky3]

So the new mirror is actually a camera feed, instead of a mirror? New Chevy cars do this and it's a terrific idea.

 

[MerlintheMad]

I'm slow on the uptake cars-wise: are you saying that the Premium 2.0L doesn't have a backup camera? Because I thought that all Stingers have it. And I haven't had to worry about the fat ass poor visibility of the Stinger because of the excellent backup camera.

 

[turboAWD]

IIRC, all cars sold in the US after ~2015 have to have backup cameras.

I think he was after more visibility out the rear window WHILE DRIVING FORWARD. The Stinger is NOTHING like my '05 Legacy GT in terms of visibility while moving in traffic.. The rear window only takes up about half the mirror for me (vertically). So half of the mirror is just showing me interior panels. In my LGT, I couldn't fit all of the rear glass into the mirror at once..

Thanks for the update Russ(?). This actually sounds interesting/worthwhile.

 

[russ_watters]

So the new mirror is actually a camera feed, instead of a mirror? New Chevy cars do this and it's a terrific idea.

Right....it's just that it is still pretty reflective (advertised as a benefit), so I see a reflected image and the lcd screen image at the same time.

I'm slow on the uptake cars-wise: are you saying that the Premium 2.0L doesn't have a backup camera?

No, that's not the issue...

I think he was after more visibility out the rear window WHILE DRIVING FORWARD. The Stinger is NOTHING like my '05 Legacy GT in terms of visibility while moving in traffic.. The rear window only takes up about half the mirror for me (vertically). So half of the mirror is just showing me interior panels.

Yeah, that. Through the regular rearview mirror I can only see the front grille of the car behind me and that's basically it. The field of view is extremely small due to the sloped and small rear window.

 

[antne]

Right....it's just that it is still pretty reflective (advertised as a benefit), so I see a reflected image and the lcd screen image at the same time.

No, that's not the issue...

Yeah, that. Through the regular rearview mirror I can only see the front grille of the car behind me and that's basically it. The field of view is extremely small due to the sloped and small rear window.

Please post updates if they develop. I've seen some some in car footage from perhaps BlancPain GT series where the rear view camera is the only option the driver has

 

[russ_watters]

Please post updates if they develop. I've seen some some in car footage from perhaps BlancPain GT series where the rear view camera is the only option the driver has

For now I've decided against using it because of the glare problem I described above. I may try again over the winter when it's more often dark out while I'm driving. Here are some samples of what it looks like, though...

This first pic is the normal view through the mirror. The camera is in view, velcro'd to the top of the rear ceiling.



This second photo is the view through the camera/screen. Obviously the field of view is awesome, but you can see the issues with the screen. With the right half showing the normal glass, the glare is terrible. With the left half showing with the anti-glare screen in front of it, the contrast is reduced enough to make it hard to see (it doesn't look too bad here because I'm in my garage and eyes/camera adjusted against a dark background).

 

[Svet]

You will get used to the limited rear visibility; I recommend returning that device if you can recoup your money. I feel that the driver and passenger mirrors are a little oversized thus negating the poor rear view from the windsheild mirror. Just toe the two mirrors in little and it gives you more rear view coverage while still covering the sides as well

 

[eflyguy]

Those review systems are designed to add on to vehicles that don't have a backup camera as standard, not to be used in normal driving conditions - so it's not surprising the display is not optimal for that.

That said, did you try angling the assembly "up" so that the normal mirror reflects the interior roof panel, thereby eliminating the reflection from the rear window?

 

[Mike_TX]

You will get used to the limited rear visibility; I recommend returning that device if you can recoup your money. I feel that the driver and passenger mirrors are a little oversized thus negating the poor rear view from the windsheild mirror. Just toe the two mirrors in little and it gives you more rear view coverage while still covering the sides as well

This. I was disappointed with the outward visibility at first, but quickly got used to it.

 

[ShannonC]

Why not just activate the built-in camera as required under normal driving conditions. A full rear view will show on the info screen.

 

[Cyrus Duong]

Why not just activate the built-in camera as required under normal driving conditions. A full rear view will show on the info screen.

We can do this? How did you manage this? I can't find an option in our infotainment to do it.

 

[ShannonC]

We can do this? How did you manage this? I can't find an option in our infotainment to do it.

It may a built in feature of 360° camera. I have mine set on full view and when driving forward, above say 15kph, if i hit the "camera on" button the rear view automatically displays.

 

[MerlintheMad]

We can do this? How did you manage this? I can't find an option in our infotainment to do it.

It may a built in feature of 360° camera. I have mine set on full view and when driving forward, above say 15kph, if i hit the "camera on" button the rear view automatically displays.

Yes, it's a 360 degree camera feature; but it's described in the owner's manual. I was trying to figure out how to activate my rearview camera while driving. No dice.

 

[Cyrus Duong]

Ah so no go ok the GT or GT1. Oh well.

 

[antne]

It may a built in feature of 360° camera. I have mine set on full view and when driving forward, above say 15kph, if i hit the "camera on" button the rear view automatically displays.

Maybe not on US cars?

 

[Dodger Blue]

Maybe not on US cars?

Could be buried in the settings. It sounds like a cool feature but I've only seen the 360 cameras operate below 12mph. I do agree that the visibility to the rear is pretty bad, but in situations where I need it the most, the 360 camera system more than makes up for it.