Today is a busy and hectic day at the workplace, with tasks piling up, one after the other. To make matters worse you are shorthanded, leaving you overwhelmed. During the lunch break, you glance at the clock as it slowly ticks, counting down the hours until you can leave. Finally, after many long, tedious hours the time has come for you to leave. You hurriedly make your way to the parking lot where you left your vehicle.
Moments later, you are on the road towards home with the
car stereo humming soothing tunes. The absence of a traffic jam sells you hope, thinking that your fortunes for the day have been overturned. Upon reaching home, you realize no one is available to help you back your car into the garage. You could just pull in forward, but this would make it more difficult for you in the morning. And it could cause you to be late for work. You realize, at this point, that you are faced with an uphill task that even professional drivers would find difficult.
Upon brainstorming, you gas yourself up for the challenge. First, you open the garage using your
automatic garage door closer. You attempt to steer the new car into its slot without denting it. While doing this, you stretch your neck through the side window in a bid to avoid any obstacles. The initial stages are maneuvered expertly, but, due to the tiresome work done throughout the day, your body gives in and you can no longer stick out your head to look backwards. Consequently, you end up scratching both your treasured vehicle and the garage wall.
This could have been avoided if a backup camera was present in your car. With it, a driver can steer the vehicle in reverse mode without outside help. Imagine in the above scenario if the driver had hit a building, or even worse a person. These are far more tragic than a little dent on the vehicle’s paint. To prevent such implications, vehicles are nowadays equipped with rear view cameras. And those without can add them as an accessory. The market even has
wireless backup camera kits. This issue concerns a lot of parties. Therefore, the government is implanting a strict policy that requires that all new vehicles have backup camera systems installed starting in 2018.
Although older vehicles will not be required to have backup camera systems, this is still a safety device that is worth investing in. Our competent automotive experts have analyzed the various options available on the market and have identified the best options for you to choose from.
Price
Like most things in life, you get what you pay for. Prices in this industry are dependent on inbuilt features such as screen size and field of view. Additional capabilities such as ability to withstand harsh weather conditions and water proofing also drive up the cost of reverse cameras.
With as little as $17, you can get your hands on a backup camera. On the other hand, $200 upwards gets you a decent gadget, equipped with superb imaging capabilities as well as being sturdy and durable. The choices for cheap backup cameras may seem enticing, but may not serve the purpose they are intended to. Make sure to purchase a camera that offers what it promises.
Features
You don’t want to be remorseful after spending money on a backup camera. This, however, will be the case if you opt for a gung-ho approach over a meticulous, thorough analysis of the included features.
Some of the things that you ought to evaluate before emptying your pockets on a backup camera include;
- Field of View-This reveals the scope which the camera can cover.
- Monitor-This is the screen on which the output is cast. It can be either monochrome (albeit rarely) or colored.
- Mount-This is where the camera is fitted onto the car.
- Connectivity–Where does the camera source its power from?
- Extras - These vary by model, with features such as water proofing, warranty and infrared lights.
If the features are deemed satisfactory, the next item on the agenda is testing out the field capability of the device.
Construction and Design
Just like other cameras, the field of view is perhaps the most vital aspect of the backup camera. It determines the area that can be captured by the device. The field of view is dependent on several factors, such as the lens’ focal length, sensor size, and sensor type. The optimal viewing angle ranges from 1200 to 1500, so we recommend cameras that fall within this category. The market offers wider options, going up to 2100, but these can be tricky as their extensive panoramic view creates a fish-eye lens effect which reduces image discernibility.
Equal attention should also be paid to the monitor, which delivers the output captured by the camera. They vary in sizes, but it goes without saying that the bigger, the better. A larger screen offers more image clarity than small variants. Going for LCD screens is advisable, as they have superior image quality over older technologies.
Performance and Ease of Use
A significant majority of backup cameras are mounted on the rear license plate of the motor vehicle. This is very expedient, as it negates the necessity of boring holes often associated with flush and surface mounted models.
For usage in low-light and dark environments, a couple of models integrate infrared lights along with the actual camera. With this enhanced capability, the systems can deliver pictures in total darkness, though they are usually monochrome.
When choosing a rearview camera, there are many factors to consider including the image sensor size, whether it is wired or wireless, et cetera. But the biggest factor to consider is how much and how clearly you will be able to see. The features of each camera are listed to help you determine which is best for you and your car. With these factors in mind, let us look at our individual reviews.
We believe these reviews have helped you make the right decision on the backup camera to purchase. Now that you have taken your time to read them, you should be able to pick one with confidence. We hope our guide does come in handy as you make your choice.
