Rear View System

What is a reversing camera good for?

This camera system essentially allows you to keep an eye on what's happening behind your vehicle. It helps you park and makes it easier for you to swerve out of a space, while giving you a continuous view of nearby obstacles and things that would otherwise be in your blind spot. Since the bumpers of cars can no longer withstand parking collisions without leaving a mark, we need to be extra careful.

We no longer have to worry about roadside stones and fences lurking under the plane of our rear-view mirror, and we will no longer hit the shopping trolley left behind in the supermarket car park. When parking, there's no need to stretch and guess where your car will end up - the camera shows you exactly where everything is. With a universal reversing camera, you can avoid minor or major damage to your car when parking. It's also proven to reduce the number of collisions and accidents.

Reversing camera or radar?

Both types have their advantages and disadvantages. If you want more safety, you should definitely choose a reversing camera. Radar sensors mounted in the bumper give you an accurate audible indication of the distance to objects, but without visuals you can only guess what might be behind you. The angle of detection can also be a problem. While the wide-angle view of a camera can accurately detect pedestrians and cars coming from the side, radar can only detect them at a certain proximity. Of course, price and installation are also important considerations, and in these respects a reversing camera is a much bigger challenge than radar.

If the focus is on price and ease of installation, then go for radar. Another important aspect can be the attention-grabbing beep, which is provided by the audible warning of the sensors. With a reversing camera, even if you can see what's behind you, if you lose focus, you could easily hit something. However, the beeping sound emitted by the radar's sensors is sure to alert us to the danger. It is also true that sound effects can, after a while, make drivers feel comfortable, thinking that the sound will save them the trouble of constantly reversing and stretching.

How to choose a reversing camera?

In terms of the features and parameters you need, there are a few must-haves that should not be overlooked when buying a new reversing camera.

Camera angle of view

Although the angle of view of the camera determines the area of the scene behind you when reversing, the golden rule of the bigger the better does not apply here. Cameras with a field of view of up to 210 degrees are available, but manufacturers can only provide these with fisheye optics, which distort the image. It is therefore worth sticking to the 90 and 120-degree cameras, which give you a perfect view of the rear of your car and its immediate surroundings when reversing.

Camera type

There are both flush-mounted and surface-mounted cameras on the market, and this is the first and most important consideration before buying. This will determine the placement of the camera and the image it will display. When choosing a camera, you should also consider a number of features that you might not think of at first. For one thing, it must be able to withstand the elements, as it must be protected against rain, dust and frost. On the other hand, you should choose a lens that is fog-proof, otherwise you will have to get out and wipe the lens before use.

An infrared mode, or night vision, is also a must for using the camera safely in the dark for reversing. Some cameras come with automatic switch-on when you shift into reverse as standard, but it's worth looking out for. Its absence can make using the camera very cumbersome.

How do I mount a reversing camera?

The choice of camera itself carries with it the choice of how it can be fitted. If you want to install the whole system yourself, you should choose a wireless version. Surface-mounted and number-plate mounted cameras are recommended in this case. Even then, however, there are still tasks such as dismantling the upholstery or removing and installing the bumper. Without the necessary experience, it is better to leave the job to professionals.

DND Telecom's reversing camera range includes both audible and universal reversing cameras.