These lines, which extend back from your car to help you judge the vehicles distance from objects shown on the screen, are different from the systems in many new cars, which have dynamic guidelines that shorten and bend to show the vehicles path as you turn the steering wheel. This display was a pretty easy choice, as other models we tested had more-faded images or a distracting color cast. To test the components in consistent conditions, we needed to eliminate a few variables, so we mounted them together on a test rig, instead of on separate cars. We removed the floor liner from the Focuss trunk to get room to access the taillight and run the wires. Thats key to distinguishing objects, and it helps details pop. Add-on cameras generally cant do the same, because vehicles have different turning radiuses and, unlike in new-car systems, the cameras arent connected to the cars computer and steering system. Whether it's finding great products or discovering helpful advice, we'll help you get it right (the first time). And unlike fixed displays, it has a tilting arm that lets you adjust the viewing angle; this feature is nice for a single driver but crucial if two people of different heights share a car. We also didnt like this models center-mount installation method as much as we did the license-plate-frame mounts that came with other cameras. We recommend the Accele RVCLPMBS as the best backup camera for most people because it delivers the best performance for an affordable price. We also had to remove some plastic trim pieces by unscrewing the connectors and popping them off. We chose the MINy HD Camera to test because it promised slightly higher resolution than the other models from the company, while sticking to the standard 170-degree field of view. We looked at the image quality of every combination in a variety of lighting conditions, from direct sunlight to nighttime. Like other wireless models, the Look-It is also pricier than our top pick, though its easy installation (you can do it yourself in under an hour) means you dont have to pay for professional installation or run wires through your vehicle. Alexander Hrabe, Rear-view cameras buying guide, Crutchfield. If your car has an in-dash screen, you may be able to install the camera so that the image shows there. If youre on a tight budget, the Pyle PLCM38FRV is an adequate backup camera that you can buy for about the price of a multi-topping pizza. Backup cameras are designed to operate in low light, but they typically dont have a wide dynamic range. The best displays in our test group have enough contrast to show blacks as blacks and whites as whites. Because you can typically see the cars bumper on the display, anyone skittish about parallel parking can use a backup camera to confidently back into tight spots without damage, getting as close as a few inches from other cars or objects. We tested the cameras on both cloudy and sunny days, when the sun was shining into the lenses, and even at night. However, even with one of these systems, the camera, display, and transmitters still need to be wired for power, so calling the arrangement wireless is a bit of a stretch. Camera field of view: In our testing, we found that the best cameras offer a field of view between 160 and 170 degrees. In fact, backup cameras can make such a difference in this area that the US government has mandated that they be standard equipment on all new cars and light trucks built after May 1, 2018. About two to four hours of free time, and a bit of moxie. Subscribe now for unlimited access. We even rigged up fake reverse lights, salvaged from a Honda Civic, to test the components night-vision and low-light capabilities. Its nearly impossible to judge the image quality of a backup camera based on the published specs. Even when a bright area captured by our top camera pick had good detail and color on our top display pick, it looked washed out on this display. In future updates to this guide, we plan to look into upgraded systems with better cameras and displays, but we dont think its worthwhile right now for most people to spend the extra money or time investing in more-expensive components. You power the Esky ES-15 by hardwiring it into the accessory fuse panel behind the dashboard. This arrangement allowed us to compare all the displays while showing the feed from a single camera, and it let us view each display while flipping the camera feeds back and forth. Our favorite displays had a higher color saturation that made colors and details pop. Whether it was displaying dark green grass, light blue skies, or objects on the ground that wed want to avoid running over, colors were more saturated than on any other display. In our testing of the Rydeen DG240, the system took a second or two to display video after we shifted into reverse, and sometimes the transmission itself lagged by a fraction of a secondlong enough that you could miss, say, a child running behind the car. With iPhones, you can choose to see an Apple Map or Google Map display; with Android devices, your only option is Google Maps. In our tests the display looked great on cloudy days and at night, and it was clear enough to be useful on brighter days, despite some glare. However, while backup cameras can be a great aid, you should still look around and use your mirrors to make sure there are no people or pets behind your car before you back up. We looked at more-expensive displays with higher resolutions, but the Esky offered the best overall performance in the most scenarios. Its typically not difficult if you have the right tools, but the job can require patience. Its a little worse than our top pick in every respectease of installation, color accuracy, contrast, dynamic rangebut it doesnt have a single, dealbreaking flaw like other cameras, even more-expensive ones. Esky EC170-09: The main selling point of this license-plate camera is IR night vision and the fact that its embedded into a tiltable camera mount. Wirecutter is the product recommendation service from The New York Times. (KidsAndCars.org, a child-safety advocacy organization that was influential in making that regulation happen, has lots of detailed information on the problem and its solutions.) After testing the new Look-It Wireless Rear Vision System, weve made it a new also-great pick for drivers who want an easy-to-install backup camera and can use their smartphone as a display. No matter what lighting we tried with the Accele camera, from direct sun to reverse lights at night, it always managed to give us a clear, useful image that we were confident in using to back up a car. *At the time of publishing, the price was $25. Flipping the screen up and down between uses was an extra step that added to the hassle of backing up. Depending on your car, youll need to either tuck those wires into the headliner (the fabric covering the inside of your roof) or fasten it along the seam between the headliner and windshield. Ive covered electronics for The Wirecutter for nearly two years, and Im no stranger to devising novel ways to test items that are hard for most shoppers to compare at home. So we similarly chose displays with reliable, positive reviews, ofvarious prices and styles. Regardless of resolution, a good backup camera needs to create a clear image, with enough detail, contrast, and color accuracy for you to distinguish objects in a wide variety of lighting conditions. The current version of our pick doesnt block registration stickers in the corner of the license plate; our pictures show the older, wider mount, but the camera is the same. The Esky EC170-09 camera, for example, made a field of green grass a few yards away look as brown as the dirt right behind it, an effect that flattened the whole image. And because the angle of the display is fixed, you cant adjust it to avoid glare, or to accommodate people of different heights or driving positions. Mobile-electronics installers should also be able to help, since theyll be the most familiar with third-party options and accessory radios, and theyll be happy to sell you anything that will work. If you dont have any tools, everything here will cost $70 to $100, but youll be able to use these tools and supplies on future projects. With some displays, we could see a little more detail when we looked more closely. Night vision: Every good backup camera can operate in low light down to around 0.5lux. If you want to connect your camera to a display that came with the vehicle, the easiest place to check for details is the parts or service department at your local car dealer. Esky ES-16: The flip-up design of this display made for a slick presentation when closed, but it wasnt very practical in our real-world use. In our tests, the differences in contrast and dynamic range were most noticeable at night with our reverse lamps illuminated; the worst displays looked washed out from the lights, while the best ones provided enough detail for us to do more than just distinguish basic shapes. After testing dozens of cameras over the years, we can say that the Olympus OM-D E-M10 Mark IV is the best mirrorless camera for most people. On a sunny day, a lower dynamic range makes a dark object on a washed-out concrete pad look like a blob. Our favorite displays had a higher saturation that made colors and details pop. We pointed our test rig at a field of grass that, in person, was a deep green. And, as with all of the wireless cameras we tried, the camera takes a moment to connect wirelessly to the GPS display. That might seem obvious, but some displays have fixed mounts that can leave you stuck with a bad angle or harsh glare. Installing a wired backup camera means threading, shoving, and hiding the cable and power wires under trunk carpet, inside plastic doorjambs, and behind the dashboarda sometimes puzzling, but not insurmountable, task that thankfully needs to be done only once. If you want a pro to do it: The easiest and most affordable solution, if one is nearby, is to use Best Buys Geek Squad, which will install the system for you for about $130 at most locations. When it came to contrasthow black a display could display blackthe Esky 4.3-inch display wasnt the most impressive, but it was consistent, night or day. Naviks offers a wider variety of adapters for older cars with built-in displays, but most of them cost nearly $200about 10 times the cost of sticking an add-on display to the top of your dashboard. We didnt test this arrangement because of the variety of cars wed need to cover and the assortment of options out there. According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, back-over accidents result in about 300 fatalities and 18,000 injuries annually. But that was a relatively minor annoyance, and the rest of the installation was easy. If your car has an in-dash display, you might be able to connect a backup camera to it instead of having to buy a separate display. In fact, we found that with backup cameras tuned to work in minimal lighting, the reverse lights could wash out images at night. You can connect an add-on backup camera to a display in a number of ways. However, its not as seamless to use, as you must activate the camera using a remote that you mount to your cars dash or steering wheel; video appears on the phones screen within a couple seconds. It also had to have decent color accuracy, which varied considerably between cameras. We repeated the exercise on both cloudy and sunny days, when the sun was low and shining into the lenses, and even at night, with and without the help of reverse lights. We found the IR feature to be unnecessary, though: Every camera we tried worked just fine with standard vehicle backup lights. The Pyle model has better dynamic range at night than in bright sun, but otherwise it consistently did the job in all of our testing. And if your car doesnt have an in-dash display to connect the camera to, wed pair it with either the Esky ES-15 4.3-inch on-dash display or, for a less cluttered dashboard, the Auto-vox T1400 rearview mirror with integrated display. (Many DIYers can do the install in a few hours, depending on the vehicle and the persons experience with working on cars.). If you need to line up a trailer to your hitch, a backup camera can help you do it in a single go. A DIYer should be able to install a wired system in most vehicles in a few hours. In pretty much every aspect, this camera is just okay, providing a usable image with fair color accuracy. If your car doesnt have an in-dash display, a replacement mirror is the most inconspicuous way to add a screen to your car. Now, B or C. B? Rearview-mirror displays are all similar in that they simply attach to your cars current rearview-mirror bracket and adjust easily. Learn more. If you decide you dont like them, you can turn them off by cutting a wire loop extending from the camera. The Accele camera gave us a clear, useful image that we were confident in using to back up a car. If it doesnt have one, or if you cant connect the camera to the in-dash screen, you can buy a display that mounts on the dash or windshield, or one thats integrated into a replacement rearview mirror. Even another Esky model, with a flip-up design, didnt have the same color-rich display. This feature can be handy when youre operating a car in reverse, and its a valuable safety feature. The remote also has two additional buttons, which you can use to quickly display a map of the surrounding area on the phones screen. Compared with the Look-It, though, the Pearl RearVision is more expensive and, in our testing, it was more difficult to activate, took longer to display video, and was more prone to glitchy connections, making it less useful overall. Once we set up the Look-It, the cameras video feed consistently appeared on our phones display within a couple seconds of pressing the remotes button. The image seemed slightly zoomed compared with the image from every other camera, and this model was the only camera to have a significantly narrower field of view than standard. Affordable backup cameras dont have the impressive resolutions common in other devices. Our other criteria had a much bigger influence on our assessment of a models overall quality than resolution. For around 50 percent less money, our top pick provided a better picture all around. If you want to install a backup-camera system yourself without having to run a cable through your vehicle, you can add a wireless adapter like the Rydeen DG240 digital wireless video kit to virtually any system. We independently review everything we recommend. We think most people will be happier with a wired system, despite the additional installation hassle, because such systems are more responsive and reliable. We havent noticed the tape marring our dashboard, but if youre worried about the risk, try the adhesive on an inconspicuous section before committing to it. But higher prices didnt always guarantee higher performance: The resolutions and fields of view were similar, and even the acceptable light level didnt vary muchall our cameras claimed to work in near darkness (0.1 to 0.5 lux). Rydeen MINy HD Camera: Rydeen makes nearly a dozen backup cameras. When we were confident in our top picks, we installed them on two cars and test-drove them in real-world conditions to make sure they delivered on the convenience and safety benefits that made a backup-camera system worth the money and effort. 2022 Wirecutter, Inc., A New York Times Company. Any shop specializing in auto sound and security should also be able to install a backup-camera system, but the prices can vary wildly: When we called around, places quoted amounts ranging from less than $200 to more than $500. The Accele mounts along the top of any standard US license plate without obscuring registration stickers, and the tiltable lens allowsyou to get just the right angle for your car. But overall, the cameras were too low resolution, and the 4- and 5-inch displays were too small, for the resolution to make much of an impact. But it avoids some of the flaws we saw in other, more-expensive cameras, such as low-light static, weird color casts, and blown-out images in bright sunlight. This step could require removing some of the cars carpeting and trim pieces, which will vary from vehicle to vehicle. Because the Pearl model uses two cameras, it can also act as a rear-sensor system, alerting you if your car is getting too close to objects behind it, and as a rear cross-traffic-alert system that warns you if it detects a person or car moving behind your vehicle. Another issue we had with the Auto-vox model was that the brightness was pumped up to the point that it lowered the overall image quality. The display automatically adjusts to the ambient light level, based on a small sensor on the back, but you have no manual way to adjust it. The Accele RVCLPMBS showed the same field in a richer green, and that green popped compared with other colors in the frame. If you find something that works, share the love and let other readers know in the comments below. Doing so makes the electrical system safe to work on. If youve ever had an eye exam, youd recognize our squinting, unsure stares as we debated A or B, A or B. Despite its lower resolution, the Esky display looked better than any other on-dash monitor we tried. While our top-pick camera, the Accele RVCLPMBS, needs to be wired directly to a display, other models can transmit an image wirelessly; those models are easier to install, but they dont perform quite as well, as we discuss below. Some cameras, on the other hand, have a field of view thats much too narrow to be useful in spotting objects near the corners of the bumper. Due to confusing instructions, setting the Look-It up to work with our phone via Bluetooth wasnt as straightforward as it should bean experience echoed by some Amazon reviewers. But if you like hands-on projects or want to try working on your car yourself, a backup-camera installation is a good weekend project. Flush mounting, tucked up near the handle on your trunk lid or a trucks tailgate, can provide a factory finish, but it doesnt allow for any aiming once its installed. Despite a relatively low resolution of 480272, the Esky had the best color reproduction of any display we tried; others had too little saturation. Similarly, looking for a complete system we could recommend, we researched almost 40 displays that could work with the cameras, and we tested sevenof the most promising ones. Backup cameras help prevent tragic back-over accidents, in which a driver doesnt see a person behind the car. The Soled display, which had the deepest blacks and brightest whites during the day, was subject to excessive image noise at night. As with the cameras, for the displays, higher prices didnt always mean higher resolution, and we saw little to differentiate $20 displays from $200 models. We wired all the camera feeds into a switcher, and split the switchers output to show simultaneously on all of the displays. Based on their specs, prices, and owner reviews, we then set up the top eight cameras for a hands-on, head-to-head comparison. Image quality: Its nearly impossible to judge the image quality of a backup camera based on the published specifications. This replacement rearview mirror has an integrated display for a clean look and an uncluttered dash. Thats plenty if youre using your camera just for backing up, since the reverse lights on your car will provide enough illumination for the camera to get a clear image, and our picks dont add a distracting amount of fuzz to the picture. connect to it either directly or with an adapter module, An easier-to-install option: Look-It Wireless Rear Vision System, Our rearview-mirror-display pick: Auto-vox T1400, show below how we installed the Accele RVCLPMBS, install the system for you for about $130, Chuanganzhuo Backup Camera and Monitor Kit. If you want to do it yourself: Most backup cameras come with instructions on how to connect the camera to your cars wiring and to the display (although they can be sketchy; here, for example, are the PDFinstructions for our top-pick camera). It has a wide viewing angle with minimal glare, and it tilts to adjust for multiple drivers. Even a true HD model we found, with 720p resolution buried deep in the specifications, incorrectly claimed a higher 1080p resolution in its product pages title. If you choose to use the center-mount bracket, youll need to bend the bracket to aim the camera properly, or you can drill a hole to mount the camera right into your trunk lid. This design makes wireless models easier to install overall, although they still need to draw power through a wire connected in the rear of the vehicle (usually to the reverse light), and you have to make sure that the camera and display have a compatible transmitter and receiver. The Look-It works best for drivers who are willing to keep their phone in a car mount while driving. Similar toall top cameras, the Accele has a wide field of view that allows you to see a broad area behind your car, including several inches out from either corner of the bumper. Color accuracy matters if you want to identify objects behind you. This made it handy for both backing out of a space and for parallel parking, even on a busy street. The RearVisions battery is charged by small solar cells in its license-plate frame, and the system includes a magnetic phone mount that you can attach to a cars dash vent. Despite its limited dynamic range (a trait generally shared among all backup cameras), the Accele offered the most balanced image of any camera we tested. An outdoor security camera can alert you to prowlers, package deliveries, and visitors, as well as to animals in your trash and things that go bump in the night. In our tests, the resolution and color fidelity were noticeably better than those of anything else we tried, but thats where the utility ended. After weeks of use, our Esky display was still firmly mounted to the dash with the included double-sided tape, which is a typical installation method for dash displays. Theyre not adjustable, though, so youll need to mentally calibrate your driving to the distance each line represents. The video stays on the screen for 30 seconds; you can stop it sooner by pressing the remotes button again. Be sure to check if the image on your display will be satisfactory before drilling a -inch hole into your vehicle. Next, we fished the wire through the hole and behind the bumper, routed it into the trunk, and connected it to the taillight wires. Heres the basic stuff youll need to install a wired camera. Though none of the inexpensive displays we tested blew us away, the Esky ES-15 4.3-inch on-dash display had the best overall image quality, and it avoided common dealbreakers. If you dont want a separate display on your dash or windshield, you might prefer the Auto-vox T1400 over the Esky display. We like that the camera mount uses the existing holes and bolts for the license plate, and that the camera is easy to tilt to the perfect angle. A smart doorbell camera allows you to see whos on the other side of your dooreven when you arent homeso you can screen for visitors and package deliveries. This Auto-vox model replaces your cars existing rearview mirror. The Look-It works best for drivers who are willing to keep their phone in a car mount while driving, and the system includes a magnetic mount that you can attach to one of your vehicles dash vents. Like the other cameras we tested, the Accele models image shows static guidelines that extend back from the vehicle to help you gauge the distance of objects as you back up. Some cameras include tiny infrared lights that emit light that is invisible to the naked eye but lets the camera see in near-total darkness. Most of the models, though, showed a deep blue sky as pale blue, and spring grass as more yellow than it really was. Pyle PLCM44: The display in this kit washed out more easily than on our top pick when capturing objects in bright sun, and in even lighting the picture was often darker than what we saw from the competition. Most of the models youll find there are made by Crux Interfacing Solutions and are compatible with common car makes and models from the past five years, with a few stretching back further. And some of our favorite displays are inexpensive and have low resolution, but offer better color accuracy, contrast, and viewing angles than displays that seem better based solely on the specs. The Esky display had the most-accurate color representation of any of the universal models we tried. But our picks will give you a usable image with sufficient quality to distinguish the basic details of objects, vehicles, and people behind you at night or during the day. He has written and edited at Wirecutter since 2015, covering a range of products with a focus on computers and consumer technology. These add-ons allow the camera to transmit video wirelessly to the display. Dash displays are generally less expensive, but with a replacement mirror, you dont have to worry about an extra gadget that could clutter up your dash or be stolen, and you wont obstruct any portion of your view while youre driving. Its simple stand is easy to adjust to get the perfect angle, which is especially important if you share a car with other drivers. (We didnt notice any effect from the switcher on relative video quality.) It provides a clear image, day and night, with reasonable color accuracy and enough dynamic range and resolution to let you recognize any objects in view. For another option, the retailer Crutchfield has a tool that shows you compatible, model-specific camerasonce you put in your cars year, make, model, and type of audio system. So after excluding a few more models from lesser-known (read: no-reputation) companies that had untrustworthy customer reviews, we picked the eight most well-regarded models fromlow, medium, and high pricing tiers. Its bright enough for use during the day but still has enough contrast at night for you to make out details. Or C? This truly wireless system uses battery power and your smartphone as its display, but its pricier than our other picks and doesnt turn on automatically. This limited color spectrum made us worry that a given camera wouldnt be able to accurately represent objects behind the car in some conditions. *At the time of publishing, the price was $235. You can mount the Pyle PLCM38FRV either on a small, center-mount bracket normally installed behind the top of your license plate or with the included flush-mount accessories. If youre not up for doing it yourselfand if its in your budgetwe recommend spending the roughly $150 it costs to let a pro deal with the hassle. The wider a field of view, the farther you can see left and right directly behind the bumper, but beyond about 170 degrees, the image begins distorting into a fish-eye shape that makes it harder to recognize objects at a glance. Our journalists combine independent research with (occasionally) over-the-top testing to save people time, energy and money when making buying decisions. *At the time of publishing, the price was $110. We found that the PLCM38FRV had better color accuracy and saturation than other models we dismissed, which made its image easier to understand at a glance. In addition, the cameras field of view is so wide, the effect is like looking through a fish-eye lens thats distorting and curving the images. It installs quickly to the top of any standard US-size license plate without blocking registration tags in the corners, and you can tilt the center-mounted camera without much effort, so dialing in just the right view is easy. The Auto-vox T1400 fits the rearview-mirror mount on most cars, and you can slide your old mirror off and this one on with little more than the included Allen wrenchthe mirror is relatively easy to install compared with the wires that come out of it. The dealbreaker with this model, and all the wireless cameras we tried, was a slight lag between the camera and display. Garmin BC 30 Wireless Backup Camera: In addition to the cameras and displays we discuss in this guide, we tested the Garmin BC 30 Wireless Backup Camera with the Garmin Drive 50 LMT car GPS device (a former top pick in our car GPS guide), which its designed to work with. For roughly the cost of one of these systems, you may be able to afford a professional, wired installation at a chain like Best Buy. We started by researching nearly 40 of the top-selling and best-reviewed add-on backup cameras at a variety of retailers. While some cameras captured that hue, others showed a field that looked completely dead and brown. That said, even the image quality of our picks isnt that good in a world of high-definition smartphone cameras. In part because of its well-balanced handling of various light conditions, the Accele camera was also able to produce the best mix of color saturation, depth, and accuracy. Wired versus wireless cameras: Conventional wired backup cameras, such as our top pick, have a video cable that runs through the car to connect to the display. Here are the things that are most important to consider. Guidelines: Every backup camera in our test group shows fixed guidelines in the video image. But its more expensive, and bright sunlight can create a lot of glare on the mirrored surface. From there, youll have to run the wire over to the pillar alongside your windshield, and down into your dash as with any other display. This Auto-vox model replaces your cars existing rearview mirror and automatically shows the backup cameras image on the left side when you shift the car into reverse; the image then disappears when you shift the vehicle out of reverse, leaving a conventional rearview mirror.
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