Backup camera almost useless at night--improved camera?

[sajurcaju]

Pretty normal I guess

Did you zoom in?

Sponsored

 

[K6CCC]

Did you zoom in?

What are you expecting? You certainly can keep from backing into a person, or an obstruction. You don't need to count blades of grass!

 

[chl]

My 2023 Pro has no light bar, but the rear view camera works fine day and/or night.

So you may have a problem or dirty camera if your image is bad at night.

At night (it does not rely on IR) it uses the tail gate lights (LEDs) when backing up and extra sensitive sensors.

But if the lens on the camera gets scratched or dirty, it could be most noticeable at night.

According to YouTube videos about cleaning backup cameras: Try cleaning the lens on the camera with plain water spray/rinse then dry with a soft microfiber cloth gently so you don't scratch it. They say you could use isopropyl alcohol if you apply it to the cloth - not on the lens directly - then wipe.

If it is already badly scratched and cleaning does not fix it, replace it.

They sell for $40-$50 on Amazon etc, and the YouTube videos make it look easy to replace.

 

[sajurcaju]

My 2023 Pro has no light bar, but the rear view camera works fine day and/or night.

So you may have a problem or dirty camera if your image is bad at night.

...

If it is already badly scratched and cleaning does not fix it, replace it.

They sell for $40-$50 on Amazon etc, and the YouTube videos make it look easy to replace.

I'll take a magnified look at cleaning, and for scratches.
I think replacing the camera with an aftermarket one would mess up the calibration on the guidance lines in the display. I looked at three of them and they were all different view angles, 130, 150 and 170 degrees.

 

[chl]

I'll take a magnified look at cleaning, and for scratches.
I think replacing the camera with an aftermarket one would mess up the calibration on the guidance lines in the display. I looked at three of them and they were all different view angles, 130, 150 and 170 degrees.

For some cameras there is a calibration method when they are replaced anyway, even OEM ones but I don;t know for sure about the rear one - when my drivers side mirror was totaled by a hit and run, they replaced it and recalibrated it in the process as I recall, it might be an automatic thing I don't know for sure and didn't look it up.

The rear OEM camera works fine on my 2023 Pro.

It is also possible to have a loose wire problem, however that would also affect the day time image. I remember a post about a front camera that needed cleaning but that one was so bad it was apparent in the day time too.

 

[digitaldad]

I believe it is the resolution that I have an issue with. My best analogy is that our trucks cameras look like when you put your Windows PC into safe-mode.

Just this week I got into a Chevy Colorado work truck and upon seeing the rear camera, my first thought was "why doesnt my Lightning image look that good"? Either there are different versions/revisions out there or some people see an image and do not discern quality vs just any ole working image.

Regardless, I would gladly pay for upgraded versions of the main front and rear cameras if there were offerings out there. (ie.) If 24/25 year models have better cameras than the 22/23...it is possible that this is a 15" screen resolution problem and not the cameras themselves.

 

[rdr854]

Here's what it looks like during the day. How does this look compared to others?

Take it to the dealer - especially if you are under warranty.

 

[chl]

Take it to the dealer - especially if you are under warranty.

That even looks funky in daylight...could be a dirty or damaged camera lens?

 

[chl]

I believe it is the resolution that I have an issue with. My best analogy is that our trucks cameras look like when you put your Windows PC into safe-mode.

Just this week I got into a Chevy Colorado work truck and upon seeing the rear camera, my first thought was "why doesnt my Lightning image look that good"? Either there are different versions/revisions out there or some people see an image and do not discern quality vs just any ole working image.

Regardless, I would gladly pay for upgraded versions of the main front and rear cameras if there were offerings out there. (ie.) If 24/25 year models have better cameras than the 22/23...it is possible that this is a 15" screen resolution problem and not the cameras themselves.

I wonder if the cameras/lenses or the coating are sensitive to high temps?

My screen always looks clear as day, colors as blue as the Caribbean water, green as the green green grass of home, red as a beet or a redneck, white socks, blue ribbon beer, very mellow yellow, no purple haze or purple rain, black is black...etc.

 

[digitaldad]

I wonder if the cameras/lenses or the coating are sensitive to high temps?

My screen always looks clear as day, colors as blue as the Caribbean water, green ans the green green grass of home, red as a beet or a redneck, white socks, blue ribbon beer, very mellow yellow, no purple haze or purple rain, black is black...etc.

Heh, great description, and you do not fall under my "do not discern quality" comment. I noticed you are also a '23, but your vehicle info does not show trim. Are you also 15" screen?

You may be right...I just had the rear brake light/bed camera replaced as it went frrom intermittent out from high temp to permanently dead.

 

[21st Century Truck]

For what it's worth:

- I have found over many miles in all kinds of weather that the rear camera lens does get dirty quickly, and especially on snowy or rainy days. It might have something to do with the rolling air turbulence right behind the tailgate which will transport crud onto the rear camera lens. To counteract this effect, I A). gently coated the lens with whatever I used to coat my outside door mirror glass, which tends to bead & rapidly shed road crud and droplets, and B). I got into the habit on yucky days to finger-wipe the rear camera lens as I get into the truck. Both actions help to mitigate the camera lens crud although they do not completely eliminate it's buildup.

- I also found that the taillight-integrated reverse lights are too dim, and too high, and too far apart to give good nighttime illumination when backing up. This I solved by the Diode Dynamics' reverse hitch backup / brake / running insert light. The DD hitch light's reverse white light beam gives a great center white light cone, and of course the greatly increased reverse light illumination makes the nighttime reverse camera picture far clearer and and more usable on the Sync screen.

Hope this helps.

 

[chl]

Heh, great description, and you do not fall under my "do not discern quality" comment. I noticed you are also a '23, but your vehicle info does not show trim. Are you also 15" screen?

You may be right...I just had the rear brake light/bed camera replaced as it went frrom intermittent out from high temp to permanently dead.

I have Pro trim which is the 12" screen...have to go in and add that to the info.

Well if it is the extreme heat of the SW that is frying the cameras, maybe there is a special coating that could be applied that would be heat resistant...have to look that up...

Well AI search says this, FWIW:

For exterior cameras integrated into modern ADAS (Advanced Driver Assistance Systems) or "Hardware 4" setups, camera-specific films or professionally applied ceramic coatings are necessary to avoid optical distortion or triggering sensor malfunctions ...

A high-quality clear or UV filter acts as a sacrificial screen protector. It is easy to replace, doesn't interfere with your lens optics, and protects the front element from scratches and drops....

Maybe there are replacement cameras that are heat resistant?

Heat can also be a killer to dash cams.

 

[Shmoe]

The XLT’s lack the rear light bar which might be the difference. My Lariat is pretty good as long as the camera is clean. (Backing up after driving salt covered roads is a hassle.) Tesla cameras used to be awful until someone at Tesla figured out how to recalibrate the firmware and software to make it 10x better. Ford’s implementation is somewhere in between. I second making sure your backup lights are functioning and the camera lens is clean.

They just started using the cpu to process the video.. i remember when this happened

Sponsored