Ok, so I am gathering parts to set up my CarPC. One of the items I want is a backup camera. I've read the posts here and on mp3car and have a decient idea of what to look for. Not that it makes it any easier to find what I want. With the lack of data on sellers sites or the variation in ratings (sure its .5 LUX...with IR LEDs and only for about 3 feet etc.)

So as I am searching I run across an article about Sanyo's option, the CCA-BC200. Now this is interesting. It corrects for fisheye, and position (left, right, top, bottom) digitally. It seems to add parking guides (overlays? hmmm.) Then there is this Aircam mode that claims to show an overhead image of the camera view (cool tech, I get to play a bit with it at work.) It uses a button on an 8' cable to toggle the modes. Good so far.

Now the bad news. It's not cheep at $299 and it doesn't even have a screen. It claims a LUX of 1.6 so I don't know what the low light performance is. I can't seem to find any reviews on it either (not to mention that I only find 1 real vendor, Crutchfield.)

So what do ya'll think? Maybe I'll bite the bullet and buy one to try out.... Don't know yet, I'll think on it.

~DS

 

I'm not sure I'd pay $300 for a backup camera, although that one does look pretty nice. But, then, I have experience coding image processing software for live-video ... so, I probably have a bit of an advantage over the average modder who's looking at adding a camera system to their car.

The quick-n-easy solution, of course, is to rip apart any old cheap webcam, build a housing for it, and stick it under your bumper. The field of view is going to be fairly narrow, and you might need more than just your backup lights illuminating the area at night, but I would think it should be good enough for most situations.

 

I wouldn't buy that Sanyo cam unless you could get it locally and return it if you didn't like it. The 1.6 lux requirements means you won't see jack in a pitch black street. There are better cams out there. I don't know why that one is worth 300. I tried a bunch off of eBay till I found a decent one...and none of them were anywhere near the expensive, plus some worked with 0 lux.

 

Kenwood also sells a backup camera.