Prius V Rear Camera

Some GM cars (e.g. Yukon) also have a distance sensor in addition to the camera. It starts beeping once you get close to an object. The beeps get faster and faster as you get closer. Very useful.

Would be nice to have this for the front as well!

 

A 2 D camera cannot represent actual distance.
The camera can show 2 types of information
1- is there something there or not - is there something in the way
2- The RELATIVE distance. As you back up, you see how much CLOSER you are getting to the object you are seeing.

Only something like sonar could actually give distance.

 

Actually you will quickly get used to the camera and be able to estimate distances, however you should still be turning your head to look for objects coming from the side that are not in view of the camera. I have a backup camera on my Gen II and find it very helpful and consider it a safety feature as it lets you see immediately behind the car in case of objects, children etc. that are otherwise hidden from view. However I still look around while backing up. The only time that I back up while only looking at the screen is when backing out of my garage, that's because while still inside my garage I wouldn't see anything anyway if I looked around. After I get onto my driveway then I look out onto the street for any approaching cars or children, as I continue backing up into the street I make quick glances at the screen, especially as I am approaching my neighbors mailbox! You get used to it pretty quickly, and you'll find that it is a very helpful additional view to what you already have looking out the window.

 

It works great for me. It just takes a lot of practice. I won't say it takes trial and error, because you want to avoid those errors...but a lot of trial. I'm still learning how to parallel park my V compared to my Civic sedan, but the camera is way helpful. More or less, I'm always a little further than I think based on the back up camera. For backing out of diagonal spots into a street it's also really helpful.

This may sound like a silly suggestion, but if you have a traffic cone or something else that can't harm your car, try backing up to it using the back up camera and you will learn how to use that camera. If I had done that it probably would have helped me learn to use it a lot quicker.

 

Hmmm... I guess the ATP package includes one more thing you guys don't have. On my ATP, there is a 'graphic' showing a couple of things, similar to this picture:



This is an image from a Camry car, but the indicators are the same for my Prius V, the blue lines showing the aspect/orientation of the car. The Yellow lines showing the 'path' heading of the car based on your turn, and the Yellow horizontal line the first 'distance' for your car's hatch to open (Against walls), the red being the min distance for opening the hatch, or possible exceeding this will result in bumping into wall/car behind you.

I have used this a lot to reverse park into spots and judging how close I would be to the wall I am parking and haven't hit a car or wall with this.

 

I have those lines in my 2008 Prius, not had a chance to test it properly yet but it looks very helpful

 

The other thing that also comes into play with regards to determining 'depth' is going off visual cues. Like for instance, I don't know what kind of vision I have, since to me, a lot of things look 'flat', but I can also perceive depth. A screen is not going to give you much depth perception, but you have to go off the visual cues to have a rough idea. Also, the camera for the 'v' is more for the view you can't see, as the window will only show you things or people who are at least 4+ feet tall. Below that, such as children or old people in wheel chairs, you will not see as the structure bars in the back will obscure your view of them as well as cars on either side of you with that regard.

 

I can't speak to the 3, but on my car, there are several different 'modes' for the rear camera that change which indicators are visible.

 

great ,too many people from alll over the world know this well,that is the way to settle it.of course you can deal that.

 

I think we are talking apples and oranges here. The advanced technology package gives a lot more detail than the standard display. What I did with our van was place objects behind the vehicle at known distances and go look from the camera to get a point of reference. It's tough to judge anything from a fish eye type lens.

Zenmachine yes the radar sensors are nice but can get your attention in the snow or towing if you forget to disable it. We also had quite a few fail early on.
W

 

I believe the Prius reverse camera was designed primarily to show as wide a view as possible behind the car, not as a tool to judge distance.

Similar in concept as convex sideview mirrors that some cars have.

Judging distance is a learned skill regardless of what type of lens being used. Our very own eyes can only "see" in 2D, it is our brain that makes the triangulations and calculations necessary to give us the illusion of depth.

 

The manual says, red line = 1.5 feet. I like the orange lines on both ends of the bumper that indicate the actual position of the surface of the rear bumper. This helps me park in my tight fit garage (backing up).