Where have rear view cameras gone?

I love using the reverse camera. I use it to check behind me before reversing and then to gauge distance between my bumper and the wall, car, etc. The sensors on my FJ make it easier for me to reverse by listening, but I feel more confident with the camera.

I believe that Toyota tried to keep costs down on the lower models so they eliminated some features. The people who want more bells and whistles can always move to the higher model. I priced a 2009 base model today for my customer to compare to the 2010 II which has more standard features. The difference was $800. It was a no-brainer and he will be taking delivery in a week or two.

 

Yes, why invest in a proprietary nav system that will be old hat in a few years with not many choices (if any) of upgrading to new hardware. Perhaps Toyota and the other manufacturers should take a hint from the computer world. If you want a new mouse on your computer, go buy one and plug it into a USB port. Simple and exciting isn't it!

 

Trouble is Toyota is trying to profit by "forcing" you to buy the expensive nav by bundling it with solar or requiring nav with model IV or V in some parts of the country.

Another division of Toyota, Scion, has a much better solution, designed to appeal to value driven young buyers. They have three dealer swappable units: base audio, upgraded audio and upgraded audio with nav. The cars are actually shipped to the dealer with the audio bay empty. The buyer makes the decision at the point of purchase. It would be easy to have an input in the nav unit for backup camera as well.

 

I just wanted to talk up another plus of the Prius backup camera: it has fantastic night vision -- much better than the human eye.

It was raining last night and when I turned my head back to look out the rear window, I saw practically nothing. But when I looked at the backup camera screen, I saw everything within its field of vision.

And this was with my Gen II Prius camera. The night vision of the 2010 Prius camera is supposed to be even better.

 

You are correct, without the nav system no backup camera. I really think its stupid. That was one thing I thought was a great idea and now I would be lost without it. I'll keep my 2006, 2010's prices to high, do want to give me a good amount for my car, and interest rates for car loans to high.

 

IMO the GenIII has more value built into it for the price you pay. It's not available here yet, but if it was, I may have just opted for the backup camera monitor/auto-dimming mirror combo. It's much more cost effective and still gets the job done.

My customer was surprised yesterday to see that the 09 base model with no SK or backup camera was only $800 less than the 2010 II model. I am surprised too. We only have a $1000 rebate on them right now. That's definitely not enough to motivate customers to go with the previous model year...

 

Do you mean simply how well the camera can see at night?
Or does it actually have "night vision" technology equipped?

 

I definitely agree with that. You never really know whats behind you when you back your car up. Even if you turn your head back to see whats behind you, there is a big blind spot and that would be the lower part of the car. It might be a little pricey but it is a great safety feature. 1 question though. I have a 05 Prius and I dont have the nav or the rear view camera. I saw a little panel where the rear view camera goes. Is there a possibility that you could get one separately via toyota dealership or any kind of toyota parts sellers? I would like to have one but i was thinking it could be expensive from a dealership. Any suggestions would be great.

 

From all I have read on this forum, and from the 2010 Prius brochure, I had the impression that the G3 can have a rear view camera only in conjunction with the nav system if so equipped. But in perusing the owner's manual I obtained thanks to this forum, I find that beginning on p. 231, a rear view camera system with its screen integrated into the rear view mirror is described for cars without the nav option.Does anyone know anything about this? The pertinent portion of the manual is attached.

 

I meant how well the camera sees at night (low light sensitivity, not night vision technology).

Also, to further clarify my statement that the camera has better night vision than the human eye, I meant to point out that when it's raining, the water on the rear window greatly distorts or blocks the view out the rear window, especially at night. So when I was backing up the other night in the rain, I could barely see anything out the rear window. But the backup camera seemed to show everything within its field of vision.

 

Available in Canada, not in U.S.

 

As long as there's no big raindrop on the camera! I like the rear view camera too, especially when backing into a parking space or making sure I don't run over a squirrel or something in my driveway, but sometimes if it's been raining I can't see anything because there's water on the lens.

 

so, do we need to start a EBH and reverse camera mirror smuggling operation to bring these products south?

 

What PriusRos said. The backup camera will definitely be effected by water on the fish eye camera lens. Also when backing up into the sun, there will be some refraction artifacts in the picture. Other than these two items, the camera image is pretty spectacular on the G2.

 

Hmmm. Maybe I should get out more often. But after 2.5 years with my Prius, I can honestly say that I have never experienced any visibility problems with my backup camera from rain.

Yardman 49 and PriusRos, how often have you encountered rear camera visibility problems from rain?

And how often has it been zero visibility as PriusRos suggested happens on occasion?

And have you had any problems with dirt? (Someone else, not you, mentioned dirt).

 

I was surprised with the Camera. My HH has the non-NAV screen and it's black and white and small. I hardly ever look at it. The large color screen with the NAV is pretty awesome.