Opinion: What is the Best Reverse Cam?

[tiz22]

Once again I turn to all of you for advice...I have searched around and found lots of DIY for reverse cam installs but almost all of them choose their camera based on compatibility with the stock HU...

I installed an aftermarket head unit (AVIC Z150BH) which can be seen in my DIY in my signature..

One of the main reasons for this HU swap was to get the ability to install a reverse cam. Now that it's all installed - it's time to buy! My question to you guys - what do you consider the top of the line reverse cam that has these qualities:
- OEM look to it
- good durability
- good visibility in night + bright sunlight
- some sort of guiding lines (green/yellow/red)
- compatibile with my HU and my FR-S obviously

Any help is appreciated, especially pics of the picture quality if you have the installed..

[ericmpena]

I'm using a Rudeen Duo. Looks great, picture is great, has night vision, looks OEM, and with wiring harness, camera, and install it was only about $200. Great investment.

(After installing any camera you'll need to access the "hidden" Nav menu in order to adjust the reverse guide lines on the screen. Once those line up to you wheels you're good to go!"

[tiz22]

Originally Posted by ericmpena

I'm using a Rudeen Duo. Looks great, picture is great, has night vision, looks OEM, and with wiring harness, camera, and install it was only about $200. Great investment.

(After installing any camera you'll need to access the "hidden" Nav menu in order to adjust the reverse guide lines on the screen. Once those line up to you wheels you're good to go!"

I'm glad someone finally chimed in! Do you have a link where you bought it all?

[ericmpena]

I got mine off of eBay for $124.99. Looks like the price dropped a little since then. I purchased from this same seller. Shipment was fast and product was as described.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Rydeen-ZH07-...item4173df2996


Don't forget, if you're connecting to the factory Head Unit you need to get the wiring harness from this guy. It's only about $20.

http://ae64.com/Rear-camera-16-pin.htm


After you have both the wiring harness and the camera you can take your car over to BestBuy. They charge $75 for installation, but it does come with a warranty and they did a great job with the install.

[Zoti]

$15 ebay cam. Looks like any other cam. Metal body. Good quality. Comes with enough cable to reach the front of the car.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/130950863254...T0%26ga4m%3DT3

[Flat Black VW]

x2 for the Rydeen Cameras. I have one on my car and also sell them at my shop and they have been very good quality after years of use.

The Duo looks very OEM however will require drilling a hole. The Miny and Miny LED2 are very nice cameras that do not require a hole and are small enough to not look bad. The Miny has good enough view at night however the LED2 has great night vision.

With all of the Rydeen cameras (and most other aftermarket) you have the ability to connect two wires on the harness to turn on or off guide lines. The Z150 has options in the system settings menu to turn on the camera and from there you can also change and adjust camera lines that are built in to the Z150 itself. Just make sure if you plan on using the Z150 adjustable lines remember to turn off the lines on the Rydeen harness otherwise you will end up with double lines.

With cameras you will definitely get what you pay for. Over time cheaper cameras will leak, lose picture quality, or die. I have sold more than a few hundred Rydeens over the past few years and rarely ever have any issue with them. While you could buy multiple cheaper cameras for the same price, having one good one on there that you never have to replace is nice.

[ericmpena]

I don't have any experience with the cheaper cameras off of eBay, but from what I've read they are more prone to issues like the lens fogging up or not completely sealing water out during a car wash and shorting out.

It's your money, so do what you want with it. Just be sure to do plenty of research before you make any purchases. If you want to see any pics of my camera installed let me know.

[Flat Black VW]

Heres a post with pictures of the Miny installed on mine:

http://hurleysautoaudio.blogspot.com...up-camera.html

and this guy has the Duo installed on his: (almost the bottom of the page)

http://www.ft86club.com/forums/showthread.php?t=10628

[tiz22]

Originally Posted by Flat Black VW

x2 for the Rydeen Cameras. I have one on my car and also sell them at my shop and they have been very good quality after years of use.

The Duo looks very OEM however will require drilling a hole. The Miny and Miny LED2 are very nice cameras that do not require a hole and are small enough to not look bad. The Miny has good enough view at night however the LED2 has great night vision.

With all of the Rydeen cameras (and most other aftermarket) you have the ability to connect two wires on the harness to turn on or off guide lines. The Z150 has options in the system settings menu to turn on the camera and from there you can also change and adjust camera lines that are built in to the Z150 itself. Just make sure if you plan on using the Z150 adjustable lines remember to turn off the lines on the Rydeen harness otherwise you will end up with double lines.

With cameras you will definitely get what you pay for. Over time cheaper cameras will leak, lose picture quality, or die. I have sold more than a few hundred Rydeens over the past few years and rarely ever have any issue with them. While you could buy multiple cheaper cameras for the same price, having one good one on there that you never have to replace is nice.

Thanks for your help! So I don't need another wiring harness right? The Z150 has an accessory connector that has a bunch of Red/Yellow component cables coming out of it and I think I remember one pink wire saying Reverse Cam

Don't wanna buy any harness I don't need..

[tiz22]

Originally Posted by ericmpena

I got mine off of eBay for $124.99. Looks like the price dropped a little since then. I purchased from this same seller. Shipment was fast and product was as described.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Rydeen-ZH07-...item4173df2996


Don't forget, if you're connecting to the factory Head Unit you need to get the wiring harness from this guy. It's only about $20.

http://ae64.com/Rear-camera-16-pin.htm


After you have both the wiring harness and the camera you can take your car over to BestBuy. They charge $75 for installation, but it does come with a warranty and they did a great job with the install.

Originally Posted by Flat Black VW

Heres a post with pictures of the Miny installed on mine:

http://hurleysautoaudio.blogspot.com...up-camera.html

and this guy has the Duo installed on his: (almost the bottom of the page)

http://www.ft86club.com/forums/showthread.php?t=10628

Ok I thinK I'm sold...seems like a good price for what you're getting

Appreciate the help!

[Flat Black VW]

Originally Posted by tiz22

Thanks for your help! So I don't need another wiring harness right? The Z150 has an accessory connector that has a bunch of Red/Yellow component cables coming out of it and I think I remember one pink wire saying Reverse Cam

Don't wanna buy any harness I don't need..

On the Z150 there is a large white plug that goes into the radio with numerous RCA cables on it. One of the yellow plugs will have a reverse cam label on it. Plug the yellow plug from the back up camera in to that, and give the camera 12v power and you will be good to go.

[tiz22]

Originally Posted by Flat Black VW

On the Z150 there is a large white plug that goes into the radio with numerous RCA cables on it. One of the yellow plugs will have a reverse cam label on it. Plug the yellow plug from the back up camera in to that, and give the camera 12v power and you will be good to go.

Awesome and will that take care of putting the cam on the screen when i shift into reverse as well or does that require additional wiring?

[Flat Black VW]

Originally Posted by tiz22

Awesome and will that take care of putting the cam on the screen when i shift into reverse as well or does that require additional wiring?

Once its turned on on the radios system settings everything will work perfectly.

[tiz22]

Originally Posted by Flat Black VW

Once its turned on on the radios system settings everything will work perfectly.

Last question I promise...

If I buy the camera from the ebay listing you provided...Does that come with everything necessary for the actual camera install? There aren't any mounting kits or additional wiring you need? (Not talking about wiring harness just like additional wire for extra length)

I don't want to order it, wait for it to come in, only to realize I need additional materials for the install because I only get 1 free day a week to work on my car!