5 Qualities that Make the Best Reversing Camera in Australia

In a previous article, we have discussed what makes an excellent monitor for your rear view camera. Now, we're going to focus on the camera itself. Let's take a look at the qualities that make the best reversing camera in Australia.

What to Look For in a Good Reversing Camera

1. Durable

First and foremost, the camera should be tough and durable. Whether you're installing it in a sedan or in a van, it should be suitable for heavy-duty use. Since it would be installed outside of your vehicle and will be subjected to harsh environments, the camera should have a tough casing. Also, it should be shockproof and waterproof to ensure that the camera and its internal mechanism are well-protected from the elements and harsh Australian driving conditions. It would also help if the camera's external wires and cable connectors are weather resistant.

2.  Comes with IR Night Vision

Unless you can be absolutely sure that you won't be driving at night, you should choose a reversing camera kit that features a camera that has infrared or IR night vision. This allows the camera to work perfectly at night or during low-light conditions. For better results, make sure that the camera's IR night vision illumination can provide you with at least three metres of illumination.

3. Equipped with CCD Image Sensor

Reversing cameras are either fitted with a CCD or CMOS image sensor. If you want better performance from your camera system, choose a rear camera with a CCD sensor. Although they can be a bit more expensive than CMOS, CCD cameras offer better picture quality. The images are much sharper and clearer, too, even when you're driving in the dark.

4. Switches On Automatically

Choosing a reverse camera system that switches on automatically when you put your car's transmission on reverse can bring you huge convenience. With a camera featuring automatic system switching, you don't have to turn it on and off whenever you're reversing. You save time and more importantly, you can focus on your driving.

5. Has a Built-in Microphone

If you're driving a truck or caravan, having a camera that can pick up audio from the outside of your vehicle can be a huge help. A camera with a built-in microphone allows you to listen in to your surroundings, which can aid you when reversing. It can also be quite helpful when someone is helping you reverse your vehicle as the camera allows you to hear his or her instructions clearly.

Follow these tips to ensure that you'll find the best carreversing camera for your car.

Things to Remember when Fitting a Reversing Camera in Australia

With car camera systems becoming widespread today, it is now easy and affordable to buy a reversing camera in Australia. For a reasonable amount of money, you can purchase a monitor and camera combo that can help you significantly improve the safety and manoeuvrability of your vehicle. You can prevent driveway accidents and make it easier for you to reverse your car even in tight spaces.

But no matter which type of camera you'll choose, make sure it is installed properly. Otherwise, you'll miss out on all of the benefits having a reliable camera system can provide you with. Here are a few tips you should consider.

Quick Guidelines on Fitting a Reversing Camera

1. Use an inline fuse with the positive feed

Not using a fuse can potentially cause serious problems to your car's circuitry in case something goes wrong. As such, make sure to always use an inline fuse of one or two amps with the positive feed to the camera, keeping it as close as possible. Also, don't forget to double or triple-check the polarity of the wires and see if they are connected properly to prevent damage to both your car and your reversing camera kit.

2. Test the camera system before drilling

To save time and effort, be sure to fully test the camera before drilling holes on your vehicle. This way, you don't have to detach the camera system from your car later on in case it doesn't work. Once you have verified that the camera is working, you can now start figuring out where to place it.

3. Ensure that all electrical connections are waterproof

More often than not, the car reverse camera itself is well-protected from the elements, but you cannot always say the same thing about its electrical connections. To prevent water from damaging your camera system, ensure that all wires and cables are waterproof. Also, even if you're already using waterproof 4PIN cables, it certainly helps to add another layer of waterproofing to your connections.

4. Consider connecting the camera to the reversing light

Many reversing cameras monitor kits these days have the automatic switching feature, which enables the camera to automatically turns on when you put the vehicle in reverse. But in case yours doesn't have this feature, what you can do is wire it into the reversing light. This way, you don't have to manually switch on the camera whenever you're reversing your car.