Don't Forget to Buy a Reversing Camera in Australia for Your New Kia Picanto

One of the best things about the local car market is that you've got a whole lot of options to choose from. From micro cars to heavy duty 4WDs, you can find a car that suits your tastes and needs. Just recently, Korean car maker has a new addition to Australia's growing car-market: the Picanto. While the Picanto is a late arrival to the micro car segment, its price is expected to cause problems to its rivals. The downside, however, is that it doesn't have a reversing camera in Australia.

Picanto's specs and features

Initially priced at $14,990, Kia's Picanto is expected to attract buyers and auto enthusiasts looking for compact cars for urban driving. It comes in one specification, the Si, and is equipped with a 1.25-litre four-cylinder petrol engine with a four-speed auto transmission.

Like most micro cars, the Picanto only have the basics. A CD player and radio, Bluetooth, USB port, air-conditioning and power windows are the most notable features you'll enjoy when you go on for a drive. As for safety, the Picanto has a five-star ANCAP crash test rating, rear parking sensors, and traction and stability control among others. However, unlike many new cars being released in the market today, it doesn't have a built-in reversing camera kit.

Buying a camera for your Picanto

But no worries! This is a problem that is very easy to solve. If you want to buy a Picanto and you want to further enhance its safety system, you can always buy an aftermarket reversing camera for your new ride. Just make sure to take these factors into consideration when shopping for a camera.

1. Image sensor

When it comes to image sensors for your reverse camera system, you've got two options CCD and CMOS. Between the two, CCD is a better choice because it gives you clearer images and it works well even under low-light conditions.

2. Night vision

Ensure that you're buying a camera with night vision. Otherwise, it is pretty much useless when you're driving at night.

3. View angle

Also, consider the camera's view angle to ensure that you'll get a good view of the objects behind your car. Experts recommend not lower than 90 degrees and not greater than 120 degrees.

4. Weatherproof

Because the car reversing camera will be placed outside your vehicle, see to it that it is well-protected from the elements. Look for a camera that has a high waterproof and dustproof rating and is built to withstand shock and extreme vibrations.

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.

4 Bonus Features You'll Certainly Like to Have in Your Reversing Camera in Australia

Picture quality, image sensor, camera type, waterproof and dustproof rating—there are some of the most important factors you should consider when shopping for a reversing camera in Australia. But if you want to get something extra from your car's camera system, there are certain features you should also look into. Here are some of them.

Extra Reversing Camera Features You Should Look Into

1. Automatic system switching

Unless you want to manually switch your camera on and off when reversing, this feature is something that you should look for when buying a reversing camera for your car. Automatic system switching basically allows the camera to turn on automatically every time you put your vehicle on reverse. Many rear view camera systems don't have this feature so it would give you a huge convenience and would be much safer for you if you buy one that automatically switches on.

2. Mirror image capability

Another extra feature you should look for when buying a reversing camera kit is mirror image capability. This allows the camera system to produce a mirror image through the camera and monitor so you can see the same type of image that you would normally see when you look at a rear view mirror. Another bonus is if the camera system lets you choose between a "normal" and "mirror" image and allows you to
flip or rotate the image on your monitor.

3. Audio capability

If you have a larger vehicle, like van or a caravan for instance, it helps to get a camera system that has the ability to pick up audio from your surroundings. Such camera systems are equipped with a microphone so when someone is helping you back your vehicle, you can easily hear his or her instructions. A camera system with audio capability can also be quite useful when you need to monitor the interior of a trailer, like when you're transporting people or animals.

4. Electrochromatic rear view mirror

Also known as a "mirror monitor," an electrochromatic rear view mirror replaces your car's standard rear view mirror and serves as the actual monitor for your reverse camera system. Thanks to its compact size and mounting position, an electrochromatic rear view mirror can be a definite advantage if you have limited space in your car's dashboard.

If a caravan reversing camera system doesn't specifically list the features discussed above, then it's very likely that they don't have any of these capabilities. As such, be sure to check the description of the camera you're considering buying before making your purchase.

Common Problems with Reversing Camera and How to Fix Them

Sometimes, even the best reversing camera can experience problems from time to time. But before you panic and decide to get rid of your existing camera for good, you might want to try to fix it first. After all, not all problems with reversing cameras are serious and warrant an immediately replacement. If your camera system is behaving oddly, here are some troubleshooting tips to help you out.

Quick fixes for common camera problems

1. Fuzzy and grainy images

Fuzzy and grainy images are among the most common problems with car camera systems. Surprisingly, they are the easiest to solve. If you're having a hard time seeing clear images on the screen, it is very likely that the lens is just dirty. To solve this problem: remove all the dirt and mud that have accumulated on the camera's lens. To do this, use a clean cloth to wipe the camera lens clean. Make sure the cloth is lint-free to avoid scratching the lens.

2.  Unresponsive camera system

A typical reverse camera kit switches on automatically when the you the vehicle in reverse. If yours doesn't come on even when you put your car's transmission in reverse gear, there's a chance that you have a blown fuse. In most cases, the fuse box is located under the dash board or steering wheel. There are also instances that it's in the glove box. To be sure, check your car owner's manual. When you find the fuse box, you'll see that it has a list of the fuses and their uses. Identify the one for your reversing camera and then replace it.

3. The camera system switches on but you can't see anything

If the whole camera system automatically comes on when you put the vehicle in reverse, but the camera itself seems not to be working, a loose connection might be the culprit. If you're using a wired reverse camera system in Australia, the wiring can come loose. To fix this problem, trace the wires coming of out of your camera and monitor and see which of them is loose. Secure the wire and test your camera system.

If all else fails...

If none of these quick fixes are working for you, then it's time for you to consider getting a replacement, especially if your camera system has been around for quite some time. But before you do, make sure you determine first if you need to replace the monitor, the camera, or the entire system. For example, if the monitor doesn't switch on at all, then it's the only one that needs to be replaced. But if it shows a black image, you may need to replace the entire car reversing camera system.