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Backup camera

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How does one judge actual distance from what is displayed ? It seems instead of "items appear closer than actual" we get items appear farther than actual.

Depends. It's a fisheye lens, so the central portion of the image is shrunk down (therefore items appear farther than actual), whereas on the periphery of the image it's expanded, so items appear closer than actual. Just takes a little experience to get the sight picture down.
 
I find the camera pretty useless. Maybe when backup up to something parallel to the bumper, it's OK. But when approaching a wall or another car diagonally--like I do in my cramped parking garage--I have no idea when a corner of the car is about to hit something, so I still have to turn my head and look.

I suppose Tesla will eventually place guidelines on the image. I don't need the kind that move with the steering wheel, just some "your car ends here" static lines.
 
Depends. It's a fisheye lens, so the central portion of the image is shrunk down (therefore items appear farther than actual), whereas on the periphery of the image it's expanded, so items appear closer than actual. Just takes a little experience to get the sight picture down.

Totally. I know how close I can get through a bit of experimentation with my open garage; when the bottom of the picture is about to touch the beginning of the lip of the garage opening, I stop. It gives me at least a couple of inches leeway, and the lip isn't where the door comes down anyway, but I like a little extra space. ;-)

I'm not sure the cameras are 100% consistent from car-to-car, though, so I believe everyone should do their own testing to figure their out.

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(Of course I'm talking about a straight backup to an unmoving object.)
 
I find the camera pretty useless. Maybe when backup up to something parallel to the bumper, it's OK. But when approaching a wall or another car diagonally--like I do in my cramped parking garage--I have no idea when a corner of the car is about to hit something, so I still have to turn my head and look.

I suppose Tesla will eventually place guidelines on the image. I don't need the kind that move with the steering wheel, just some "your car ends here" static lines.
I use the mirrors' auto-tilt feature and the backup camera as different data points. Mirrors for parking lot lines, mirror for where the bumper is. Works fine, I miss it when driving my other car.
 
I find the camera pretty useless. Maybe when backup up to something parallel to the bumper, it's OK. But when approaching a wall or another car diagonally--like I do in my cramped parking garage--I have no idea when a corner of the car is about to hit something, so I still have to turn my head and look.

I actually find it very useful, when you are backing out of a parking spot and the car next to you prevents you from seeing ongoing traffic. Try it out, all you have to do is back out of your spot one or two feet and the camera shows when the road is all clear.
 
I actually find it very useful, when you are backing out of a parking spot and the car next to you prevents you from seeing ongoing traffic. Try it out, all you have to do is back out of your spot one or two feet and the camera shows when the road is all clear.

That is about all I use it for. I use the side mirrors and look out of the back to back into my garage, and into and out of parking spaces. It does help look 'around' that big pickup that parked next to you.

I do use it to know I am fully into my garage. There is an oil stain that just sits under my bumper. It means I have about 4" to spare up front. Perfect every time.

But honestly I don't use it other than those two situations. Looking out the back is much easier and clearer.
 
I do use it to know I am fully into my garage. There is an oil stain that just sits under my bumper. It means I have about 4" to spare up front. Perfect every time.

I was thinking of getting the Model S into the right position and then spray painting a line even with the middle of the back wheels. That way I could use the tilted mirrors to correctly position fore and aft.
 
Even better, the 2013 Leaf has a 360 degree camera.

2013-Nissan-Leaf-around-view-monitor-1024x640.jpg


Much prefer the LEAF camera. It has range lines and predictive path lines based on steering wheel position. Quite helpful.
 
Much prefer the LEAF camera. It has range lines and predictive path lines based on steering wheel position. Quite helpful.
The LEAF camera is a lot better.. Hopefully, we'll get a software upgrade one day that adds on the path lines.
I use the visible rear bumper on the Model S camera as reference for the rear of the car... when backing up into a spot (for public J1772 charging) or parallel parking, it allows to reverse and back into a spot right up to the edge... it works for me.
 
I was thinking of getting the Model S into the right position and then spray painting a line even with the middle of the back wheels. That way I could use the tilted mirrors to correctly position fore and aft.

I use the camera to position the car in my garage. The last mark on the floor that you can see with the camera leaves about six inches to the bumper. I've installed Race Deck flooring in my garage and the red tiles tell me where to park.

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It would require a hardware change, but Tesla should consider an "eyelid" that covers the rear lens when the backup camera isn't in use. The lens attracts dirt quickly. I hate wiping the grit off with a dry cloth, but I'm not quite yet ready to start carrying a little squirt bottle just to spritz the lens clean!
 
What about something like this, or this? Or there's the old tennis ball hanging from a string... when it touches your windshield, you're in the right spot.

I have a laser system at my home very similiar to the one you linked to and it works great. It's powered off the light bulb socket on the garage door opener so it's only on for the 5 mins that the garage door light it on. It a great solution.