Model Y rear camera worse than Model X?

[rroonnbb]

Hopefully this thread doesn't spiral out of control but it's seeming to me that the Model Y's rear camera quality is worse than on our 2016 Model X and even vs. my original 2012 MS. Do the higher-end cars have different cameras vs. the 3/Y?

I'll try to do a side-by-side at some point to see if I can be more quantitative with this claim so until then consider this just a request for info.

 

[Bikeman]

If I remember correctly, the higher def. fix in the first versions of the S and X were software related and came with updates.

 

[rroonnbb]

If I remember correctly, the higher def. fix in the first versions of the S and X were software related and came with updates.

Ah, that would be nice. Does seem odd that something relatively cheap like camera would be sub-par so it makes sense that it's a software not a hardware issue.

 

[Bikeman]

Sort of "meh" for me. It will probably be better than my previous cars, no matter the resolution the Y displays. My last 3 vehicles have had backup cameras with slightly increasing quality. Yet, I'm of the age where I cannot resist physically looking behind me anytime I am in reverse. More times than not, I don't look at the screen at all. When I do remember, I look at it only momentarily as I shift into reverse just in case there's a kid or an animal near the bumper. Even then, I turn my head and body around as I move the car backwards. Just habit after 10+ cars and nearly 50 years of driving.

 

[Georgia_Y]

With the sloping roof, the view out the back is pretty bad. It's right up there with my '18 Camaro. Luckily the car has enough sensors to hopefully keep you from hitting something that's not easily visible.

 

[VT_EE]

The Model 3 had horrible rear camera video when it first came out. Software fixed it.

 

[MY-Y]

With the sloping roof, the view out the back is pretty bad. It's right up there with my '18 Camaro. Luckily the car has enough sensors to hopefully keep you from hitting something that's not easily visible.

I was concerned about that. The model S looks like a porthole to me. I was hoping the view would be similar to the M3.

We have one pic of the rear view mirror on the MY, but it looks like the camera was not where the driver's eyes would be (too close to the mirror). I'm not worried about parking, rather situational awareness when driving.

A pic of the rear view mirror from where the driver's eyes would be would be much appreciated. Even better would be the same shot from a M3.

Thanks for all of the great insight the early owners on this site are providing!

 

[Georgia_Y]

Hopefully that helps. It's a really short trapezoid view out the back.

 

[MY-Y]

Thanks! So the mirror is half filled with the window frame and only half of the mirror shows the view out the back, right?

For the M3 owners out there, how does this compare?

 

[SabrToothSqrl]

The S/X backup camera is Amazingly Clear... The 3 (and now Y it looks) sucks.

And don't anyone try to say it's good. Fine, maybe it's "okay" but when you've seen better it's just... okay.

Cue the fanboyz who love their cameras lol.

 

[Georgia_Y]

Thanks! So the mirror is half filled with the window frame and only half of the mirror shows the view out the back, right?

For the M3 owners out there, how does this compare?

I would say that's fair. I do remember the rear visibility in the 3 when I test drove it being pretty limited as well.

The S/X backup camera is Amazingly Clear... The 3 (and now Y it looks) sucks.

And don't anyone try to say it's good. Fine, maybe it's "okay" but when you've seen better it's just... okay.

Cue the fanboyz who love their cameras lol.

Compared to the surround view cameras on my BMW, it's a fair bit worse. Feels like 1080p vs 720p. However the screen is large enough that it does help.

 

[SabrToothSqrl]

Yea, when my wife I got her 3 I was disappointed. I'm really surprised they didn't just use the same part. They clearly have an existing camera part...

 

[MY-Y]

Hopefully that helps. It's a really short trapezoid view out the back.
View attachment 523663

I asked our friends it the M3 section to post some comparisons. From this thread: Rear visibility compared to the new MY, it looks like the view from the MY will be very similar to the M3. That was good news for me.

 

[Y am I here]

With the sloping roof, the view out the back is pretty bad. It's right up there with my '18 Camaro. Luckily the car has enough sensors to hopefully keep you from hitting something that's not easily visible.

Thanks for that. I was wondering watching vid's, but I forgot to ask on here.

 

[sacfan]

Hopefully that helps. It's a really short trapezoid view out the back.
View attachment 523663

Thanks for the photo. Are other folks' mirrors positioned like this, with the wider part at the top and the narrower part at the bottom? I have a Model X and my mirror is positioned upside down, compared to this one.

 

[wdskuk]

To me the Model 3 has one of the clearest back up camera available. More clear then the Model S loaner I had. Even better then my BMW M3 I have. I know it can be better but it won't be HD clear.

 

[dmurphy]

To me the Model 3 has one of the clearest back up camera available. More clear then the Model S loaner I had. Even better then my BMW M3 I have. I know it can be better but it won't be HD clear.

None of them are good - S/X/3/Y - in my book until they add a washer for the lens. Even our Buick has one.

 

[yeahdave]

Note sure what you guys are used to but it seems about on par with the Model 3 I have seen. The field of view seems more narrow but the resolution is plenty. You could probably make out a penny if it were on the ground. Are you guys planning on vlogging with the backup camera?

 

[rc64]

Rear view out of our 2021 MY is frightening for situational awareness on a highway. You simply cannot see cars rapidly approaching if you want to pull out of a lane. Larger side mirrors might help. Also, the rear view camera is nearly always clouded with water when it rains, making it worse than useless for backing into a garage, in addition to the difficulty with the mirrors rear view. It is better to open the driver door and look back, if you can.