Comparison Fighter FM-45 vs Prime-X CA-9534

Car models for which this camera is standard.

Reversing cameras can be created both in the form of universal devices and for specific car brands. The key advantage of the second option is ease of installation: the camera is designed for a specific “seat” (like a boot handle, license plate light, etc. — see “Installation type”) and does not require special tricks for installation. Yes, and connecting the "eye" to the on-board network and the screen, usually, is also not a problem. At the same time, such devices are usually produced for one car model, at best — for 3-4 similar models; installation on a "non-native" machine is often even more difficult than mounting a universal camera. It is also worth noting that the choice of standard cameras for each particular machine is rather small — definitely less than the range of universal models. Therefore, there is a high probability that this type of camera, which is easy to install, will not be suitable for some of the parameters (for example, resolution).

Now on the market for such car brands, reversing cameras: Audi, BMW, Chevrolet, Chrysler, Citroen, Dodge, Fiat, Ford, Honda, ...>Hyundai, Jeep, KIA, Land Rover, Lexus, Mazda, Mercedes-Benz, Mitsubishi, Nissan, Opel, Peugeot, Porsche, Renault, Seat, Skoda, Subaru, Suzuki, SsangYong, Toyota, Volkswagen, Volvo.

The technology by which the matrix is made is the photosensitive element of the camera.

— CMOS. Also known as CMOS; both of these entries are abbreviations of the same term, only in different languages (English and Russian). Without going into details, it is worth saying that CMOS matrices are notable for their low cost, compactness, good image processing speed and low power consumption, however, due to the design features, they are prone to the appearance of noise in the image, and therefore somewhat lose CCD in terms of image quality.

— CCD. CCD-type matrices (CCDs) are somewhat more complicated and more expensive than CMOS, but they provide better image quality, including in low light conditions — in particular, due to the low level of noise. This is due both to the low level of heating during operation, and to the uniform light sensitivity of each pixel (whereas in CMOS it can “walk” a little).

— HCCD. A variant of the CCD technology described above, featuring improved sensitivity and even better picture quality in low light.

The resolution of the frame taken by the camera in video mode, in pixels — in other words, the size of the picture in dots horizontally (first digit) and vertically (second digit). It should be taken into account here that in the case of reversing cameras, the recording in pixels describes only the frame on the camera matrix itself; to describe the "picture" coming to the connected screen, the designation in television lines (TVL) is used. This is due to the fact that the video signal is transmitted in an analogue format; See Video Resolution below for more on all of this. Here we note that with the same resolution in TVL and the same viewing angles, a camera with a higher resolution in pixels will produce a clearer, more detailed image. But HD reversing cameras, and even more so Full HD units.

Although modern electronics are dominated by digital standards, car reversing cameras still use an analogue signal transmission format. This is due to compatibility requirements: such video allows you to use fairly simple screens. And although its quality loses to digital, it is quite enough for most of the tasks facing this class of auto electronics.

An analogue video signal has a size in horizontal and vertical dots. But since the number of vertical dots has a strictly defined number of 625 (in the PAL and NTSC colour system), resolution is usually indicated only by the number of horizontal dots (TV lines).

In fact, this parameter describes the quality of the image that is displayed directly on the screen connected to the camera. There are models with a value of 480, 500, 520, 540, 560 TVL and even higher resolution in TVL. This is important for models with wide viewing angles (see below). On the other hand, in order to use all the features of a camera with numerous TV lines, a screen corresponding to these features is also required; For more details on compatibility with the screen, see specialized sources.

The colour system refers to the format in which colour information is transmitted in an analogue video signal. In modern reversing cameras, the European PAL system or the American NTSC are most often used. It makes no sense to describe them in detail — suffice it to say that for the normal operation of the camera you need a radio tape recorder (or other device with a screen on which the image is displayed) with support for the same colour system. However, incompatibility in this parameter is not fatal — with such a connection, the image will only turn from colour to black and white (in extreme cases, its overall quality will slightly deteriorate).

This parameter describes the total amount of interference in the video output from the camera. The higher the signal-to-noise ratio (that is, the ratio of the useful signal level to the level of extraneous interference) — the better the image will be, the less distortion it will have. The minimum level for modern cameras is considered to be 40 dB — with it, the “picture” is reproduced with minor noise that does not significantly affect its perception. And in the most advanced models, this figure can reach 48 – 50 dB — such an image for the human eye is almost indistinguishable from the perfect one.

Of course, in fact, the quality of the image also depends on the capabilities of the screen on which it is displayed, however, even the best screen will not save a “noisy” camera.

The format for displaying the image on the connected screen. For each type of review (see above), there is a different option that is optimal.

— Direct. The traditional way of displaying an image: the user sees on the screen the same thing that the camera lens "sees" in front of him, with the same arrangement of the details of the situation. Simply put, if some object is located to the left of the centre of the camera's field of view, it will also be visible on the screen on the left side. All front view cameras work this way.

— Mirror. In this mode, an image is displayed on the screen that is “mirrored” horizontally — roughly speaking, one in which “left” and “right” are reversed: an object to the left of the camera lens will be visible on the right side of the screen, and vice versa. All cameras with a rear view type work in a similar way. This is due to the fact that in an ordinary rear-view mirror the driver sees exactly the picture inverted horizontally; therefore, in order for the sides of the picture on the screen to correspond to the usual view in the mirror, the image coming from the camera has to be “mirrored”.

— Direct / mirror. Cameras capable of operating in any of the picture modes described above. Usually, these are universal models (see “Installation”), which formally refer to the rear view type in our catalog (see above), but also allow front view.