Video Rear View Mirrors - Practical Experience?

[james]

Does anyone have practical experience/recommendations on replacing the side rear view mirrors with video cameras? I see several kinds are now available on eBay.

My main objective is not replacing the outside mirrors for fuel economy. It's because I drive quite a bit at night, and it seems a lot of people have forgotten about using low beams when they're behind another car. The glare from the sides really bothers me. I'm thinking that with a camera installed, I could just tilt the outside mirrors so the headlights don't reflect the glare into my eyes, yet still keep visibility. Thoughts?

[Waynetc]

I solved the same problem very inexpensively with applying a very light window tint to the mirrors, similar to the day night flip on the rear view mirror. Easy to peel off and replace when necessary.

I keep thinking about installing a sheet of mirrored glass that I could tip up in the lower portion of the rear hatch, so the ding dongs behind me with the euro high beams on may get the message...

[Mike Dabrowski 2000]

Its the guys with big SUV's who's low beams are still right in my face that bug me.
I like Waynetc 's adjustable mirror idea, but suspect that they would just run me over if I flashed them.

I had 4 video cameras mounted on the rear hatch for a year or so, with a home made video switch box. They covered the whole rear view quite well.

The problem is that the cameras dynamic range is quite limited compared to our eyes, so a headlight will cause everything else to go totally black, so it is difficult to tell what you are looking at.
I also had a tiny 3/4" color camera that was mounted where the MIMA display is now mounted. it was focused on the MPG and MPG bargraph, and a lcd monitor was mounted on the cars rear, so people behind me could see my MPG guage.
I hated it, because I always had to be concerned with the MPG numbers. It was like I had everyone watching me all the time.
I put up some photos:
http://www.99mpg.com/mikestips/

[budomove]

Originally Posted by Mike Dabrowski 2000

I also had a tiny 3/4" color camera .... it was focused on the MPG and MPG bargraph, and a lcd monitor was mounted on the cars rear, so people behind me could see my MPG guage.

that is $%@#ing awesome!

[james]

"The problem is that the cameras dynamic range is quite limited compared to our eyes..."

I would have thought just the opposite, especially if some image processing could be applied to limit the intensity of lights, and intensify the dark areas, as in night vision devices. I know some kinds of CCD are extremely sensitive, but whether those are what's in the commercial rear-view cameras...

[Guillermo]

The root cause if your problem is that the side view mirrors should not be set up to see straight back, that's what the center rear view mirror is for.
All advanced driving and racing schools teach how to properly adjust the side view mirrors so there is NO duplication with what is visible in the rear view mirror.
This link explains it very well :
http://www.linquist.net/motorsports/tech/mirrors/

Replacing the side view mirrors with cameras to improve aerodymics at highway speeds does have it's merits.
Side view mirrors require 8 HP to push through the air at 200 km/hr, good thing the Insight can't go that fast.

[james]

"All advanced driving and racing schools teach how to properly adjust the side view mirrors so there is NO duplication with what is visible in the rear view mirror."

I don't entirely agree with the reasoning of adjusting mirrors that way, at least to the extreme that link does. Regardless of that, I don't see how it would help the glare problem. Seems that it would make it worse, at least on multi-lane roads: I would be picking up headlights from cars in both adjacent lanes, and they could be even closer that most people will follow.

[Guillermo]

I've had my side mirrors set up so I don't have blind spots for 8 years now. I make sure nobody is driving at the same speed while they are beside me or in the traditional "blind spot" area. I only see headlights in my side view mirror when cars are passing me or if i'm passing cars.
3 mirrors are enough to provide a wide view when set up properly. Duplication of images in more then 1 mirror means there are large blind spots. With the mirrors set up properly it should not be neccessary for the driver to turn their head more then 90 degees too see everything before changing lanes. People find even thinking about changing their habits as difficult and invent reasons to try to argue why the way they have always done things is the best way.
I've been instructing advanced driving courses for many years. I've heard it all, but in the end logical reasoning proves what's better.

[Dougie]

It seems as if with a bit of online image processing, you should be able to get a BETTER image with a video system, assuming it's sensitive enough. For example, it could automatically darken following headlights at night, and let you see the actual cars.

I thought the problem was on the display side, getting it bright enough for use in the daytime. Maybe a decent LCD screen is good enough.

[Mike Dabrowski 2000]

I was able to find some photos of the 4 camera setup I had.
http://www.99mpg.com/mikestips/
Bill Kinney's (Billy )Insight had rear view cameras, with no mirrors, and I recall a long discussion about the hows and whys back in 2003 or so.