Backup Camera B8 vs B8.5

[YelloJello]

If anyone had the chance of comparing the B8 vs B8.5 Backup camera, it seems to me the B8.5 camera resolution doesn't seem as clear as the B8's. It might just be me though. I had the 2008 B8 for 3 years, and don't remember the clarity. I'll have to take a photo of my B8.5 reverse camera shot. Maybe it's the MMI lcd screen that isn't as clear?

[Got No Game]

Funny you should say that. I was thinking the same thing myself. The MMI graphics showing the location of the sensors going off is certainly improved, but I will have to agree with you that the clarity of the picture seems degraded compared to the last generation. It's certainly not a huge deal, but I did think about it.

[DinB]

Camera is not very high res. the aftermarket one in my old Honda civic was better.

[llBen]

Part numbers are the same chaps - for the LCD, camera, and camera control unit.

I would say that the lens seems to pick up dirt very easily - the quality of the image when it has been cleaned is pretty fantastic compared to even light dust. Perhaps the lenses used to be coated differently with earlier models but other than that nothing has changed (since MMI 2G anyway!)

[jpenneck]

I went from a 2012 B8 S4 (camera installed after delivery due to tsunami) to an RS5 and the camera in the RS5 is better than the S4. Additionally, my wife has a 2012 Q5 (again, camera installed after delivery due to tsunami) which I'm sure has the same camera/screen as my old S4. The camera on the RS5 is sharper than both of them.

[battlestar]

Part numbers are the same chaps - for the LCD, camera, and camera control unit.

dont mean to be a smartass, but according to ETKA, the part number did change.

Old one was dropped 1/05/2011
5N0 827 566 C

And new one is:
5N0 827 566 AA

[JappleS]

Audi's back-up cameras seem pretty crappy as far as resolution is concerned. Don't get me wrong, I don't really need a hi-def picture for my back-up camera, but the honest truth of the matter is that our Acura's back-up camera is quite a bit better than my B8 A5.

[pinkslip]

Audi's camera is far better than Benz, and Lexus for sure. I have no experience with Acura's
Reverse camera, but assuming they do offer an even better back up camera than Audi, I say "Who the hell cares?" The Audi camera is perfectly clear and easy to use, and attached to a car that isn't a tarted-up Honda.

Anyone who cares enough to complain about this camera, please go drive a Benz for piece of mind. Anyone who cares enough about the camera to let it affect your opinion of the rest of the brand, please go buy an Acura.

[DinB]

It does get dirty! I wish it had a little wiper. In snow/rain regions it can get dirty with a few days. It might be the angle. :(

Let's start a camera conversion group buy thread! Lol

[JappleS]

Audi's camera is far better than Benz....

Anyone who cares enough to complain about this camera, please go drive a Benz for piece of mind. .

Not sure how old the MB cars are that you have experienced, but I can say for sure that the new models are as good, if not better than the Acura camera and for sure much better resolution than the cameras that Audi uses.

[pinkslip]

Not sure how old the MB cars are that you have experienced, but I can say for sure that the new models are as good, if not better than the Acura camera and for sure much better resolution than the cameras that Audi uses.

Resolution on Benz cameras is fine. It's the fish bowl distortion that is garbage.

[JappleS]

Resolution on Benz cameras is fine. It's the fish bowl distortion that is garbage.

Every back-up camera from every car manufacturer has a fishbowl (wide angle) lens, otherwise they'd pretty much be useless.

[DinB]

Well the new c63 I tried didn't have guidelines in the camera so that sucked.

[mxrz]

Every back-up camera from every car manufacturer has a fishbowl (wide angle) lens, otherwise they'd pretty much be useless.

Not true, a fisheye lens and a wide angle lens are two different types.

[YelloJello]

Here is my B8.5 camera pictures. The camera display looks a little pixelated. I'm just wondering if the B8's looked the same or better. If the backup camera did get worse, then I'm returning my S5 and gonna get that cool Mercedes CLA is saw on the superbowl commercial.

[JappleS]

Not true, a fisheye lens and a wide angle lens are two different types.

Semantics. Every OEM back-up camera on earth uses a similar style lens, no matter what you want to call it. A fish-eye lens is just a type of wide-angle lens. Anyway, the point is that back-up cams need that wide angle, or they'd be pretty much useless for their intended purposes.

[battlestar]

jello, that cam looks pretty much same as mine on B8, ill post up my own pics for comparison.

[mxrz]

Semantics. Every OEM back-up camera on earth uses a similar style lens, no matter what you want to call it. A fish-eye lens is just a type of wide-angle lens. Anyway, the point is that back-up cams need that wide angle, or they'd be pretty much useless for their intended purposes.

It isn't semantics, it's you dismissing someone's complaint of distortion based on your misguided understanding of back-up camera lenses. Not only are there two different types of lenses being used, but other variables also affect the amount of distortion:

1. The amount of optic elements in the lens (whether it is a basic fish-eye lens or a rectilinear wide angle lens with more than one element)
2. The actual focal length of the lens, this is directly related to the physical distance between the optics and the imaging sensor.
3. The size of the imaging sensor.

These variables determine the amount of distortion and partially, the quality of the picture. So no, not all back-up cameras have the same "fishbowl" distortion, as you said. Some show quite a bit less than others.

[JappleS]

It isn't semantics, it's you dismissing someone's complaint of distortion based on your misguided understanding of back-up camera lenses. Not only are there two different types of lenses being used, but other variables also affect the amount of distortion:

1. The amount of optic elements in the lens (whether it is a basic fish-eye lens or a rectilinear wide angle lens with more than one element)
2. The actual focal length of the lens, this is directly related to the physical distance between the optics and the imaging sensor.
3. The size of the imaging sensor.

These variables determine the amount of distortion and partially, the quality of the picture. So no, not all back-up cameras have the same "fishbowl" distortion, as you said. Some show quite a bit less than others.

LOL, okay Mr. Technonerd. Sorry, but your post is basically laughable. I simply stated that a fisheye lens is a type of wide-angle lens. That's a fact and it's not up for debate. You respond by going into minor detail about fisheye lens distortion, yet you fail to mention (or even know, for that matter) what the differences are between the lenses used in the back-up cameras for the aforementioned vehicles. Perhaps if you want to continue with your silly little argument, it would be better to tell us all exactly why one back-up camera lens is better than another based upon the lenses actually used rather than just providing a blanket statement that they aren't all created equally. So educate us all with your knowledge and tell us which lens is Audi using compared to the lenses used by MB and Acura in their back-up cams.

[yas]

Has anyone actually backed into anything because the image is distorted or pixelated? Seems to work just fine for me.

But maybe I just care more about my car going forward than backward. ;)

[Tracee]

The mirrors on my S5 are not as clear as my makeup mirror on my vanity. Oh noes! I am only going to drive my S6 for now on.

[mxrz]

LOL, okay Mr. Technonerd. Sorry, but your post is basically laughable.

I'm sorry I didn't dumb it down enough for your simple mind. I could have mentioned really technical stuff like lens element coatings, glass quality, multi-element assembly techniques and digital processing to alter geometric distortion... But I knew that would go over your head so you would either ignore it (no point in making the effort) or get your e-feelings hurt and resort to name calling and generally demonstrating your ignorance and stereotypical dismissal of deeper knowledge of technical subjects. I guess I gave you too much credit.

I simply stated that a fisheye lens is a type of wide-angle lens. That's a fact and it's not up for debate. You respond by...

Irrelevant part of your post. If you were paying attention, you would notice my entire response was to you trying to suggest to someone that all back-up cameras have the same distortion. They don't, and people can rightfully point out how Audi's back-up cameras, while perfectly useable, are far from the best out there.

you fail to mention (or even know, for that matter) what the differences are between the lenses used in the back-up cameras for the aforementioned vehicles.

Because there are none. It's the same type of lens, even if part numbers changed. They both suck

Perhaps if you want to continue with your silly little argument, it would be better to tell us all exactly why one back-up camera lens is better than another

Right, because conversing with you is so rewarding.

[YelloJello]

I was just curious about this that's all. Not disappointed or saddened by the backup camera. It's perfectly fine. maybe I can attach the iPhone fisheye lens onto it. I keed I keed.

[JappleS]

I'm sorry I didn't dumb it down enough for your simple mind. I could have mentioned really technical stuff like lens element coatings, glass quality, multi-element assembly techniques and digital processing to alter geometric distortion... But I knew that would go over your head so you would either ignore it (no point in making the effort) or get your e-feelings hurt and resort to name calling and generally demonstrating your ignorance and stereotypical dismissal of deeper knowledge of technical subjects. I guess I gave you too much credit.

And even if you did say that, I'd laugh in your nerdy little face again because you're generalizing. Again, tell us all which specific lenses are used by MB, Audi, and Acura and then provide some insight. Until you do that, you're basically talking shit. Yup, exactly.

Irrelevant part of your post. If you were paying attention, you would notice my entire response was to you trying to suggest to someone that all back-up cameras have the same distortion. They don't, and people can rightfully point out how Audi's back-up cameras, while perfectly useable, are far from the best out there.

And if you were paying attention, you would have known that I already said that earlier in this thread. I compared my Audi back-up camera to the one in our Acura and already stated that it's not comparable.

Because there are none. It's the same type of lens, even if part numbers changed. They both suck

Reading comprehension is your friend. Learn it. I wasn't talking about the lenses in the B8 vs the B8.5. I didn't even suggest anything about that comparison.

Right, because conversing with you is so rewarding.

And once again, you skirt the question. So I'll ask again-- share with us in your infinite wisdom, the differences between the lenses used by MB, Audi, and Acura. Oh wait...you can't? Really? LOL

[battlestar]

And even if you did say that, I'd laugh in your nerdy little face again because you're generalizing. Again, tell us all which specific lenses are used by MB, Audi, and Acura and then provide some insight. Until you do that, you're basically talking shit. Yup, exactly.



And if you were paying attention, you would have known that I already said that earlier in this thread. I compared my Audi back-up camera to the one in our Acura and already stated that it's not comparable.



Reading comprehension is your friend. Learn it. I wasn't talking about the lenses in the B8 vs the B8.5. I didn't even suggest anything about that comparison.



And once again, you skirt the question. So I'll ask again-- share with us in your infinite wisdom, the differences between the lenses used by MB, Audi, and Acura. Oh wait...you can't? Really? LOL

wow dude, just give it a rest. mxrz wrote a proper response, and you had to start flaming and go make it a shouting match, keep it decent.

[JappleS]

wow dude, just give it a rest. mxrz wrote a proper response, and you had to start flaming and go make it a shouting match, keep it decent.

Shouting match? Are you retarded? Seriously?

If you don't like the discussion, ignore it. That's really easy to do. And much better than dropping your 2 cents that adds absolutely no value to the discussion.

[pinkslip]

Shouting match? Are you retarded? Seriously?

If you don't like the discussion, ignore it. That's really easy to do. And much better than dropping your 2 cents that adds absolutely no value to the discussion.

Can you please read your own advice? Thanks. Wow.

[JappleS]

Can you please read your own advice? Thanks. Wow.

Shouldn't you be learning how to do a compression test? LOL

[FaceSmA5h]

Audi's camera is far better than Benz, and Lexus for sure. I have no experience with Acura's
Reverse camera, but assuming they do offer an even better back up camera than Audi, I say "Who the hell cares?" The Audi camera is perfectly clear and easy to use, and attached to a car that isn't a tarted-up Honda.

Anyone who cares enough to complain about this camera, please go drive a Benz for piece of mind. Anyone who cares enough about the camera to let it affect your opinion of the rest of the brand, please go buy an Acura.

+1

I currently own a C350 Coupe and the backupcam is GARBAGE compared to my old S5. It literally looks like youre staring out of a fish bowl.

[FaceSmA5h]

Resolution on Benz cameras is fine. It's the fish bowl distortion that is garbage.

Wish I read this and did a +1 one for this before my comment lol

[FaceSmA5h]

Has anyone actually backed into anything because the image is distorted or pixelated? Seems to work just fine for me.

But maybe I just care more about my car going forward than backward. ;)

I have not backed up into anything. However, I found myself more careful with the S5 because of the backup sensor. The complaint comes with the bragging rights of owning a luxury car. You expect the amenities to be satisfactory or better. I can't speak on the B8.5, but when I had my 2010 S5, the backupcam was flawless IMHO. Jumping into the Benzo, the difference is night and day. No Sensors, No Lane Guidance, Angle of the camera is horrible, clarity is also bad. Its just one of the things you "expect" when buying anything in life. So if you pay for an option you would would anticipate that option/package be close to exceptional.

[JappleS]

+1

I currently own a C350 Coupe and the backupcam is GARBAGE compared to my old S5. It literally looks like youre staring out of a fish bowl.

Prolly cause you got a C-class. I think Fisher Price is the OEM supplier for the C-class back-up cams.

[Gspothit]

I've heard that due to the Japan earthquake the camera manufacturer had to subcontract those to keep up with demand and these new ones had lesser quality lenses

[FaceSmA5h]

Just had the backup camera replaced when I dropped her off for 25k mile service. They couldn't do anything about the Nav except reset and make sure the software is up to date.

[d1amund]

Just had the backup camera replaced when I dropped her off for 25k mile service.

And?

[FaceSmA5h]

And?

Some cars probably came with a defective cam that could flick or turn off in cold weather/rain.

[sm1287]

I don't have any issues with my backup camera but sometimes the image on my screen will lag...and if I'm not paying attention I could potentially hit something due to that lag...it doesn't happen every time though...anyone else experience this?

[FaceSmA5h]

I don't have any issues with my backup camera but sometimes the image on my screen will lag...and if I'm not paying attention I could potentially hit something due to that lag...it doesn't happen every time though...anyone else experience this?

I've experienced it when it was raining. The lag is almost like its frozen right? I end up stepping on the brakes hard whenever it freezes, flick, or turn off. It's scary cause it makes you think you just hit something.

[sm1287]

I've experienced it when it was raining. The lag is almost like its frozen right? I end up stepping on the brakes hard whenever it freezes, flick, or turn off. It's scary cause it makes you think you just hit something.

Yea the screen just freezes I slam on the brakes and then it catches up...maybe like a 1 second lag, but enough to freak me out every time.

[d1amund]

Some cars probably came with a defective cam that could flick or turn off in cold weather/rain.

Did the replacement solve the issue? I've noticed some issues but not often. What's more alarming (and annoying) to me is the camera blanks out when a call comes in...I nearly backed into a toddler the other day that decided it was going to be fun to walk behind my car just as the camera (which i was foolishly relying upon) blanked out to show me my one of many spam calls coming inbound