2012 MDX Backup camera at night
01-14-2012, 11:08 AM
#1
2012 MDX Backup camera at night
Has anyone else noticed the poor quality of the backup camera at night?
It might be the position of the camera causing the issue. I have a 2008 TL and the backup camera at night is very clear!
It might be the position of the camera causing the issue. I have a 2008 TL and the backup camera at night is very clear!
01-14-2012, 11:13 AM
#2
Rich and Famous
If you replace back lights with brighter it will look better.
If it is rainy or dirty your quality is less.
You may need to clean and adlign with know painted lines.
Use parking lines.
You can also increase the brightness of display w center knob.
If it is rainy or dirty your quality is less.
You may need to clean and adlign with know painted lines.
Use parking lines.
You can also increase the brightness of display w center knob.
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mhobizal (01-14-2012)
01-14-2012, 06:56 PM
#5
Thanks again!
01-14-2012, 08:44 PM
#6
01-17-2012, 05:39 PM
#7
I had my MDX in the shop a couple of weeks ago and they gave me a 2012 TL to drive. I couldn't believe how much better the Backup camera was. At night it was perfect and my MDX at night you couldn't tell what was behind you. The TL camera even have a much better picture durning the day.
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03-27-2012, 01:06 AM
#8
1st Gear
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The camera in my 2011 MDX is far worse (useless) at night as compared to my 2008 TL. When I bought the TL, the salesperson specifically demonstrated the fact that the camera auto-adjusted at night. I'm wondering of this is a software miscue on the MDX. I asked previously when I had the car serviced and got a vague, "yeah, the back up lights don't help very much..." I think there's a problem with either the software or the camera itself.
03-27-2012, 07:18 AM
#9
Advanced
A couple things to remember, like someone said, try turning the center knob while in reverse to increase the brightness of the back-up screen. Also, a TL's back up lights are closer to the street so the light reflects off the pavement better. Try backing up to a wall and you will see how the reflection will illuminate things better. I'm sure if there was something in back of you, you will see it in your screen before you hit it.
03-27-2012, 11:17 AM
#11
I think its the Nave Screen inside the car on the later model TL that is also better than the MDX. I now have a 2012 MDX and the wife has a 2012 TL and that nav screen is much brighter and clearer. It's almost like its in HD.
07-04-2012, 08:41 PM
#14
2011 TL owner and 2012 MDX owner here. I've always been impressed with my TL's backup camera and how much the road behind me lights up at night.
Just bought the MDX and there is no comparison. I believe the location of the rear lights makes a huge difference. Don't get me wrong, it's still satisfactory, but the TL's camera and lighting are amazing.
Just bought the MDX and there is no comparison. I believe the location of the rear lights makes a huge difference. Don't get me wrong, it's still satisfactory, but the TL's camera and lighting are amazing.
07-04-2012, 09:23 PM
#15
So, I figured I'd go out and take a picture of the rear-view camera image from the TL and the MDX. I put each car in the driveway in the same exact spot for the pictures below.
As far as lighting go, the pictures don't fully demonstrate how much clearer and brighter the view is in the TL. For some reason, the pic makes it look like the TL is super bright and the MDX looks normal. In person, the TL looks normal and bright and the MDX looks a bit dark. This must have to do with the camera on my iphone 4S.
Anyway, the one thing that will take some getting used to is the MDX's camera being offset a bit and not right in the middle of the rear of the car. On my TL, the camera is right in the middle so the view looks very accurate in terms of the angle of the camera. But, on the MDX the camera is offset to the right a few inches which makes it look like the image is sort of viewed from an angle.
At first I thought my MDX's camera could have been bumped in manufacturing/shipping or facing the wrong way, but I think it is just the offset and unfortunate it isn't right in the middle of the rear of the car like the TL. Something I guess I'll get used to although I may start a thread on this specific issue to see if anyone else's MDX camera doesn't look this offset. The TL camera feels brighter, clearer and more accurate since it is not offset.
Pic of 2012 TL rear-view camera image:
Pic of 2012 MDX rear-view camera image:
As far as lighting go, the pictures don't fully demonstrate how much clearer and brighter the view is in the TL. For some reason, the pic makes it look like the TL is super bright and the MDX looks normal. In person, the TL looks normal and bright and the MDX looks a bit dark. This must have to do with the camera on my iphone 4S.
Anyway, the one thing that will take some getting used to is the MDX's camera being offset a bit and not right in the middle of the rear of the car. On my TL, the camera is right in the middle so the view looks very accurate in terms of the angle of the camera. But, on the MDX the camera is offset to the right a few inches which makes it look like the image is sort of viewed from an angle.
At first I thought my MDX's camera could have been bumped in manufacturing/shipping or facing the wrong way, but I think it is just the offset and unfortunate it isn't right in the middle of the rear of the car like the TL. Something I guess I'll get used to although I may start a thread on this specific issue to see if anyone else's MDX camera doesn't look this offset. The TL camera feels brighter, clearer and more accurate since it is not offset.
Pic of 2012 TL rear-view camera image:
Pic of 2012 MDX rear-view camera image:
07-04-2012, 09:52 PM
#17
^ Yeah, I see that. Oddly enough I could see them in the preview message but when I posted they didn't show. I guess I can just put links:
TL - http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47a2...D720/ry%3D480/
MDX - http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47a2...D720/ry%3D480/
TL - http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47a2...D720/ry%3D480/
MDX - http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47a2...D720/ry%3D480/
Last edited by Lawtyger; 07-04-2012 at 09:55 PM.
07-04-2012, 09:59 PM
#20
Probably. On my TL I only have one view called normal view. On the MDX there are 3 views, normal, wide and a third (I don't recall the name) but essentially it is an overhead view so you can look directly down on the bumper.
07-04-2012, 10:40 PM
#21
Hmmmm. I have a 2003, so what I see maybe all I get. Where do you find that different viewing features ?
They should put front/side cameras too, as my dad has a sweet TL but hits the front of the car on the side of the garage, pulling it in.
Kristin
They should put front/side cameras too, as my dad has a sweet TL but hits the front of the car on the side of the garage, pulling it in.
Kristin
07-05-2012, 01:00 PM
#22
StayAtHomeDad
Links don't work, camera sux at night, I asked someone who installed LEDs and said they didn't make a difference, that the camera just sux.
I try to be extra cautious at night, but the fact is that you can't see a thing.
I try to be extra cautious at night, but the fact is that you can't see a thing.
07-05-2012, 03:47 PM
#24
Your Dad should hang a tennis ball from the ceiling of the garage so that when he lines up with his steering wheel with the tennis ball and drives in he'll know that as long as he is on the line the car won't hit the side.
07-05-2012, 08:01 PM
#25
On the 2012 MDX pressing the navigation knob in cycles through the three views when you are in reverse.
Your Dad should hang a tennis ball from the ceiling of the garage so that when he lines up with his steering wheel with the tennis ball and drives in he'll know that as long as he is on the line the car won't hit the side.
Your Dad should hang a tennis ball from the ceiling of the garage so that when he lines up with his steering wheel with the tennis ball and drives in he'll know that as long as he is on the line the car won't hit the side.
Their garage is narrower from the outside and wider on the inside. With his car in the garage and my mom's CR-V, he barely has room to open the door to get in and out of his car. My mom has to open her door against the staircase that goes into the house. So my dad should center it at first and then steer towards the right away from my mom's car. But, that could cause a problem with him backing out, as he's technically not there to use the back-up camera.
Kristin
Will definately pass on your suggestion.
08-28-2012, 10:05 PM
#26
2nd Gear
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A Newbie question... Anyway to upgrade the camera on a 2007 MDX so that you get the advanced yellow lines similar to that in the 2012 MDX? or is this a software upgrade? I just drove a 2012 MDX and I do like this feature.
09-28-2012, 09:04 PM
#30
I complained to my ac dealer as well. I told em my tl's camera was much better at nite. They, of course said it was tested and found to he normal. I had 07 mdx and camera was better than my 11's. i have also turned the brightness up All the way and the camera is nearly useless at nite. LAwtyger ur mdx camera is much better than mine. I would b haply w that
10-03-2012, 12:37 PM
#34
Agree that the backup camera is terrible ('10 MDX here). We have an '11 GMC Yukon XL with a backup camera that is 100x better than the MDX. I don't rely on the MDX's camera much (I've cleaned it and adjusted brightness and it still stinks).
10-04-2012, 08:43 PM
#35
Figures. I am not happy with Honda / Acura right now (long story). If I had the money, I'd sell both cars and buy two news ones from another brand.
10-05-2012, 11:52 AM
#37
Mostly dealer related. Last 3 visits (2 for MDX one for TSX) were absolute disasters. As far as the cars themselves - For almost 50 grand I would expect the MDX to have a workable Navi, and a decent b/u camera. As we all know, this is not the case. As for the TSX, at 19k miles, I have horrible squeals on the brakes, and the leather on my seat is starting to rip. I am not a large person (weigh just under 200). When they tell you it must be the way you drive, and refuse to even look at the brakes, etc you have to wonder if you want to play the brand loyalty game.
I could have bought cheaper cars, have the same issues and not give a shit.
11-18-2012, 01:14 PM
#38
2007 Acura TL
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Just thought I would chime in with some thoughts on this issue. By way of background, I have a fair bit of experience as a photographer with digital photography.
I believe that the MDX is probably Spec'd with a 'Higher Resolution' camera than the TL by whoever is writing the design. However, higher resolution (i.e. more megapixels) generally comes at the expense of image quality unless there is an abundance of light. Get a cheap 12 MP & 18 MP pocket camera and take side by side pics on bright sunny days and in dimly lit settings to see what I mean. On a bright day, the 18 MP camera will produce an image with more detail, but in any other conditions the lower resolution camera will produce an image with less 'Noise'.
This is because the higher Megapixel and lower Megapixel cameras use the same size sensors. The higher MP camera crams more pixels onto the sensor, so each pixel gets less light, compromising low light performance.
I believe the MDX probably uses a higher resolution camera but actual image quality suffers as a result.
In Ideal conditions (i.e. bright sunny day) my 2012 MDX camera is better than my 08 TLs, but in anything else the TL camera vastly outperforms the MDX's.
I believe that the MDX is probably Spec'd with a 'Higher Resolution' camera than the TL by whoever is writing the design. However, higher resolution (i.e. more megapixels) generally comes at the expense of image quality unless there is an abundance of light. Get a cheap 12 MP & 18 MP pocket camera and take side by side pics on bright sunny days and in dimly lit settings to see what I mean. On a bright day, the 18 MP camera will produce an image with more detail, but in any other conditions the lower resolution camera will produce an image with less 'Noise'.
This is because the higher Megapixel and lower Megapixel cameras use the same size sensors. The higher MP camera crams more pixels onto the sensor, so each pixel gets less light, compromising low light performance.
I believe the MDX probably uses a higher resolution camera but actual image quality suffers as a result.
In Ideal conditions (i.e. bright sunny day) my 2012 MDX camera is better than my 08 TLs, but in anything else the TL camera vastly outperforms the MDX's.
11-24-2012, 10:02 PM
#40
Burning Brakes
if you want to improve night view quality on your camera like 20% try to put 15w HID kit. Thats what i did, i see improvement by 10%-30% (depends on surroundings). And i would say i see better now through side view mirros by 40%. I am happy with 70$ investment.