sbkim

For those in snowy/rainy parts of the world, how are you finding the rear camera? I am in Chicago and if it rains or snows, rear cam becomes useless with dirt and water. Upon further inspection, it appears that the camera is too close to the edge of trim and easily susceptible to getting wet and dirty.

I am not expecting like VW flip cameras but could they have mounted further in under the trim?

Thoughts?

Thanks

jlkdoh

Agree here in NH. I believe it has to be that far outboard to get the top down view. My '12 TL has the camera under the rear spoiler and Los needs frequent cleaning.

blackman

Similar experience with my 09 Muranno which had a back camera. Same experience with a number of cars I have rented with back cameras. My Canadian MDX has the surround view camera. The back camera does become dirty frequently, front camera on a less frequent basis however the two side cameras under the sideview mirrors rarely become dirty no matter the rain or snow.

Luisito

So how's the video quality of your cameras?

I've noticed that my 2012 TL camera's resolution is a whole lot crisper than on the MDX. The MDX seems not to be in focus. I've tried dialing the brightness and that doesn't help either. It's really noticible. I'll have to take a picture of both for comparison, same lighting, time and location.

Just curious what everyone else is experiencing. As for the dirt, same issue with here.

weather

^^ It seems to be the trend tfor Acura to cheapen their product. The camera in my 2012 TL is fabulous but in the RDX, its the $hits.

sbkim

I am not impressed with resolution and clarity.

Luisito

Here's the MDX (way too blurry and not as clear):



Here's a picture taken from the TL:

Luisito

Both those pictures were taken inside my garage minutes from each other for an accurate comparison...

weather

....when they say "a picture is worth a thousand words".....you sure deliver credibility to this statement *lol*

sbkim

Wow - pictures are worth thousand words. Thanks

Where did Acura get these cams - clearance section at Alibaba?

I wouldn't be surprised to see better cams being used for 2014.5 or 2015 models and I want to ask for replacement immediately.

weather

^^ I wouldn't hold my breath...it appears that Acura is not improving their camera but making them worst. The poorer quality of the cam is present in my 2013 RDX too, so if the MDX also has poor quality, no reason to believe they will upgrade it...why would they?!

Care to make a prediction on the quality of the backup camera on the upcoming TLX??

sbkim

Good point... Wishful thinking

Luisito

So based on the pictures I posted I guess everyone else is having the same quality issues?

The TL is a 2012 Advance SH-AWD compared to the new 2014 Advance SH-AWD.

I was hoping it was just mine. I'll have to ask the dealer if anything can be done...

jlkdoh

I also have a '12 TL Adv SH-AWD and noticed the camera resolution immediately. I went back to the dealer and pointed it out and got a polite, "as long as it is consistent with other MDXs, there is nothing we can do. Different models can't be compared". Let us know if you have better luck.

NJ06RL

Just for those of you who have not owned 2G MDXs, the poor camera resolution issue has been around for a while. For the 2G MDX, the issue is not daylight picture but night picture. My day pic is fine but my night pic is nearly useless because the back up cam essentially sees nearly nothing at night due to the reverse lights not throwing off enough light and being located high up on the car. Been through two sets of different bulbs for my reverse lights including 18 LED bright whites but improvement was only marginal.

And the point about the cam getting dirty in snowy/raining conditions is right - as soon as I drive for a while in wet/snow conditions, the cam lens gets covered in grit or has water droplets adhering which causes even the daytime pic to be very distorted or obscured. No solution I am afraid. So the issue just continues on from the 2G MDX to 3G MDX.

I am resigned to it and will just live with it.

Edward'TLS

There is nothing we or the dealer can do, because Acura simply puts a cheaper rear view camera (with much lower resolution) in the 2014 MDX, than the 4G TL.

But there is one feature on the 2014 MDX that the 4G rear view camera doesn't have. It's the multi-mode surround view setting, and I find the surround view mode particularly useful than the non-changeable plain view mode on the 4G TL.

weather

^^ While I agree with you that having the multi view option is nice, quite honestly, I never change mine in the RDX (i.e I use the same viewing angle 99% of the time). Furthermore, I would make an argument that a mediocre multi view is not necessarily better than a single, but very crisp and useable view.

Now if they had the same resolution quality as the 4G's TL AND the multi view, now we would be on to something

Luisito

+1 totally agree. I also hear that the Canadian models have different camera features. Not sure how the resolution compares to the US models.

Well I guess the more we complain about it to the dealer and Acura they may turn around and fix it. I just don't understand the thought process of downgrading the resolution on any camera or screen. No one goes out and buys the newest TV, laptop, iPad with lower resolution..

We'll have to see where Acura thought process is going when they release the TLX...

weather

I know...Its hard to understand why Acura would feel that its going to gain respect in the auto industry by "dumming" down the quality of their product. I can forgive them for not adding new features to a vehicle to keep the cost down, but regressing is really bad! I mean for me, I am baffled every time I put the RDX in reverse and try to use the camera. I never tested it when I purchased the vehicle as I assumed it would be equivalent to my TL as far as resolution is concerned.

Luisito....Your TV analogy is spot on! Can you imagine if Sony was promoting their newest technology ...480i B&W TVs!!

I mean this is the MDX we are talking about....not a civic or an ILX.

Luisito

Yes, you'd expect higher quality on the Acura line.

Now I wonder if Honda's cameras are as bad also. I paid a higher price for the advance model expecting better quality or at least equivalent to previous models not worst.

Cheaper quality materials on their top of the line models will only hurt their sales. This is the third Acura model I own. I'm looking at replacing my 2012 Advance SH-AWD TL for possibly the new TLX. If this is the trend, I will look elsewhere...

weather

^^ I am in the same boat.....TLX will be scrutinized and if I witness obvious cost cutting signs, I'll go elsewhere.

blackman

This is my first Acura so I do not have any of the previous models to compare. However the resolution in my Canadian elite model surroundview is pretty clear and crisp. More like the TL picture as shown. I do own a nissan murano with a back camera and the mdx is miles ahead in terms of resolution.

Luisito

Well that's interesting to hear that the resolution is better also. I'm curious why Acura installs different cameras. I'm wondering if they are interchangeable?

Rocket_man

Hate to buck the trend on this but exactly how much resolution do you need from a back up camera anyway? It's not like this is used for taking pictures. You are looking for cars, people, maybe small animals. The resolution is perfectly fine for that. Honestly it looks more like a difference in the sharpness of the image, not the resolution.

Now is this 'cost cutting?' Didn't they add alternate views to the backup camera? Sounds like they increased the functionality. If their goal was to keep the cost of the system a wash, yet add more functionality, looks like they did it.

Luisito

I like the idea that they added the alternate views, but downgrading the resolution, image clarity is a step back. I rarely change views and now the view is blurred.

If I was given a pair of glasses from my optometrist with that big of a difference.
Enough said...

onefastdoc

I wonder if the MDX camera can be swapped for the older TL camera?

rhn75

I complained to the dealer in my area and got a "really, we never noticed" look. It is pretty bad, if anybody finds a way to upgrade to a better camera please keep us posted. My $20k Ford has a much sharper image day and night

jaxmdx

i would add my voice to the backup camera complaints. The poor resolution is similar to that on my wife's 07 RL. I had hoped they would have improved it in 7 years but not to be. Acura service can't do anything to improve it either. I have also experienced the poor viability in the wet and at night.

blackman

Yesterday, I sent my elite in Canada for servicing and got a loaner with a NAV and backup camera. The elite in Canada has the surround view with the options to view back, front and sideways. It even have the option to have lines that help with parallel parking from the side. The camera resolution is really really crisp with and better than most cars I have seen. Then I got this loan with only the backup camera and I can see the complaints. The resolution was really bad. I was surprised. It is much worse than others I have seen. I think the elite in canada do have a different camera than the other versions with only the backup camera. Even though the surround view is not present in the US, does the advance version have a poor resolution?

Luisito

Yes. The pictures taken in post #7 were from my US model SH-AWD Advance. Poor resolution compared to my 2012 Advance TL. Every time I use my TL I wish the quality was as good in the MDX.

drksyd

Alternate views is not new for the MDX, I had it in my 2010 Tech. The only people that would benefit from the multi view (birds eye) would be those that tow.

Timmy18

Can you swap camera's? Someone try it!

jlkdoh

Who is going to be the one to disassemble their TL in the hopes that it is an easy swap? Not me.

07wdptl-s

I disagree the backup cam is really that bad like others here i also have a 2012 tl shawd and the backup cam on my tl is like 3 to 4 times sharper than our 14 mdx. Its a safety feature so it should display a focus image not a big blurry image, i have also looked into swapping out the camera with an 2014 accord one since it has all of the same functions.

Edward'TLS

^^^^^

Please keep us all updated after you have successfully swapped out the OEM camera with a better one.