TLX rear view camera colors
#1
TLX rear view camera colors
Well I thought the grass was brown in my rearview camera because it was winter. But I noticed my grass is green now and my camera still shows it brown! Is this normal?!
#2
Burning Brakes
#5
#6
Same problem here. Very weird.
#7
This could be by design. With a small low res camera that needs to work in bright and dark conditions it keeps green, which is all around us, from showing up as grays or blacks. I've seen several backup cameras which seem to alter green.
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#9
Instructor
I've noticed on my TLX as well regarding this color issue and low resolution. Over the weekend, drove my dad's 2014 Tacoma and the color/resolution was better IMO than the TLX.
Anyway, looks like we'll be stuck with it unless Acura comes up with software or camera changes, but i doubt they will...at least not for the 2015 TLX.
Anyway, looks like we'll be stuck with it unless Acura comes up with software or camera changes, but i doubt they will...at least not for the 2015 TLX.
#10
Maybe it is a deliberate sepia look...more designer...
Should see what colour it reckons my (green) Land Rover is...
#11
My 2011 MDX does the same thing, but to a lesser degree. Again, if green were allowed to show on a relatively poor quality camera/screen it would look like black or gray, especially in low light conditions and that wouldn't help anyone back up.
#12
So my grass green Land Rover shows green as it should in the camera. The actual grass around it is oranagy brown. Just as it was when it was all dead grass. It totally baffles me how this is even possible. All the Hondas we have - which back onto grass, show grass to be green. It's more of a "how can this be" than an actual issue. I have toyed in my head with weird infra red sensitivity theories....but it would be nice to have a reason that makes sense....but have to say this camera all the time is duller than any Honda's. Not that it matters. I'd rather it was black and white than wrong colour....I am sure it is possible to change colour balance in diag mode - just havent had time to check it out yet.
#13
I wonder if the back up indicator lights are affecting things?
#14
Instructor
Just thought I'd put this comparison picture together regarding the colors.
The camera shows the bushes as yellowish-brown color, while the side rear view mirror shows it as its natural green color. (excuse the cell phone camera quality)....but ya get the gest! Oh, and the reflecting side vent...this picture is taken with overcast/cloudy sky ~5pm and 28% tint. So for those saying the tint does help...it hasn't really helped me yet.
Also, since purchasing the TLX, I have had a '15 MDX and '15 RDX for loaners...both camera qualities were very identical to the TLX. Not surprising.
The camera shows the bushes as yellowish-brown color, while the side rear view mirror shows it as its natural green color. (excuse the cell phone camera quality)....but ya get the gest! Oh, and the reflecting side vent...this picture is taken with overcast/cloudy sky ~5pm and 28% tint. So for those saying the tint does help...it hasn't really helped me yet.
Also, since purchasing the TLX, I have had a '15 MDX and '15 RDX for loaners...both camera qualities were very identical to the TLX. Not surprising.
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#15
The explanation for "brown grass" is obvious! Acuras are designed in California, and with the unprecedented drought conditions, the software engineers there have spent countless hours developing a system to make the lush, green lawns appear dead and brown. Since you can no longer see beautiful green lawns with the rear view camera- just think of the amount of water saved by no longer watering your lawns...
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#16
The explanation for "brown grass" is obvious! Acuras are designed in California, and with the unprecedented drought conditions, the software engineers there have spent countless hours developing a system to make the lush, green lawns appear dead and brown. Since you can no longer see beautiful green lawns with the rear view camera- just think of the amount of water saved by no longer watering your lawns...
"Once you eliminate the impossible, whatever remains, no matter how improbable, must be the truth." - Arthur Conan Doyle
I don't even know how it is even possible. All Hondas show green grass as green grass. Has to be a reason why Acuras don't.
#17
Burning Brakes
Until someone comes up with a better answer, this has to be true.
"Once you eliminate the impossible, whatever remains, no matter how improbable, must be the truth." - Arthur Conan Doyle
I don't even know how it is even possible. All Hondas show green grass as green grass. Has to be a reason why Acuras don't.
"Once you eliminate the impossible, whatever remains, no matter how improbable, must be the truth." - Arthur Conan Doyle
I don't even know how it is even possible. All Hondas show green grass as green grass. Has to be a reason why Acuras don't.
Must be a TLX issue. Maybe there will be a software update?
#19
#20
Burning Brakes
Although green grass instead of brown, it still has an HDR quality to it.
#21
^^ I never doubted you but thanks for posting and giving us a real photo to visualize.
For the record, you don't have brown grass that, when seen in the camera, actually appear green do you? (lol)
For the record, you don't have brown grass that, when seen in the camera, actually appear green do you? (lol)
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tlxsteve (06-22-2015)
#22
Passer of Gas
Not to worry
Let me begin by saying I am a Broadcast Technician at a large media company, I deal with these issues daily and feel qualified to answer your question.
The camera needs to work well both day and night. In order to do that the camera photoreceptor is designed with the widest dynamic range, even more than your eye can see.
On the other hand the display is designed to reproduce images as aesthetically pleasing to humans as possible as they will be the primary owners/operators.
What you are noticing is the compression artifacting that occurs when you squeeze a high dynamic range image sensor to a normal dynamic range display.
In other words it a compromise between correct color reproduction and the ability to see at night.
The camera needs to work well both day and night. In order to do that the camera photoreceptor is designed with the widest dynamic range, even more than your eye can see.
On the other hand the display is designed to reproduce images as aesthetically pleasing to humans as possible as they will be the primary owners/operators.
What you are noticing is the compression artifacting that occurs when you squeeze a high dynamic range image sensor to a normal dynamic range display.
In other words it a compromise between correct color reproduction and the ability to see at night.
#23
Three Wheelin'
A reasonable explanation, but does that mean that the TLX does a better job of displaying night time images than other vehicles that show the green grass as green, or do these other vehicles have poor night time images?
Seem like a project for someone to take some backup camera images (day and night) to comparing the TLX with the new ILX.
Seem like a project for someone to take some backup camera images (day and night) to comparing the TLX with the new ILX.
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tlxsteve (06-22-2015)
#24
Passer of Gas
A reasonable explanation, but does that mean that the TLX does a better job of displaying night time images than other vehicles that show the green grass as green, or do these other vehicles have poor night time images?
Seem like a project for someone to take some backup camera images (day and night) to comparing the TLX with the new ILX.
Seem like a project for someone to take some backup camera images (day and night) to comparing the TLX with the new ILX.
#25
Burning Brakes
No it does not do a better job, it just means this is a area where Honda decided to compromise. I think that's why they don't have DVD players because they used a 8 bit display as apposed to a 24 bit display to save some production costs. I think you will find the cars that show colors correct also have DVD players in the dash.
#26
Let me begin by saying I am a Broadcast Technician at a large media company, I deal with these issues daily and feel qualified to answer your question.
The camera needs to work well both day and night. In order to do that the camera photoreceptor is designed with the widest dynamic range, even more than your eye can see.
On the other hand the display is designed to reproduce images as aesthetically pleasing to humans as possible as they will be the primary owners/operators.
What you are noticing is the compression artifacting that occurs when you squeeze a high dynamic range image sensor to a normal dynamic range display.
In other words it a compromise between correct color reproduction and the ability to see at night.
The camera needs to work well both day and night. In order to do that the camera photoreceptor is designed with the widest dynamic range, even more than your eye can see.
On the other hand the display is designed to reproduce images as aesthetically pleasing to humans as possible as they will be the primary owners/operators.
What you are noticing is the compression artifacting that occurs when you squeeze a high dynamic range image sensor to a normal dynamic range display.
In other words it a compromise between correct color reproduction and the ability to see at night.
If you go into diag mode you can get the screen to display a full palette of colors. The screen appears reasonable capable of displaying most greens. No expert, but this is almost as incomprehensible as socks disappearing in the wash dry cycle.
#27
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Gary325TLX (07-14-2015)
#28
Passer of Gas
A77
It all has to do with bit depth. Again the camera has a wider dynamic range than the display.
The paint on the surface of the mailbox was formulated with pigments to reflect a rich color to match the taste of the owner.
The color you see reflected from grass was the left over photons that the plant did not need to photosynthesize its food. It does not care what color you see vs what the camera can see. The cameras dynamic range exceeds your eye.
You seem very interested in color theory, here is a Wikipedia page on the subject:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Color_depth
Enjoy your reading.
It all has to do with bit depth. Again the camera has a wider dynamic range than the display.
The paint on the surface of the mailbox was formulated with pigments to reflect a rich color to match the taste of the owner.
The color you see reflected from grass was the left over photons that the plant did not need to photosynthesize its food. It does not care what color you see vs what the camera can see. The cameras dynamic range exceeds your eye.
You seem very interested in color theory, here is a Wikipedia page on the subject:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Color_depth
Enjoy your reading.
#29
Racer
A77
It all has to do with bit depth. Again the camera has a wider dynamic range than the display.
The paint on the surface of the mailbox was formulated with pigments to reflect a rich color to match the taste of the owner.
The color you see reflected from grass was the left over photons that the plant did not need to photosynthesize its food. It does not care what color you see vs what the camera can see. The cameras dynamic range exceeds your eye.
You seem very interested in color theory, here is a Wikipedia page on the subject:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Color_depth
Enjoy your reading.
It all has to do with bit depth. Again the camera has a wider dynamic range than the display.
The paint on the surface of the mailbox was formulated with pigments to reflect a rich color to match the taste of the owner.
The color you see reflected from grass was the left over photons that the plant did not need to photosynthesize its food. It does not care what color you see vs what the camera can see. The cameras dynamic range exceeds your eye.
You seem very interested in color theory, here is a Wikipedia page on the subject:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Color_depth
Enjoy your reading.
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jiro5 (07-15-2015)
#31
I used to be more than happy with my TLX and really had no complaints, but now that I've noticed my back-up camera doesn't faithfully reproduce colors I think I'll go and trade it in on a car with a better camera.
P.S. The previous was sarcasm!!
P.S. The previous was sarcasm!!
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Gary325TLX (07-14-2015)
#33
Burning Brakes
This thread sure went down hill.
#34
As I mentioned a first world problem for sure. More a curiosity than a problem and while thankful for the technical reason for how this is possible, it still leaves the why question. The new HR-V has a reasonable color faithful camera/display combo, like every other Honda. I have not noticed my TSX having any wondrous powers of night vision, and conclude that it is just a mishap of camera/screen incompatibility, that did not show up in laboratory testing. Just like the sometimes crazy behavior of the HVAC systems. As mentioned above, considering the car was developed in California maybe there really was no green grass around.....
#35
No it does not do a better job, it just means this is a area where Honda decided to compromise. I think that's why they don't have DVD players because they used a 8 bit display as apposed to a 24 bit display to save some production costs. I think you will find the cars that show colors correct also have DVD players in the dash.
#36
Instructor
So besides all the talk about the green color.....has anyone else experienced any other colors being different?
I reversed parked today next to a RED civic. And the red color is orange in the camera!
I reversed parked today next to a RED civic. And the red color is orange in the camera!
#37
Passer of Gas
8 bit color = 256 colors
24 bit color = 16,777,216 colors
If the color does not match one of the 256 colors the screen can reproduce it will select the closest one it can. Colors beyond the bit range of the screen will look either flat with no detail or desaturated. The choice is up to how the A-D converter is programmed. Obviously, The engineers chose detail over color correctness. The red Civic displayed the closest color that the monitor is capable of giving you.
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jiro5 (07-15-2015)
#38
Instructor
OK. Let me put it this way...
8 bit color = 256 colors
24 bit color = 16,777,216 colors
If the color does not match one of the 256 colors the screen can reproduce it will select the closest one it can. Colors beyond the bit range of the screen will look either flat with no detail or desaturated. The choice is up to how the A-D converter is programmed. Obviously, The engineers chose detail over color correctness. The red Civic displayed the closest color that the monitor is capable of giving you.
8 bit color = 256 colors
24 bit color = 16,777,216 colors
If the color does not match one of the 256 colors the screen can reproduce it will select the closest one it can. Colors beyond the bit range of the screen will look either flat with no detail or desaturated. The choice is up to how the A-D converter is programmed. Obviously, The engineers chose detail over color correctness. The red Civic displayed the closest color that the monitor is capable of giving you.
I see. Guess i should have read your earlier posts. But, no biggie! Can live with it now until an update/fix comes along (if any).
#39
If the display is only an 8 bit then it can't be updated unless the hardware is capable of being updated as well. I don't know the specs of the displays, but if it's only 8 bits it would need a different processor and probably more extensive modifications to show more such as 24 bits. I think!
#40
Burning Brakes
OK. Let me put it this way...
8 bit color = 256 colors
24 bit color = 16,777,216 colors
If the color does not match one of the 256 colors the screen can reproduce it will select the closest one it can. Colors beyond the bit range of the screen will look either flat with no detail or desaturated. The choice is up to how the A-D converter is programmed. Obviously, The engineers chose detail over color correctness. The red Civic displayed the closest color that the monitor is capable of giving you.
8 bit color = 256 colors
24 bit color = 16,777,216 colors
If the color does not match one of the 256 colors the screen can reproduce it will select the closest one it can. Colors beyond the bit range of the screen will look either flat with no detail or desaturated. The choice is up to how the A-D converter is programmed. Obviously, The engineers chose detail over color correctness. The red Civic displayed the closest color that the monitor is capable of giving you.