Factory backup camera/horrible picture

NIGHTHAWK11 · 02-23-2019, 07:01 PM

Hello all. I did a search for this on the forum, and didn't find anything that addressed this particular issue. I have a 2014 sport/touring model with factory nav and backup camera. The picture from the camera lacks color. It looks like everything is very faded, and the picture is slightly blurred. It's as is I'm looking at real low-Def TV. Could it be a camera issue? Thank you.

Ventruck · 02-23-2019, 10:36 PM

At night some cameras tend to look like they lost color.

Not sure how yours specifically looks, and if you possibly got something defective, but Mazda is like the worst I've seen. I know the Z's camera isn't that bad given it's not defective.

But if you're having a problem with sharpness, you might want to check the lens area as well. Maybe there's doodoo on it.

rey127 · 02-23-2019, 11:14 PM

Mine gets blurry sometimes after a rainy day or snow. But that's just dirt so I clean the lens with paper.

NorthStyle · 02-24-2019, 09:49 AM

Mine is good during the day... pretty much useless at night though

cv129 · 02-24-2019, 03:23 PM

Light is needed for the camera to capture images. Upgrade your backup light to strong and reputable LED’s and it should help.

My INFINIT FX suv has bigger backup light bulbs than my G (both share the same nav with the Z), and the FX backup cam gives better and smoother night time backup videos than the G.

Note: I use led bulbs on all of my exterior lights (except for headlights). My driveway is at the back of the house, and comes out to a large grass/flood channel without any house/light on the other side of the alley. There is no street light. The LED’s have helped improving the backup videos. Smoother and more visible

cv129 · 02-24-2019, 03:41 PM

And that fact that, due to the Z’s curve, the backup light is above and “behind” / recessed relative to the camera’s position. With the way the light dispersed and scattered, it’s no wonder your images are as described. It’s like trying to take a picture in low light without flash.

CRiZO · 02-24-2019, 04:19 PM

Yeah I have bright led's (and in 3rd light) which made quite a difference at night.

It's not blurry though ever, unless its wet or dirty.

SouthArk370Z · 02-24-2019, 04:54 PM

The washed out colors sounds like not enough light (as per above posts) or the signal from the camera is getting attenuated by bad wiring.

Should be very easy to check if it's a lighting problem. Set up a floodlight and see if the picture improves.

NIGHTHAWK11 · 02-24-2019, 07:52 PM

How would the colors be washed out during the day? Does that have something to do with the lighting also?

02-23-2019, 07:01 PM	#1 (permalink)
NIGHTHAWK11 Base Member Join Date: Dec 2016 Location: Florida Posts: 14 Drives: 2014 Nissan 370Z Rep Power: 9	Factory backup camera/horrible picture Hello all. I did a search for this on the forum, and didn't find anything that addressed this particular issue. I have a 2014 sport/touring model with factory nav and backup camera. The picture from the camera lacks color. It looks like everything is very faded, and the picture is slightly blurred. It's as is I'm looking at real low-Def TV. Could it be a camera issue? Thank you.

02-23-2019, 10:36 PM	#2 (permalink)
Ventruck Track Member Join Date: Jun 2016 Location: California Posts: 785 Drives: '13 Sport+Touring M6 Rep Power: 22898	At night some cameras tend to look like they lost color. Not sure how yours specifically looks, and if you possibly got something defective, but Mazda is like the worst I've seen. I know the Z's camera isn't that bad given it's not defective. But if you're having a problem with sharpness, you might want to check the lens area as well. Maybe there's doodoo on it. bigaudiofanat likes this.

02-24-2019, 03:23 PM	#5 (permalink)
cv129 A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Dallas, TX Posts: 3,235 Drives: 09 Nismo, 16 Nismo Rep Power: 163995	Light is needed for the camera to capture images. Upgrade your backup light to strong and reputable LED’s and it should help. My INFINIT FX suv has bigger backup light bulbs than my G (both share the same nav with the Z), and the FX backup cam gives better and smoother night time backup videos than the G. Note: I use led bulbs on all of my exterior lights (except for headlights). My driveway is at the back of the house, and comes out to a large grass/flood channel without any house/light on the other side of the alley. There is no street light. The LED’s have helped improving the backup videos. Smoother and more visible __________________ Setrab \| RE-71 \| SPL \| JRZ \| Nismo \| ARK \| Whiteline \| RacingBrake \| CJM Oil Pan \| Ti shield Last edited by cv129; 02-24-2019 at 03:32 PM.

02-24-2019, 03:41 PM	#6 (permalink)
cv129 A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Dallas, TX Posts: 3,235 Drives: 09 Nismo, 16 Nismo Rep Power: 163995	And that fact that, due to the Z’s curve, the backup light is above and “behind” / recessed relative to the camera’s position. With the way the light dispersed and scattered, it’s no wonder your images are as described. It’s like trying to take a picture in low light without flash. __________________ Setrab \| RE-71 \| SPL \| JRZ \| Nismo \| ARK \| Whiteline \| RacingBrake \| CJM Oil Pan \| Ti shield

02-24-2019, 04:54 PM	#8 (permalink)
SouthArk370Z Premium Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: South Arkansas Posts: 8,435 Drives: 2014 Challenger Rep Power: 324198	The washed out colors sounds like not enough light (as per above posts) or the signal from the camera is getting attenuated by bad wiring. Should be very easy to check if it's a lighting problem. Set up a floodlight and see if the picture improves. __________________ Steering Lock Links - Search The370Z Bookmarklet - FSM @ NICOclub Mankind has progressed past the need for war but we haven't evolved that far. - NachoMahma

02-23-2019, 11:14 PM	#3 (permalink)
rey127 Base Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: NY Posts: 80 Drives: 2015 Sport Tech Rep Power: 14	Mine gets blurry sometimes after a rainy day or snow. But that's just dirt so I clean the lens with paper.

02-24-2019, 09:49 AM	#4 (permalink)
NorthStyle A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Aug 2015 Location: Deutschland + SC/FL USA Posts: 1,258 Drives: 2011 370Z Nismo Rep Power: 24277	Mine is good during the day... pretty much useless at night though

02-24-2019, 04:19 PM	#7 (permalink)
CRiZO Track Member Join Date: Nov 2017 Location: Dallas Posts: 672 Drives: in traffic Rep Power: 20699	Yeah I have bright led's (and in 3rd light) which made quite a difference at night. It's not blurry though ever, unless its wet or dirty.

02-24-2019, 07:52 PM	#9 (permalink)
NIGHTHAWK11 Base Member Join Date: Dec 2016 Location: Florida Posts: 14 Drives: 2014 Nissan 370Z Rep Power: 9	How would the colors be washed out during the day? Does that have something to do with the lighting also?

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