I saw this item in the local Targe' this weekend. Anyone have any experience with it? For $100 it's either a steal or a ripoff (lol- get it?! )

Wireless Back-Up Camera System with Color LCD Monitor $99.99
• Allows driver to see what is behind them before they back up
• Camera mounts on license plate
• Monitor mounts on dash or visor
• Complete with all accessories needed

 

That's typical of the prices I see for those types of backup cameras at places like Target, Sam's Club, Costco, and Fry's.

Both LCD screens and small CCD cameras have gotten a *lot* cheaper in the past few years, so there's no reason to think that a $99 camera/screen setup won't work/last.

I don't know what the resolution of the screen is, or how good the low-light performance of the included camera is, but for $100, you can hardly go wrong.

 

I have one of these on my Dodge Ram dually. For what it costs it works well. Low light is not that great but I have mine mainly for hooking up the trailer and to make sure I don't back into anything. Better reverse lights would help. It is easy to hook up because it is wireless. I get interference sometimes but it is livable. I am also going to put one on our conversion van.

 

I picked up the same one for my work truck from etrailer.com. Works just fine. Not sure a Mini needs one. In low light conditions it gets very grainy, but still useable. The screen is very clear in normal lighting conditions. I wired it into my truck so it turns on when I put it in reverse (screen and the camera).

 

I also have this unit installed in our Avalanche pick-up which has a notorious Blind spot when backing up due to the height of the bed.

It works just OK in my opinion and has degraded over time (1 year). Like the others it is very grainy in low light conditions. When it works it works great but I don;t think it can be relied on to work at all times.

Additionally the wireless hook-up of the screen to the camera causes some interesting situations.....from time to time it will actually pick-up the traffic cameras when going through some intersections (freaked us out the first time) we are now getting used to spurious signals coming through the camera.

For the price it is a value....certainly not like an OEM system but it works.

 

I have the camera and it works well. However, a newer one just came out that has both the camera and the infra-red sensor, which, in my opinion is much better because (1) it isn't affected by light and (2) it actually signals when you get close to something. Sometimes, with the camera alone, it's hard to tell. The only problem I have had is that, ocassionally, the camera briefly flicks on when I'm not in reverse. Suggestion: Put a piece of 3M clearbra material over the camera lens.

 

I'm still debating whether to get one. For now, I have my poor man's version, though $20 is kinda expensive for a plastic fresnel lens. Check my post for details.

 

I bought mine from etrailer, look under vehicle accessories, backup cameras. www.etrailer.com

You can use code CC53J to get an extra 10% off right now too (good though 11/19/2007 from an email I got from them today).

This is not the newer one LynnEl mention with infrared though. Where can we get that one?

 

I found this one on Amazon.

 

AJ Prindle