Need a live High Definition rear camera with live HDMI out

MrDoug1

New Member
Joined
Dec 30, 2020
Messages
20
Reaction score
3
Location
Dallas
Country
United States
Hey guys, long time lurker, first time poster.

I have been at this for years yet am amazed that where tech is today, I can't seem to find a solution for what I am looking for on the market.

We have all kinds of super 4k front dash cams, but no solution for that resolution for a rear camera that outputs in HDMI

Application: Isuzu Vehicross that has horrible rear visibility, I use the camera feed full time as my rear view mirror

Need: High Definition Waterproof Rear View Camera that sends live video in HD (1280x720+, ideally full 1080p) resolution out via HDMI


I have been at this project off and on for years and the best solution I have come up with, it mounting an action camera on the rear of my vehicle, taking that live output out via a micro HDMI cable, and hooking it up to a standalone HDMI monitor. Now that the car audio world has finally caught up with the tech, and are having high resolution HD screens (albeit only in 1280x720) I am wanting to ditch the standalone HDMI monitor, as well as the bulky ugly GoPro, and go with a sleek, small camera.

Here is the deck I will be purchasing: https://www.pioneerelectronics.com/PUSA/Car/NEX/DMH-WT7600NEX

It accepts HDMI inputs, and will display without parking lines, whatever HDMI video feed I input.

Kenwood makes a $199 (super expensive) unit that is exactly what I need, however it is only compatible with their head units, and I do not want a kenwood head unit: https://www.kenwood.com/usa/car/dashboard_camera/cmos-740hd/

It outputs to HD-TVI, and the only thing I could think of is to buy a TVI-HDMI converter:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/B01LZ0GXBC
But I am not even sure that will work not to mention lag and connectors, etc.

Can somebody point me in the right direction? The action camera I bought was like $40 on Amazon and the picture quality was outstanding, and I don't need to record or do ANY of the other features. Surely somebody must make a camera that fits my needs, right? RIGHT?!?!?!?

Thanks for all your help guys. May cross-post to hopefully get some solutions...

- Doug in Dallas
 
I think finding something like that will be a tough call.
1: it is not used in dashcams, which use USB ( not standard though aside for voltage pins ) or coaxial where you just have 2 wires and video is transferred as a modulation over those.
2: i assume you could find a HDMI camera, but it would probably be in the realm of pro photo or video, for sure not something you will find in consumer grade systems.
HDMI out are even rare om dashcams, regular AV you see more often, the ones the do have HDMI out you can risk that when live on that port the camera can not also record meanwhile.

Dont those head units have regular AV inputs anymore ? in the "old" days you often find a couple of AV inputs, i even have 2 on my POS old win CE head unit.
Most reversing cameras i am aware off are still low resolution AV cameras as you dont really need a lot of detail for reversing safely, it is only if you want dashcam functionality you want detail,,,, and at least 1080p resolution.
Having a high quality camera just for reversing alone seem like a waste of good camera for something you just look at for 30 seconds every day.
In Denmark a live LCD have been illegal, but LCD reversing mirrors was made legal not long ago, so i assume you can have a reversing / backwards aimed camera going all the time, and be displayed on a screen in the drivers view.

There are also dashcams that have actual reversing capabilities, with guide lines and distance lines in the footage, but they are "rare" and often of the clamp on mirror style, which some see much traction, at least on this forum.
A regular dashcam with a rear camera are more or less useless as a reversing camera, for the most due to missing guide lines, but also not the ability to mirror the feed, and last the place of install where you want your dashcam up high aimed strait out back and your reversing camera you want down low on the bumper or on / near the plate as the highest.

The discontinued innovv C3 actually used HDMI ( micro ) between its remote camera and the main unit, but it was just the HDMI plug the stuff coming thru it was not HDMI compatible.
 
A quick search on youtube with HDMI mini camera gave me this.

Thats just the raw camera so you need a lens too, these can be pretty expensive for the best ones, but there are more modest priced lenses.

PS. it matter little if you have a 4K video but watch it on a lower resolution screen, not sure what the resolution are on that head unit, been many years since i dabbled in car audio,,,, actually it was before 2 DIN radios.
 
Thanks for the response.

To clarify, yes, I want the highest resolution possible, so plugging into anything other than HDMI is not going to provide that.

I have looked at other solutions, best I could figure out was an action camera. Pro video wont work because I dont want to spend hundreds or thousands, and need something designed for this and be waterproof.

And it wouldn't be a waste of a good camera, as I am not using t just for when I am reversing, I am using it to replace my rear view mirror which provides horrible visibility due to my cars unique design. So I would need something without reverse lines. Imagine if I had a big RV or Cargo van with no way to see out the back. I want a camera that is full HD, that is waterproof, that outputs to HDMI so that I can hook it up to a Full HD monitor on 9 inches. Any other rear backup camera that I have seen or own has horrible picture and resolution.

I have had a rear view mirror that has a recorder and screen built into the mirror before. The front camera picture quality was outstanding. I want that same picture quality out of the rear camera.

I have had a great working setup before, it is an action camera that outputted at 1920x1080 via HDMI, however I am looking for something that is designed for use as a rear view camera.

I am at a loss, and pretty bummed out because I am sure that the tech is there, just don't understand why they do not make waterproof rear cameras that can easy output live video for my application. Surely I am not the only one that wants this, no?

Thanks again for your help and I welcome others to join in what will probably be a lively discussion and most likely a dead end for me, lol :)
 
A quick search on youtube with HDMI mini camera gave me this.

Thats just the raw camera so you need a lens too, these can be pretty expensive for the best ones, but there are more modest priced lenses.

PS. it matter little if you have a 4K video but watch it on a lower resolution screen, not sure what the resolution are on that head unit, been many years since i dabbled in car audio,,,, actually it was before 2 DIN radios.


That would work, although I doubt it is waterproof. See my next post for pictures of my previous setup and example of the high quality I am looking for (without the ugly camera)
 
Notice how obtrusive and ugly the camera is. It worked OUTSTANDING though. Unfortunately the only solution to getting the banners with the video info to go away is to purchase an actual ($$$) GoPro vs. the $40 action camera
 

Attachments

  • IMG_20200908_071250.jpg
    IMG_20200908_071250.jpg
    393.6 KB · Views: 7
  • IMG_20200823_131053.jpg
    IMG_20200823_131053.jpg
    282.1 KB · Views: 6
  • IMG_20200823_131109.jpg
    IMG_20200823_131109.jpg
    503.5 KB · Views: 6
Nope it is not waterproof, most action cameras are also not waterproof when external plugs are used ( USB / HDMI / mini jack microphone )

Strreet guardian have little waterproof rear cameras for external use, and i think a few others might have that too.
 
Nope it is not waterproof, most action cameras are also not waterproof when external plugs are used ( USB / HDMI / mini jack microphone )

Strreet guardian have little waterproof rear cameras for external use, and i think a few others might have that too.
You can't see in the angle from my picture, but I modified the casing by dremeling out holes for the USB and HDMI, plugging through the case, and silconing it completely so it truly was waterproof.

I truly made the best out of what was available on the market at the time, and this was 2 years ago. I am pretty bummed that it looks like there is absolutely nothing to fit my (what I honestly believe) rather basic requirements considering the tech is definitely there and I don't see why we don't deserve full HD backup cameras....
 
That head unit it is just a 1280/720 screen, so really hitting it with any higher resolution feed should not appear more brilliant, a good 720p camera should look just as good then.

Most of us ( westerners ) in here prefer our systems to be as stealthy as possible, so a action camera would be out of the question,,,,, i think it might even aggravate some road rage or post accident rage / dammit i cant lie my way out of this rage.
Though i see you are in the great state of Texas, so at least you have a option to nullify aggressive behavior, a option i do not have living in Socialist / ultra liberal little old, Best friend of the USA, Denmark.
Even if i do think we Danes are just useful fools to the USA, and are getting played by you guys all the time.

 
Last edited:
I am looking for a reversing camera and LCD style mirror / screen for my car, as with age ( i am 54 ) twisting my back become harder and harder, but i am just going to go for a regular analog reversing camera.
Dashcam wise i have good coverage, it is actually 360 degrees, though not right up against the car as that would need even wider field of view side cameras.
And as i drive a tiny 5 door hatchback with a flat rear end i could actually put a reversing camera on the inside of my rear window.
 
I LOL'd at your post kamkar, and I can't thank you enough for engaging with me. And super cool videos, love your 360 setup!

Understand about the use cases for *most* of the users here, but I am concerned with my case. It makes more sense why I need a higher resolution than a standard backup camera, when you consider I am using it full time for safety as my rear view mirror.

Most every camera with a low resolution I have seen is nowhere near as clear or HD as my current action camera setup. But agreed, I hate its looks and understand about inducing road rage. While I am an Army Vet in the great state of Texas, I do not carry firearms to deal with aggressors, lol.

I am thinking that the Kenwood unit is my best chance at getting what I am looking for. I am currently consulting with a security camera company to ensure that the HD-TVI to HDMI converter will work, unless you or the other fine folks here can recommend any 720p HD cameras that have a low profile and output to HDMI vs. the regular old RCA cable (low resolution, even if advertised as HD--I have learned the hard way)
 
I understand, but really you should get just as good a visual experience with a lesser resolution camera, that is if it is a properly tuned camera that can handle the lighting situations well.
Dashcams have traditionally lagged a bit as they are aimed at what go on on road level, so overexposed skies have been a "problem", but it is a fading issues as the dynamic range of modern sensors have improved.
So where we in the old days recommended a aim where you have 60 % road and 40% skies at the horizon, today that dont really matter much as the sensors are better.
Though we still see people with dashcams aimed pretty high as during install they must have been thinking " why have parts of my dashboard and hood in the footage" completely forgetting that why have a lot of sky in your footage, you are probably not going to capture a comet plummeting to earth like over in Russia some years ago.

So now the recommendation are just a 50/50 split at the horizon as at least in some cases light metering still have a say in how successful a camera adjust itself to the lighting.

I am still okay if the skies are a bit overexposed, even if i am out in the open, i am not a plane spotter or anything like that, i just want good performance at ground level.
And i realize that dashcams are not cinematic devises, if i want really cool footage i will strap my osmo action action camera to my car, fit it with a ND filter and record nice 4K/60 footage.

I am acting as a tester for some dashcam companies, so my car have plenty of cameras, atm the level are low with just 8 cameras

2 side cameras ( 1 system )
front and rear camera ( 1 system )
Front and Rear + cabin camera ( 1 system )
And my trusty old zoom camera that let me see things clearly up ahead where a regular dashcam only get the big picture due to the wide angle lens they use.
The zoom camera are probably one of my most feel good cameras, even if i dont often go to it for footage.

 
I really appreciate all of your responses and expertise kamkar. Let me rephrase my question then, forget about what my ideal requirements are, and I guess for now I will have to weigh the tradeoffs of my optimal action cam setup and amazing quality compared to what you recommend.

What solution would you go for, which rear view camera that would provide a decent live view that can output to either HDMI or standard RCA?
 
None of the dashcams have a rear camera that output HDMI, the Analog cameras with a regular RCA connector are plentiful, but it have been quite a while since i dabbled in analog cameras for CCTV use, and i even once had a 4 channel analog system in my car,,,,, with a 30 X optical zoom front camera.
I do know the analog cameras have also gone up in resolution, way past the 700 TVL cameras i had.

I can try and call in the boss of street guardian @jokiin , he probably know a bit more about regular analog RCA cameras as SG do make a few reversing cameras too.

My 4 channel analog system in the car on my cheapo Chinese win CE head unit, dont mind me babbling in Danish.
 
Gotcha. So I am basically stuck with low resolution analog cameras. That is a bummer. I have seen the resolution of the Kenwood camera on a demo and the video quality is night and day difference vs an analog camera (think DVD quality vs 1980s TV quality)

I am going to keep my fingers crossed that the CCTV company I have sent an email to confirms that the HD-TVI to HDMI interface will work and that would be the ideal solution to my problem. Expensive, and I know I am being picky, but for my application, it really does make a huge difference.
 
Now that I think about it, what a great business idea. Surely I am not the only person who desires or would buy a low cost, small profile, high resolution camera designed for rear-view that outputs to HDMI...
 
The main thing is you make a good decision and get a good product that make you happy.
While a oldie with about 10 years of experience my dashcam knowlege are modest, there are some users that nerd out even more than i do.

I cant think of any dashcam systems on the market right now with HDMI output, there probably are some, but even then you are left with the issue of switching to the rear camera when reversing / wanting to look out back.
So you will probably have to do that manual on the head unit, unless you go for a compatible reversing camera, which should switch automatic when you engage reverse gear.
 
To be clear, this would be a full time setup as I will be using this as a substitute for the rear view mirror. Not so much as a reverse camera, but a full time rear view camera setup. Either outputting to the head unit which I will select for the HDMI view while driving (switching back to adjust audio as I need be then back to camera) or to a dedicated monitor, like I have pictured above. I know it sounds trivial but the video quality is night and day difference. Maybe thats why nobody makes it or its hard to understand what I am trying to do, as nobody would want to use a reverse camera with terrible picture quality as their permanent full time rear view vision device.
 
you won't find something suitable with HDMI output, you can get 720p and 1080p reverse cameras but they don't use HDMI, you'll get TVI like the Kenwood or AHD, the end result will be much the same regardless although the quality can vary

I have the Kenwood TVI model in my car, we are developing a replacement for those also at the moment as the Kenwood pricing is ridiculous (they retail for $299 here), the result can be improved upon also, particularly in low light situations, eg

Kenwood

Kenwood TVI.jpg

Our development model

development model.jpg
 
Welcome to this extremely helpful discussion for me jokiin!

You seem to know your stuff, as does kamkar, and I appreciate any advice.

WOW!!! Your development model looks AWESOME. I would be happy to help test for you or hell even purchase a pre production model if I could ge tit to do what I want it to. And hopefully I can show you that there is most likely a huge untapped market for a high def rear camera not designed exclusively for dash cam use and for other applications. Think of all the RV and Delivery vans without rear view windows, and all those potential customers!!!

Could you tell me if it is possible to convert the TVI of AHD signals to HDMI and view them on a monitor?
 
Back
Top