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Rear facing camera viewing perspective

Discussion in 'Technical Discussion' started by MBevins, Jun 8, 2019.

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  1. MBevins

    MBevins Senior Member

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    I'm just completing my installation of rear facing cameras used primarily for docking.
    Those of you who have them.....
    Are you viewing a standard view from them or are you using a mirrored view.

    Please provide insight on your choice.
  2. Pascal

    Pascal Senior Member

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    Standard. I let my brain do the flipping :). But then I always run plotters North up...
  3. Sea Gull

    Sea Gull Member

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    To each his own. I run my plotter North up, but prefer the reverse image on the rear facing camera. My brain hurts less with the reverse image as if it’s a rear view mirror. I see a boat on the left side of the monitor and then look over my left shoulder to see it.
  4. MBevins

    MBevins Senior Member

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    So you have no problem flipping the image in your brain so you know which way you should be moving at a dock?
    Aren't you building in your own latency issues?
  5. MBevins

    MBevins Senior Member

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    I have a suspicion that you are right. I think my brain will always be second guessing what I see.
  6. MBevins

    MBevins Senior Member

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    I am going to reserve my decision until I hear from a few more people. Can't believe there's only two camera folk out there.
  7. MBevins

    MBevins Senior Member

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    So nobody else has docking cameras?
  8. AMG

    AMG YF Moderator

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    In cars they are usually showing as mirrors and you are used to this, but in a boat I think it is a little different. I am driving different boats from time to time where the owners have it both ways, and I think I like it better when I see the camera view, not mirrored. There is another thing to consider and it is that in a car the steering is with the front wheels, but in a boat it is more with the aft you steer. So when I reverse and look at a not mirrored picture, my steering get me right. On the other hand, if a boat is passing you on the left side of the screen, it will come on your right side... ;)
  9. olderboater

    olderboater Senior Member

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    As we have several cameras facing in various directions and in various areas of the boat, we've just found it's best to have them all set up in camera view.
  10. d_meister

    d_meister Senior Member

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    I drive other people's boats with cameras, too, so I have to adjust, and I do that by ignoring them except for the most basic information, like, is that Robalo we're towing still there? If I see anything approach from astern, I go to a door or window and verify which side it is on and then ignore the camera. I think the issue is number of cameras. If you only have aft facing cameras, you can program your personal adjustment to that view, but if you have a mix of fore and aft facing cameras, it becomes another story. If you see a vessel overtaking in the camera view and you feel it's too close quarters, you may reflexively adjust your course the wrong may to make more room. I think any camera view should be set up for what you intuitively expect. Especially if there may be multiple helmsmen.
  11. Capt Ralph

    Capt Ralph Senior Member

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    I was trained and still practice automatically, stick your head out and look about before any turns.
    Out of the many, many years of doing this, I'd say a couple of times I'm glad I did.
  12. MBevins

    MBevins Senior Member

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    The main reason I'm doing this installation is to remove the responsibility of my wife providing distance information while backing into a slip. 6" vs 6ft seems to be a challenge for her of late. Ahh isn't aging wonderful.
  13. Capt Ralph

    Capt Ralph Senior Member

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    Would a backing station be of better/real benefit?
  14. MBevins

    MBevins Senior Member

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    That would be a major undertaking on this boat. It would require removing most of the aft cabin interior on one side.
    The labor would be enormous.
    Cameras are all installed and working just need to determine what view is better for me.
  15. Seasmaster

    Seasmaster Senior Member

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    I don't have a camera on my vessel, but used them extensively on ships. If I'm looking forward, and looking at an aft facing camera, I want the starboard side of the vessel depicted on the starboard side of the monitor, not on the port side of the monitor.