Reversing cameras

I'd like to get reversing cameras in our cars. I'm paranoid about running over an animal or child one day, especially in DH's Nissan X-trail. Not to mention I may be less likely to scratch up his new car when parking.

I've looked at a couple of models. Can anyone recommend a good one? Are the ones where the picture is in the rear view mirror better than the ones with a separate screen? I was thinking the extra screen would look like a GPS and therefore someone might be more likely to break in to steal it.

Where's a good place to buy one & have it installed? I havent researched that.

I have one in my own car which shows the image on the screen in the centre of the dashboard. The vehicles I drive at work have them with the image in the mirror. I definitely prefer the camera in my own car, the image is much larger and well defined. I often find in the work vehicles that it is difficult to see the image, particularly if the sun is shining onto the mirror.

Don't know about having them installed, mine came factory fitted with the car. I love the camera and use it every time my car is in reverse. It is not infallible, it would be difficult to see say, a cat or a small child crouched down close to the car. I also have parking sensors which sound if something is within a metre or so of the front or rear of my car.

There is one you can get which is reversing camera / gps / radio / usb / movies etc and can be hooked up with an extra video out or an additional camera for the caravan. I can't remember the name, Polaris I think? but it's best price I've seen is at the caravan & camping show. It goes in to where your radio sits - eg hardwired in.

Thanks for that

Nickle - i hadnt thought about glare. Is the other screen affected by glare

Kazbah - that's sounds an interesting option. I'll research it. We dont want to spend loads of money. Any idea of cost?

Our current car has two screens for the reversing camera. It has the big one in the dash that doubles as the media player and GPS, and then there is another smaller one that appears in the mirror. I love them both. They were installed before we got the car though.

Our previous car had a camera and screen installed after the car was made. The screen sat on the left side of our windscreen. Not sure of the brand or even how much it cost though sorry.


I've often wondered why reversing cameras haven't become an Australian standard required in all new cars that are built. It's such a huge safety feature, especially in big cars, but even small cars can benefit from them. Maybe not quite as essential as seat belts and airbags, but cars are certainly safer with seatbelts, airbags, and reversing cameras.

We are about to put in a new stereo with a screen so we can hook up a reversing camera. Like you I'm terrified of accidents with kids (we have a tarago) and have a school on the street.

I think I am going to go with a Sony one. I like the Pioneer also. They are like $1000+ here, but I can get the sony one on Amazon for $275 + forwarding costs. I think installation is about another $100