[CanIplugIn]

Sharing thoughts on the new Rear Vision Camera (RVC) vs. Rear View Mirror (RVM) on my Bolt after a couple of hundred miles. Overall, I like the RVC and use it during the day. This is my initial thoughts on a RVC:

Advantages of RVC over RVM:

1. The view is unobstructed - no rear passenger heads, headrests or cargo (major advantage)
2. The view is much wider than you can achieve with a mirror which can alert you to situations you may not see in a standard mirror (major advantage)
3. The car's passengers can also see the rear-view camera
4. The mirror does not have to be adjusted for different driver heights

Disadvantages of RVC over RVM (or things that you need to get used to):

1. The view is very flat and two-dimensional, it's difficult to derive depths of objects you are seeing
2. Because the mirror is a wider view for the same surface area, the objects are smaller than they would be in the RVM, so you have to reprogram your brain to judge distance to objects behind you. This is particularly an issue if you switch between the modes like I do (day vs. night)
3. It doesn't work very well at night (IMO) and I usually switch to the mirror
4. It requires your eye to focus differently since you are not looking 200 feet behind you
5. The camera lens can get wet or dirty (rear wiper does wipe over the camera lens area). In practice, the backup camera lens get much wetter in rain than the RVC.
6. With the mirror aimed properly (at least for me), but switched to use the RVC, the mirror will direct the rear seat reading light directly into your eyes.

 

[Ladogaboy]

Thanks for the review. I would say that an additional concern is if it randomly stops functioning. The reason I say that is because the backup camera on my Bolt EV suddenly stopped illuminating (during a rain storm), and all I could see in the camera view were the guidelines. The next night (dry), the camera illuminated normally, and I could see.

With an RVC, if you suffer some sort of a glitch, how difficult is it to switch back to the actual mirror? Losing all rear view mirror vision at certain times could be dangerous.

 

[Sean Nelson]

With an RVC, if you suffer some sort of a glitch, how difficult is it to switch back to the actual mirror?

It's pretty trivial to do - there's a tab on the bottom of the mirror that you flip back and forth the same way you flip the mirror in other cars between "normal" and "dim" views. On the Bolt that tab switches between the normal optical mirror and the rear vision camera.

 

[Loboc]

I can see this tech evolving to the point of virtual clear. Like Wonder Woman's plane.

Suppose the interior of the car was covered in tiny screens and the exterior had enough cameras to collect a composite real-time 360 view. Displaying that view on the interior would make the car interior appear to be invisible. Or using VR tech to accomplish the same thing. Kind of like 007's car but in reverse.

 

[BAZINGA]

I'm new to this, I assume:

1. There is ONE Camera that feeds both displays
2. Both displays can show the same image at the same time

 

[madobee]

I can see this tech evolving to the point of virtual clear. Like Wonder Woman's plane.

Suppose the interior of the car was covered in tiny screens and the exterior had enough cameras to collect a composite real-time 360 view. Displaying that view on the interior would make the car interior appear to be invisible. Or using VR tech to accomplish the same thing. Kind of like 007's car but in reverse.

Loboc: I agree with you on the potential of having 360-degree view. I thought having camera views on the front pillars (A pillars?) would help the driver to see cross traffic and pedestrians. I anticipate the camera view being incorporated into the next update for the Volt.

 

[Neromanceres]

I'm new to this, I assume:

1. There is ONE Camera that feeds both displays
2. Both displays can show the same image at the same time

I don't quite understand your question. There are two different camera's in the back. One for the RVC and one for the backup camera. And both can be on at the same time.

 

[Sean Nelson]

I don't quite understand your question. There are two different camera's in the back. One for the RVC and one for the backup camera. And both can be on at the same time.

In other words, one camera feeds the backup/birds-eye view display in the dashboard, and the other feeds the display in the rear view mirror.

On LT (non-Premiere) models that don't have the mirror display, I would assume that there's just one rear camera.

 

[Neromanceres]

In other words, one camera feeds the backup/birds-eye view display in the dashboard, and the other feeds the display in the rear view mirror.

On LT (non-Premiere) models that don't have the mirror display, I would assume that there's just one rear camera.

Correct. This is my understanding.