One thing everyone should know about Cybertruck's rearview camera

[FarAway]

It all comes down to field of view (FOV ) and personal preferences. I know people that never check their rearview mirror and only check the side mirrors (sometimes) when changing lanes.

A wider FOV, which we currently have with the CT rear camera, does allow one to see more area but at the sacrifice of seeing less detail. The photos below illustrate exactly this point. I believe the CT camera rearview (zoomed in) is around a 100-degrees FOV as compared to an old school interior rearview mirror which is around a 40-degrees FOV. If I get some time this weekend, I will try to get some actual pictures with the CT camera system to illustrate this point.

Both wide and narrow FOVs have advantages and disadvantages. If deleting the side mirrors, then a wider FOV is absolutely necessary. If backing out of a garage or a parking spot, the wider FOV is much better. However, for highway driving, I prefer the traditional 40-degree FOV for the better presentation of detail. With the narrow FOV there is less distortion, and I can better judge closure speeds of the traffic behind me. I can also distinguish makes, models and even read license plates, all of this is difficult if not impossible with the wider FOV. That said, when changing lanes then a side camera, side mirrors or a wide FOV display is necessary.

For the CT I would like the option of a traditional 40-degree camera view displayed on the screen (or on the interior rearview mirror). I would like to see the corresponding camera mounted on the top of the cab (as some on this forum have ingeniously retrofitted). The advantages of putting it there are it could also monitor the rear bed and cargo load-even with the tailgate down. It would also be less susceptible to degradation by road spray and "salt".

Personally, I feel the CT ideally should have the ability to display both a wide FOV and narrow FOV picture on the center screen simultaneously. I don't know if this is possible with a software only update or not. Then there would be no need for any no old school exterior or interior mirrors, though some state laws need to catch up to the new technology.

There is so much that is great about the CT it is easy to pick on something that does not reach the level of excellence of the other systems. I always believe we should try to make the best better and the current CT mirror/rearview display setup can definitely be improved.

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[dalton108]

I've reduced my need for a rear-view mirror by 95% by simply driving 125% faster!

This is the way. It is known.

 

[FarAway]

This is the way. It is known.

Movie - The Gumball Rally

Franco:
And now my friend, the first-a rule of Italian driving.
[Franco rips off his rear-view mirror and throws it out of the Ferrari car]
What's-a behind me is not important.

 

[Bill W.]

Personally, I think if they added a 1.50x to the rear-view camera, that this would more closely mimic the view from a regular mirror. I don't like seeing a vehicle in the rear-view mirror that looks like it's one car length behind me but appears to be right on top of me in the side-view mirror.

 

[dalton108]

Personally, I think if they added a 1.50x to the rear-view camera, that this would more closely mimic the view from a regular mirror. I don't like seeing a vehicle in the rear-view mirror that looks like it's one car length behind me but appears to be right on top of me in the side-view mirror.

But you can pinch to zoom to that magnification. Try it.

 

[Cybertruck2024]

I had an issue with the rear view camera in the spring when I got the truck, it was a challenge to see the makes of the vehicles behind me. I could easily see if a vehicle was behind me, but was it a cop? It was impossible to tell, though at the same distance with a traditional mirror it was easy to determine. Ultimately this probably made me a better driver, I didn't speed as much anymore.

Then winter came. Within 30 seconds of driving down the road, I get to nearly zero visibility out of my rear view caemra. If you live anywhere with consistent snow, you have no rear visibility for however long winter is. Essentially from December-March I have no view behind the truck. The camera needs a wiper/spray of some sort.

Small aside, FSD just won't work in certain areas. It would be impossible to put a fleet of Cybercabs in Buffalo, NY from December to March. Even if I wipe all my cameras off before I leave my garage, the cameras are occluded and FSD won't work within 5 minutes of driving. In Austin the fleet should be great, but there will be regions of the country where you can just never have a Cybercab unless the cameras become self-cleaning.

 

[Black306]

The rear-view camera "mirror" is all but worthless for anything but backing up. It is simply a backup safety camera, nothing more.

Even with the new 2x zoom it is still NOT comparable to a regular rear view mirror because the FOV is far too large.

IMO, the rear camera/mirror is one of the worst TESLA OEM implemented systems in the truck for a multitude of reasons:
-Not helpful in identifying traffic behind you.
-Not useable with the tailgate down.
-Barely useable with any type of precipitation or even driving on damp roadways.
-Totally disappears when a turn signal is activated.

Some of this can be addressed with software, but a lot of it has physical limitations. I am still hopeful we will get a purposeful upgrade from Tesla or an aftermarket manufacturer.

Initially, I had concerns about the rear view camera implementation. But after driving with it for a while, I prefer it. Actually wish there was an option for the same thing on my 3s.

-Not helpful in identifying traffic behind you.

I find a wide angle view from the perspective of the tailgate more useful than the narrow angle view from the perspective of a mirror in the cab. Gives a more complete picture of what's going on behind the truck between what is seen from the side view mirrors and up to the rear bumper.

-Not useable with the tailgate down.

Yea, that sucks. Pretty close to yanking the rear view mirror off but keep it installed for those rare cases when the tailgate is down. Also keep the rear view mirror cause it has helped a couple times when I unintentionally left the tonneau open.

-Barely useable with any type of precipitation or even driving on damp roadways.

I don't see this as any different than looking at a rear view mirror though an obstructed rear glass when it rains. [Poor] visibility is similar.

-Totally disappears when a turn signal is activated.

I'm old school; I use the side view mirrors, not the repeater cameras. Seems unnatural to me to look right [at the screen] when I want to go left.

 

[Cybertruck2024]

Initially, I had concerns about the rear view camera implementation. But after driving with it for a while, I prefer it. Actually wish there was an option for the same thing on my 3s.


I find a wide angle view from the perspective of the tailgate more useful than the narrow angle view from the perspective of a mirror in the cab. Gives a more complete picture of what's going on behind the truck between what is seen from the side view mirrors and up to the rear bumper.


Yea, that sucks. Pretty close to yanking the rear view mirror off but keep it installed for those rare cases when the tailgate is down. Also keep the rear view mirror cause it has helped a couple times when I unintentionally left the tonneau open.


I don't see this as any different than looking at a rear view mirror though an obstructed rear glass when it rains. [Poor] visibility is similar.


I'm old school; I use the side view mirrors, not the repeater cameras. Seems unnatural to me to look right [at the screen] when I want to go left.

You may have a point regarding rain, you have limited visibility out a traditional rearview mirror too. But the surface area off the rear window is larger than the camera, so odds of full coverage is a bit lower.

When you start talking road salt and slush, it's incomparable. I've never had slush kick up from the road and cover my rear window, it doesn't happen. With the camera, you have between seconds and a few minutes when the camera becomes covered when driving in a snowy area where roads are salted.

 

[HaulingAss]

The rear view camera at .5 scale shows far more than the physical mirrors do. Test it by watching opposing cars that pass by; you will see them much sooner in your camera.

True, that doesn't mean it's better for keeping tabs on lane splitting motorcyclists. Sure, either will work in the hands of a driver that knows how to drive safely, but as the discussion here shows, not everyone knows how to use the rear-view camera in these situations. And maybe they don't know how to adjust and use the side-view mirrors either. I just have a preference for the side view mirrors (I've never been one of those people who is overly occupied with the rear view mirror because it offers very little functionality over two side view mirrors).

The only thing the rear-view mirror/camera can show me, that the side view mirrors can't, is a car right on my tail (or a motorcycle in the same lane as you that is one following length behind). Judging from the totality of comments on this forum about the Cybertruck's rear view, I would say a good number of people are unaware just how much the side mirrors actually show.

Even if the rear camera is fouled with heavy rain, and the tonneau is closed, I can still easily see if someone is tailgating me. I don't need a 4K high resolution rear view camera, with it's own lens wiper built in, to tell me that someone is tailgating me.

 

[Bill W.]

But you can pinch to zoom to that magnification. Try it.

Nope. It will only zoom to 1.25x.

 

[Black306]

You may have a point regarding rain, you have limited visibility out a traditional rearview mirror too. But the surface area off the rear window is larger than the camera, so odds of full coverage is a bit lower.

When you start talking road salt and slush, it's incomparable. I've never had slush kick up from the road and cover my rear window, it doesn't happen. With the camera, you have between seconds and a few minutes when the camera becomes covered when driving in a snowy area where roads are salted.

Yea, Sac doesn’t see much snow. ? And lift prices have gotten stupid expensive in the Tahoe area, so I don’t snowboard nearly as much as I use to.

Haven’t had an issue where rain blocked visibility to a point where the rear camera was useless though.

 

[Crissa]

Haven’t had an issue where rain blocked visibility to a point where the rear camera was useless though.

It's not like it's constantly snowing, either.

-Crissa

 

[carsly]

Haven’t had an issue where rain blocked visibility to a point where the rear camera was useless though.

Drive in a heavy rain, you'll see nothing from the rearview camera most of the time.

 

[Black306]

Drive in a heavy rain, you'll see nothing from the rearview camera most of the time.

We had heavy rain advisories in the area this last winter. I didn’t think the rear camera system was significantly worse than the reduced visibility with a typical rear view mirror in similar heavy rain.

 

[Lasttoy]

Pure junk. Mine won't zoom. I bought solar powered one for roof. But. They lied. Don't work with Android. Next to get iPhone. Another thing. Pull a trailer. Another joke. Or hauling lumber with tailgate down. I don't use turn signals because I lose the view. Worthless

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