Rear camera, get a single drop of water and it’s suboptimal

[Liver]

Any fix or hood for the rear camera? A single drop of water makes it very suboptimal.

I really do not want to get a second camera installed, mainly because I do not want to run a cable across the truck.

Any other hack? A 3D printed hood? Put Rain X on it? Rain X is so cheap and easy, that I’ll try it first.

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[Stupid_metal_triangle]

Any fix or hood for the rear camera? A single drop of water makes it very suboptimal.

I really do not want to get a second camera installed, mainly because I do not want to run a cable across the truck.

Any other hack? A 3D printed hood? Put Rain X on it? Rain X is so cheap and easy, that I’ll try it first.

I have this installed and it's fantasic
https://clearvucam.com/store/p/teslacybertruck

it took about 3-4 hours to install, drilling a hole through the steel took a long time, even stepping up the oiled up bits.

I just wish I had a physical button on the steering wheel to do the spray.

 

[HaulingAss]

I've driven through a lot of rain storms since my April delivery and I haven't noticed water on the rear camera lens is a real issue. Sure, it makes the car behind you blurry, but who cares? The side mirrors actually do a good job of showing the lane behind you, all except for a tailgater.

What is so important right behind you, that it matters if it's a bit blurry or not? You can still tell when you are being tailgated.

 

[Liver]

I have this installed and it's fantasic
https://clearvucam.com/store/p/teslacybertruck

it took about 3-4 hours to install, drilling a hole through the steel took a long time, even stepping up the oiled up bits.

I just wish I had a physical button on the steering wheel to do the spray.

Thanks for the link. I will look into it.

I've driven through a lot of rain storms since my April delivery and I haven't noticed water on the rear camera lens is a real issue. Sure, it makes the car behind you blurry, but who cares? The side mirrors actually do a good job of showing the lane behind you, all except for a tailgater.

What is so important right behind you, that it matters if it's a bit blurry or not? You can still tell when you are being tailgated.

Really? It is an issue and you are trivializing it. Why have a clear camera that is active when driving? Why not just have it active when putting it in reverse?

Given the choice, I want to see clearly instead of blurry.

This the the best image I had yesterday with the rain.

 

[HaulingAss]

My rear camera never looks that bad, and I drive in a lot of rain and muck. I do keep the rear camera lens clean, I learned that from my Model 3s. I don't even think about it anymore.

 

[Liver]

My rear camera never looks that bad, and I drive in a lot of rain and muck. I do keep the rear camera lens clean, I learned that from my Model 3s. I don't even think about it anymore.

I clean it routinely. However most of the time I clean it, it’s with the sleeve of my jacket or similar.

Edit. So in that regard I’m just wiping it down, not cleaning it.

You using anything special? I think I’m gonna try out some Rain X.

 

[Outdoors]

Thanks for the link. I will look into it.

Really? It is an issue and you are trivializing it. Why have a clear camera that is active when driving? Why not just have it active when putting it in reverse?

Given the choice, I want to see clearly instead of blurry.

This the the best image I had yesterday with the rain.

I clean it routinely. However most of the time I clean it, it’s with the sleeve of my jacket or similar.

Edit. So in that regard I’m just wiping it down, not cleaning it.

You using anything special? I think I’m gonna try out some Rain X.

I don't think that is really dirty. I can still get an estimated distance. Doubt one is backing up going down a 4 lane divided road. If it was emergency lights one could easily deduce the issue.

I guess if one thinks that more than a sleeve or a finger is needed that might explain you more than the issue. I don't know anyone that takes the time to wash specifically each camera. Do you hairdryer it as well?

That last line is trivial. Maybe now you can really get an idea of when someone is trivialising something. We all want things. Sometimes one makes a tradeoff in life. I see this as something I wouldn't take the time to care about. Yet I am typing right now to the issue. It is because unless it is covered with solid mud I carry on. Then I clean it with a sleeve, and it is really clean for me.

 

[Rabib]

I wipe my camera every few weeks, and it has never looked that bad. I think something is wrong with the camera.

 

[Liver]

I don't think that is really dirty. I can still get an estimated distance. Doubt one is backing up going down a 4 lane divided road. If it was emergency lights one could easily deduce the issue.

I guess if one thinks that more than a sleeve or a finger is needed that might explain you more than the issue. I don't know anyone that takes the time to wash specifically each camera. Do you hairdryer it as well?

That last line is trivial. Maybe now you can really get an idea of when someone is trivialising something. We all want things. Sometimes one makes a tradeoff in life. I see this as something I wouldn't take the time to care about. Yet I am typing right now to the issue. It is because unless it is covered with solid mud I carry on. Then I clean it with a sleeve, and it is really clean for me.

Did I say I use a hairdryer? I swear some of yall take it way too personally. You don’t have an issue with your rear camera, that’s awesome. Now move on.

I am having issues and I would like to optimize my experience.

Oh my. I am so glad someone on the internet is teaching me how some one (on the internet) is trivializing using a comment. You learned me, real gud.

 

[HaulingAss]

I clean it routinely. However most of the time I clean it, it’s with the sleeve of my jacket or similar.

You using anything special? I think I’m gonna try out some Rain X.

You clean your lens with the sleeve of your jacket?

Bingo, we found the problem!

As a photographer, I know most camera lenses are coated with a thin layer of material to help reduce reflections and improve light transmission through the lens, resulting in better image quality. The coating also increases the scratch resistance; it's often a transparent substance like magnesium fluoride applied to the lens surface using vapor deposition.

Even though the coating is typically harder than the glass itself, it can still be scratched by certain minerals that can be found in the "road grime" that builds up on the rear of vehicles, if those minerals are ground against the lens under pressure. Small scratches will reduce the contrast of the images, because they diffract light.

I clean my Cybertruck with a hose sprayer and a soft-bristled truck brush dipped in a bucket of soapy water. I also keep a microfiber cloth in the driver's door pocket that I use between washings to wipe road grime off the headlights, give the side mirrors or windows a quick polish, and touch up the cameras, mostly the rear one (but also the cameras in the front fenders and behind the b-pillar glass). The microfiber towel lasts me a couple of months before I replace it with a freshly laundered one (don't use fabric softeners, they are evil).

I like to wipe the camera lens when it's already wet, but sometimes I also wipe it lightly when it's dry too, if I forgot to do it after the last wet drive. The microfibers are very gentle at wiping these tiny abrasives off the lens, particularly if you don't apply much pressure. Just bunch the microfiber into a little mushroom shape so you are not pressuring the lens directly. I don't even inspect the lens after buffing, I just give it a quick back and forth polish and assume I cleaned it up. The secret is to not apply much pressure, just lightly buff it for a second. It doesn't take much and I don't worry if I polished it to a perfect finish, I know it will get really clean the next time I wash the truck.

A stiff material, like some jacket sleeves, can grind the abrasives against the camera lens with force, causing contrast-reducing micro-scratches. Never wipe a camera lens with your jacket sleeve or random fabrics that are not clean microfiber. Your jacket sleeve could also transfer fabric softener to the lens surface which can cause a smeary appearance. I keep fabric softeners out of my life.

This doesn't take any time at all, really. I do it without thinking about it. Because I like to be a happy motorist. And it rains a lot where I live. I definitely don't keep the entire truck pristine at all times, but headlights, mirrors, windows and camera lenses are a special case, because they improve my motoring. As a side benefit, FSD works best if the cameras are clean and free of smeary residues.

edit: I saw you mentioned trying Rain-X on the camera lens. I would not do that. It may or may not help at first, but all coatings eventally fail. My experience using it on windshields was wonderful, until it wasn't. I found it took far too much time to maintain a good coating of Rain-X because it would build up and eventually become a smeary mess to maintain. I don't have time for that.

 

[FarAway]

The rearward viewing systems when taken as a whole are the single worst technology implementation on the CyberTruck. Personally, I think the rear camera is horrible even when clean. The FOV is far too large to serve as a true rear-view mirror, it is ONLY useful as a backup mirror. Couple this with the fact that it goes away when I put the blinker on is also ignorant. If I am stopped and making a left turn, then I still want to see if the vehicle behind me is slowing AND not get a great view of the median. Worthless. It is as if the engineers totally disregarded the left turn scenario and solely focused with 100% priority to lane changing on multilane highways. This is especially a shame, given that the technology (software) to keep a rear view displayed on the screen with the side views simultaneously already exists in the offroad mode.

The side mirrors are ok, meh, not great, especially when towing. Definitely a case of form over function. (The auto folding feature is cool!) The inside mirror is totally useless for anything but making eye contact with passengers in the rear seat. It doesn't even work if the tonneau is closed. Many CT owners have completely deleted this mirror. I think it was included simply to check a DOT box. The fact is It should have been both larger and a true "camera screen" mirror. We are also finding that the rear camera location on the tailgate is not optimal. Useless if it gets dirty (or wet?) with no cleaning system. Useless if the tailgate is down. Useless if towing a trailer. Maybe atop the truck would have been a better location? Maybe two cameras that could generate a composite view? (I would also like to see an optional moveable Wi-Fi/Bluetooth camera for towing.)

I do hope TESLA updates and improves these rear viewing systems. Absent that, we need someone in the accessory market to purposely design an add on system for the CT.

 

[Outdoors]

You clean your lens with the sleeve of your jacket?

Bingo, we found the problem!

As a photographer, I know most camera lenses are coated with a thin layer of material to help reduce reflections and improve light transmission through the lens, resulting in better image quality. The coating also increases the scratch resistance; it's often a transparent substance like magnesium fluoride applied to the lens surface using vapor deposition.

Even though the coating is typically harder than the glass itself, it can still be scratched by certain minerals that can be found in the "road grime" that builds up on the rear of vehicles, if those minerals are ground against the lens under pressure. Small scratches will reduce the contrast of the images, because it diffracts light.

I clean my Cybertruck with a hose sprayer and a soft-bristled truck brush dipped in a bucket of soapy water. I also keep a microfiber cloth in the driver's door pocket that I use between washings to wipe road grime off the headlights, give the side mirrors or windows a quick polish, and touch up the cameras, mostly the rear one (but also the cameras in the front fenders and behind the b-pillar glass). The microfiber towel lasts me a couple of months before I replace it with a freshly laundered one (don't use fabric softeners, they are evil).

I like to wipe the camera lens when it's already wet, but sometimes I also wipe it lightly when it's dry too, if I forgot to do it after the last wet drive. The microfibers are very gentle at wiping these tiny abrasives off the lens, particularly if you don't apply much pressure. Just bunch the microfiber into a little mushroom shape so you are not pressuring the lens directly. I don't even inspect the lens after buffing, I just give it a quick back and forth polish and assume I cleaned it up. The secret is to not apply much pressure, just lightly buff it for a second. It doesn't take much and I don't worry if I polished it to a perfect finish, I know it will get really clean the next time I wash the truck.

A stiff material, like some jacket sleeves, can grind the abrasives against the camera lens with force, causing scratches. Never wipe a camera lens with your jacket sleeve or random fabrics that are not clean microfiber. Your jacket sleeve could also transfer fabric softener to the lens surface which can cause a smeary appearance. I keep fabric softeners out of my life.

This doesn't take any time at all, really. I do it without thinking about it. Because I like to be a happy motorist. And it rains a lot where I live. I definitely don't keep the entire truck pristine at all times, but headlights, mirrors, windows and camera lenses are a special case, because they improve my motoring. As a side benefit, FSD works best if the cameras are clean and free of smeary residues.

edit: I saw you mentioned trying Rain-X on the camera lens. I would not do that. It may or may not help at first, but all coatings eventally fail. My experience using it on windshields was wonderful, until it wasn't. I found it took far too much time to maintain a good coating of Rain-X because it would build up and eventually become a smeary mess to maintain. I don't have time for that.

My jacket is made of microfibers. I also only do that when wet not dry.

https://www.chemicalguys.com/products/woolly-mammoth-microfiber-drying-towel-36-x-25
https://www.chemicalguys.com/products/ultra-fine-microfiber-towel

My center console is always full of these. The woolly for the spill of the idiot friend holds a gallon of liquid, and the other for items like ^ or screen inside.

 

[HaulingAss]

My jacket is made of microfibers.

Not all jacket sleeves are microfiber, and if they are like some of my jackets, they are not always clean. I was trying to help someone figure out why their camera view looked so bad. Scratches or fabric softener residues can do that. I'm a huge fan of doing what works for you.

 

[24tex24]

I think this upgrade is in the near future for me:

There is even a link to a 3D printed housing to keep the elements off.

 

[nocyber]

My camera looks just as bad if not worse in rain. I haven’t used rainX on it yet but I’m going to run to Home Depot right now and try it out. It’s my only unfixable (thus far) complaint about the truck.

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